"Emily..?"
The blond looked up with red ringed eyes, tears soaking the pale cheeks. It was almost as if she couldn't stop crying. As soon as she realized who it was, she immediately looked back down, sobbing gently. "I'm sorry..I didn't mean to..I really--I want to..."
Landon sighed, feeling himself grimace. "It's not your fault. Stop crying, okay? Daniel doesn't want to see you cry. Do you think Raphael likes it either? In some cases, you can't control your body." He was writing something down on a clipboard, finding himself more and more impatient as he ran down the list. The surgery had been a complete success, and here she was again. It didn't add up. She had been released, but only a few days later, Raphael had brought her in a condition that he didn't want to talk about.
Emotionally unstable, to put it basically. Even Landon could tell something else was happening, most likely at school. All of Emily's hair had came off in the pre-op; that alone was something kids could tease and isolate the girl about. And by her history..any bullying like that would drive her mind in an increasingly wrong direction.
The girl pressed herself into Landon's chest, her arms wrapping around it, warm tears soaking his shirt and coat. He sighed, looking down at the girl and moving the cloth of the hospital gown for a moment. Her body was covered in bruises..one after another. He even noticed a few scrapes.
His voice was tender. "Emily..are they hurting you?"
She looked up at him, for once, blue-hazel eyes cold and unemotional. Landon couldn't help..but think he saw a little bit of Daniel in that gaze. "They're hurting me," she said. "But they have the right to. I mess up. I'm not supposed to."
"You're a child..or acting like one," the doctor muttered, touching her neck softly. "We're humans. We make mistakes. And..don't cry about something your body does that you can't control. We're here to fix things like that. It's not your fault; not your fault at all."
Yet the girl was quiet.
Landon caught on quick.
"...There's something you're not telling me."
"..." She gave the most adorable doe eyes that even Landon found he couldn't compare with.
"...Dammit, Emily. Come on now."
The girl was already pulling down her hospital gown, letting it fall down to her waist. The skin was really covered with various bruises and marks; and it even went as far as the exposed breasts, which, as Landon realized just by watching how stiff Emily's upper back was, had actually gotten hurt themselves, most likely. Crushed and just sore.
The tears were dripping back on the sheets. Landon watched her pull the gown back up, and he muttered something into her ear. She nodded, and he slid off the bed he had been sitting on, digging around in the girl's purse on the floor. The cell phone was taken out first.
"...Can you tell me who did that to you?"
"People don't like me anymore. It's different," she muttered. Landon glanced back at her, holding the phone, the little dragon charm from the string on the phone resting against his hand. He could tell; she didn't look well. Already pale to begin with, but now she just seemed like a ghost. Her eyes were glazed over, seeming to not be able to focus in themselves. She had even lost some weight, which she didn't need to lose; she had wonderful curves. Note 'had'. What was most obvious of all to him was her general personality. She seemed even more reserved. Yes, she talked, but she seemed more submissive, as if she was used to someone controlling her.
"Friends..aren't that common. It seems like support for a sick friend..isn't really supported anymore. My only friend is Daniel now..and Raphael. I hate school. I tend to just..stay away from most people."
The doctor rubbed his head. "You've been seeing someone. Or someone has been seeing you. I remember you at least being social, but you're different now. Who..?"
"It's nothing!" She snapped. "It's nothing at all, it's no big deal. I just see them! I mean, they hurt me, but that's fine, because I just fuck everything up.." Tears were beginning to fall again. Landon shook his head, grasping her shoulders, holding her firmly and looking at her.
"Emily..have people at school..bullied you? Are they still doing it?"
She couldn't say words. There were only choked whimpers. She nodded.
Landon sighed, pulling her close and letting her cry into his shirt again. Raphael had been right; she was so unemotionally unstable. They couldn't send her to school like this. It was obvious she was scared of that alone. But..what triggered it? Not to mention she looked like a wreck; any healthy glow was gone now.
His voice was gentle again, touching her cheek and noting the deep circles under her eyes. "You don't sleep..do you?"
"I'm scared."
Oh, here we go. Now he was getting something he could tell Riley. "Of..?"
"Someone coming to get me." She pulled on his coat.
"...Be more specific here."
Emily sighed, closing her eyes. "Dominic..out of rehab. He chased me. I was..hiding his drugs. He hurt me.." She didn't want to go farther, he was sure. Landon noticed that she was shaking and bit his lower lip. This poor girl. With Daniel busy with work, and Raphael with school...but what about her parents?
"Are you staying with your parents and telling them about this?"
"No. I'm staying with Daniel. They gave me permission..to recover from the surgery there."
Well, there went that idea.
Landon gently pushed Emily down on the sheets, noticing just how easily she could play dead. "You might have to stay home for a few days. We'll be giving you some medication. Antidepressants by the looks of it..but something to work with those bruises and scrapes is on our list somewhere. Riley will see you later, okay? Just..tell Daniel about this. Please. I know, I know, Raphael doesn't, but he's an exception to every single thing on this planet. If you don't tell him, I will."
Emily's voice had fallen quiet. "..Yes sir?" There was a questioning tone, like she didn't know what to say.
Goddamn it was time to get this girl's mind back to normal." 'Yes, Landon' is good, Emily." He sighed, touching her forehead before making his way out of the room with the clipboard.
Taking a fresh sheet of paper from it, he scrawled some words, loosened it up, folded it, and threw it at Daniel's head, who was waiting in the waiting room. Then he kept walking.
The note was simple.
Daniel,
Watch Emily. She's so much different, Raphael was right. You probably haven't been noticing because you're busy. But he's noticed. Try to keep an eye on her. I don't want her to die..under someone else's hand or her own. Riley is going to see her. Maybe she'll feel better, maybe worse, I don't know.
She said Dominic chased her in the house and hurt her. I believe what she's saying, you should too. He might have moved out, but you need to help her. Try to provide some support, okay? Her mind's fragile enough from us screwing around in it for the surgery, don't make it worse.
Most of the good die young. Don't let her die, whether it be physically or mentally.
                                                                                        -Landon