Beyond

76

*Zion

I was out shopping. I really haven't been shopping for myself or having time to myself so today was the day. Treasure ass was hanging with her friends.

I was shopping when I got a phone call. It was unknown number but I answered anyways.

"Hello..." I said in a deep voice

"This Zion??" I heard from the other end

"Who's this??" I asked

"This Crystal, Milan's best friend..." she said

"Oh Wassup Crystal..." I said in my normal voice

"Do you still have a key to Milan's apartment??" She asked

"Yeah, why??" I asked

"Can I meet you to get them cuz she ain't talked to us in like a month and a few weeks. I've called her today for like 2 hours and she still hasn't answered. We went knock on her door but hasn't answered..." she said

"Crystal I'm out right now. I can't give you the keys but I can meet you at her apartments in the next 2 hours..." I said

"Zion I need to go check on her now..." she said

"Well I'm sorry Crystal but I'm outta pocket right now, sorry..." I said before hanging up

It's been a hour. I've payed for my things now I was in the food court getting food. While in line I felt myself being pulled back. I turned around to see Crystal and Red.

"Zion I need those keys..." Crystal said

"Milan mom specifically told me to not hand these keys to no one, so I can't..." I said

"Either you come opened the door or give me the damn keys..." Crystal said walking up on me

Red grabbed her.

"Bro just follow us to Milan's house and opened the door. You can continue your day, we just need to make sure she's okay..." Red said

I took a deep breath and rolled my eyes.

"Come on..." I said

We walked to our cars and headed to the apartments. On the way to her apartment, I was on the phone with Treasure. We made it to the garage and got out. We rode the elevator to her floor. Crystal was so impatient.

"I'm sure she's fine Crystal calm down..." Red said

"Red I can't, I just got this feeling that something's wrong..." Crystal said

The door finally opened and Crystal flew to her door. She twisted the door knob but it was locked of course. I unlocked the door and let them in. My phone started ringing. I answered it as I made my way back to the elevator.

"Zion where are you??" Cameron said on the other end

Before I could respond I heard screaming.

"OH MY GOD!!!"
"MILAN..."

I quickly turned back around and ran into her apartment.

"Hold on..." I told Cameron before hanging up

I walked into her room and I heard Crystal crying in the bathroom. I walked to the door. I seen Milan laying on the floor with her clothes ripped off her, bloody nose, black eye, and it was puddle of blood under her head. Her eyes were opened and she was breathing. I ran up to her.

"Milan can you hear me??" I asked

She didn't moved.

"Milan please answer..." I said grabbed her hand

Look at her.

"Milan baby can you hear me..." I said looking at her
"Milan baby please..."

I felt her gently squeeze my hand. I smiled a lil cuz she was responding.

"We gotta call the ambulance..." Crystal said

"They not gone make it in time. We gotta take her ourselves. Go get my a blanket and pass me a towel..." I said

Red got the towel. I put the big towel on her head and I wrapped the blanket around her naked body. I picked her up bridal style and took her to the car. But we ended up in Red's truck. I was on the backseat holding Milan. Crystal was on the front and Red was driving.

My phone started ringing. It was Cameron.

"Cameron now is not a good time. Get Lani and y'all come to the hospital..." is all I said before we hung up

I looked down to see Milan looking at me with tears coming down her face. I wiped her face gently as I stared at her.

Who would do something like this to her?
Who could put their hands on her?

While thinking, I felt a hand on my face. Her hand was on face shaking. Her mouth mouthed "I can't".

"Don't say that, yes you can..." I said wiping her tears away

She gently shook her head as more tears came out, seeing her in this state broke me. Broke me to the core. I should've been there. I should've been there to protect her, there to talk to her, and there to make her feel safe. I should've paid more attention when I seen her at the store. I should kept trying after she told me to fuck off.

We finally made it to the hospital and I ran with her in my arms. Crystal yelled that we needed help. Doctors came running and put her on a bed. The wheeled her to the back and told us to stay at the front. My white shirt and hands were full of blood. I walked to the bathroom and locked the door. I went to the sink.

I started getting the blood off my hands and arms. Now I needed a new shirt. Once I got clean, I walked out and went back to the waiting room. Cameron and Lalani walking in.

"What happened??"
"Where all this blood come from??" Lalani asked looking at me

Crystal grabbed her and they walked off.

"You got another shirt in your car??" I asked Cameron

"Yeah..." she said

We started walking to her car.

"What happened??" She asked

"I was out shopping when Crystal demanded me to go unlock Milan's door. I finally went to unlock it and that's when they found Milan on the floor. She was laying in her own blood. She have a black eye, busted nose, and her clothes were tore off her..." I said
"Who would do something like that??"

Cameron handed me a shirt and I started changing.

"That's why I was calling you. Today I seen her and she had a black eye. I'm sure that guy name Titus is beating on her..." she said

I turned and looked at her.

"Titus been beating her??" I asked

"I'm sure it's him..." she said

"Mmmm..." I said nodding

We headed back in the hospital.