Page 8 of Caged
"Promise?" It was a promise no one could make, but Danny wanted to hear the words anyway.
Marshall spoke with confidence. "I promise."
"Do you know anything about the man who—" The officer started to ask but when a paramedic stepped forward, he paused. "Go ahead and check him over. The questions can wait."
Danny shook his head. "I'm okay."
"Let them check you over. You have bruises all over you. There could be issues you aren't aware of." Marshall touched Danny's shoulder softly.
Danny frowned, his mind going to the rapes. "He didn't do that to me anymore. At least not since he brought the boys home. He said I was too old for him and only good to keep the house clean now."
Marshall cursed softly. "Still, let them check you over and make sure everything is okay."
"I'm just going to take your vital signs for now, then we're going to take you to the hospital so they can do a more thorough exam and make sure you haven't had any injuries in the past that need to be addressed." The paramedic started to pull stuff out of a bag he carried.
"I don't need the hospital." He was terrified of doctors. He imagined them probing him in places he never wanted to be touched again. He thought of the cage and his eyes widened. He needed to find a way to get it off. He needed the key, but he had no idea where Larry would have kept it. He'd looked when he'd been able to, but he never found it.
"What's wrong?" Marshall seemed to sense his worry.
Fighting back shame, he shook his head. "Nothing. It's nothing."
Marshall touched his arm softly again. "You need to let them take you to the hospital. They need to do an exam so they know everything they can charge Larry with. If he's broken your bones in the past, it will show. If you have scars, they can record them. Even if you think you're okay, let the police be sure. You want them to use every bit of evidence they can get to make sure Larry pays for what he did."
"I can't." Danny closed his eyes.
"You can. You're strong. You can do whatever it takes to make sure Larry never hurts anyone else again." Marshall's voice was firm as if he really believed it.
"For now, let me get your blood pressure." The paramedic reached for his arm.
Danny allowed him to get his vital signs, but it didn't calm him. He'd been locked up for so long that all this attention was overwhelming. He wanted to run back into Marshall's house and hide. He didn't want to be touched. Didn't want people looking at him. Didn't want them to know about the cage.
"Blood pressure is a little high, but that's probably from the stress. What isn't normal is your temperature. It's a bit high. Do you have any infections, sores, have you been sick?" The paramedic put his gear away.
"No." Danny couldn't think of anything.
"Let them take you to the hospital. I'm sure they'll call your mom from there." Marshall met Danny's stare. "It's going to be okay. I promise."
Danny shook his head. "I just want to go home."
"And you will as soon as they make sure you're okay. I bet the boys are going to the same hospital too. Maybe you can check on them there?"
"Will you come with?" Danny wasn't sure why he was asking Marshall to come with, but he felt secure with him. Maybe it was because he'd been the one to call the police, the one to stand up to Larry and save him.
"I can do that." Marshall met the paramedic's gaze for a moment as if they were communicating silently.
Danny didn't care what they were thinking. He just wanted this over so he could go home to his mom. He'd dreamed of this day since he'd been taken. "Okay."
"Let's get you to the ambulance." The paramedic offered his hand.
Marshall stood and turned to Danny. "Go with him. I'm going to lock my house, then I'll follow the ambulance there. I won't be far behind."
"Promise?" Danny asked.
"I promise. I'll be there as soon as I can. You'll get through this. The hardest part is over." Marshall smiled. "You're safe."
He didn't feel safe, but he nodded anyway. He listened to Marshall get the hospital information, then followed the paramedic to the ambulance. As he walked past Larry's house, he wondered if the nightmare was really over. He'd hoped for it for so long that he didn't dare believe it. Part of him feared he'd wake up and find this had all been a dream.
CHAPTER FIVE
