Innocence Taken by Janet Durbin

She grabbed his hand to make him stop. He continued. He no longer smiled.
    She whimpered. He slapped her. She cried out. He slapped her again. He ripped her underwear off and threw them into the trees. He lay on top of her. He spread her legs. He moved the worm close to her pee-pee. He shoved it inside. She cried out in pain. He covered her mouth with his hand.
    She had never felt pain like this. Tears ran from her eyes. She wished he would take his worm out. All he did was ram it in over and over. He grunted with each push. She hurt with each push. She wanted her mommy. She wanted the see the birds in her backyard. She did not want to see another worm again for the rest of her life.
    In an instant, her world flipped over. She found herself face-first on the ground. The man put all his weight on her. She couldn't breathe. Every time she tried, dirt filled her mouth and nose. She felt her legs separate and his worm enter her pee-pee spot again. It hurt worse than before. She struggled. He was too heavy. He pressed on her head, keeping her toward the ground, preventing her from screaming. The grunting resumed. Breathing grew impossible to do. He didn't notice. He was lost in his thrusts. Her last thoughts were of her mother ... and the birds.
    When the man finished, he realized Alice was dead. He didn't mean to kill her, it just happened. Scared, he dug a shallow pit and placed her body in it. He covered it with some leaves and twigs. He returned to his car and drove away. He never told the mother he had visited. He pretended to be shocked when told of the girl's disappearance. He convinced them. They never suspected him. He thought he was scot-free.
* * * *
    Nature found herself lying on the floor when she came around. She did not know how or when she got there. She was curled into a tight ball. Tears streamed down her cheeks. The floor was wet with them. She had been crying for some time. She was hugging the chihuahua toy close to her body. She heard movement in the room. She opened her eyes.
    Westerly was getting to his feet. He squatted beside her when he realized she was awake. “It's not good, is it?"
    Nature sat up, wiping the moisture off with the back of her hand. Westerly reached out to help her, she shrugged him off. She did not want anyone to lay hands on her, not right now. The session was too fresh. She was too raw. He stood up, his face resuming a professional appearance instead of the concerned one it had a moment ago. Spangle remained by the door. His arms were crossed in front of him. He did not look happy.
    "She's dead,” she said.
    "Did you see who did it?” Spangles hands moved to his gun belt. He gripped either side of the buckle firmly, his knuckles turning white.
    She bowed her head. She wished he had been a stranger. Someone the girl had not known. Someone she would not have opened the door for. Instead, the man was a family member. He wasn't the one they sought, the one who had killed Rew.
    "It was her uncle."
    The faces of both men darkened. One because of who it was, the other because of who it wasn't.
    "You're sure?” Westerly asked.
    "I saw him. I saw what he did to her. He took her to a nearby wildlife park. He tricked her and used her horribly. He didn't mean to kill her.” She paused to take in a deep breath. She exhaled it between pursed lips. “He buried her in the park."
    "Can you take me to it?” Deputy Spangle straightened.
    "Yes ... it's not far."
    This time, the camper led the way. Westerly followed her directions to the dirt road. He drove to where she saw the uncle stop. Spangle stopped behind them. She got out but refused to enter the woods. She pointed to where the men needed to go.
    "Down that trail. You'll see her underwear close to a pile of fresh leaves. She's there.” Nature moved to the back of the camper. She opened the door. Unable to look at the men, she added, “I'll be here when you return.” She closed the door behind her.
    Hours later, after the forensic people