Chapter 35 The Ugly Scars (The Truth Untold)
Chapter 35 The Ugly Scars (The Truth Untold)
It was quiet, not many villagers had gathered, as if they hadn’t really expected Ruella to return to their village. But that was for the best, it meant Calix could easily lead Ruella into the tent.
From a distance, Calix could see Valdyr and Rubina standing in front of the tent, ready to welcome them home from a rather difficult search.
"Calix, Cal, you’re finally back. Are you hurt-”l" Rubina’s words trailed off as Calix walked right past her.
"Valdyr, hurry! Hurry inside and check on her!" Calix shouted, immediately pushing his way into the tent.
Valdyr hurried after him, leaving Rubina to swallow her frustration alone yet again. But what could she do? She had to set those feelings aside and pretend not to be affected. She did it all to maintain her good image in Calix’s eyes.
Rubina couldn’t openly interfere with Ruella, but that wasn’t a problem for her.
$Should I tell the women in the refugee tent again?" Rubina smiled slyly. "Yeah, they have a right to know too, don’t they?"
After that, she left Ruella and Calix’s tent, heading off to carry out her evil plan.
Meanwhile, inside the tent, Calix was seen gently and carefully laying Ruella down on the bed.
Ruella looked so pale and weak, making Calix anxious.
Valdyr took a deep breath. "We need to take off her clothes so I can check if she’s also injured in the abdomen or perhaps her back."
What?
Calix was a little startled. "You want me to change her clothes?"
"Who else? There’s no one else here," said Valdyr. "I’ll turn away and close my eyes. Don’t worry, I just need to look at her stomach and back. She’s shivering too, so hurry before she freezes to death." He added.
Calix nodded in understanding, and Valdyr immediately turned away and closed his eyes tightly.
Hesitantly, Calix approached Ruella and stroked her head.
"Let me help you change your clothes," he said.
Ruella didn’t respond, she just let Calix slowly lift her clothes up.
"Ouch… It hurts, Cal…" Ruella winced as she had to lift her arm.
"Shh… I know it hurts, I know… But you still have to change your clothes, so just bear with it for a moment. I’ll do it slowly," Calix said, trying to calm her.
Valdyr smiled, hearing his usually tough friend soften his tone to comfort someone.
After a few moments of careful handling, Calix finally managed to remove the shirt from Ruella’s body, leaving her wearing only a bra.
Calix’s body froze, his gaze was fixed on the black-and-purple bruises around Ruella’s ribs.
His hand moved involuntarily and touched the bruise. "Fuck, oh my goodness." he growled.
"What’s wrong? Are you done?" Valdyr asked.
"Should I take off her skirt too?" Calix asked in return.
"Yes, hurry up."
Calix swallowed hard, he’d never undressed a woman before. He felt it was improper, but it had to be done.
"Lift your hips a little," Calix said softly as he helped Ruella lift her lower body so he could fully remove her skirt. "Okay, done."
Valdyr was about to turn away, but Calix immediately stopped him.
"Wait a moment, Val," he said.
Calix took a cloth to cover Ruella’s sensitive areas, even though she was still wearing underwear, the most important thing was that the wounds needing treatment were visible, Calix thought.
"Okay, you can start checking her now."
Valdyr turned around and chuckled softly. "You’re such a jealous person."
"Don’t you have any other colleagues? A female healer, for example," Calix asked as he pulled out a change of clothes for Ruella to wear after she was treated.
Valdyr seemed focused on treating the scratch wound on Ruella’s left cheek and then replied. "There are, but they’re treating disaster victims. We’re not just sitting around doing nothing, Cal."
Ruella kept crying from the pain, even after being frequently abused by her older brother and father, she still often cried whenever she was injured.
"It stings…" Ruella clenched her fist to bear the pain.
Calix noticed it and immediately took her hand, unclenching her fist before holding it gently. "Val will give you some painkillers soon, just hold on a little longer."
Ruella looked at Calix with tears streaming down her face, this time moved by the care Calix was showing her. Calix didn’t even scold her, instead, he kept reassuring her.
"I’ve already applied medicine to her stomach, the bruise is really bad. That damn kidnapper must have kicked her really hard," Valdyr said angrily. "Now turn around, I need to check your back too."
Deg.
Ruella’s heart was beating twice as fast. Then, stammering, she said, "M-my back is fine, I-"
"You’re not fine. Come here, let me help you turn over," said Calix.
"No, Cal. It’s not necessary."
Calix frowned in confusion. "What do you mean, it’s not necessary? Of course it’s necessary. I saved you so you could get treated and recover, not so you’d keep suffering." He said, starting to get annoyed.
"Really, my back is fine," Ruella insisted softly.
"You really are something..." Calix brushed his hair back. "I’m completely exhausted, so please just do everything I say."
"I-"
"I don’t want to hear any more nonsense from you. Val, check her back, I’ll wake her up for a moment." Calix cut Ruella off.
Ruella looked panicked and tried to resist, but her whole body ached so much she couldn’t fight back as Calix pulled her close to sit her down for a moment.
Calix held her, supporting her so she wouldn’t collapse again.
But instead of being treated, Valdyr seemed frozen.
"What? Why are you just standing there staring at her? Damn it." Calix thought Valdyr was admiring Ruella’s back.
"Cal, take a look at this." Valdyr said, sounding confused.
"I’m holding her. How am I supposed to see her back? Why? Is the wound that bad?" Calix asked, growing more worried.
Valdyr stood up and grabbed a medium-sized mirror from the table.
He then showed Calix the reflection of Ruella’s back, leaving Calix speechless.
"Rue…" Calix said softly as he gently stroked Ruella’s back with his hand. "What have you actually been through… These scars, they’re not from what happened just now or recently."
Ruella’s sobs broke out again, she didn’t answer or say a single word. She could only cry in Calix’s embrace.
"So this is why you refused to show me your back?"
"Don’t leave me…" Ruella whispered.
Valdyr immediately treated the fresh bruises and scrapes, ignoring the old scars that covered Ruella’s back. Ruella must be feeling extremely uncomfortable right now.
"Cal, apply this to her ankles before she goes to sleep. Then give her this painkiller. For now, just make sure she stays warm. If she develops a fever, let me know," Valdyr said as he stepped away from the chair beside the bed. "Oh, and for the cuts on you lip and near your eyebrow, just use that ointment. I’ve already placed the bandages and tape on the table."
Calix nodded in understanding. "Got it. You go ahead, and if Kyle and Orion come back, tell them we’re fine. Don’t let anyone disturb me for a while." He said, leaving a message.
Valdyr then walked away, leaving Calix and Ruella alone.
Calix grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around Ruella.
"You need to change your underwear too, I’ll help you take them off from under this blanket," Calix said, feeling along Ruella’s back for her bra clasp.
Between sobs, Ruella said, "I’m still crying,"
"I know, but you’ll get a fever if you don’t change your clothes as soon as possible," Calix replied.
Success. Calix immediately placed Ruella’s bra on the floor without looking at it.
"Now your underwear. I know your whole body hurts, hold onto me and lift your hips a little."
Ruella followed his instructions while grimacing in pain.
"Done. Now lean back for a moment, you need to put on this nightgown," Calix said.
"Bra? Underwear?"
"Too much trouble. For tonight, just wear the nightgown. It’s thick, so it shouldn’t be a problem. And your're going to wear this pants." Calix said.
Ruella nodded, hugging the blanket wrapped around her body.
"Cal."
"Hm?"
"Aren’t you going to ask about the ugly scars on my back?"
Calix was silent for a moment, then said, "You can tell me whenever you want."
Ruella nodded and began putting on her clothes with Calix’s help.