Chapter 3

Catalina's POV

1 MONTH LATER

"How was your session this morning?" Gabriel asked as he brought over our lunch.

"Sucked as usual," I said as I took a sip of the iced tea Gabriel poured for me. Truthfully therapy sucked. I hated every moment of it. It was an unnecessary addition to my day. A waste of time. Today was my fifth session and I felt nothing. The questions were stupid and pointless. I tried in the beginning. Tried to maybe make this whole therapy thing work, but no matter what I said to the guy it just seemed to go in one ear and out the other.

"What did you guys talk about today?"

" Besides the usual lecture of how my actions are going to kill me?"

"Catalina-"

I stood up and laid my hands flat on the table,

"No Gabriel he doesn't listen to a word I say all he does is condescend to me as if I am a child."

Gabriel smirked at me,

"Well, when you act like one-"

"Don't even start with me."

"Do you want me to lie and say from what you've told me you've been a perfect patient?" Gabriel stood and made his way to me as if approaching a wild animal.

"You refuse to open up to me, to your therapist, to anyone. For once just open up to someone."

I didn't want to open up. Opening up meant someone seeing every part of me and I didn't want anyone to see everything but for Gabriel, I could try. I knew what I was doing was hurting him but I was just living my life. It was a phase that I would eventually pass.

"I guess I could give it one more shot."

Gabriel smirked as he sat beside me,

"Thank you, now hurry up and eat or you'll be late."

I could do this. For Gabriel, I could give this one last shot.

* * *

"Tell me about your parents." Dr. Wilson asked. I agreed to talk a little more about my feelings but this guy is walking a very thin, fragile line. I didn't like talking about my parents, especially with someone closer to their age. I knew what he saw when he looked at me, he saw a small girl covered in tattoos who yelled and screamed and had a disregard for authority. If I told him everything about my childhood he would probably agree with the punishments my parents dished out to me. He would probably agree that I deserved it.

"What do you want to know?" I said as I leaned back in the chair and kept my gaze glued to the window. Taking in the late summer scenery. The leaves had just begun to change and it was starting to get a little colder in the mornings. Which could only mean one thing. Fall was coming and It was my favorite season and here I was stuck in this old dusty office with this even older and dustier man.

"What were they like?"

Were. He's speaking as if they are dead.

"Fine, I guess."

Lies. My parents were anything but fine. I would never understand how two people like them ever came to be or what they saw in each other. My parents never should have been together in the first place. Their dynamic never made sense, my mother got whatever she wanted because my dad could never tell her no. She was spoiled and my father enabled it. Even after she had children she mainly cared about herself.

"Just fine?" he asked as he scribbled down what I said into his little journal.

"Yea. Fine." he nodded his balding head and scribbled down in his journal some more.

"You know we aren't going to cover much if you give vague responses." He closed his journal and moved to stand behind me, glancing out of the window.

"What do you see when you look outside Catalina?" He asked.

Freedom.

I saw a world where I could run and have adventures. I saw a world I hadn't been allowed to explore. I saw the key to unshackling the chains that tied me to this stupid town.

"I'll tell you what I see." I tensed as he planted his hands on top of both my shoulders.

"I see a girl so stuck in her head she doesn't realize what's good for her and is filled with so much anger that she needs an outlet to release and if she won't talk." His hands started to move up and down my arms,

"Maybe there's another less self-destructive way to get her release."

His hands reached my shoulders again as he gently pulled the straps of my shirt down and kissed my neck.

Fucking Disgusting Prick!

A familiar warmth filled my veins as his hands reached lower and lower on my arms. I lurched forward and stepped aside. Eager to put some distance between me and this creep.

"I think we're done here," I said as I pulled up the straps of my shirt.

"Don't you want to get better?" He asked as he slowly made his way over to me

"Get the fuck away from me!" I said as I pushed him away, making his back connect with the bookcase behind him and he stumbled, slowly sliding down to the ground. I rushed to get to the door but his words stopped me dead in my tracks,

"If you walk out that door I can't help you. You'll continue to be the broken, reckless girl they say you are and you'll be dead within the year."

I clutched the handle of the door a little tighter. That familiar warm feeling was still racing through me.

Screw him! Screw him and everyone who thinks I'm broken!

I let go of the handle and slowly turned around. His eyes matched the cold vile smile on his lips

"Very good, now come here and help me up."

I walked over to his outstretched hand but instead of grabbing his hand, I found my hands wrapping around his pale fat throat. His wrinkled hands try to scratch and claw away at mine but I've gripped too tight.

Just a little longer and It'll all be over

A few more seconds and I could rid the world of this disgusting pig. Just a few more minutes and I could watch as the light from his eyes drifted away.

Just a few more minutes

A knock on his door is what saved his pathetic life.

"Mr Wilson, your lunch is here." The muffled delicate female voice said and instantly I snapped back to reality.

I let go of his neck and slowly backed away.

I nearly killed him. I almost killed someone!

I rushed over and grabbed my bag and phone before rushing out the door before anyone could see me.

I almost killed a man.

I replayed the thought over and over again in my head as I headed to my car.

I could've killed him!

When I finally made it to my car I glanced down at my hands and saw the cuts and scratches lacing my hands, cutting through the dark medusa tattoo on my hand. I stared at them as flashbacks of what just happened replayed in my head again.

I need to get out of here. I need to forget.

I started my car and headed towards Carmen's.

Just one drink and I'll be okay. Just one drink.

* * *

"Catalina, it's time to wake up," Gabriel said. His voice is more gentle. He didn't know that I'd been awake the entire night. After the bar, where I had more than one drink, I came home and locked myself in my room. I didn't know what Gabriel thought of this but honestly, I didn't care. I glanced at the clock on my phone.

9:00 AM.

"Catalina open the door please."

He wasn't going to give up until I opened the door. I shut my eyes and breathed in for a minute.

I can do this.

I opened my eyes and made my way towards the door. Gently unlocking it and slowly opening the door, careful to make sure he didn't see in.

"Finally I was starting to worry-" He cut himself off as he took in the room behind me. The shards of glass decorating the dark hardwood floor, The white wooden desk, completely in splinters on the ground, parts from the wood from the desk lodged in the wall at the posters. His gaze shifts over to the bed and his gaze widens as he spots the five empty liquor bottles I had taken from the bar.

"What the fuck happened in here?" I shrugged my shoulders as I glanced at the floor,

"I got a little out of hand I guess."

Gabriel's eyes widened,

"A little out of hand? How did-" His voice stopped and I found the strength to look up at him and see his eyes staring at my hands. Staring at the cuts and bruises.

"When did you get those?"

"I've always had them," I answered hoping he believed the lie.

"Bullshit those are fresh cuts,"

I glanced back down at the floor.

"Catalina, what happened?"

I couldn't tell him. I couldn't. He was only trying to help and if I told him what happened he'd only blame himself.

"I know that look, Catalina, You're trying to think of a lie and please do not lie to me, if you hurt yourself-"

"I didn't make these cuts." I shook my head and glanced up at Gabriel

"The therapist did,"

In seconds Gabriel's eyes widened from shock to pure anger.

Gabriel picked me up, carried me over to the bathroom, and gently set me down on the counter,

"What happened?" He asked as he took my hand in his and began to examine the cuts.

"He got a little handsy," I whispered as Gabriel's eyes locked on mine, Gabriel was one of the only people who knew how much I hated being touched without permission. Sometimes I was able to control it and sometimes I lashed out, breaking the hand of the person who touched me.

"At first I was just going to leave and not come back but he said if I left he wouldn't be able to fix me."

Gabriel's eyes softened slightly,

"I lost it. I was so angry and I wanted him to hurt."

The familiar tingle of Gabriel's healing magic simmered through my hands and I knew if I looked down the cuts would be gone.

"You defended yourself."

It wasn't a question but I nodded anyway

"No one else was hurt?"

I nodded again.

"And the liquor bottles?"

"I needed to clear my head so I went for a drink or two."

Or eight

"And the destroyed room?"

I glanced back and saw the full expense of what I had done last night. Everything was either destroyed, cut, burned, or torn apart.

"I came home and had the intention of sleeping but every time I closed my eyes I saw him. I saw the office. I swear I could still feel his wrinkly disgusting hands on me."

Gabriel closed his eyes as he pressed his forehead to mine,

"I'm sorry Gabriel."

"You have nothing to apologize for."

Gabriel lifted me off the counter and carried me out to the spare guest bedroom he had and gently laid me down on the bed.

"Get some rest, I'll have your room taken care of but rest please." I nodded my head as Gabriel gently pulled the covers back and laid them on top of me.

* * *

He was back. The dark man from my dreams. The dark man stood across from me like he always had. Standing. Waiting. Watching. I took a single step back but he was faster. Within seconds the dark man was in front of me. I could never see his face, no matter how many times I tried pulling the hood down. All I could see was a dark empty void. Slowly a pale hand reached out. The dark man's hand toyed with the ends of my hair, softly caressing it before he yanked on it, pulling me down on my knees before him. The dark man never spoke and I knew he wouldn't speak this time either. He just stood there in front of me. Everything was silent for a few moments. Until the screaming started again. Screams of agony, pain, and mercy. I couldn't see them but I could hear them. Hundreds, maybe thousands of people crying out. The dark man did nothing to help them as he stood there. Glaring down at me. His hand stretched out as if waiting for me to grasp it. I never did. It happened almost every time. He always extended his hand, waiting for me to grasp it, but I never did. I didn't know why I didn't except for the feeling that if I did, then bad things would happen. I stared at the dark man as he closed his hand, making a fist. The screams got louder and louder as the dark man knelt before me. I couldn't see anything, nothing, not even his fist as it connected with my cheek, turning everything into pitch darkness.

* * *

1 MONTH LATER

"You've got a nice place here." The guy known as Cory said as he took in everything about Gabriel's home. I had gone out to just get one drink. One little drink and I would've made my way back home. Alone. By myself. Yet Cory would not take the hint at the bar to leave and kept buying me drink after drink after drink. What was supposed to be one drink ended up being six. I was too drunk to drive so Cory offered to drive me home.

"Thanks," I said as I stumbled over my foot trying to take off my heel.

I should've worn my damn sneakers!

"So where's your room?" Cory asked as he began to pace around the kitchen, looking everywhere at everything. Awe and wonder shone brightly in his eyes.

Did this guy seriously think I was going to sleep with him?

"Why do you want to know?" I tried to put some kind of distance between us and walked over to the fridge. Cory shrugged yet his eyes remained on me, watching every move I made.

"Well, I figured you and I could have a little fun."

And here we go.

This was the problem with men. They thought just because they bought a girl drinks that it meant they could get lucky. I could never understand that thought process.

Just because you did something nice for someone did not entitle you to their body!

"I'm actually kind of tired but thank you for the drinks and the ride home." I moved over to the door, holding it open for him. Cory made his way over to the door but moved to stand behind me, reaching over and slamming the door shut, backing me up against the door.

"Come on now, don't be like that."

"I think you should go."

Cory laughed,

"As long as you come with me." Slowly his hands wrapped around my wrists, raising them and holding them above my head,

"I suggest you remove your hands from her or I'll start removing body parts from you."

Gabriel's voice rang out like thunder. Slowly Cory dropped his hands from my wrists and turned towards Gabriel.

"Who the fuck are you?" Cory's chest immediately puffed up as he stood up a little straighter.

Gabriel stepped closer,

"I'm the man who will have the delight in breaking every bone in your body until you are nothing more than a bloody puddle at my feet if you don't get the fuck out of my house."

Cory took a small step back as Gabriel inched closer.

"Big talk for a blonde."

"Try me." Gabriel's smile was nothing but sinister as he grabbed a hold of Cory's hand and twisted it back. The sound of his wrist snapping was deafening. Before Cory could even scream, Gabriel tossed him up against the door,

"If you even attempt to contact her again I will make your life a living hell. Do you understand me?"

Cory's only response was a groan in pain,

"DO.YOU.UNDERSTAND.ME!"

"YES DAMMIT I UNDERSTAND!"

Gabriel pulled Cory off the door, opening it as far as it would go,

"Good then get the fuck out of my house," Gabriel whispered to him just before tossing him down the stairs and slamming the door shut.

"Gabriel I'm-"

"Get to your room." His voice was low as if he was restraining himself.

"You can't just-"

"NOW CATALINA OR I SWEAR I'LL PICK YOU UP AND CARRY YOU THERE MYSELF!"

Hint Taken.

Gabriel was in no mood to talk and honestly, neither was I.

I rushed to my room and locked the door. I knew Gabriel wasn't mad at me in this situation. He was more mad at Cory than anything. Gabriel was one of those people who saw the good in everyone, so when he saw people acting like Cory did, he got a little…Frustrated, to say the least. It had taken him years to finally see what I meant when I told him that shit like that happened to women daily. He wanted to believe that men couldn't be like that. That there was good in this world. He learned pretty quickly that that wasn't the world we lived in. This world was full of horrible people filled with even more horrible thoughts and agendas. This world was all about survival. Everyone was just trying to survive to see the next day.

I walked over into my en suite and turned on the shower, desperate to clean off Cory's touch from my skin. I couldn't be mad at Gabriel. He was just trying to protect me and keep me safe. He was always so protective over me. It was just who he was. Sometimes I used to think that Gabriel just hated seeing me with any guy. He was like a brother to me and I guess to him I was like a sister, so I could understand it. I didn't know how I would feel about seeing Gabriel with a girl or a guy. But, Gabriel was an angel, not just a regular angel, an Arch Angel. Protecting people was in his blood.

I stepped into the shower, the water practically hot enough to melt skin.

Just the way I like it.

The water felt amazing. As if it was burning off the touch and feel of Cory's hands and eyes from me. Gabriel just needed space and time and then he would calm down and everything would go back to normal.

Hopefully.

* * *

2 WEEKS LATER

I hated the damn sun. The person in my bed did as well as they shifted as they slowly started to awaken.

Shit forgot about him.

"Good morning." He said sleepily and smiled at me.

Shit, what the fuck is his name?

"Your clothes are over there, you should hurry up and get dressed," I said to him as I got out of bed and made my way to the closet

He chuckled,

"Kicking me out already sweetheart?"

"Oh I won't kick you out but he will." I glanced towards the door just as Gabriel began to pound on the door.

"Catalina open the fucking door!"

I glanced back at the man in my bed and saw the slight fear in his eyes,

"You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend." He grunted

I rolled my eyes,

"He's not my boyfriend but like I said earlier you should probably get dressed."

The man in the bed scoffed,

"You probably have about five seconds before he-"

The sound of the door coming off the hinges echoed throughout the room, as Gabriel stepped in and took one look at me and the man in my bed.

"Next time I tell you to open the door, you fucking open it," Gabriel said as he made his way to the bed and just like before yanked the man out of bed and dragged him through the house and out the door.

"That was a little dramatic, don't you think Gabe?" I asked as he made his way back towards my room

"Don't even fucking start Catalina!" he shouted as he began rummaging through my stuff.

"Anything I can help you find?" I asked as I leaned up against the door frame.

"Did he have a bag with him?"

"In the closet under the chair. Why?"

Gabriel ignored me as he raced to my closet and grabbed the dark leather bag out from under the chair.

"Gabriel seriously what the-"

I cut myself off as I realized what exactly Gabriel was holding in his hands.

"You didn't know he had these did you?"

I shook my head, unable to tear my gaze from the syringe and the fully loaded gun in Gabriel's hands.

"You're being irresponsible and reckless Catalina."

I glanced back up at Gabriel,

"How did you even know-"

"Don't worry about how I knew this and instead worry about the people you're fucking around with."

"Do not speak to me as if I am a child!"

"HE COULD HAVE KILLED YOU!" Gabriel yelled, rage pouring out of him.

"You are acting just like-" Gabriel stopped as he turned from me, brushing a hand through his hair.

"This ends now. The sleeping around, The drinking, meeting men that will fucking kill you."

I tore my gaze back to the window and watched as the leaves fell.

"I am getting you help whether you like it or not."

"I don't need help."

"YES THE FUCK YOU DO!" Gabriel rushed to me and took my face between his hands,

"I refuse to lose you. You are fading away and I will do whatever it takes to bring you back."

* * *

Gabriel's POV

Where the hell is she?

Catalina had promised that she would be home before two and considering it was almost four in the morning I was starting to worry. Again. This wasn't like her. This wasn't who she was or who she used to be. I knew she was going through some things. She tended to lash out in anger when she was upset and I was ready for it. I was ready for the screaming matches, silent treatments, and for her to throw things and her common threats. Yet I didn't expect this. The drinking, The partying, All the guys she had around. It wasn't her. In the beginning, I'll admit I didn't pay it much attention. Catalina had set herself free from her family and she was finally able to do things she never got to do and explore the endless possibilities waiting for her. I wanted to be supportive, to be there for her to see all she could do but not like this. I wouldn't help her destroy herself more. I still wanted her to experience life and do whatever made her happy but dammit I also wanted her to be safe about it and right now? It seemed like she didn't care enough about whether something was safe, just so long as she had a good time. I should've gone with her tonight. To make sure she returned home sober and safe.

Fuck it.

I reached over and grabbed my keys off the table and headed for the front door. The sound of my phone ringing stopped me dead in my tracks.

Unknown Caller.

I sat back down at the kitchen island and answered the call, placing whoever was on the line on speaker,

"Hey is this Gabriel?"

"That depends on who's asking?"

"It's Dominick from TapHouse, look is there any way you could come get Catalina?"

Dominick was the owner and lead bartender for TapHouse, one of Catalina and I's favorite bars to go to. Catalina had gone there a few times by herself and I never got a call from him to pick her up. For him to call… it had to be bad.

"Is she alright?" I asked before once again picking up my keys and heading towards the door.

"She's fine for now but if you don't come get her I have a feeling a few customers might lose body parts."

Fucking hell!

"I'll be there in ten minutes." I didn't wait for him to say anything before hanging up.

* * *

I made it to the bar in five minutes. Did I care about the four red lights I ran? No. Did I care about the two cops I had to bribe to let me off the hook? No. Did I care that Catalina was standing face to face with a man that was pushing 6'3 and looked as if he was ready to kick her ass? Yes, yes I did.

A small crowd had gathered around the table, mostly women. Two of them stood behind Catalina, a smaller girl between them. She looked as if she had been crying as the other two girls held her,

"She told you to leave her alone dumbfuck!" Catalina shouted at the man, giving him a slight push,

"And I told you to mind your damn business bitch." The man seethed at her as waved to the girl huddled between two other girls,

"Let's go Delancy, NOW!"

The girl, Delancy hesitated all for one second before Catalina faced her,

"Do you want to go with him?" Catalina asked,

Delancy shook her head. She did not want to leave with him and knowing Catalina, she would do whatever she could to keep him from her.

"I don't give a damn what you want! You are MY girlfriend and If I say we're leaving then we are fucking leaving!" The man tried to brush past Catalina, but she jerked him back before he could get any closer to Delancy.

"Put your hands on me again bitch and see what fucking happens."

Catalina's lips tilted up into a cruel smile and started laughing as the girl closest to her slipped her a bottle.

Well shit, here she goes.

"Why the fuck are you laughing? Crazy Bitch."

Catalina's smile grew wider as she took the bottle the one girl behind her had slipped her and brought it down on the man's head. The glass broke and shattered into millions of pieces, cutting the man's head as dark brown liquor seethed into the fresh open wounds. The man stumbled just for a second before looking up at Catalina. Complete and utter rage filled his eyes while Catalina held his stare, that same menacing smile bright as ever on her face. There was no fear in her eyes. Catalina had never feared men. She wasn't scared. She was angry. Only an idiot would think the smile on her face was from a happy emotion. The smile written on her face was one that most monsters of the world would have nightmares about. The man stepped forward but Catalina did not back down as her left hand fisted the collar of his shirt, bringing him down to her eye level, his eyes slightly widening at her before her right fist connected with his face. The man turned and stumbled back but Catalina was quick as she grabbed him by the back of his shirt and dragged him back over to the table. There was not a single person who wasn't watching as she banged his head over and over and over and over again onto the table. The wounds on his head opened more and more, blood exploding out of his head as she rammed it against the hard metal table. Blood leaked all over his face, down his neck

"Catalina, that's enough!" I yelled, hoping to get through to her yet she continued pounding his head onto the table,

"CATALINA!" I screamed as I reached over and gently tugged her back by her shoulder. Instantly she tensed at my touch, as she slowly turned to face me.

"It's time to go home," I whispered to her as she took a look around. Everyone was staring at her and the bloody mess of a man beneath her.

"He's already unconscious, let's go," I whispered to her again as I let go of her shoulder and held out my hand, hoping she would take it. Instead, she pushed the giant bloody mess and he landed on his back, a soft groan escaping his lips as Catalina stepped over him, grabbing Delancy's hand and walking out of the bar.

Well, this is going to be a long night.

* * *

"Well Delancy is on her way to her new apartment and security will be with her for the next few weeks."

Catalina nodded from her spot on the couch. She had been quiet since we got home. In the car, she had only told me that we needed to find Delancy a safe space to go and for someone to look out for her. I called in a few favors and managed to get Delancy a new apartment about twenty minutes away from the old one that she shared with her boyfriend, and managed to secure a small security team to keep her safe just in case her asshole, of what I hope was a soon to be ex, showed up.

"Do you wanna talk about what happened at the bar?" I asked as I casually took a seat beside her,

"There's nothing to talk about."

"You nearly beat a man to death today Catalina-"

"And I'd do it again!"

"I know you would but you can't just beat people up all the time!"

"He deserved it!" She sneered

"I KNOW HE DID!"

Delancy had disclosed to Catalina exactly how much of an asshole her boyfriend really was and quite frankly, I should have let Catalina get a few more blows in.

"Why do you think it's okay to go around hitting people when there are other ways to solve your problems?"

"You're making it sound as if you're okay with what he did!"

"I'm not okay with what he did but did you have to bash his head in?"

Catalina smirked,

"I would have preferred to stab him."

She would have. I knew if she had any kind of weapon on her she would have stabbed him and we would be having this conversation inside of a jail cell.

"You can't just go around and stab whoever you please."

Catalina stood,

"I can do whatever I please," she said as she rushed down the hall back to her room,

"CATALINA!" I yelled as the sound of her door slamming shut echoed throughout the house.

Way to fucking go Gabriel.

I sat back down in my chair. I knew raising my voice at her wouldn't help. Yelling at Catalina got you virtually nowhere, Yelling at Catalina when she was drunk? Well, I had better luck trying to convince people the earth was flat. Truthfully, What she did wasn't all that bad. She defended someone who needed help and it got a little out of hand. Yes, something bad could have happened but she was helping. In her own way, she was trying to help and she did. Because of her Delancy was safe and out of an abusive relationship and would have protection for the next few months, and the ex was certainly going to think twice before putting his hands on another person.

Whatever it's over and done with.

I wouldn't spend another moment thinking about it. Catalina was home and she was safe. Delancy and her ex were taken care of and everything was going to be okay. At least I had hoped so.

* * *

1 Month Later

The house was quiet. A little too quiet. Catalina had arrived earlier with a… male friend, the two of them had rushed quickly back to her room and I was smart enough to put two and two together and decided I didn't want to hear or even think about what was going to happen in that room so I left. I figured two hours was enough time. Right? Yet it was too quiet.

"Catalina?" I called out hoping to hear her, even if she was yelling at me to go away.

Silence.

Maybe she's asleep?

I dropped my keys off on the kitchen island,

"Catalina?" I called out again.

Silence.

Something isn't right.

I rushed over to her door. The sound of my heart beating inside of my chest was the only thing I could hear as I rushed down the hall. Her door was open. She never left that door open. I pushed the door open, my eyes falling on the small body that lay on the ground in a pool of blood.

"CATALINA!"

I rushed towards her. Her eyes were shut but I could see the bruising under them, Her cheeks had faint splatters of blood, covering her delicate freckles, turning them red, her body was stiff but she wasn't cold, She was still warm. Quickly I checked her pulse.

Just Barely there!

I Picked her up and gently laid her on the bed. There was so much blood. I couldn't tell where it was coming from. It was all over her, running from her face, all the way down to her legs.

What the actual fuck happened here!

Gently I pressed my hand to her head, letting the soft light heal the gash in her head. My magic flowed inside, slowly repairing the wound, mending it shut. The faint light coursed through her, healing the rest of the open wounds that decorated her body. I watched as each cut slowly repaired itself. Leaving nothing behind. No cut, No bruise, No scar. Just healed tan skin. The bruise under her eyes slowly began to fade, as if the healing light coursing through her banished the dark scars away. Her breathing began to even out and the pain in my chest slowly began to ease.

She's going to be alright. She's okay.

Slowly the faint light disappeared from her body. The wounds were healed but the blood remained. Carefully I laid her head down on the bed and made my way over to the bathroom attached to her room. Grabbing a pink cotton cloth and dampening it under warm water. I wouldn't let her sit in her own blood. She didn't need to wake up and see that. Gently I wiped the blood from her face, returning her freckles to the soft light brown they had once been. I don't know how long I was there for, wiping the blood off her body. It could've been seconds, minutes, maybe even hours but the minute her eyes opened and those green eyes looked back at me. Everything stopped.

"Gabe where-" Her voice raspy as if she had been screaming

"We're home, in your room." I took a deep breath, stealing a spot next to her on the bed,

"Catalina, what happened?"

Catalina tensed and she slowly shifted away from me. The movement was so quick and small that most wouldn't have noticed. Slowly she sat up, her back leaning against the velvet headboard, pressing her knees to her chest and clasping her hands together so tightly it seemed she was holding on for dear life.

"Did..did that guy do anything-"

"It wasn't him."

"Someone else was here?"

Aside from a few acquaintances, Catalina was the only person who knew about this place. Catalina was the only person I ever let stay here. No one should know about this place. I picked this location specifically because it was far away from everyone, the nearest neighbor was a good eight miles down the road. The house was surrounded by huge trees that from a distance almost camouflaged us. Unless you knew about this place, there was no way you would even know we were here. Besides Catalina, no one knew about it. No one was getting into this house unless Catalina or I wanted them to. Which meant Catalina had to have known this person.

"It was my mother."

Oh fuck.

Tiana Alvarez was not a kind person. Over the years since I've known Catalina, I had witnessed her mother do atrocious things to her child. I remembered how she had beaten Catalina so brutally Catalina was in pain every time she sat down for a week and yet the woman somehow managed to smile and pretend everything was okay while her daughter suffered. And if Catalina complained? It only made things worse. So when Catalina decided to move in with me at nineteen, I was prepared for arguments and screaming. I was prepared to step in and defend Catalina if I had to. Yet she was relatively unmoved by Catalina's decision to move out. It was as if the woman didn't care. She never called Catalina or even texted her after that. Yet Catalina always tried to reach out, to establish some sort of connection that I will never understand why she would want. She was always met with silence.

"How did she-"

"One of the guys I hooked up with apparently was the son of my mother's boss. I guess he was angry that I didn't want much to do with him so he ranted to his mother and it just so happened that my mother had overheard."

"How did she find-"

"He drove her here."

"What did she do?"

Catalina sighed before answering me,

"Went on her usual tandem about how I'm a disgrace to the family, how I never should have been born, and how I was a mistake. You know all the usual stuff."

Unfortunately, I did know. Those claims Tiana would throw at her daughter weren't new. When Catalina was younger it hurt her. A lot and as a child she always thought there was something wrong with her but as she grew older, she became numb to it. Her mother's words eventually didn't strike her as deeply as they used to. They still hurt her but unfortunately, she became used to it. Her mother saying those things became her new normal.

"What else did she do?"

Catalina shifted slightly, pulling her legs even closer to her chest, lifting one hand to twirl a piece of hair that had fallen in her face,

"She had her favorite belt with her."

Dammit

Catalina's mother's favorite belt was ultimately Catalina's worst nightmare. A long black leather belt, encrusted with hard metal spikes, and depending on her mood, she would warm up those spikes with the fire from her lighter. I glanced over at Catalina as a small tear escaped her eye. Very rarely had I ever seen Catalina cry. As a child, she would cry during punishments at the hands of her mother but as she got older she taught herself to numb out the pain so she wouldn't feel as much. She was Thirteen when she taught herself that.

"Twenty-five marks for twenty-five years of mistakes." She whispered

I wrapped my arm around Catalina and pulled her close. I hated it. I hated that her mother had found her. I hated that her mother thought she had a right to come into my home, to Catalina's home, and put her hands on Catalina. I hated that Catalina had to endure her. I hated everything about that woman.

"I will make sure she never steps foot on this property again. I promise you."

Catalina remained silent. She wasn't going to be okay. She was going to lie to herself and tell herself that everything was fine and she would get through it. But I knew what would happen, the familiar deadly cycle would repeat itself once again and again and again. I wouldn't allow it. Not again. Not ever again.

* * *

This is a very bad idea.

But there was no way I was going to let my friend, who I considered more like a sister to me, ruin her life. I saw the signs but I chose to try and let her heal herself first. Nothing changed. I thought maybe seeing that therapist would help her, instead, he made her worse and I helped him. I sent her to him. She wouldn't trust anyone now. Her mother found her because I refused to put a stop to this behavior. This was my fault but now I had a chance to fix it. To help her.

If he ever shows up.

I glanced down at my watch again. 4:45 PM.

If I didn't get home soon Catalina was going to get suspicious. The girl might be drunk most days but she was smart, she knew it only took about an hour to get pizza from our favorite place.

"Where the fuck are you?" I whispered to myself. If he wasn't here in the next five minutes I was going to have to come up with another plan to help Catalina because no matter what I was going to help her. She needed the help and frankly, she deserved it. She had already been through so much and I'd be damned if I let this destructive cycle repeat itself and bring her down.

The cold tap on my shoulder pulled me from my thoughts and I Instantly flinched.

"Dammit, you scared the shit outta me," I said as I clutched my chest.

"Well, I am naturally terrifying."

He took a seat next to me on the bench.

"Good to see you again brother."

"It's good to see you too Lucifer."