𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐯 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫

❝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧❞































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"HEY LOVEBIRDS! COME IN AND HAVE DINNER!"

Penny yells out at the pair who were sat close to each other, watching the moon light up the sky. The so called lovebirds turn to face her, the flush on their faces hidden from her on the dark beach.

Bradley gets up, standing on his two feet, looking at Penny, "We're coming, we're coming, Pen." He grabs his flip flops from the sand.

Bradley puts out a hand for Faith to take, and she does, using him as a support to stand. Kneeling down to get her flip-flops, she pulls him down by the arm she had a tight grasp on, and says, "Race you back?" Bradley can barely sneak a 'sure' in, before Faith is making a run for it.

He runs fast, trying to catch up with her, and when he does, he grabs her by her waist, pulling her over his shoulder as she yells for him, "Hey! That's not fair, you can't just pick me up like that." She tries wiggling out of his grasp, but it's no help.

"You're the one who started running before I could agree to race ya', this is completely fair." Bradley shakes his head, a boyish smile gracing his face.

Knowing she can't argue with him, she just shuts up, chuckling. he could feel her warm breath on his back as she rested her head on his shoulder. She could feel the warmth of his hands on her lower back as he carried her back to the Hard Deck.

Bradley puts her down on her feet, and she looks up at him, under the yellow porch light, gazing up at her.

Her eyes seemed more of a lime green, than the usual emerald green they were, probably because of the light. Her hair was messy because of the sand and salt air, she was wearing her shorts, just like before, but she still hadn't changed out of it.

She didn't realize until now that she was so comfortable with him, so joyful with him.

They enter the bar, eliciting a series of whoops and giggles from their friends. At one point, Faith thinks she heard someone say, "Finally, Mom and Dad are here!"

Faith looks to Bradley, who senses her glance, "I'm gonna get a beer. You want anything?" She asks, he nods, asking for just a water. Faith nods at his request, making her way towards the bar, as Bradley approaches the group.





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As soon as Faith started walking towards the bar, she felt a chill go down a spine, and it was so strong, she had to shake it off.

She could sense some elder creep's disgusting gaze on her as she leaned against the bar top, ordering her beer and Bradley's water. She was trying to shake the creepy, and disgusting feeling she was sensing, at the man staring at her. Wherever he would stare, she would feel the heat rush through her body.

Unable to handle the fact that the man had been staring at her for nearly two minutes now, she looks towards him, faltering as soon as she meets the man's eyes.

An alarm goes off in her head, a really loud one, as she stares at who was in front of her. The man she had enough of, the man she had to run away from.

Her father.

The man who she ran away from at fourteen. The man who would beat her up all night, the man who was the curse of her ruined innocence.

"Dad?" Her hands shake as she brings them closer to her chest, covering any part of her body which remained uncovered. She tries to step back from him, but the man is already on his feet, rushing towards her with heavy steps.

Call Bradley. Call Natasha. A voice in her head reminds her of those who would protect her.

She tried to open her mouth to call for them, but the man had already reached her, standing right in front of her, eyes looking her up and down.

"Hey, sweetheart." He whispers, making Faith feel nauseous, stomach churning in the most worst ways possible.

No, no, no, no. Not again.

"Come home with me. I'm here to take you back, so that I can take care of you after all these years." He moves even closer, his face barely 5 inches from hers'. He grabs a hold on her hand, rough, and she falls still. She couldn't move, she couldn't make a sound.

The second he pulls her towards him, she yells out a loud yell, "No! Leave me alone!". She pries his hands off of her, feeling a burning sensation at his disgusting touch.

Her yells catch the attention of her entire group.

They all immediately begin moving towards her, sobering up rapidly, Bradley leading them all as he shouts a 'hey!'. Faith manages to wriggle out of her father's grasp somehow, falling into Natasha's arms. Natasha pulls her head into the crook of her neck, holding her close and whispering, "You're gonna be alright, babe, I got you. I got you." Natasha pulls her even closer, rubbing her hand up and down Faith's back. Faith falls to the floor on her knees, Natasha falling down with her.

Bradley grabs the man's collar, pulling him close to his face, "You are not going to hurt her. Ever again." And he punches the guy hard, sending him to the floor.

Jake and the other boys grab him by his shirt, pulling him up to stand on his two feet, then punch him again, as Jake nods at Bradley, signaling him to go and check on Faith.

Bradley immediately falls to her side, pulling her into his arms, as she sobs harder and harder, soaking his shirt with her tears. He whispers to her, trying not to shed tears at her crying, "You're okay, we're right here. Everyone's here. He won't hurt you ever again, Arch, I promise." He holds the back of her neck, pushing her face into the crook of his neck, as he watches the other boys punch the hell out of the disgusting old man.





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Natasha had driven Faith to her home, promising her she would stay with her for as long as she needed her. Bradley and the other boys had stayed back at the Hard Deck, waiting for the police to arrive and take the sick man to jail, hopefully forever.

Natasha helped the girl take a bath, and helped her get into bed after eating dinner, noodles which Natasha made to lighten her mood up a little.

Natasha had sat by her side on the bed after feeding Hulk dinner. The kitten could sense something was wrong, and had not left Faith's side since she had fallen onto the bed. Natasha was holding the girl's hand with one of hers', the other gently caressing the girl's head, trying to comfort her.

"Nat?" Faith had spoken for the first time since they had come to her home. She looked over at her friend with glossy eyes, "Don't leave me tonight. Please don't." Faith begged her to stay.

Natasha nodded, "I am staying, I am. Just give me a few minutes to freshen up, and I'll join you, okay? Maybe try resting your eyes, it's been a long day today." She caresses Faith's head one last time, before she gets up to go freshen up.

Nearly ten minutes later, Natasha was right by Faith's side. Natasha pressed a kiss on Faith's forehead, before holding her hand as the girls fell asleep beside each other, like true sisters.





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