Three Steps Back

21

James 

When I tell you, my heart is beating out my fucking chest I mean it
"Liam!" I practically screamed as I ran down the corridor, the look on his face was nothing shy of stomach turning
"Where is she" I asked about to run past him, Liam grabbed my arms pulling me back
"She's with the doctors and the police right now" He said making me widen my eyes

"What why? Whats happening?" I said and his eyes began to water
"I don't know the full story but it involved Nigel" He said making my breath hitch
"what?" I asked and he nodded
"I don't know how the son of a bitch did it but he got away scott fucking free" he said as my hands turned sweaty
"I'm going to kill him" I growled pushing my hands into a fist
"Get in line James" he said 

I didn't know what to do, I didn't know what to say. But what I did know was that I fucked up royally
"I didn't answer my fucking phone" I groaned hitting a wall
"James" Liam warned me
"12 damn missed called Liam!! Fucking 12" I yelled grabbing a few peoples attention

"I get it James! It isn't you fault" He said and I looked at him
"If anyone is to blame I should be.. I could have given her a ride home. If I had, you two would be in bed right now" He said 
"Don't. She wouldn't want you blaming yourself" I said and he nodded putting his hand on my shoulder
"She wouldn't want you to either" he said making me sigh

We both walked over to some seats awaiting for some news before Liam turned to look at me
"What was it you said to me earlier?" He asked making me raise a brow at him
"About Riley being tough?" He reminded me
"that she was a tough egg to crack" I said with a small smile
"We just need to remember that. If we let that falter.. That will be when she crashes" He said and I nodded

--

It's been fucking hours, it was early hours of the morning and I've seen police walk in and out of one room in particular. It happened to be the one guarded by two officers at all times
"She's in there" I said making Liam look up from his hands
"You think?" He asked and I nodded
"Why else would there be police here" I said and he sighed
"I just want to know she's fucking okay" I groaned leaning back into the seat

"James, without being the barer of bad news. I don't think she's okay" He said
"We wouldn't be in the hospital if she was" he reminded me
"Thanks for the optimism man" I said making him nudge me lightly
I just want to go back and keep my fucking phone on loud. No band practice should have cost us this much, why is that one decision can change everything?
It isn't fucking fair

"Liam right?" A male officer said coming over making both Liam and I's ears prick up
"Yes" He said as we both got to our feet
"How about we go find somewhere private to talk" he offered making both of us nod
"Alone" He warned me and I shook my head
"I'm coming" I said and the officer went to say something
"James is coming too. It would be what Riley would have demanded anyway!" Liam said placing an arm across my back
The officer soon gave in and nodded as we followed him into an empty treatment room

--

Listening to the next few words to come out of this officers mouth was not going to be nice, it was not going to be easy 
"Listen, I'm going to lay it all out on the table" He said
"We are hugely at fault for what happened to her and I can promise you we are going to do our hardest to figure out how he slipped through this system" He started
"But as you are aware, Nigel found Riley this evening. She was walking back from town?" He asked making us both nod

"What he did to her, was not pleasant, when I walked into that motel room and saw her for the first time. I was surprised she was still fighting" he said making my breath hitch
"He's hit her, he's kicked her and worst of all he has sexually assaulted her" He said making my heart instantly sink
"how is she doing?" Liam asked in the softest voice I've ever heard leave his lips

"you have one hell of a fighter" He said before looking to me then back to Liam
"She's been given some medication to get her to sleep, the moment any male goes near her. Riley freaks out but that is a given considering" He said making both of us nod
"Can we see her?" I asked and the officer nodded

We all started to walk towards her room
"There will be two officers outside for the entire time she is here. Although we have Nigel in custody. There was some other men there two who sped off in a van before we could catch them" He warned us
We got to the room I had assumed was Riley's and I was right
I looked at Liam who sighed placing an arm around me again while we both walked in

The moment we walked in, my heart sunk even more. 
She was pale, she looked like she had been fighting, fighting hard. Her face red and puffy, just like it gets when she is crying
Her knuckles covered in scratches, bruises slowly starting to appear in the smallest of places

"I'm going to fucking" Liam started
"Kill him" We both finished before taking a seat next to Riley