Twenty-Four

"Crystal, what is taking you so long?"

Crystal heard, jilting her back to reality. There were tears on her face but it couldn't be seen as water from the shower fell on her face. She cleaned her tears as she wrapped a towel on her body.

She lifted her leg and looked at it.

It still was black, as if it still was still burnt. She never treated her legs, it healed but it took months for them to heal. It seemed to give them pleasure when they saw her burnt leg and knowing that it will be too suspicious if they saw her legs healed immediately, she didn't treat it but had put up with the pain.

She cleaned her tears as she came out of the bathroom, not looking at Laura who looked at her with worry.

"Are you okay? I have been calling you but you didn't answer me. I had wanted to even break the door.

But Crystal didn't answer.

Instead, she sat down on her bed and stared at the walls.

"Crystal?"

Still no answer.

Laura had a gut feeling but she didn't know if it was through. She wanted to confirm her doubts first.

"Are...are you okay?" She sat close to Crystal, putting her hands around her but acting out of instinct, Crystal removed her hand and scurried out of her reach, to the end of the bed.

And then she was certain.

The nightmares....the way she behaved.....how quiet she was....the way she flinched when anyone came close to her or touch her.

She couldn't doubt it.

Crystal had PTSD.

"Don't be scared Crystal. Trust me, I'll be the last person to ever hurt you" Laura said softly as she stood up, walking closer to Crystal and sitting in front of her.

"Is there anyone who wants to hurt you or have been hurting you?" She asked softly as she looked at Crystal with both pain and curiosity.

Crystal's eyes widened as the fear she felt was quite vivid on her face. Laura knew better than to press further because she knew she would never tell her.

PTSD is a case that should be taken with light effect. She would wait till when Crystal fully trusts her and she would tell her herself. I'd she rushes her, it would take a negative effect because she would be drawn into her shell the more. Someone with PTSD keeps to his or herself, dying inwardly.

But she couldn't help but wonder if she would tell Justin.

"You don't have to be scared. They won't touch you okay? Are you hungry? Wear your clothes so we could go eat outside before your classes starts. It will start by 9 right? Come on, go get changed".

"I...i....i....don't understand why you are here"

"Hey! Don't worry, i told you i would never hurt you. You just have to trust me okay?

"But....."

"No buts. Now go change"

Crystal stared at her, not understanding why this Laura seemed so concerned. She didn't even know her neither did she know all she had gone through.

There was no way she would even want to be friends with her after finds out of what she had gone through.

The marks on her body will scare Laura away and she was sure of it. There are no trusted people in this world so she would keep to herself and never let anyone get close to her.

No one at all.

She sighed as she got up and was about to make her way back to the bathroom when Laura asked.

"Why....what happened to your leg?" She asked as she looked at Crystal, hoping she would answer her question. But she knew better than to hope.

Because Crystal turned her back to her and walked back to the bathroom. She was curious...she wanted to know about Crystal. What made her like this?

And how did she get PTSD?

*

Crystal sighed as she hugged her books. She was glad she was rid of Laura. Laura had taken her to a restaurant and had bought her food. She didn't eat the food because she didn't know her motive neither did she trust her.

She was better off without eating. Maybe later, she would go get spaghetti and egg so she could eat. She sighed as she walked into the hall. She sat down on one of the seats and as usual, became quiet despite the raging noise.

Bending her head down, she started to feel a headache as she held her head. The noise was too much and the teacher had not even come in yet. She didn't want to get up and leave her seat because she didn't want anyone to take her spot. And she didn't even have the nerve to ask the person sitting close to her.

She heaved a deep sigh as suddenly, she felt nauseous. No....no she would have to keep herself in check because she did not want to create any attention.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself down and closed her eyes trying so hard to block the noises from her head. She closed her eyes as she heaved a sigh, hoping the lecture would come and all these noise would go away.

And some minutes later, the Professor entered the hall, making the hall to be silent. She listened and jotted down notes. An hour later, the class was over and everyone rushed outside.

Crystal took her bag and walked out of the hall, unaware there was someone waiting for her outside.

*

Justin ruffled his hair as he waited patiently under a tree, wanting to catch sight of her. He was done with his classes and had decided to show his face to Crystal.

He put his hands in his pocket, waiting for her to come out. It didn't took him a long time till he spotted her. He walked ahead and waited for her to walk towards his direction.

He saw her coming his way, her head bent downwards, hugging her books, so she didn't see the boys that were coming from the opposite direction. His face depicted worry when she had collided with the boy in the middle, making her fall with her books which were scattered everywhere.

Why should it be them?

"Don't you have eyes to see?" The boy in the middle shouted. His name was Kelvin, a second year Microbiology student. Justin knew him anywhere. He was one of the dangerous men that people should avoid, most especially his Crystal.

Kelvin and him were also friends and that was why Justin was quite popular. He knew what this guy was capable of doing, pursuing everything he sees on skirt and dumping them as soon as he was done with them.

But not his Crystal.

He tightened his fists as he stared at Kelvin, knowing fully well that if he even tried to lay hands on her, he would bash his head in pieces.

"So...sorry" Justin heard Crystal say, her head bored down. He could tell she was scared due to the way she was shaking.

"Look up" Kelvin demanded but Crystal kept her head down.

"I said look up" He said harshly as he roughly raised her chin up, making Crystal to whimper.

"Oh my! What a beauty. Her curves are at the right places." Michael, the guy standing at the left hand side of Kelvin said as he lustfully looked at her body, making Crystal more scared and Justin, who was standing some feet away from them shake in anger.

"Let her go Kelvin. She looks too innocent" Nathaniel, who was standing at the eight hand side said as he folded his Hands, looking at Crystal.

"I can't let her go Nathaniel. I wonder how it will feel inside her" Kelvin said, licking his lips.

"Come with me" He said, dragging hee hand.

"Please...please i am sorry. I...i wont do anything to anger you again. Please let me go" Crystal shuddered as she cried, remembering the incident when she had almost been raped by her uncle.

What are these men going to do to her?

Justin clenched his fists so tightly as he bit his lips in anger. He walked to them before they even made an attempt to walk away and pulled Crystal away from them, pushing her behind him.

"Justin?" Kelvin said, looking at him in surprise. Crystal looked up at Justin, shocked at seeing him.

He....he was here.

Where did he come from?

He was standing right in front of her.

He...he saved her.

"She is off limits Kelvin. Get out"

"Are you telling me what to do?"

"Don't i sound like I am?"

"She is mine so give her back"

"Say that again and i will beat you to stupor"

"What is wrong with you? You never show a liking for girls. What happened that you are so possessive over this one?"

"That is none of your business"

"Then i will take her by force"

"She is off limits don't you hear?"

"I want her"

"Leave her to be"

"Then i will take her by force" Kelvin said as he tried to pull Crystal away from Justin, earning a punch on the face. Students had already started to gather, wanting to watch the drama that was unfolding.

The boys are his both sides had started to step away, knowing a fight will ensue soon.

"You of all people know that i get what i want"

"She is mine Kelvin that is why. Go look for any other thing on skirt but this one is off limits"

"Crystal" Someone called as she made her way out of the crowd.

"Take her away Laura" Justin said as he turned to Kelvin, as Laura took a shaking but shocked Crystal away from the scene.

"I will get her Justin and i will do what i want with her. I don't get why she is important to you but now she is important to me as well. We shall see who gets the upper hand" Kelvin said as he smirked, turning around as he walked away.

The crowd started dispersing as they saw that there will not be any fight going on.

Justin bit his lips as he turned in and walked away as well. He had to get a hold of himself before he saw Crystal. He didn't want her to see him this way.