“Uhm… One of the players who packed up my shit left them,” I say. “Look, I can do my job. That’s all that matters. I’ll keep my shit out…”
“Oh God, an independent brat,” Kip says. “Why do I feel like you are never going to ask for help?”
“Because I won’t.” I smile apprehensively.
“Ray knows one of the players raped you?” Connor asks.
“I don’t remember…”
“Let’s start here. My sister was brutally gang raped in high school by a bunch of football players. She was a cheerleader and thought that somehow she caused it. She never spoke up and pulled the same bullshit, saying that she didn’t remember.”
“I’m just not there yet,” I admit.
“Well, your secret is safe with us, but we play them soon. Who is it?” Kip asks.
“I survived once; I'd like to not have to relearn to walk again,” I say, shutting down.
“Was there more than one?” Hunter asks.
“You aren’t going to give up, are you?” I ask.
“No.” He smiles.
“Fine. I will explain this one time, and then I don’t wanna talk about it again. I will make your life a living hell if you speak of this to anyone ever. Got it?”
“Got it,” Kip says, shutting my bedroom door. They all notice my reaction immediately when I’m closed into the room with them, and they frown.
“You prefer Ari?” Connor asks, and I nod. “I promise, we will not hurt you. We are intrigued by you, yes, and Hunter is definitely going to want to fuck you, but no one is going to pressure you into anything. No one is going to run their mouth or make yourlife any harder than it already has been. If you are going to live in this house, we need to know how we can help you. If you were hurt by someone, and there’s any chance of them coming after you again, we need to know that.”
“Okay,” I say, rubbing my hands down my face and sitting in my bed. “I was violently raped. They, uh… used objects, too. I had brain damage as well as pretty significant injuries from the rape. Also, one of the sick fuckers bit my finger off. I was drugged with acid, and they must’ve been wearing a mask or something because the only thing I can remember is getting raped by a demon. Which I guess is not inaccurate… The cameras in the rink were conveniently not working, and there was no evidence left behind. Literally everyone’s fingerprints were found, so they can’t really narrow it down, and no one knows anything. The four players I’m close with were not in town and were cleared. The coaches were cleared. The goalie and the center were given an alibi by the head coach, but…”
“But it was them,” Kip finishes for me.
“Yeah. Conrad and Ethan,” I say. “I’ve never said that out loud before.”
“Your friends don’t know?” Hunter asks.
“No. They would quite literally kill them, and I don’t want to be the reason they go to jail,” I say. “I knew better than to run my mouth. I walked in on them assaulting someone and told the coaches. I should’ve just kept my mouth shut, and none of that would’ve happened to me.”
“No matter what they told you, it is not your fault,” Mateo says.
“Back up,” Connor says. “Did you say that someone bit your finger off?”
“Yeah,” I say, holding up my right hand.
“That’s pretty fucked up. Maybe it was a demon. Who the fuck does that?” he asks.
“I don’t know, but for all Idoknow, I could be wrong. I have no proof that it was them. I can’t trust my memories,” I say. “I get migraines and dizziness. That is the main long-term effect outside of nerve pain. I know how far to push myself, so I’ll be fine.”
“What can we do to help when you struggle?” Mateo asks.
“Sorry if this sounds rude, but why do you give a fuck?” I ask.
“Because you live in this house, and I would like to not find your dead body because you didn’t ask for help,” Mateo says bluntly.
“When things get bad, I need it to be quiet and dark. The nerve pain is almost debilitating, but I try to alternate between heat and ice when it’s bad. Most of the pain is in my neck and upper back from when my head was slammed back against the ice. The theory is that it will heal in time and go away. I will most likely always have migraines, though.”
“So tie you up in a dark room with headphones on. Got it,” Kip smirks. “Will you tell us if it gets bad?”
