CH 28

When Gia came downstairs with Jake in her arms, she walked over to her kitchen to fix him some breakfast. She almost jumped out of her skin when she saw Phil sitting at the table, having forgotten that he was going to be home today. Phil glared up at her when she entered. Gia ignored him and walked over to get a banana off of the counter and a box of Cheerio’s out for Jake. She sat Jake down in his booster seat and gave him his breakfast. Gia and Jake were both quiet as they sat in the kitchen, still not comfortable around Phil. Jake was eating his food fast, but Gia stopped him and slowed him down, not wanting him to choke. “I do hope that you are fallowing the rules Gia.” Phil’s deep voice slammed into her, causing her to flinch. “I am sir.” She said softly as she wiped Jake off and put him down. Jacob reluctantly walked out of the kitchen, leaving Gia by herself, desperate to get away from his father. Phil got up as Gia moved to pass him. He grabbed her by her arm roughly. “You better not be lying to me Gia or I swear you’ll regret it.” He hissed in her ear. “Yes sir.” She said softly. He let her go and she quickly went to get Jacob, who ran to her as soon as he saw her. Gia picked him up and hugged him before she walked out the door.

Gia stepped into Carol’s house when she opened the door and put Jake down. Carol looked at the girl in front of her. For the several months that she had been watching Jacob, she had observed Gia and Jacob rather closely, and she always knew that their living situation was bad. She wanted to stay out of their business but in the past few weeks, and after finding Gia after the brutal attack of her stepfather, she was having a hard time with it. “Gia is everything all right?” Carol asked. Gia seemed edgy and sad to Carol. “Uh yeah I’m fine.” Gia nodded her head. “Did Phil hit you again honey?” Carol asked casually. Gia looked up at her abruptly. “No he just made it clear that my life is over.” Gia said softly. “What do you mean?” Carol asked. “Nothing I’m fine. I’ll be back to pick him up after school.” Gia said. She turned to Jacob and said goodbye, giving him a kiss. “Gia you know if you ever need my help, I’m here for you right? If you need anything.” Carol said as she walked Gia to the door. Gia smiled at her. “Thank you.” She nodded softly before leaving. Carol peaked out of the glass square in her door and watched her walk down the steps and down the street. “She’s gone.” She shouted. Jacob screeched when he saw Nikolas step out of the living room. Nikolas smiled and picked him up, hugging him tightly. “So you’ll help me?” Nik asked over Jake’s head. “Yes I’ll try to get through to her. Maybe she’ll trust an adult a little more then she trusts her friends right now. If it were me, I would be vulnerable and want to cling to a mother type figure. I’ll try and get her to listen to me.” Carol said. “Well you have my cell phone number right? If you hear anything going on next door you call me and I’ll go down to police station. Even so much as a yell Carol. This needs to stop.” Nik said. “I agree.” Carol nodded. Nikolas bent his head down to look at Jacob, his head resting on his shoulder. “Hey buddy I got you something.” Nik said. Jake lifted his head and smiled at Nikolas. Nikolas went and retrieved his gift and handed him a stuffed lion. “Jacob listen to me, no matter what happens, I will always protect you. I won’t let anyone hurt you anymore. But if you’re ever scared and you need to feel brave, you hug this lion and think of me and feel safe OK?” Nikolas said. Jacob smiled as he squeezed the stuffed animal. “Thank you Nikki.” He said. “You’re welcome Jakie, I’ll see you soon OK?” Nik said. Jacob wrapped his arms around Nikolas’s neck and hugged him. “I love you.” He said in Nik’s ear. “I love you too Jake.” He whispered back, kissing his cheek softly.

Phil watched the guy leave, him with his fancy leather Jacket and stylish haircut, getting into his expensive car. He had been watching long enough to see him come out of the neighbor’s house a few minutes after Gia had walked out. The suspicions he was having for some time now were right; Gia was seeing this guy and lying about it. She broke a rule, and she would pay for it.

Gia walked to Carol’s house in a daze. She once again did not see Zander, or anyone else she knew that morning. She spent the day at school where she had no friends to talk to, and was now walking to pick up her brother alone. This was her life now. Jacob. That’s what her parents wanted and what she thought she wanted, so why did she feel like she was dying inside? She knocked on Carol’s door and stepped inside when she was invited in. “Hey, is he in the play room?” Gia asked. Carol looked at her. “Gia why don’t you stay here tonight? I know that Phil is supposed to be home tonight and I don’t want you to be there alone with him.” Carol said. “I’ll be fine Carol. He only hits me when I do something wrong and I haven’t even seen him all day.” Gia said. Carol looked at her sharply. “Gia will you listen to yourself? He only hits you when you do something wrong? You need to get out of that house. You and Jake can stay here as long as you need to, you know that.” Carol said. Gia looked away from her. She smiled as Jacob ran up to her with a smile on his face. “Hey buddy, how was your day?” She asked. She looked down as he held up his lion to show her. “Where did you get that Jakie?” Gia asked. She had never seen it before. “I got it from Nikki!” He said excitedly. Gia looked over at Carol. “Is that what this is about? He came to you with this didn’t he?” She asked. “Gia you need to understand that there are people who care about you and want to help you.” Carol said. “No one can help me.” Gia said desperately. “We can if you let us.” Carol said sincerely. She brought her hand out to touch Gia’s arm, and Gia flinched at the sudden movement. Carol shook her head sadly. “Will you watch Jake for me tonight? I need to make a phone call.” Gia asked. “Of coarse Gia. But I really don’t think it’s safe for you to be over there.” Carol said. Gia ignored her as she said goodbye to Jake. She rushed out of Carol’s house and ran over to her house, determined to give Nikolas Cassadine a piece of her mind.

When Gia stepped inside she gasped at how dark it was; the only light in the room was coming through the window by the chair in the corner. The moonlight cast a silhouette of light to drench half of Phil’s body. He sat in the chair, watching for her, staring at her. “I thought you were clear on what the rules were Gia.” Phil said, his cold tone sent chills down her spine. “I am.” Gia answered softly. “Well what part of no boys did you not understand?” Phil asked. Gia started to get a sick feeling in her stomach as she looked at her stepfather. She saw the look in his eyes and her heart began to pound. “I understand it perfectly. I’m not seeing anyone.” Gia said. She screamed as she watched Phil stand up and start to walk closer to her. “Why are you still lying to me Gia? You’re only making it worse.” Phil asked. “I’m not lying sir. Please don’t hurt me, please. I swear I’m not seeing anyone.” Gia pleaded. She cried out as Phil struck her, grabbing her by the arms and pinning her to the wall behind her and kicking her in the stomach.

“Nikolas its Carol. You need to do something. I can hear her screaming over there and I’m afraid he’ll kill her!” Carol said into the phone. She was in tears and Nikolas could hear the desperation seeping through her voice. He pulled out the pictures of Gia that he kept in his desk and looked down at them. “I’ll take care of it Carol I promise. You just take care of Jake.” Nik said. “Hurry Nikolas.” Carol said and then hung up the phone. “Hold on Gia.” Nik breathed as he ran out.

Gia lay on the ground, the pain in her body was mind numbing. She was aware of one thing, that she alive and she was breathing, slow shallow breathes. “Say goodbye to your brother Gia. You’re off to boarding school.” Phil’s harsh face lingered over hers as he hissed at her. Gia felt him leave and let her eyes flutter shut. This is it, she thought. She didn’t think she would ever open her eyes again. She forced herself to picture Jacob’s face in her mind, knowing that it might be the last time she would think of him. Just before she drifted off she saw another face, it was Nikolas. “I love you.” She moaned before she lost consciousness.

Nikolas walked into the police station in a hurry, making his way up to the front desk. “I would like to report someone for child abuse, who would I talk to about that?” Nik asked. “The officer over there can help you.” The woman at the desk pointed him towards an office in the corner. “Thank you.” Nik said. The officer sensed Nik’s presence and looked up at him as he stood in the doorway of the office. “Hi I have a friend whose stepfather abuse’s her. Her neighbor just called me and said she can hear her screaming next door. Please, she needs help.” Nik said desperately and on the verge of tears. “I’d like to help you. Do you happen to have any evidence?” The officer asked. “Pictures.” Nik said hopefully. “That’s good, come on in and we’ll talk. What’s your name son?” He asked as Nik walked up to him. “Nikolas Cassadine.” Nik said as he stuck his hand out to him. “Lt. Taggert, have a seat.” He said as he shook his hand.