The Life and Times of Valor

Austin’s POV

We went on and Valor wasn’t there. I figured she would try and watch from the crowd or something, but when it came time for Second and Seabring, she wasn’t there. I was slightly pissed but it’s not like her to blow me off, so for the most part I was just worried. I had cleaned up set and was walking around the back of the stages when I seen Jenna and Landon talking.
“Have you guys seen Valor?” I asked.
“No she went back to the bus then I thought she’d be at your guys set.” They were puzzled.
“She never showed.” I shook my head.
“We’ll go ask everyone if they’ve seen her, she can’t be far.” They spilt up.
“Oi! You looking for Valor” Oli came running up to me.
“Yeah have you seen her?” I was beginning to get frantic.
“No mate, but I caught Ronnie messing with her earlier, I got him off of her and made sure she got back to her bus alright. I haven’t seen Ronnie anywhere and the Falling in Reverse guys were looking for him. I was coming to find you to make sure she wasn’t alone.” He finished.
“Fuck!” I took off toward the bus with Oli following me.
We got to her bus in record time but the door was locked.
“Valor!” I was pounding on the door.
“Are you in there?!”I kept shouting.
“Mate, call Hunter or Jay.” Oli pointed out.
I threw him my phone and was walking around the bus looking for a point of entry. None of the windows were open and all the doors were locked. This was odd. Maybe she wasn’t in there? I just had an awful gut feeling she was and something had happened to her.
Hunter came running over to us and slammed the key into the door unlocking it. “ You think she is in here?” He said, breathing heavily.
“I just have a feeling..” I said quietly.
We filed in noticing she wasn’t at the front of the bus so I went toward the back, not in her bunk. I found her curled up on the floor in the back part of the bus. She was bleeding from the side of her head, shirt ripped in half and pants pulled down, bruises and burn marks covered her body.
“Oh my god, Valor!” I fell to the ground and checked her pulse it was weak and she was barely breathing, blood gushing from the side of her head and completely unconscious.
“Call 911!” I yelled and Oli already had them on the phone.
I grabbed a blanket and covered her. I stoked her hair, resting her head in my lap and tears were welling up.
“Baby, please wake up.” I was close to sobbing when the ambulance got there.
“Sir please move.” I got up letting the EMT’s do their thing.
“Can I ride in the ambulance?” I asked.
“Family only sir.” The guy told me.
“She doesn’t have anyone else, I’m her boyfriend.” I pleaded.
“You can follow.” The took her and loaded her up when Hector pulled up.
“I can take you, everyone else is following also.” He said.
“Alright.” I sighed heavily getting into the car.
“Is she going to be okay?” He asked.
“I don’t know, she was unconscious and beaten to a pulp.” I choked.
“She’s going to be fine. She’s a fighter. Always has been.” Hector was right, but I was sick with worry.
We got to the hospital as they pushed her into the ER. Jay, Hunter, Scott, Ann, Landon, Hector and I all ran in to the front desk.
“You’ll have to wait they’re gonna report back to you guys as soon as they can.” The receptionist told us.
We were in the waiting room for what seemed like forever. Ann was sobbing as Jay held her in his lap. I had my face in hands staring towards the ground. Hunter and Scott were talking with Hector, I caught part of the conversation.
“You and Tay?” Scott asked.
“It’s complicated, we met when my band was on tour a few years ago. I don’t know she is gorgeous and we get along so well.” He trailed off.
“So did you and Valor and no offense Valor is a unique kind of gorgeous.” Hunter snapped.
“It just wasn’t there for me okay? When I was with Valor she was a home body and was scared to try new and different things. I didn’t realize she was broken and at first she was everything I could’ve asked for, but as it went on I just didn’t want to talk to her or hang out with her and I didn’t miss her.” I could understand, but only slightly because from what I understand their relationship was never toxic.
“Why lead her on then?” Scott asked.
“I didn’t want to hurt her… Then I realized I had too and well.. I fucked up. I shouldn’t have waited.” He sighed and leaned back in his chair.
“Wait.” I spoke up. “You met Tay on the tour you were dating Valor, I know because that’s how we met.” I was enraged.
“You fucking cheated on her you asshole.” I stood up hovering over him.
“It just happened, I didn’t mean to!” Hector stood in front of me.
“Tay is stupid bitch with a fucking anger problem and you pick that over Valor who is the definition of unconditional love? Fucking idiot.” I was pacing.
“Fuck you. Don’t you fucking talk about Tay like that again!” Hector shouted.
“We’re in a public setting, douchebag, quit yelling.” I spat back at him.
“You have no right to talk about Tay.” Hector muttered.
“You are unbelievable, that girl loved you with all her heart and you cheated on her, left her and ultimately are the reason your child is dead.” I snapped and sat across the room.
I knew I remembered him from other tours, but I completely forgot about that tour. Him and Tay were inseparable and that was after he boasted about how awesome his girlfriend was. Tay was a bitch, every body knew that but we tolerated her. Valor was kind and gentle and was there for everyone and anyone even if it was her ex or fucking Ronnie Radke.
“Ronnie.” I mutter.
“What?” Landon asked.
“He did this to her, where the fuck is he?” I hissed.
“Come on, let’s worry about Valor first before we go on a man hunt.” Landon pushed me down into the seat.
“Why the hell is he still here?” I said pointing to Hector.
“He just want to make sure she’s okay.” Landon shrugged.
“Pft.” I slumped back in my chair.
Another hour went by and still nothing from the doctors. Jenna, Hayley, Vic, Oli, Alex, Jack, Tino, Alan, Aaron, Phil and Andy from WeCAR came into the waiting room. Andy went and sat by Hector making sure he was doing alright. What a fucking joke.
“Hey guys.” I hugged everyone.
Ann leaped up and hugged everyone, still crying. Hayley and Jenna sat down next to Ann and comforted her while she continued crying.
“Have you guys heard anything.” Jenna asked.
“Nothing. Oli have you seen Radke at all?” I asked and everyone else looked confused.
“Nah mate, he didn’t even show up for the FIR set.” He said shaking his head.
“Why are we looking for Radke?” Hayley asked.
“He’s the bastard that did this to her.” I said through gritted teeth.
“That piece of shit!” Vic yelled.
“Look we need to see what’s going on with Valor, then we hunt that scumbag down and make him pay.” Alex reasoned.
“Agreed.” I said.
“Are you okay baby?” Alan hugged me tightly.
“Not at all.” I muttered.
“She’s going to be okay. Girl’s a tough one.” Aaron patted me on the back.
“What even happened?” Tino asked, sitting in the chair next to me.
“All I know is that when I got to her, she was beaten, bleeding from the head, clothes ripped off and unconscious.” I managed to say through gritted teeth.
“That fucking piece of shit.” Phil said angrily.
“What do we do about tour?” Alan asked?
“You’re really worried about that right now? There’s a fucking psycho on the lose and my poor unofficial girlfriend is in the OR.” I snapped.
“He’s right Austin.. Bus call is tonight and we have to tell Lyman.” Phil reasoned.
“Can we find a fill in for me?” I asked Alan.
“Probably. We can ask Shayley. We’ll stay as long as we can.” Alan was trying to comfort me.
“And you can ride with us when we go back.” Hunter placed a hand on shoulder assuring me.
“Thanks man.” I really did appreciate it.
I was losing it as another half hour passed. Was she beaten that badly? My poor not official girlfriend was in there all alone and I couldn’t be there with her. I looked up and seen a doctor walking out and I stood up instantly.
“Valor Vitali?” She asked.
We all stood up and huddle toward her.
“She suffered a lot of brain trauma, she’s been put into a coma until the brain swelling goes down. We had to stitch a suture in her parietal on the right hand side.” Ann was clinging onto me.
“She has three cracked ribs, two bruised ones and bruising around her legs and arms.” The doctor continued.
“She’s going to be fine and should recover rather quickly, but it is going to be a few days in the hospital. After that, I know she performs in a band, but she’s not going to be able to perform for a little while, not until her ribs heal.” She finished.
“Can I speak to you for a moment?” I asked her.
“Of course.” We stepped away from the group, I didn’t think it was right to ask in front of everyone.
“Was she…Was she raped?” I choked on the last word.
“I’m not at liberty to divulge that information.” She said sternly.
“She doesn’t.. we’re her only family. She’s my girlfriend and I am not trying to press for information but the more I know the better care I can take of her. I know you’re not supposed to say anything, but I’m assuming she’ll be pressing chargers and-“ She held her hand up to stop me.
“I’m not a detective Mr. Carlile, but the evidence is substantial.. The rape kit I ran shows a lot of trauma, tearing an d bruising and I’m really sorry to say, but it looks as if.” I held my hand up to stop her, I understood and I felt the bile rise up in my throat.
“Thank you.” I murmured.
“She is lucky to have someone like you. I trust you’ll take excellent care of her and she should recover in no time. Just remember her mental health is going to take a hit, be patient.” The doctors words were oddly comforting.
“Do you know when she’ll wake up?” I asked.
“It’ll be a couple days. I’m sorry for what has happened. You guys are free to see her now.” I darted straight for Valor’s room.

Notes

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Title credit: Neck Deep