This chapter is slower paced, as it deals with the aftermath of the previous chapter. If you'd like to skip ahead, feel free to do so.
This story is a work of fiction and has no inspiration from reality. Any similarities to one's own life experience is a complete coincidence. The following story has the following triggers: Rape, revenge, alcohol abuse, humiliation, and violence.
The hospital kept me all day and overnight for observation. This is the second time I've been here this month; both times was after being raped by my brother, Nick. The day before I called an ambulance for my father who was dying from liver or kidney failure.
I've been dealing with the police trying to find Nick. Offering what information I could. If he is staying with someone, there's dozens of women he was in contact with over the last couple months since mom died. He didn't have a car so he couldn't have left town unless by bus or uber. They even admitted there was little effort they could do in finding him. Normally they run ads in the local newspaper, but people my age don't read the paper and the older generation that does become paranoid thinking everyone they see remotely similar to Nick's profile is him. They can't follow up on every lead because of that.
Their best hope of catching him is by tracking his cell phone or IP address through the dating sites, but all attempted calls go directly to voicemail, leading detectives to believe his phone is shut down. But Nick is smart, he's probably deleted all his profiles by now.
Hospital security stands outside my door at all times during my stay, checking every doctor and nurse that steps in. I remember the sun was still up when I finally fell asleep, then being woken up as it was setting.
One of the security guards opened my door and let in a middle aged, balding man with a near goatee wearing an expensive suit.
"Miss Gale? I'm Robert Nordson, I have some terrible news. I know you're under stress from your current..."
"Dad's dead isn't he?" I cut him off.
"Yes, ma'am. I wrote your parents wills a few years ago, and I'm obligated to tell you that the remainder of your mother's life insurance and now your fathers passes to you and your brother Nick."
I recoil at Nick's name.
"The detectives tell me he's responsible for your stay here, and has a warrant for his arrest. Because of his two felony warrants, I'm working on convincing the insurance company to name you full and primary beneficiary of funds."
"Can we discuss this tomorrow when I'm discharged? I'd like to rest before we talk about this further." I shift as much as I comfortably can with an IV in my arm.
"Of course Miss Gale. Here's my card, call me when you're ready. In the meantime I'll draw up the forms to make this as simple as possible." He sets his business card on the rolling table by the bed and leaves.
Mom's gone. Dad's gone. Nick is dead to me. I truly am now all alone in this world. I'm 18 and a half years old and orphaned.
The night passed by soon enough and I was discharged the next morning. I called another Uber to take me home. After leaving the car, all I could do was stare at the house from the sidewalk.
"Is Nick waiting for me inside?" I thought, Do I dare enter the house that caused so much pain and suffering? I pulled out Mr. Nordson's business card and dialed his number. A woman answered.
"Thank you for calling the office Robert Nordson, how may I direct your call?"
"Uhh. Hi. My name is Gale. Mr. Nordson talked to me yesterday in the hospital. I was wondering if he's free to meet me today?"
"Please hold." After about two minutes the secretary picks up again.
"Mr. Nordson is out of the office right now, can I take a message?"
"Umm, sure. If he's free later could he meet me at the 24 hour diner of 6th and broad. There's no rush, I'll be waiting there."
"I'll let him know! Take care now." The call ends, and I begin walking to the diner.
I sit down at the far end of the dining room close to an emergency exit but facing the front door, paranoid that Nick could come at any moment. All I ordered was a pot of coffee and informed the waitress I was waiting for someone. After waiting for a couple hours her shift was ending, so I paid her for my coffee and reordered a fresh pot from the new waitress that came in. I waited for a good 5 hours before I saw Mr. Nordson come in and I waved him over.
"I'm sorry I took so long Miss Gale, I was at a divorce negotiation that was getting ugly." He set his briefcase on the table and sat down.
We went over every single asset my family owned. My dad's car, the house, apparently we had a timeshare in Vermont I never knew about. I had plenty of time to think of what I wanted, between the hospital and the wait here at the diner, I wanted to sell off everything. I wanted to move to a new town, change my name, and start over entirely.
He guided me through the forms, legal disclosures, and offered me details on a real estate agency he trusts, especially given the "violent events" of the house recently.
After everything was signed he lended me $200 for a hotel for a couple days telling me to pay it back once the inheritance came in. I stayed at the diner for another 2-3 hours after Mr. Nordson left. I paid for the second pot of coffee, and went down the street to book a cheap motel for a couple nights.
ONE WEEK LATER
The inheritance has been finalized and the insurance company gave me a lump sum payout. Enough to afford myself a one-bedroom apartment and more than plenty to live off of.
I decided to pay off and keep the house. I added surveillance cameras just in case Nick ever came back I would know and be able to call the police. I also invested in multiple laptops and cellphones. This way I could create multiple profiles on the dating site I knew Nick used to use. I didn't know what my plan would be if I found him. All I know is I want my revenge before the police apprehend him.
During all this John, the man who brought dad home each night, kept in touch. Some days we'd meet for coffee or he would bring me groceries. He was a charming man. Mid-50s, twice divorced, a bit of a beer belly and a salt and pepper beard, but he was kind. He told me since the last time he brought my dad home, he joined an AA group. He said he never really had a problem drinking, but what happened to my dad inspired him to quit all together.
One day he came over to drop off groceries and saw all the laptops around the apartment.
"What's all this about?" He nodded toward the computers as he set bags on my kitchen counter.
"I'm... uh... looking for 'him'." I confess sheepishly.
"Is that really a good idea? I thought you moved to get away from him." He begins putting the groceries away.
"John, you don't have to do that, you can just leave them. I'll get to it." I enter the kitchen trying to get him to stop.
"It's the least I can do. Now don't change the subject. What would you do if you did find him, what if he finds you?" He continues putting the groceries away.
"I... I don't know what I'd do if I found him. Call the police probably, but at the same time. I want to... I want to break him like how he broke me." Tears started filling my eyes and moved toward the sink grabbing the edges.
The rummaging stops, he puts a hand on my shoulder, but I flinch. He slowly turns me towards him and gently embraces me.
"Is this what a father's touch is supposed to be like?" I think to myself, and the water works begins. I begin sobbing into his chest, his chin resting atop my head.
"It's okay now Gale. Just let it out."
I sob into him for the better part of 5 minutes before I force myself to calm down. My cheeks are red, my eyes puffy and bloodshot. I pull back from him and look him in the eyes. He smiles, wipes the stream of tears from my cheeks.
"It's okay now Gale. You're safe here. I only ask you not to make it an obsession finding 'him', it's a very thin line between obsession and addiction." Already I miss that fatherly embrace he held me in.
He kisses my forehead. "I'm going to head home now, if you need anything, just call.". He pats my shoulder and makes his way to the front door.
"John!" I call out, heading to the living room.
"Yes, Gale?"
"Thank you, for everything. If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know."
"I will Gale. Just focus on trying to make a normal life right now."
He closed the door behind him, and once again I was alone.
I finish putting the rest of the groceries away, warm up a TV dinner in the microwave and sit down with all my devices.
I labeled each one with a name so I didn't mix up what fake account I was on.
There was Anna, a blond hair, blue eye former cheerleader now single mother,
Theresa, a bank secretary, brown hair hazel eyes
Mckayla, a red head from nowhere Tennessee and at least a half dozen more personalities I came up with.
I stole a lot of these pictures from girl's instagram pages that havent posted in awhile so hopefully Nick wouldn't catch on that they're fake. I set each profile to a different nearby town to try and cast a wide net in case he did skip town entirely. But I didn't have any luck tonight. Not a single profile that had his picture or any kind of identifying information in his bio. The good news is there aren't exactly a lot of fit 23 year old boys on dating sites right now so it makes the search pool relatively easy.
After about 2 hours of searching, I decided to call it quits and get ready for bed. I walk into my narrow bathroom and leave the door partially open, after all it's just me; and if it's not, I'll be able to hear someone break in. For that reason, I've also kept a baseball bat readily available in my bedroom, the bathroom, kitchen and living room. Just in case.
I remove my shirt and leggings, and briefly stare at myself in the mirror. My trauma therapist says I should spend time reacquainting myself with my body. I guess most rape victims cant stand to look at themselves naked. I don't have that problem so much, but I do flinch every time I clean or shave my vagina and thighs. I haven't even used any toys on myself since, not that I regularly did, but sometimes the urge used to strike. Not anymore. As I stand before the mirror, I undo my bra and let it fall. I grab my breasts to cover up from the person in the mirror and take a deep breath before slowly exposing myself to the mirror. Plump C-cup breasts, nothing impressive to me at least, but I feel my heart rate accelerate as I see myself mostly naked. Sometimes I can almost feel my brother's mouth or tongue on them and I cover myself real fast before realizing it was just a stress flash. I calm myself before revealing myself again.
Next is the really hard part. I place my thumbs on my band of my panties, and I have to close my eyes and take a deep breath. Most days I just shower with them on. But it's been a couple days since I shaved and the hair is beginning to itch.
