Page 9 of Accepting Fate

The door has wooden planks across the opening with about five deadbolts. I realize there are no windows, so they are probably terrified their abuser has come to pay a visit.

Loud enough so they can hear me and not be startled, I say, “Alana? Lily? Can you hear me?”

I need to make sure they know I’m not a threat so when I bust down the door they won't try and stop me.

No answer.

“Alana? Lily? I know you’re scared but I need to know if you can hear me. My name is Grayson Hayes. I’m here to get you out and help you. Please answer me.” I say as calmly and gently as I can.

I wait for an answer and hear whispering coming from inside the shed.

“Please. I know you’re scared. No one is going to hurt you anymore, I promise. You don’t have to say anything. I just need to know if you understand, okay? I need you both to make yourselves as small as you can in the corner. I’m going to kick the door in and get you out. Knock on the wall when you’re out of the way.”

I hear rustling around and then a very quiet knock. I don’t hesitate. As hard as I can, I kick the door in, it splinters in the middle and falls to the ground. I rush forward and as I do, my chest tightens with the scene in front of me.

The smell hits my nose and it's reminiscent of sewage and moldy food. I turn my head and take a deep breath before entering fully into the shed. The ground is covered in a raggedy blanket and dirt from the forest floor. I scan and see a bucket in the corner and then meet two pairs of brown fragile eyes in the corner.

I get down to their level and point the flashlight at the ceiling, so I don’t blind them. Alana has her daughter tucked behind her back and she holds her knees to her chest. Lily peaks over her mother’s shoulders, fear prevalent in both of their eyes.

My eyes scan for any obvious injuries. Alana is skin and bones and she is covered in bruises from head to toe. She’s wearing what looks like running shorts and a baggy shirt. I can’t see underneath but I'm sure the bruises are there too. Deep wounds that are most likely infected cover her arms and legs. When I meet her eyes they are so black, blue, and swollen I wouldn’t be surprised if her vision was impaired.

I look at Lily and even though I can only see her tiny face, her eyes resemble her mother's, and it makes me think her body does too.

Keeping my hands at my side to not frighten them more, I say, “Hi. I’m Grayson. My brothers Noah, Wesley, and Landon are here too. They are taking care of the two men that were back at the house. I promise we are not going to hurt you, but before we get you two out and to the hospital, can you tell me if there are any other people we should worry about? One man is in his forties and the other man is older.”

Alana stares blankly at me and then clears her throat. She attempts to speak but her voice is so hoarse it sounds like she's been screaming and crying for months.

She probably has.

I want to kick myself for not shoving a water in my back pocket.

“Hey, it's okay. I know your voice is tired. I have water, clothes, food, and everything you will need back in the truck. How about a nod yes or no?”

Alana shakes her head no.

“Okay great. So, we are going to get you out of here. I will not touch you unless you need my help. I can carry you or if you’re okay with it, I can carry Lily. I’ll empty my pockets. Show you my license. Whatever I can do to get you to come with me. I swear I’m not going to hurt you, I just want to get you both to the hospital and then help you back to your family.”

Alana looks back at Lily and nods. She clears her throat and whispers, “Let's get out of here, baby girl.” I stand with her, and she looks down at Lily and then back up at me. “Umm, Lily’s right arm and leg are broken, I think. I would carry her, but I don't know if I can walk by myself.”

I look around Alana to poor little Lily, taking in her entire body for the first time. Alana is right. Lily’s right side of her body is covered in bruises and her arm is clearly broken as well as her leg. From my small knowledge of the body, they appear to be small breaks which is good because if it was a full through-the-skin break, we would be in a completely different scenario. Like her mother, her body is frail and thin. She looks so much younger than four.

I look back to Alana and remind myself that my brothers have the abusers under control, so I don’t go back to that house and kill Dr. Dickhead myself.

“Do you think you can walk?” I ask Alana.

“I want to say yes because Lily needs more help than I do, but I don’t think so. I’m sorry.” She buries her face in her hands and sobs.

I want to reach out and give her comfort but from past experience, I learned to wait until they touch you before you do.

These bastards make innocent people afraid of a simple touch and I fucking hate it.

I take my radio off my hip and raise it to my mouth. Before hitting the talk button, I explain what’s going on to Alana, “I’m going to ask my brother Landon to come up and help you. With your permission, I will carry Lily and he will carry you. Is that okay?”

Alana continues to cry and shakes her head yes.

I press the talk button on the radio, “Landon, I need you up here now if you can.”

Almost immediately the radio buzzes, “On my way. Where do I go?” Landon asks.

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