Short chapter, I know.

Chapter 6

A Change in Life

[Tori's POV]

Bright lights, crying, screaming, running, panicking are all the things that are happening around me as I sit silently in the ER beside Jade and her mother. Everything happened so fast I can't even piece together how we ended up in a ER waiting to see if our best friend is alive when just a few moments ago we were laughing waiting for her to come join us for lunch. Something wasn't right and that was Jade's idea as we waited and waited for Cat to show, but she never did. She wouldn't return her text or answer our calls. She's never been silent with us before. Something had to be wrong.

Jade decided we should leave and go to her house, that maybe she was just taking a long time to pick out a dress and shoes to match, or that maybe she just got caught up in a television show and just forgot all about lunch which is believable because Cat doesn't focus on anything for too long. So we went.

Outside her house were her dad in a panic state with two policemen and a man in a suit standing around him nodding and writing down information. Once her dad spotted us we were immediately questioned, asked if we have seen her, or if she ever made it to lunch, and that's when my heart started to race. Something bad has happened. Cat had been kidnapped. My heart dropped.

Jade quickly grabbed my hand and we both ran all the way back to her house not even stopping to take a simple breath the whole way. She cried to her mom telling her what had happened as I stood behind her and listened. It was the first time I've ever seen Jade cry. It was a different her. Like a protective part of her was coming out. I mean, she's always been protective over Cat, but I've never seen anything like this.

Her mother quickly grabbed her keys and ran from the house as we followed behind jumping into the backseat of her car. I looked over to Jade who was sunk into the seat with her head turned toward the window and her nails in her mouth. She bit them vigorously as she sniffed letting tears fall down her face. "Jade." I said as I reached my hand across the seat and grabbed onto her free one. This is the first time Jade never snatched away from me. She actually wrapped her hand around mine just as tight. "It's going to be okay. She's okay, I know it." She just shook her head as she removed her hand from mine and covered her face as her mother pulled into the driveway of Cat's house.

This time it was empty. No policeman in her driveway, her dad and siblings weren't on the porch. Jade's mother yelled out her window to a next door neighbor asking if they knew anything in which they stated they heard something about a hospital. Jade's mother didn't even finish listening to whatever the guy had to say. She was speeding off to the nearest ER in a heartbeat.

Here is where the got the information on Cat. That she was kidnapped, raped, and beaten. We don't know how she's doing right now. We don't even know if she's alive. Her family is in a different waiting area. So that means they will get information on her way before we do. Now is when my tears start to form. I try to keep them in as they blur my vision. The thoughts of Cat and what's happened to her keep replaying in my mind. I can't stop picturing the horrible tragedy that took place and I didn't even see it. My mind keeps making these pictures, these images and I just…I can't.

I wipe my tears softly as I felt Jade's mother's hand slip into mine. "Don't cry Tori." She whispered to me as she wiped tears from my and her daughters eyes. "Everything will be okay." More tears fill my eyes as I nod and listened to her mother tell both of us everything will be alright.

The lights in the room are dim as a very soft music plays in the background. Jade sits with her mother by Cat's side holding onto her hand as tears fall down her eyes slowly and her whispering things into her ear, but I don't think she can hear. Her eyes are closed tight, one bruised and swollen as tubes came from her nose and hands. Her chest rises and falls slowly as if in time, it never changes up.

I've been holding onto my mother's hand since I called her and told her the news. It's our turn to see Cat since Jade and her mom went first. We've waited for what felt like ages to see her. The wait was agonizing because we didn't even know her state. The doctor finally came to us and told us she's going to be okay, it will just be a hard healing process. Just before we could see her two men in suits came and took her father away. I don't know where they were going, but it didn't look good.

"How is she?" My mother asked Ms. West as she stood with a frown. "She's asleep."

I scrunch my eyes as I look at Cat's face again, but she doesn't look just asleep. If you ask me, she looks as if she were in a coma.

We both walk closer as Jade let go of Cat's hand and backs away a bit. "This is my fault." Jade whispers to me as she turns and walks out of the room faster than I can blink. Her mother tries to stop her, but couldn't. She let her go as she put a hand on my mom's shoulder and exited the room.

"How could somebody do something like this." My mother whispered as she covered her mouth and shook her head as she looks Cat over. I could tell by the look in her eyes that she is so hurt for Cat. She's trying to hold back the tears just as I.

I walk around to the opposite side of the bed as I lean in and place a small kiss on Cat's cheek. "I'm sorry Cat." I whisper to her.

"Mrs. Vega?"

My mother and I both turn to see a woman and a man in suits. They look like those very important people you only see on TV in business offices that seem to hate their jobs. But instead, these people look pretty upset rather than angry at the world.

"Yes?"

"Hi my name is Davis Range, and this is my agent Carla Smith. We are from the Department of Children's Services. May we talk for a minute?"

"Oh, I'm not her mother." My mom says as she walks over to me and puts her arm around me. "This is my daughter."

"We are aware Mrs. Vega. But may we please talk for a moment?"

I look up at my mother as she nods and grabs my hand. She walks over to the door holding on tight as Davis holds it open with a small smile aimed at me. It's one of those smiles when a person knows everything won't be okay, but they smile anyways to loosen the tension, but I'm not dumb. I know when something isn't right. What happened to my best friend today wasn't right. I have so many unanswered questions like, who and why? Why would anyone want to do something like this to someone so precious as Cat Valentine? A monster, that's who.

We didn't walk very far before we end up in a small room similar to a waiting room but it has a table. Davis tried to convince my mother that it would be best if I stayed outside but she refused and said that whatever they have to say that they better make it PG and quick.

My mother hates dealing with the government and I know that's who these people are. Anybody from a department is government related and to be from children's services doesn't sound too great at all.

"Mrs. Vega, I'm sure you are unaware of what has been taking place at Cat's Valentine's household."

"I don't want to know okay." My mom says as she holds up a hand. She's never good with bad news. She never wants anything to do with it. She blocks it all out and what she does hear she turns in to something good.

"I understand Mrs. Vega, and I don't have to go over anything with you."

"Then why am I here?"

"Usually when a child, and in this case children, are removed from a home they are placed with immediate family and friends. Ms. West, I'm assuming you know, denied. Before we place Sinjin VanCleef, Nelson Watson, Caterina Valentine and Ariana Grande in separate foster homes, DCS would like to know if you would like to take any of these children into your home?"

What?

Mother was silent for a moment as she shook her head slightly and leaned in a bit. "Why are you taking them? Isn't she already adopted? Her adopted parent's aren't treating her right?"

Davis put his hands put slightly. "You wished not to go over any of this."

"I don't want details, but why? What happened?"

I watch and listen in as Davis turns to Clara. "Caterina's father has a child pornography studio set up in their home. They are making business off-"

"-Stop." My mother said as she held up her hand. Tears started to form in her eyes as she covered her face and sobbed.

What is child pornography?

"I don't mean to be rude and to rush anything, but we have to know an answer very soon Mrs. Vega and-"

"-I want Cat."

I watched as Davis sat up a bit. "Are you sure Mrs. Vega?"

I watch as my mother wipes her tears and nods. "Yes."

I don't know why it took my brain so long to realize what was happening right in front of me as Davis and Clara talked and talked about adoption to my mother. All the paper work they had ready for her to sign, all the questions they had to ask so at the end of the day….Cat, Cat will be, she'll be living with me, with us, with my family. She'll be a part of my family, she'll be my sister! But, but why?

I don't understand fully and when it was finally over my mother wouldn't explain anything to me. She wouldn't give me details on what any of this meant. She looked stressed herself and after my last question when I got yelled out I stopped asking. She seemed as if she wasn't for sure on what she just had done. But she had done it.

How will Cat feel about this? When she wakes up what am I supposed to say to her? That she's my sister? My adopted sister? She's going to want to know why? She's going to miss her family. What about her bothers and little sister? Will she ever see them again? I asked my mother why she didn't adopt them all but all she said was that she couldn't. She could have if she wanted to. We have plenty of room at my house. She was just being selfish. I don't like that at all.

I'm not positive on how all this is going to work out, but I know whatever was happening at Cat's house must have been very bad. She's so good at hiding things and keeping secrets. Maybe she was getting hurt all of the time. Well, now she'll be safe. She'll be safe with us because we will never hurt her. She won't have to be sad about anything anymore. I'm not sure what's been going on, but whatever it is it can go behind her now that my mother will care for her.

I just hope Cat adjust to this change in her life well…

Thanks for reading. Please review. :)