She quickly stood and wiped her tears away. She had heavy bags underneath her eyes and the trousers and shirt she wore were two sizes too big and wrinkled; a vast contrast from the Cecile I knew. She looked horrible.

"What are you doing here?" I asked then instantly thought of our parents and felt a flash of uneasiness. "Did something happen to mom and dad?"

She shook her head then shocked me even more by holding my hands between hers. "Please help me Ophelia."

"Why? What's wrong?" I slowly asked.

"He killed my b-baby, please help me, I don't want him to find me." Her eyes moistened with fresh tears.

Mine widened at her answer. Different questions plagued me but I didn't ask any. Instead, I unlocked the door and let her in. I motioned for her to sit on the couch then quickly locked the door again.

When I turned to her, she was crouched over, seemingly facing the floor blankly but I could hear her sobs. I neared her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. She flinched but looked up at me, eyes full of more unshed tears.

"Tell me what happened Cecile."

"He killed my baby Ophelia, h-he killed my baby," she breathed hard and held on to her waist tightly. Everytime Cecile and I spoke, we fought. I looked down to where her arms wrapped around her lower abdomen. Her ever being pregnant was news to me. A plethora of scenarios passed my mind and I swallowed the lump that now formed in my throat.

"Who did?"

She only kept crying.

"Was it... was it... Richmond?" I carefully voiced the dreadful thought. She blinked back her tears and slowly nodded. My chest tightened thinking of her husband of over five years. I'd never liked the fucker but always thought he and her were well suited.

"How?" Another direful question.

"B-beat me till I lost it." She whispered and a curse left my mouth. "I only discovered I was p-pregnant a few days ago. He's a-always had an a-aversion to having k-kids and I knew he wouldn't be happy about it so I h-hid the tests but he found t-them anyway." She bit her bottom lip in an attempt to stop her sobs.

He beat the child out of her? My head was in a mess trying to understand those words.

"When he f-found the tests, he was so angry, angrier than I'd ever seen. He yelled at me and b-blamed me for everything. But I d-didn't, I really didn't know. I don't know if it was his palm or fist I felt first but it was the floor that came next. T-Then the kicks, all targeted at my w-womb. I couldn't run, he wouldn't let me. I was too l-late." She closed her eyes and breathed even harder. My heart sank more and bile rose to my throat as she continued.

"He left me there, b-bleeding and crying and I couldn't m-move. He came back much later to clean me up like nothing had happened then took me to the hospital. They only c-confirmed what I already knew. My baby was g-gone and he was happy. He left to answer a phone call and that was when I finally ran. Out of Malibu and straight to here. Please help me Ophelia." She held onto my hands again and I quickly nodded.

I never knew or imagined Richmond was such a sick fucker. He deserved to be arrested, neutered then sentenced to an electrical chair.

"That wasn't the first time he, he hit you, was it?"

"No," she shook her head ruefully, "a year into our marriage, he hit me in the middle of an argument. I was so shocked, I wanted to leave immediately but he pleaded and begged that he was sorry, it was a mistake and it'd never h-happen again." A strangled laugh escaped her lips. "I f-foolishly believed him. He made me feel so loved for weeks after, until he hit me again then pleaded again and it became a cycle I lost track of."

"Oh Cecile," I sighed, my eyes tearing up now. It was a lot to take in. I could only imagine how much more it was to be at the receiving end. I pinched the spot between my eyes. "Dammit, why didn't you ever say anything?"

"I was scared, I was so s-scared. I know I should have left earlier, I wanted to. When I found out I was pregnant, I planned to, I really did but I was too l-late. I know I should have told someone but I always felt so embarrassed, p-pathetic and afraid. He always threatened me and many times I wanted him to just finally f-follow through and kill me but he k-killed my baby instead. I think, I think I d-derserved it all," she broke into tears again and I bent low and drew her into my embrace letting her cry against my shoulder.

"You didn't deserve any of that, nobody does. I'm so sorry Cecile, for your baby, for you," I slowly rubbed her back. "We need to call the police, get a lawyer." I stood up and hurriedly wiped my tears away.

Her head lowered, "he'll get out of it."

"Bullshit, he needs to be put behind bars!"

"I don't think I can win." She shook her head and more tears streamed down her face. The look of defeat on her face was clear and heartbreaking. I dropped to my knees and hugged her tightly again. "I just don't want him to ever find me. I don't want to see him again." She whispered and I nodded.

"We'll figure it out tomorrow." I straightened and she quickly stood as well.

"I'm sorry Ophelia, coming here like this but I don't really have—"

"It's fine," I interjected softly.

"Thank you."

"You should get some sleep now." I led her into my room where she quickly fell asleep on one side of the bed. I changed out of my work clothes and crossed the room to the kitchen. Pouring myself a glass of milk, my eyes blankly stared at a spot the counter top. I didn't know what to do. Although, inflicting some sort of bodily harm on Richmond was a reoccurring vision in my mind.

Rinsing and keeping the now empty glass away, my feet carried me back to my room where I stood by the door and peered at my older sister. Even asleep, she looked worn out and hollow. Our years of rivalry and bickering and months of hating hardly mattered walking into the room. I laid down next to her and placed my arm over her. I exhaled. I did know one thing. My sister needed me and I had to be there for her now.

***

"Morning," I smiled at Cecile who woke up just as my hands fumbled to pull my zip up.

"Hi," she slowly rubbed her eyes and sat up.

"How are you feeling?" I neared her and sat on the edge of the bed. Her hair was in knots and her eyes were redder and now puffy but her overall complexion didn't look too bad.

"I have a slight headache but other than that, I think I'm okay," she paused, "Thank you so much Ophelia."

"It's nothing." I waved my hand dismissively but she shook her head.

"No really, thank you. I know things haven't been great between us these past few–"

"Let's not get into that." I interrupted not wanting to somehow get into an argument.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, "for not helping you with the debts. I really tried to but at the end, I couldn't." She sighed in resignation.

I turned my body towards her direction again and already knew. "Richmond?"

"I was a fool Ophelia. So foolish I didn't know when or how it happened but he was suddenly controlling and deciding everything for me. My job, finances, everything. And when you called, he decided he didn't want me getting involved in your mess," An angry frown formed on my face knowing that was probably the exact word the fucker had used. "But I want you to know, for once, I didn't listen to him. I wasn't going to just let you suffer when I could help. Only he was always two steps ahead and stopped me before I could do anything then threatened to make things worse for you. So I didn't do anything instead. I'm really sorry I couldn't help you when you needed me the most." Her eyes clouded.

"I was so angry. I thought I really meant nothing to you afterall. I guess worst of all, I thought your marriage was perfect and you just didn't want to be burdened with my problems. Not once did I think you could be going through anything other than heavenly bliss. I'm sorry too, that you were going through all that and I, we never knew." I shifted my position on the bed and impulsively pulled her into a hug.

"Gosh, mom should see us now." She smiled through her tears when we pulled apart.

"She'd be ecstatic," I laughed then sobered up. "But she's be so heartbroken first."

"I know," she looked down.

"Things will be better from now." I said reassuringly.

"I hope so." She took in a long breath. "I just want to get a divorce and never have to see him again. I'd like him to suffer, even just a little but I know I can't win against him. I'm penniless, I don't have a lawyer or his connections and I can only hope to come out unscathed from the divorce."

"He derserves to rot in a prison cell for the rest of his miserable existence," I muttered angrily, "but you are right. We should focus more on severing all ties between you two first. Do you think he's searching for you right now?"

"Maybe but I threw everything away and he doesn't know here, only..." she broke off and I immediately understood her fear. "You should call them." She finished warily.

"Don't you want to talk to them?"

"I-I wouldn't know where to start from." She shook her head.

"The beginning might be fine," I said and she managed a small smile. "Mom and dad won't be disappointed Cecile. You know them."

"I think that's what makes everything worse." She smiled sadly. "Call them, tell them to stay cautious of him and when you get back from work later, we'll facetime and I'll tell them everything."

"Yes— shit, work!" I grabbed my phone and checking the time, groaned. "William's really going to fire me now."

"William," she murmured as I stood to hastily wear my heels, "that's your ex right?"

"The one and only."

"How's that been?"

Her question made me smile for some odd reason. Weeks ago when she expressed concerns about me working for him, it had only deeply annoyed me.

"Interesting." I replied.

"It must be." She nodded.

Completely dressed and by the door ready to leave, my hand paused on the handle and I faced her, "although I'm sure you won't open the door for anyone, I should tell you, there might be a serial killer in the neighbourhood."

The look on her face would have been totally comical if the situation wasn't so grave already.

"A serial killer?"

"A lady was murdered in the apartment below us." I explained and she looked down at the floor then back up at me. "Stay safe." I smiled before opening the door and leaving.

***