Chapter 4 Stand By You

Celeste's POV:

Checking my work, I message my assistant to cancel all appointments for today. I am now only doing a formality to check my work. No updates from the other work, I have come to be accustomed to.

Hearing someone clear their throat I was tempted to say something but when I saw the staff guiding Bloom toward me, to say I am pleasantly surprised is an understatement. I smile towards the girl and shyly return the smile and I see a spark in her eyes though if she's happy at my approval. They cut or reshaped her hair to above the shoulders bob hairdo layered and re-colored to make it fresh.

Coupling it with the outfit she looks like a new person, "You're looking beautiful, Bloom." She blushes at my words.

Heading to the counter, "Wonderful job, whatever, the bill is, double it. Charge it on my card."

They looked at me as if I've lost it, but it doesn't matter much. Once they charge my card they return it, and head out, and looks like the sunny weather may become a bit cloudy.

Once we are seated in my car, I ask, "So what do you want to have?"

"Umm, Ms. Celeste if it's not too much can you please drop me off at my home? My Step-Mom will be worried. Because it's already quite late..."

My grip on the steering wheel tightens at the word, 'step mom'. That explains why she has not talked to anyone concerning her situation, "Bloom, please be honest with me. Is your stepmother a kind person? If not just say the word. I may not look like it. But I run one biggest fundraiser for children so they have secure housing and schooling until they are not able to stand on their own feet. Of course, I will take you off their hands legally."

She shakes her head, "No, she's kind. I-I have a problem talking to her because I think she's already done enough by taking me in and forcing my half-brother to be kind to me and send me to one of the best schools in the state. I don't want to bother her more."

Looks like there is more to her story, so rather than forcing her, I need to meet with the mother to discuss her situation and then see what I can do to help out.

She guides me to her house or should I say mansion... Damn! These guys are loaded as well. But then who would have the nerve to pick on her? And if they did how could they (parents) be naïve to not notice? The moment we enter, my car is surrounded.

I look at Bloom and she looks like a baby deer caught in the lights, I am about to open the door on my side when I hear them say, "Secure Ms. Bloom first. We'll deal with the kidnapper."

Ah! Now I understand. They aren't just bodyguards they are undercover police. I smile. I take out the special ID that all people are aware of but don't know the real name or face of the user behind it, "Before you all assume that I am a kidnapper, you may want to see my ID."

Stepping out of the car first, I hand it over and when the person in charge looks at it, the color leaves his face as though he's seen a ghost. He immediately bows his head in shame and profoundly apologizes. I just wave my hand and ask them to let me through.

They nod and disperse and from the looks of things they are informing their boss as well. Heading up to the main entrance before we can even knock, the door is opened, and a woman who looks like she's in her late 40s jumps onto Bloom, crushing her into a hug.

"Dear child I was so, so worried about you! Where did you disappear off to?" The woman starts crying. There seems to be no faking in her voice or affection.

"M-Mother please c-calm down... I am alright. Ms. Celeste was helping me. P-Please don't worry..." Bloom replies hesitantly.

"Mom, what's the commotion? Did they find..." His words die out when I see who it is. Ah, sometimes fate is truly ill-mannered when it wants to be as it seems right about now.

"Son, behave. Let's go inside and discuss what happened that led to the current situation." Mrs. Kingston says.

I am honestly surprised that he looks a bit afraid of his mother and simply nods and grumbles to the lounge. If the situation wasn't tense as it is I would be laughing at his reaction. Mrs. Kingston sits beside Bloom and her son takes a seat on the single couch leaving me with taking a seat on the double-seated couch.

"Mother, brother, please don't be angry with Ms. Celeste. She is the reason she is safe."

"I have heard about this child. But how exactly is that?" Mrs. Kingston narrows her eyes at me. I don't blame her. I'd do the same if the situation reversed.

Before I can even explain, Bloom starts crying and starts sharing the part of the story she knows up to the part where I found her and it makes me crunch up at the pain, she's had to endure all alone. Mrs. Kingston looks in the same pain as me but even more. It seems she has genuine feelings for Bloom. Even though her brother has a stoic face but his eyes are telling another story. He wants to destroy the people who harmed his sister.

But something doesn't add up... "Bloom, I know you are exhausted from everything that has happened to you. But why didn't you tell your family this all before?"

They all look at me as though I have struck them on a sour subject. After years of experiencing child cases, I sigh, hoping this isn't one of those cases that'll bite me later, "I know you all are not comfortable sharing the information. But this is important to me. Since I will be looking into the sh*t that school has been pulling and for how long. Why didn't anyone ever have the guts to stand up? This is messed up on levels I'd rather not think about. So please answer me very carefully and if possible, honestly."

They all look at me with the same look I get from all of the victims' elders. Is she in her senses or is she mental, "Were you threatened by either your family to keep quiet as I have gathered that you are not related to the people sitting here or the school to keep quiet? Or were you instilled that no one would believe you since you're just a kid?"

Bloom starts crying again at that point, her brother loses his cool and roughly grabs my injured shoulder. I want to scream in pain but I hold it in as I have been trained, instead, I look at him with hatred, "If you don't have anything nice to say, shut up! My sister has seen enough shit her whole life. I don't need someone like you to ruin her more!"

Before I can give him a piece of his own medicine, Bloom hugs her brother and forces him to leave me, "Please Xavier! Don't hurt Ms. Celeste. She's already hurt! She's done nothing but be nice to me." He's still on edge but calms down enough to give some space to me and his sister but keeps a grip on her hand. Bloom smiles a little bit and wipes her tears with her other hand, and faces me, "I will answer honestly, it's the 2nd option. But how can you deal with them? Isn't it better to switch schools?"

I shake my head, "Sweetie, remember one thing. In this dark world, those with power think they have the right to shush the weak and suppress little girls like yourself. I don't want to imagine other children going through the nightmare. So, your statement has made my work easier. Don't worry, I won't be involving you or your family's name in this. But a piece of advice: trust those who love without any reason or logic because they are the ones that'll stand by you after the fire's gone and all is left are the ashes." I smile sadly at the end.

With that, I get up and the papers in my lap fall to the ground. God, this is so not my day. I bend down and pick up the papers and see a seasoned hand help me. Standing straight, I see it's Mrs. Kingston puts out her hand to return the papers to me, I shake my head, "No, these are for you. It's correct that I took, Bloom to the clinic and the doctor made some observations that you may want to know about. Now, I will be taking my leave."

As soon as I say that I silently wince due to excruciating pain in my shoulder, Damn it... Mrs. Kingston gasps in horror and I see the reason why. There is blood on my arm, meaning the tissue has torn again. This isn't good. Everything that's happened in just 24 hours is taking a toll on my body faster than my expectations. However, I don't have any intentions of staying at a place that I barely know. I learned that lesson in the cruelest of ways.

"Child please sit down! I am a doctor. Let me look at your wound. It may become serious." She requests blocking my path to leave.

I know I have cold sweat perspiring so I need to leave, "Appreciate the offer. But no thank you. Good day."

She tries to stop me and asks her son to help but I am much faster than them and ask the guy to whom I gave my special identity to block his path, he doesn't question my order and I get the hell out of there. The moment I reach home my body reaches its breaking point and I am no longer able to contain the pain and I faint in the car.