Our Flame

LVIII

THIRD PERSON

"Someone should call Alek, he'd want to know that we got her back." Viktor mumbles as they all sit in a waiting room. "I'll do it." Gianna stands up.

Since Viktor and Vadim accused Aleksi of being involved with Nadia's kidnapping, they haven't heard from him. But can you blame him?

The room stays silent for a moment until Viktor speaks again, "What happens now?" He sighs. No one truly knows the answer to that question, the only one they can think of is being there for Nadia in the best way they can.

"Ezra you should stay." Vadim looks towards him. "I planned to." Ezra mumbles.

Everyone's head turns as the doctor walks in, "Nadia- screaming cuts of her words. "Stay out here." The doctor rushes back into the room.

NADIA

I wish that all the doctors would stop touching me as if I was some type of experiment. As if I would lose it.

But I will lose it, I just don't know when. The only person who showed me kindness the past two weeks is gone- gone because of me.

Tears swarm my eyes at the thought of Oscar. I blink them away as the doctor enters the room. I look away from the doctor when she pulls up my gown.

I've seen the bruises, I lived through getting them. I don't need to see the aftermath. I wince as she pushes on my inner thigh.

"Stop." I whisper. The doctor gives me a pitiful stare, "Nadia, this bruising is showing signs of sexual assault." I ignore her.

She says a few more things until she asks the question, "Were you raped?" I gulp and look everywhere but her.

"Please go, please leave." I beg. But she doesn't leave, she stays. I don't need her though, I need my family. I need Ezra's comfort.

"Nadia, please let me help you." Tears fall from my eyes at her tone. "Did those men rape you?"

Why rephrase the question? My answer may never leave my mouth.

I was beaten and tied up for saying no, I was told to never speak about what happened. Yet I'm torn right now- the sooner I speak the sooner I see my family.

I don't want to answer the question because I don't have an answer. My body was touched over and over, men treated me like a rare object.

And I have no idea what happened while I was unconscious.

But Oscar never let them get so far as rape, he saved me from that. But I couldn't save him. The realization makes me cry.

Sadly the questions continue, that one word continues to be thrown around the room. And finally I lose it.

I start to sob uncontrollably, out of pure anger and sadness. "I wasn't raped, okay?" I shout.

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Everyone turns at Nadia's frantic yelling, each person feels a different sense of frustration not being able to help her.