I'm Not Real

Chapter Seven

⚠️MAJOR TRIGGER WARNING⚠️ illusions to rape/sexual assault and physical abuse

Chapter seven: Hurt People

"So. Why exactly haven't you called the cops?" Whitty's first question was, once they explained everything and decided on a plan.
"Long story short, we avoid them." Nene informed, before Pico snapped at them,
"-but that's not the issue, the issue is that we don't fuckin' know what Cherry is doing to Keith right now, so cut the chit chat and let's get going, shit heads!" He grabbed his guns and a rope, then proceeded to leave the house without looking back. Quite frankly he didn't care if the others followed him or not, he could do it himself. But fortunately for the careless idiot, they did.

They stomped down to Cherry's house as adrenaline kicked in. Whitty began to walk faster and Darnell started to run. Nene just looked focused while Pico, still in front of them all, continued to March and clenched his fist.

Once they'd arrived, they were ready to get in and get Keith safe as soon as humanly possible.

At home they'd decided that they would wait until they knew Cherry wasn't in the room and then they'd climb into their bedroom, where they guessed Keith was.
It was on the second floor so it was decided that Whitty would get Darnell up to the window and he would pick the lock. Then, Nene would climb into the room and get Keith out, while Pico and Whitty dealt with Cherry. Whitty would go through the front door while Pico would go to where she was in the house through the window.

They thought the plan was just genius. It wasn't.

First things first, they didn't know where the bedroom was, only that it was upstairs sense a few times Keith mentioned it in passing conversation. So they contimplated just picking all the locks, but decided against it when they realized how much time it would take. And they didn't have time.

So, they opened one and hoped for the best. It turned out to be a bathroom. With someone in the shower. And it was most likely Cherry considering the silhouette, Nene noted. She just closed the window as quietly as possible and left the room to go find Keith. The room was two doors down, she finally figured out. She signaled that fact from one of the windows, and the others soon caught on. She looked over to the bed, whispering to Keith that she was there to save him before she realized the state he was in. He was asleep curled up on himself with only his injured leg left from his little cacoon of blankets. She took off the blankets, hoping it would wake him up. It didn't, though. He had bruises all over his body, and was only wearing his pants. He was holding onto his shirt like it was his lifeline. He had bite marks and bleeding cuts on his torso and neck.

It was a heartbreaking sight, and she was close to tears as she untied him and handed him off to Whitty, who held him bridal style.

Whitty and Pico were supposed to confront Cherry now, but seeing Keith, they decided to do it at another time. They had to help him that instant.
He was still fast asleep, surprisingly, which worried them.

They ran back home, eager to treat their hurt friend. They didn't know what to do from here. Were they to treat him then confront Cherry? No, he needed them. They'd stay.

They couldn't let this happen again.