Free Shattered Puppet (Rag Doll) by Ava Catori Page B

trying to help Kendle through the moment. Pulling back, she looked at her sister. “Kendle, go be a star and slay the monster for both of us. Make me proud,” she added.
    Kendle drew her arm across her face to dry the tears. She sniffled and tr ied to speak, but she was choked up. “I’m going to miss you.”
    “It’s not forever.” Cree reassured. In truth, she didn’t know how long she’d be gone, but she planned to disappear for a while; longer than she wanted to tell her sister.

Chapter 14
    Cree walked out of the police station. Her insides shook after having to repeat all of the details. Kendle’s lawyer was present as she spoke. It wasn’t something she took lightly. She’d just have forgotten everything and moved on, but she did it for Kendle.
    Cree clutched at her stomach and walked to the car. Her shoulders sank. Carter was waiting for her. As she got in the car, he waited for her to speak.
    She drew a deep breath and exhaled, then said nothing.
    “Are you okay?” He asked tenderly.
    She shrugged. “The damage is already done.” Her voice was barely a whisper. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms over her chest. Saying the words out loud, admitting what he’d done over and over again, and knowing every bit of what she said was being recorded was terrifying. She wanted to feel empowered, she wanted to feel a weight drop off her shoulders, but the truth was after being molested it meant a life sentence of remembering what he did. The nightmares wouldn’t stop.
    At least it might help Kendle’s case. She knew she should do more. She should stand up to him and fight with Kendle, but she didn’t have any fight left. All she wanted to do was forget.
    “Let’s go,” she said as she stared out the window.
    Carter turned the key in the ignition. He had no idea where they were headed. They hadn’t discussed which direction to go. He decided to go south. There was no final destination. It would just be wherever the road took them until their money ran out. Then they’d have to find a way to find some work.
    They drove for hours. Silence. The radio. Finally talking. Carter pulled into a rest stop to stretch his legs and grab a drink. Cree used the bathroom. Seeing herself in the mirror while washing her hands, she saw a scared child looking back. Her father owned her again after today. The memories were fresh again, like picking at a scab. Her eyes were hollow. She hoped the spark came back.
    Carter was good for her. He cared. He wouldn’t hurt her. She was safe with him by her side. He’d protect her. Yet, he could barely protect himself. A broken leg, and thank goodness it wasn’t his driving leg. She really would need to learn how to drive. Her license. She needed to get a license. Maybe he’d teach her to drive…it was weird to have future plans. She never thought much about the future before Carter.
    When she got back to the car, he was waiting for her. “Come here, you ,” he said, winking at her.
    Cree stood in front of Carter and smiled. He took her in his arms and gave her a tight squeeze. “It’s going to be okay. He can’t get you anymore. Besides, I’m going to take care of you, baby. Nobody will ever hurt you again. You’re safe with me.” He kissed her forehead and released her from the embrace.
    “I’m thinking we can stop in a couple of hours. I grabbed some stuff from the vending machine to hold us over. Then I’ll be more than ready for a good night of sleep.” He was happy. He didn’t know he could feel this way, but with Cree nearby everything felt right.
    “Sounds good,” she said, slowly coming back to life. Lying in his arms tonight was everything she needed. She felt safe in his arms.
    Getting back in the car, she scanned over how this all started. She hoped Crystal would be okay.
    Looking out the window, Carter pointed the car south and hit the gas. It was time to start their new lives together.
     
    The End
     
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