Chapter 8: The Girls Return

The sound of the front door opening broke the silence of the house, and Dorothy's tears flowed even harder. She had been crying for what felt like hours, and she couldn't seem to stop. She was still shaken by the encounter with Lucas, and the thought of him being in her house, making her feel vulnerable and scared. As the door closed, Dorothy heard the sound of Blanche's voice, calling out to her. "Dorothy, honey, we're back! What's going on?" Blanche's voice was laced with concern, and Dorothy felt a wave of relief wash over her. She didn't have to face this alone. Dorothy sniffled, trying to compose herself, but it was no use. She heard Blanche, Rose, and Sophia exchanging worried glances, and then they were all rushing into the room, concern etched on their faces. "Darling, what's wrong?" Blanche asked, rushing over to Dorothy, her arms open wide. Dorothy tried to speak, but all that came out was a sob. She felt a lump form in her throat, and she couldn't seem to shake it off. Sophia, ever the observant one, took in the scene before her, and her eyes narrowed. "What's going on?" Sophia asked, her voice firm but gentle. Rose, always the optimist, looked at Dorothy with a concerned expression. "Did something happen? You look like you've seen a ghost." Dorothy shook her head, trying to find the words. She felt like she was reliving a nightmare, and she couldn't seem to wake up. Blanche sat down beside her, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Tell us, Dorothy," Blanche coaxed gently. "What happened?" Dorothy took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She knew she had to tell them, but she was scared. She was scared of how they would react, scared of how she would feel. "It was Lucas," she said finally, the words tumbling out of her mouth. "He came to the house. He was being weird, and then...and then he almost hurt me." The room fell silent, and Dorothy felt a sense of dread wash over her. She knew she had to tell them everything, but she was scared. Scared of how they would react, scared of how she would feel. Rose's eyes widened, and Sophia's face turned stern. Blanche's grip on her shoulder tightened. "Tell us everything," Sophia said, her voice firm. Dorothy took a deep breath and began to recount the events that had led her to this moment. She told them about Lucas's visit, about how he had made her feel, and about how Stan had saved her. She told them about the fear, the vulnerability, and the sense of relief that had washed over her when Stan had appeared. As she spoke, Dorothy felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She felt like she was finally being heard, like she was finally being understood. She knew she wasn't alone, and that with her friends by her side, she could face anything. The girls listened, their faces etched with concern, but also with a sense of determination. They knew that they had to do something, that they had to make sure Dorothy was safe. "We're here for you, Dorothy," Blanche said, her voice firm. "We'll take care of you," Rose added. Sophia nodded, her eyes flashing with determination. "We'll make sure you're safe." Dorothy felt a sense of relief wash over her, and she knew that she was going to be okay. She knew that with her friends by her side, she could face anything.