It had been about thirty minutes since the police came, and Riley stared off into the distance as she sat on the back of an ambulance, a single medic taking care of the wounds on her arms; the ones that developed by Claire’s nails.
The police had already gotten her statement, and when they found out that Riley was very quiet and not completely honest as to her past, they called Riley’s mother before they asked her what happened.
Violet got off work two hours early when she heard what happened, but was now frantically speaking to an officer, but Riley couldn’t hear anything that was happening; couldn’t feel the pain of the medic rubbing alcohol in her wounds.
It hurt… It hurt.
She wanted to cry, and she wanted to scream.
This wouldn’t stop, would it? Was she cursed?
“The operator told us that she heard you say ‘not again,’” the police said about twenty minutes ago, “has this happened before?”
She was silent.
“Riley, I need to know what happened. Has this happened to Claire before?”
“No,” Violet cut in, “not to Claire. Can I talk to you in private?”
They walked off, but she could still hear them speak.
“It’s happened to her father,” Violet told the officer, “her father was murdered by a mugger, and her other best friend, Bella Swines, was murdered about a year ago.”
“Oh, Jesus,” one of the officers said. “That’s a lot to handle.”
Violet looked to Riley. “Yes, it is.”
“There,” the medic said, “you should be fine now. Do you need anything?”
She was silent.
“Okay…” he sounded slightly defeated, “if you need anything, I’ll be around the corner.”
And she was left alone.
Claire was already on her way to the hospital, and Riley distantly remembered holding her hand while they rolled her to the ambulance on a stretcher; there was an oxygen mask covering her mouth, and Claire’s cheeks were drenched in tears.
Riley stared off into the distance, entire body going numb.
It hurt… It hurt so much.
Make it stop. I want it to stop.
Make it stop, please. I can’t handle this anymore.
“Riley,” Violet said, making her daughter slowly move her eyes up to her, “she’s there. Let’s go. I’ll drive you.”
She blinked slowly.
Violet kneeled before her daughter. “It’s alright, Honey. They’re done with the statements for now. Let’s go take care of your friend, okay?”
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