Listen Before You Speak

Chapter 20

"We have to go," Kevin whispered urgently.

"Why?" I asked. Fear has appeared in Kevin's eyes and I had no idea why. "It might be Blake."

"I know. And I don't want to see him, okay?"

"Well, I kinda need to talk to him," I answered, wanting to look Blake straight in the eyes and ask him if the story that Kevin had just told me was true.

"Please Elijah. Please. I probably lost my job tonight bringing you here, so just please do this one thing for me and get into the car," Kevin pleaded, his eyes darting toward the road, seeing the car coming closer and closer.

"Tell me the rest of the story," I prompted.

"Get into the car and I will tell you everything I know. Please, just please get in," Kevin pleaded getting more urgent by the minute. It was as if he wasn't even seeing me anymore, just talking to me as if I was some ghost, while he kept his eyes firmly on the lights that was coming up the hill.

"We won't get past him in any case. The road just isn't broad enough," I took a more logical approach. Not that it seemed to work completely. Kevin was completely transfixed.

"Please!" Kevin pleaded. "Please, let's go. I can't stand to see Blake. I just can't"

But the words fell on death's ears as the car coming toward us skidded to a halt, blocking our way out, as two black shapes climbed out from either side.

"What the hell do you think you are doing? Are you stupid!" Lucy started to yell, as she ran towards me, hands held high as to slap me silly. However, as I started to duck I found that the abuse wasn't directed at me but at Kevin.

With every slap she yelled out a different word, trying to construct a sentence.

"You! Work! For! Me! And! You! Had! Orders!"

Slap. Slap. Slap. Slap.

"You! Were! Supposed! To! Bring! Elijah! Home!"

"Stop!" I shouted and moved myself between Kevin and Lucy. "I asked him to bring me here."

"You what?" she asked in disbelief. "Kevin is a snake. He doesn't do things for others if he isn't getting anything out of it."

At that moment I felt Blake's hand on my shoulder.

"Don't touch me," I said, and moved closer to Kevin. So far he was the only one that had actually been honest with me. More than that, he was a rapist. I knew that was what Blake has been keeping from me. Both him and Lucy. Kevin was the victim here. Just as I was.

"Please Eljah... I don't know what he told you, and I don't know what he told Alice, but it isn't true," Blake said, begging me with his eyes, looking as if he lost a battle.

"Did you rape him?" I asked, my question directed at Blake, ignoring both Lucy and Kevin.

"It's not that simple... Lots of things happened that night..." Blake said, not once looking me in the eye. Keeping his head low.

"It's a simple yes or no question."

Although I wanted to break down and cry I knew I needed to stay strong. Not just for myself, but also for Kevin. Another victim. What he did wasn't right, but two wrongs has never made a right.

"Elijah..." Blake began, but I cut him off.

"Just a yes or no."

For a moment I believed that Blake would not answer me, that the truth would never come out unless Kevin and I had more time to ourselves so that I could hear the entire story.