Chapter Two

I subconsciously let a scream escape my lips as the yell from behind me brought back terrible memories that I wish would just leave me alone.

"Found you, you little slut!" my drunken step-father yelled.

He quickly yanked me out of my hiding place by forearm causing a sickening 'pop' to ring throughout the room. But sadly that wasn't the worse he could or would do. No, the dislocated shoulder was just the beginning.

"Angel...," a quiet voice called.

"You little slut, you shouldn't have tried to hide. You just made your punishment ten times worse," he said smiling evilly at my crumpled figure that lay sprawled out on the floor.

"Angel...," the voice called once again, but louder this time.

I was frozen in fear as he slowly approached me, the lights from the street glistening dully off the blade that he had in his tight grip. I dragged my eyes away from my step-father to sneak a glance at my mother who just sat in the corner watching with tears in her eyes.

"Angel!" the voice screamed. Suddenly, I felt someone shaking me and my eyes flew open. I took one look at the frightened expressions of my new friends and fled as fast as I could.

"Angel! Angel, what's wrong?" Camille yelled as both Jo and herself ran after me.

The boys on the other hand stood there in shock. They were completely clueless to what had just happened. One second I actually gave a smile and the next I was screaming with my eyes shut tight as tears ran down my face.

"What just happened?" Carlos asked blinking.

"I'm not completely sure, but I have a feeling it has to do with her past," Logan answered slowly not entirely sure himself. "You guys yelling at her may have cause a traumatic memory to resurface and momentarily take control of her leading to her natural fight or flight instincts, making her run away."

Unknown to them Jo had come back over to the group during their discussion and when she spoke all four guys jumped. "Guys, she's locked herself in the girls' bathroom. What should we do?"

Kendall thought for a moment before he began giving orders. "Jo, go ask Bitters if there is a key to the bathroom. Logan, call Kelly. I'll go get my mom."

"What about us?" Carlos and James asked at the same time.

Kendall shrugged and ran to the elevator. Logan on the other hand already had his phone out and was dialing Kelly's cell phone number. "Maybe you should just go sit over there and try not to scary her again," he said, a bit harsher than it was meant to be, as he pointed the table they had recently vacated.

"We didn't mean to," they complained.

"Well, you did, so sit. Oh, hey Kelly. It's about Angel."

A few minutes later Kelly ran through the doors of the Palm Woods. "Okay where is she?" Kelly said while trying to catch her breath.

Everyone pointed to the bathroom door silently. Standing tall Kelly took long, quick strides to the door and knocked softly. "Angel, please open up. You can either come out or let me in. I don't care just let me help you." She put her ear to the listening for my reply. When none came she turned to Bitters asking for the key. He quickly gave her the key so he could get back to what he does best... nothing.

As fast as she could, Kelly unlocked the door and ran through the opening making sure to shut it again to keep the others out. She knew I didn't like an audience when I cried especially when it was a full on break down.

She rushed up to me and held me in her arms, whispering calming words to me.

After what felt like hours, I finally calmed down and was able to stop crying. Kelly was still rocking me back and forth as she told me it would be alright when I sat up and rubbed my eyes making them even redder.

"I should probably go apologize and explain all of this to them, shouldn't I?" I asked, looking back at Kelly through the mirror.

"It's your choice, but it will probably be for the best," Kelly said softly as she got up off her knees.

"You're right. James and Carlos most likely think they caused my reaction."

"But they did..."

"No. It wasn't their fault. It's his."