Page 61 of Boots & Scars

“Yes,” the doctor confirmed. “Unfortunately, because it happened last night and you showered, any evidence linking whoever did do this to you has been washed away.”

“Wait, what?” Everly’s voice wavered.

“You were drugged,” Dr. Langley said without missing a beat.

“But I was there,” she repeated, a desperate edge to her voice.

“Miss Hawthorne,” he began, his tone condescending. “Unfortunately, your testimony as a victim isn’t strong by itself. You should have reported this right away so we could collect evidence?—”

“Are you serious?” I snapped, stepping closer to him.

“I’m not going to lie to her,” Langley said with a shrug.

“She’s trying to do the right thing,” I argued, my voice rising. “Even though she doesn't have to. She's trying. And you’re making her feel like shit.”

“Her feelings aren’t my problem,” the doctor replied coldly. “An officer will reach out, but don’t expect anything.”

Without thinking, I grabbed Dr. Langley by the collar and slammed him against the wall.

“Do you realize how fucking hard it is not only to be raped but to come to an asshole like you because you want to do the right thing only to be treated like shit on the bottom of your shoe?” I snarled in his face.

“Get your hands off me,” he spat back, eyes wide with shock.

“Cooper,” Everly’s voice was soft yet urgent as she placed her hand on my arm. “Let’s go. Please?”

I released my grip on the doctor immediately and turned back to Everly. The anger still boiled within me, but her touchgrounded me, reminded me of what mattered most right now—her safety and well-being.

Dr. Langley straightened his coat, glaring at me but wisely keeping his mouth shut as we gathered our things and prepared to leave that sterile room behind us.

As we stepped out of the clinic, the cold air slapped me in the face. I turned to Everly, trying to catch her eye.

"Where to now, killer?"

She sighed, a sound full of weariness and defeat. "I don't know," she murmured. "I don't… I can't go back to my dorm."

"Don't you have a friend?—"

"Holly's with her mom," she interrupted.

I rubbed the back of my neck, thinking. "Maybe your mom?"

Everly looked at me with eyes that held years of hidden pain. "I can't tell her," she said softly. "My mom has homeschooled me since I was… since forever. Until now. She's always gone out of her way to protect me from the world. She always told me that the world would try to hurt me." She shook her head, a sad smile playing on her lips. "If she knew what happened to me, it would crush her. I couldn't do that to her."

I stared at her, stunned by her words. I hadn’t realized just how sheltered her life had been. Homeschooled since forever? Protected from the world by a mother who thought danger lurked around every corner? It explained so much about her—her wide-eyed wonder, her naivety, and even her fierce independence. She’d been trying to prove something to herself, to everyone, by stepping out into a world she barely knew. And now that same world had turned on her in the worst possible way.

"I don't understand you, killer," I said, frustration leaking into my voice. "You're so worried about everyone else. You have to worry about you."

She took my hand in hers, and the contact sent a jolt through me. "Can I stay with you for a little longer?" she asked, her voice almost a whisper. "Please?"

I knew I should say no. It was the logical thing to do. But how could I? How could I turn her away when she looked at me like that?

"You're such a pain in the ass," I muttered.

She smiled—a real one this time—and it was like seeing sunlight break through storm clouds.

I tugged at her hand gently, and we fell into step together as we headed back to my car. The day felt different now—heavier, but somehow more bearable with her by my side.

As we walked, I couldn’t help but think about what Dr. Langley had said earlier. It gnawed at me, eating away at whatever semblance of peace I had left. But for now, all that mattered was getting her somewhere safe.

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