Chapter 88 Tearing Apart
Those words hit Elliot with an incredible force. He stopped in his tracks, looking at Audrey with a shattered expression. His heart lurched as if dragged into a dark abyss. He desperately wanted to hug Audrey, to reassure her that he was there to protect her, but her reaction was pushing him away.
“Audrey, it’s me…” Elliot’s voice was hoarse, faint. “You’re safe now. I’m here.”
Audrey shook her head hysterically. “No! STAY AWAY!”
Her sobs grew louder, her breathing ragged, like a small, trapped animal with no escape.
Elliot stood frozen, unsure what to do. His hands clenched at his sides, but his eyes remained fixed on Audrey, who was shrinking further into the corner. His face felt hot, not from anger, but from the guilt burning in his chest.
He felt like a failure. He had failed to protect the woman he loved.
“Aud…” Elliot tried to speak again, but his voice choked in his throat. Every sob and cry from her was like a knife stabbing his heart.
Audrey, on the other hand, felt as if she had crumbled. Shattered into pieces. She knew Elliot was there, but the fresh trauma and fear she had just experienced made her unable to accept anyone.
Her body felt dirty, humiliated, and unworthy of touch. She felt like her entire world had ended, and Elliot’s presence only deepened her shame.
He can’t see me like this! I’m filthy! I’m broken! I’m not the Audrey he knows!
That thought kept spinning in her head, making Audrey wail even more hysterically.
“I’m begging you…” Audrey’s voice trembled, almost inaudible through her sobs. “Don’t look at me… Don’t…”
Elliot’s eyes reddened hearing that plea. The pain in his heart deepened, but he couldn’t let Audrey sink into this isolation.
“I don’t care,” he said, his voice hoarse but full of conviction. “No matter what, you are still just as important to me. You are still the Audrey I know.”
Elliot took a step forward, even though he knew the risk. His steps were steady, but his heart felt fragile seeing the woman he loved so broken.
“Don’t! Go away!” Audrey became hysterical again, pressing herself further into the corner. She kicked out wildly, trying to create distance even though the space around her was so tight. Her sobs grew louder, mixing with her frantic breaths.
Elliot quickly scanned the room for something to cover Audrey’s body. Nearby, there was a blanket draped over the couch, and he immediately grabbed it. He started moving closer again, even as Audrey’s protests and struggles intensified. Her screams didn’t stop, eventually drawing Marcus closer.
Finally, Elliot crouched down right in front of Audrey. His gaze was full of pain but also unshakable resolve. “Aud, I’m here. You’re safe. I promise.”
As Elliot tried to touch Audrey’s shoulder to drape the blanket over her, the woman screamed even louder.
“DON’T TOUCH ME!” She kicked Elliot’s chest with the last of her strength, making the man stagger back slightly.
However, Elliot didn’t give up. He moved closer again, trying to gather Audrey, who kept fighting him.
“Audrey, listen to me!” Elliot’s voice rose slightly, but it was still full of gentleness. “It’s me! I won’t hurt you.”
But Audrey couldn’t hear anything. Trauma had paralyzed her rationality. She kept kicking, hitting, even scratching the hands that tried to embrace her.
“Let me go! Don’t touch me! GO AWAY!” Her cries broke out endlessly, her breathing becoming more chaotic.
Every small attack from Audrey shattered Elliot’s heart bit by bit, but he didn’t stop himself. He knew this was the only way to make Audrey feel safe. Though it was painful and heartbreaking, he accepted every punch, every scratch she threw.
Finally, after a great struggle, Elliot managed to gather Audrey into his arms. He quickly wrapped the woman’s body in the blanket he had taken.
Audrey kept thrashing, hitting Elliot’s chest with what little strength she had left, but the man didn’t let go. Her screams grew even more hysterical and heart-wrenching. “I’m begging you… don’t… Don’t do this…”
“Aud! Look at me! It’s me, Elliot! You’re safe now,” the man said in a trembling voice, holding back all the emotions threatening to explode. His arms hugged Audrey tightly, trying to channel a sense of safety through the embrace.
But Audrey’s mind grew foggier. Between reality and trauma, she could no longer tell what was real and what was just a bad shadow. She kept struggling until Elliot was overwhelmed again.
Marcus approached cautiously, kneeling beside Audrey, who was still sobbing in Elliot’s embrace. He looked at Elliot for a moment, as if silently asking for permission. Marcus’s eyes were full of empathy, but also a professionalism that signaled he knew what to do.
Elliot just gave a slow nod, unable to say anything more. His heart was shattered seeing Audrey’s condition, and he knew this was the only way to calm her.
Marcus deftly reached into his cargo pants pocket and pulled out a small syringe.
“It’s just a mild sedative, Sir. It won’t hurt her, just help her calm down,” Marcus said softly, ensuring Elliot understood his action.
Elliot nodded again, even though his heart still felt heavy. His arms continued to hold Audrey tightly, containing her still-trembling body.
Marcus moved closer, looking for a bit of Audrey’s exposed arm from her curled-up position. He moved quickly but accurately, mindful of every movement to avoid panicking her further.
When the needle touched Audrey’s skin, the woman winced softly, her sobs still audible, though weaker.
"Don't... Please..." she murmured, her voice growing fainter.
Elliot held Audrey firmly, whispering softly in her ear, “It’s over, Aud. You’re safe now. I’m here.”
Marcus pressed the syringe slowly, ensuring the sedative entered perfectly. He immediately withdrew the needle and stowed it back in his pocket with practiced ease.
“This will take effect in a few minutes. She’ll be much calmer,” he said, looking at Elliot.
Audrey still tried to struggle, though her energy was fading. Her sobs slowly subsided, her body weakening as the sedative worked. Her previously ragged breathing now began to slow, though her body still trembled.
“I… I can’t…” Audrey mumbled hoarsely, her eyes slowly closing, but her face still reflected deep fear.
“It’s okay,” Elliot whispered, the tears he had been holding back finally falling down his cheeks. “I won’t let anyone hurt you again. I promise.”
Slowly, Audrey’s body went completely limp in Elliot’s embrace. Her sobs stopped. Only her soft, gentle breaths could be heard.
Elliot let out a heavy sigh, looking at Marcus with eyes full of gratitude but also exhaustion.
“Take her somewhere safe, Sir. Armand will escort you,” Marcus said, giving his boss’s shoulder a gentle pat. “We’ll handle the rest here.”
Elliot nodded, wiping the tears from his face before carefully lifting Audrey’s body. The man stood up, ready to carry her out of the place that had become a living hell for her.
"Keep me updated," Elliot snapped after composing himself, and Marcus nodded obediently.