The Abused - Chapter 18

The Abused is a psychological thriller about nine addicts who go to rehab only to have one of them start murdering the others. The novel is set to release in Fall 2016. 

Reader discretion is advised. Some of this content may be profane and not appropriate for readers under the age if 18.

18

Deacon shuffled behind the group as they headed for their session together. He was getting used to the daily routine. Get up, eat breakfast, go to your one-on-one, eat lunch, do group and then eat dinner and start over. It was perfunctory in his estimation. He didn’t care about any of it, and all he wanted to do was get out and call Violet. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. He hoped to find her and apologize then maybe she would come back to him.

As they all took their respective seats in the room, Stanley Lentwood walked in the room. Group was typically Craig’s gig so everyone was surprised to see Mr. Lentwood. Deacon didn’t like him and wished that Craig was leading. Deacon thought Stanley was an uptight guy and needed way more therapy than some of the people in that room. He had observed Stanley staring at the young girl Darian on more than one occasion. “Fucking pervert,” he thought to himself.

Stanley sat down and bowed his head, as did everyone else. They knew the drill now.

“God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.”

            Stanley looked seriously at the group. “It’s time we discuss Step 2: That we understand that a power greater than us can restore us to sanity. I assume that since you chose this particular program you understand there is a higher power and that you are going to surrender to that higher power to help guide you from here forward. That there is a divine plan for each and every one of you, and that you are worthy of happiness and a life filled with joy. That all humans on the planet are precious and worthy.”

            Pete snickered, “Is this a sermon or what?”

            Stanley stared at him with a serious expression. “You don’t feel worthy, Mr. Mulligan?”

            “That’s crap. Look I’ll be frank, and I bet a lot of you feel this way. I loved the drugs. I was a warrior on coke. I owned it. I was God!”

            “That is what we call ‘stinking thinking’ Mr. Mulligan. If you were ‘God’ then why is your beautiful niece dead due to your irresponsible behavior?”

            Pete looked suddenly sad.

            Kendra sat forward, “He killed his niece?”

Her question was the first time she had spoken to the group. Everyone turned and stared at her in surprise. Pete couldn’t look at her.

“Yes, Ms. Stephens he left cocaine on the bathroom counter for his baby niece to find. She died, and now Mr. Mulligan is here.”

Pete’s eyes started watering. He sat back in shame and silence.

“Children are precious things,” said Kendra as she also quietly went back into her shell of silence.

Kevin, who had taken the seat beside Kendra, reached out and touched the top of her hand. Everyone stared at them.

“I have something to say,” said Finley Sullivan, the other member of this “tribe” who had never said a word before now.

They all turned their attention to him.

“I loved the drugs, too. Man, there is nothing better than a euphoric high. I don’t know about you guys, but what good does the whole surrender thing do. I could say, ‘Hey God I give up.’ But you know what? I still want to use.”

Stanley nodded at him in appreciation of the honesty. “The idea is for you to first understand you have to trust the process. That over time you will be able to manage the cravings, but for now and for where you’re at, we understand you’re still hooked. We understand you would rather be shoving a pill in your mouth or alcohol or whatever it was that got you high. But your lives all fell apart. This program is designed to help you get you lives on track. For you to heal and find new ways to deal with your problems.”

Darian suddenly burst out laughing, “You’re fucking high.”

“Language!”

She got up and started shouting, “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”

Stanley glanced at the Stu who stood guard by the door. Stu stepped forward and grabbed Darian.

“Hey! Rape! Rape! Rape! You’re all fucking rapists and perverts!” she screamed.

Stanley nodded and Stu pulled Darian out of the room.

“I think she’s high,” muttered Deacon.

Stanley nodded, “Yes, we’ll have to search her room. She won’t be returning unless she agrees to stop doing what she’s doing.”

“She’s a child,” said Frank.

“A messed-up child,” concurred Finley in a very sane voice.

Stanley just glanced at the group. “Open your 12 Step workbooks. I want to go over your exercises.”

They all followed directions. Stanley glanced uneasily toward the door that Darian had been dragged through just moments ago. He then turned back to the group and told them to turn to page 12.