They Never Learn by Layne Fargo

Author:Layne Fargo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press
Published: 2020-10-13T00:00:00+00:00

34 CARLY

We don’t make it back to Whitten until after dawn.

While Allison’s in the bathroom, I manage to struggle out of the corset on my own and put on a sweatshirt. For the first time in twelve hours, I can breathe properly, and the relief is so intense it’s almost painful.

Has it really only been twelve hours? Last night felt years long, even before we went to the hospital.

“Do you want something to eat?” I ask Allison when she comes back in. Wes brought us a tray of lukewarm cafeteria food and some vending machine snacks at the hospital, but she wouldn’t touch any of it. “I can run over to Trocino, or that coffee shop you like downtown, and—”

“I’m really tired.” Her voice sounds small and ragged.

“Of course,” I say. “You should rest. I’ll be right here if you need anything.”

“Don’t you have writing class?” she asks.

“Yeah, but—it’s not important, I can skip it.”

Allison shakes her head. “No, you should go. I’m just going to sleep.”

She starts to peel off her costume, and that’s when I notice the bruises. On her back, her rib cage, her waist. I don’t even realize I’ve reached out to touch her until she jerks away from my hand, tugging her shirt back into place. But I know what I saw. All the places Bash—

“He hurt you.” It’s a laughable understatement; the bruises are the least of it.

“It’s nothing.” Allison’s eyes won’t meet mine. This isn’t just exhaustion. It’s like the light inside her has been snuffed out.

“It’s not nothing.” I can’t believe I didn’t notice the bruises until now. I can’t believe the doctor didn’t notice them. Fucking negligent bastard.

“We could go back to the hospital,” I say. “Demand to see a different doctor. So there are medical records to back up your police report.”

Allison is obviously still in shock. It’s a good thing I’m here to help her through this, to make a plan. The bruises are relatively light, so they’ll be healed in a matter of days. There’s no time to waste.

“You probably shouldn’t shower either, maybe there’s some other physical evidence they can collect, like from your skin, or—oh, did he touch your hair?”

Allison turns away from me. There’s a little cluster of bruises above her elbow too, like dirty fingerprints.

“I know it’ll be hard,” I say. “But I’ll go with you. Wes will too. I can call him right now, I’m sure he’ll come and get us and drive us over there. It will all be—”

“I’m not going back to the hospital,” she says. “I just want to sleep. And you should go to class.”

She flops down on her bed, facing away from me, drawing the comforter up over her shoulders. I stand there gaping at her for a few seconds before a shrill bell breaks the silence.

My cell phone. Allison winces at the sound and tugs the covers higher.

“Sorry.” I grab the phone, pressing it to my chest to muffle it as I hurry toward the door. Once I’m out in the hallway, I answer the call without looking at the screen.

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