“Gracie!” I attempted to sound composed as I began searching for her.
I shook my head violently, in denial at what had obviously happened here.
Fear and pain poleaxed me when I saw the dry wall caved in and blood on the carpet at my feet. Scanning the area, I noted at least twenty empty cans of beer and an empty pack of cigarettes on the coffee table. Butts lay on the table where they’d been stubbed out in the wood.
My heart roared in my ears as I checked through the house - room by room. Lounge - no Gracie. Kitchen - no Gracie. Hallway carpet had pools of blood matching what was found in the living room.
To my right a door was cracked open, slivers of a bathroom were visible. I pushed on the door, afraid of what might be revealed.
My breathing was rapid, so I drew on my training to calm myself. But this wasn’t a war situation, this was someone I loved and fear engulfed me as I worried about Gracie’s safety. Yes, I loved this woman and I would not fucking lose her. I would not allow her to be taken from me.
I sighed with relief when Gracie wasn’t in the bathroom. I pushed open another door to my right, pain gripped my ribs as I sucked in a fortifying breath, only to release it again when there was no sign of Gracie. It was a spare room containing wooden furniture and cute floral soft furnishings.
The next door was the same – still no sign of Gracie. Fuck me, man it was torture no knowing where she was.
Then my eyes caught sight of a door which was ajar at the end of the hallway. Light splintering through it caught on something on the floor, an auburn hue floated on the air in the hallway.
I turned to find Martha behind me, her eyes wet with unshed tears. Fear gripped her and I watched as Brad’s arm tightened around her. Giving her comfort.
“Let’s just stay her aye, doll? Let Kaden go in.”
Brad felt what I did, it was our job to feel and sense when something was wrong.
Martha nodded as the first tear slid down her face. Brad turned her in his arms, her face buried into his chest.
My feet moved as if on auto pilot, it was as if my body knew it needed to co-operate with me. Gracie needed me, I felt it in my heart. There was no doubt in my mind that she was hurt on the other side of the door.
I close my eyes, pulled in one huge, soul-reaching breath and pushed the door open. I stepped in and pulled it closed behind me, calling on my training and ability to feel things out in the dark. I couldn’t bear to see what my heart already knew in the brightness of day.
I slowly pulled my lids open and I swear, in that moment all the memories and pain of what haunted my tortured mind in the dark, slapped me like cold reality. A sucker punch taking all the air from my body. Dropping to my knees, hands on my thighs, my mind screamed in frustration at the pain of being confined in the moonboots.
I gripped at the Velcro bands and tore off the boots to give me movement, my eyes never left Gracie, lifeless on the floor in a pool of blood.
Ari - death, pain, tears, fear and the dark, clawed at my senses all at once, over-powering my control. My heart shattered as I crawled, in what seemed like slow motion, toward the woman I loved. I struggled to come to terms with losing Gracie, emotion beat down on me, cold and crazy.
I lowered my hands to her gently and surveyed her battered and broken body. Tears slid down my cheeks. Her lips were tinged blue, her cheeks a pale, pasty white. Blood was smeared and caked seemingly everywhere. Her nose appeared to be broken, swollen lips were split open as were her eyebrows. Even in the dim light I could see she was coated in blood and her fingernails were broken. She’d fought hard for her life; of that I had no doubt.
Her chest was bare except for a bra, bruises and cuts were all over her skin. Shattered glass lay around her, small splinters in her face mixed with the blood and glittered in the narrow beams of light from the window. Blood was everywhere, it looked like someone had poured a bottle of red wine over my baby.
I scooped an arm behind her neck, stickiness coated my skin, and lowered my head to her sweet lips. I heard feint breathing, weak and laboured, but it was there. My lips grazed hers and my heart stuttered, knowing she was still with me.
“Please, baby, please. I’m here. I’ve got you. Hang on, baby.”
I brushed blood matted hair from her face, gathered her in my arms and pulled her limp body into mine, pressing her close against my chest. Tears dripped from my chin to the top of her head.
She didn’t move, nor make a sound. Her eyes were shut and my heart ached with each passing moment. At the back of my mind, I knew we needed to get her to help – and fast.
My ragged breathing was loud in my ears as I was reminded that those I loved could be hurt, bleed and be snatched from my fingertips.
I pushed to my feet, ignoring the pain and partly numb legs which felt heavy. The pain screaming from my body on now numb legs that feel heavy. This was not a time to think of myself.
Sweat dripped from my forehead as I stepped from the room, mixing with my tears and Gracie’s blood. When I emerged into the hallway, Brad’s eyes met mine and his body stiffened. I nodded, indicating Gracie was still alive but barely.
Tears slid like burning flames down my cheeks and I felt no shame.
Martha sensed the change in Brad and spun in his arms, despite his efforts to stop her.
“NO! NO! NO! NO!.” Her screams chilled me to the core.
