A/N: Another chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 7
Hassleberry POV
I pulled on my jacket. It was getting cold. I guess I shouldn't have cut the sleeves of the blazer they gave me otherwise I wouldn't have to carry around another layer. "Today was tough; tougher than normal. I don't know what these professors are thinking. It seems the tensions gotten a bit higher since Dana got here. Oh well, I'm sure she's got nothing to do with it. Now I just gotta get back to the barracks. I'm sure there's grub there; enough for me to have thirds even fourths."
I put my hands down to my stomach, which growled like crazy. "The sound of food right now sounds way too good. Oh, there I go again talking to myself." But I could really use some food right now.
I guess it's just my hunger but this path seems a lot longer. I even think I'm hearing voices. I walked for a bit longer, but then I heard another voice, and I'm sure I wasn't just hallucinating. Someone was definitely screaming. I looked to my left and heard it again. I ran as fast I could towards the noise. "Show yourself. Who are you harassing?" My own question when I came into a small clearing.
There was a man dressed in black, even a black mask, with a rope around his neck, holding the wrists of someone. I couldn't see who it was exactly because they had a bag over their head. I stood back for a moment and watch to see what he was doing.
"Stop! No, please!" I heard the voice under the bag say again. It was definitely female. The man chuckled. "Oh, don't try to fight it. If you won't come willingly, I guess I'll just have to force you." He laughed out loud this time and then tied her wrists together with the rope he had around his neck. He then pushed her to the ground and grabbed her shirt, which at this point I could see was a Ra uniform. I didn't know any girls in the Ra dorm. The man ripped open her shirt exposing her torso which was covered by nothing more than a yellow bra. I could feel myself blush at the sight. I was about to run forward when the man started speaking again. "Don't try fighting, there's no one here to help you."
His hand slinked down her skirt and I could not take watching anymore. "Unhand that girl!" I jumped out from the bush and grabbed his shoulder forcing him to face me. "What did she ever do to you?"
"Oh her, she was just too cute. I was tired of faking what it would be like in thoughts so I decided to get the real thing. Even if I had to take it by force."
That was it. I grabbed him by the collar. "That doesn't cut it with me! You were seriously going to take her against his will."
"Well, when you put it that way, yeah." He laughed again.
My grip tightened. "Not on my watch." I pulled back and brought me fist forward across his face. He fell to the ground and held his face.
He scrambled to get up and said, "What the hell?" He tried for another punch but I grabbed his hand before it made contact. He looked surprised. I twisted his arm so his back was facing me. I pulled him towards me and brought my knee up, hard, between his legs. He let out a high pitched yelp and fell to the ground again; clutching the part of him I kicked.
"Now leave her alone and get out of here." I kneeled down to his face level. "And if I ever hear about her getting attacked again, I will personally make sure that you go through hell." He didn't think twice he ran out into the woods and I didn't bother chasing him. There was an innocent victim I had to rescue.
I kneeled down in front of the girl. I blushed again as I remembered her shirt was open. "Sorry 'bout that. But I'm sure I scared him away." I took the bag off her head. I couldn't believe it. "Dana?"
"Kenzan! Oh thank goodness." She moved to hug me but her hands were restrained. Instead she just fell forward. I helped her back up.
I undid her restraints. "Well, it looks like you're a bit exposed. You should probably fix that." I blushed again.
She looked down and just smiled at me. "Oh that's nothing." She started to button up her uniform. She noticed my flushed face. "Oh, are you uncomfortable with..?" My face got even darker.
"Uh… ok, I'll admit it, it's a bit awkward." I wanted desperately to change the subject. "So when did you move up in the ranks?" I referred to her new uniform.
"This morning, in fact. I was guaranteed to join the Ra dorm after two weeks."
"Wow, then I guess it won't be long 'till you're wearing blue." I smiled but she didn't seem to think it was funny. She grabbed me by my collar and pulled me down to her eye level.
"Don't joke about that! I will never be trapped in blue!" She had a look of vengeance in her purple eyes. I stood still, staying in her grip. It seems I didn't have to say anything because she let me go. "Sorry, I just…" she trailed off.
"There's no need to explain. Your thoughts are your own." I looked up at the sky. "We'd better get going to our dorms before it starts raining."
Dana's eyes were stricken with fear. "Definitely." She looked towards the direction of the Ra dorm before saying, "We'd better head towards the Slifer dorm. It's closer."
"Sure." We found our way out of the forest and onto the path. I looked over at Dana and noticed she was shivering. "You're cold. I can't let you freeze." I took of the jacket I was wearing and out it around Dana's shoulders.
She looked surprised. "Oh I'm not that cold. In fact I don't feel anything."
"Say what you like, I can tell when one of my friends is in need." Dana didn't bother arguing anymore. There was no need. We were soon at the Slifer Dorm. We looked up to the second floor and saw Jaden. "Hey, Sarg, got room for two more soldiers?"
Jaden turned around. "Oh, sure we do." he smiled. "Come on up." Dana didn't waste any time. She ran up the stairs and into Jaden's room. I followed slowly after her, confused at her rush.
"Dana, when did you get into the Ra dorm?" I heard Jesse ask as I entered the room.
"This morning. I quite like yellow. It matches my hair." She combed her fingers through her hair.
Jaden looked at me. "Hassleberry! You were supposed to here for practice an hour ago. What happened to you?"
Dana cringed. "He was saving me." Her knuckles turned white against her hold on my jacket.
Syrus talked this time. "Saving you? From what?"
"More like a who." I sat down next to Dana and she put her hand on mine.
"What?" Jesse said looking us both over.
She looked at the confused looks on our friend's faces before continuing. "Someone tried to rape me. If it hadn't been for Kenzan, I… I don't know what would have happened to me."
Jaden jumped to his feet. "Someone what?! That's no way to treat our friend. He'll pay."
Dana tried to calm him, but Jaden wouldn't listen. "This is serious!"
Jesse pulled Jaden down next to him and said, "Did you see his face?"
"No, he put a bag over my head."
Jaden punched the floor. "Nobody harasses my friends."
"Really, Jaden I don't see why I matter so much to you." I knew everyone's eyes turned towards her in amazement, including mine. Her grip loosened from my jacket and it fell to the floor. "You've only known me for two weeks. You barely know me."
To my surprise, Jaden smiled. He took her freed hand and looked her in the eyes. "It doesn't matter how long we've known you, I know," he chuckled. "We know that you are worth being called our friend. You've done nothing but help us and have asked for nothing from us."
Dana's eyes were glistening. Then a single tear escaped from it. Her hand was removed from mine as she swept Jaden up in a hug. "Thank you. Thank you so much. You have no idea how much that means to me." Jaden returned her hug. "All of you," She said loosening her grip on Jaden. "You all mean so much to me." She didn't need to say another word. At once the rest of us joined in the group hug.
My hand fell on top of her hand. She didn't move much, but enough to kiss the back of my hand. I felt another blush. Lucky for me, we broke the hug; otherwise my blush would've deepened into something else…
"Trust me Dana," Jesse said, breaking my thoughts. "If—when we find that creep, we'll drill him right into the ground for doing what he did to you."
Dana seemed to ignore Jesse and opened the door. It had started raining and it was coming down so hard, I couldn't even see past the upper level deck. "Well, I'd better get going." she looked hesitantly out the door before stepping out onto the deck.
Jesse grabbed her hand. "You can't go out in that weather, you'll get sick."
"Jesse's right, Dana. We can't let you .You'll stay here tonight." Jaden followed Jesse's lead.
"I couldn't. I don't want to be a burden." She took one step out into the rain, but before she could take another, Jaden and Jesse lunged at her, pulling her back in.
"You'll stay here for tonight and then tomorrow we'll help you move into your new dorm." Jaden handed her a towel. "It doesn't matter what you say, we won't let you go. And besides, that guy might still be out there."
"Really, you guys do too much for me." She looked over at the beds. "But there are three beds and five of us. Come to think of it, how do you fit four people into this room?"
Jaden and Jesse blushed, but it was Jesse who answered. "You see, Jaden and I usually sleep in the same bed." Jesse's hand snaked into Jaden's. "We like to be… close." Jesse laid his head on Jaden's shoulder.
Dana smiled. "Well, I guess I saw that one coming. But, still that only leaves two beds and three people."
I stepped in this time. "I'll sleep on the floor. You can take my bed."
Dana stopped me. "No, I'll sleep on the floor. You've all done too much for me. I wouldn't feel right taking your bed."
I tried to change her mind but she wouldn't let me. Syrus had grabbed a blanket and pillow and given it to Dana. "You sure, Dana? You really want to sleep on the floor?"
Dana took the blanket and pillow with a smile. "Of course."
"Wow, is it that late already? Well better hit the hay." I laid down onto my bed, the bottom bunk, and stared up towards the middle bunk, Syrus's bed. Jesse had already climbed the ladder up to the third bunk, the bed he and Jaden shared. Jaden turned off the light to the room before practically running up the ladder to his boyfriend.
Once the light was off, I turned onto my side, watching Dana's silhouette against the moonlight. It hadn't taken long for Syrus to fall asleep. He was soon snoring. And I guess Jaden and Jesse decided to postpone their relationship due to our guest because their breathing was normal. I still couldn't bring myself to sleep. I closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind, but there was just too much going through my mind.
There was a crack of thunder and suddenly a quiet scream came from where Dana was lying. I looked over and saw her shivering like she had when we were walking on the path. I was going to stay silent, but I couldn't help it. "Dana?"
Her figure shot up into a sitting position. "Kenzan." Another lightning clash illuminated her face. She was crying. The thunder soon followed and she cowered again.
It dawned on me. "You're afraid of Thunder." I saw her silhouette nod. I felt myself open my arms. "Dana, come here. I'll protect you." She didn't waste one second. Soon she was next to me, cowering against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her. I could feel her tears against my bare flesh. "Nothing's going to hurt you."
Her hand tightened into a fist. "Thank you." I held her for what seemed like forever. She finally drifted off into sleep. I felt her relax. I moved her head under my chin and let myself drift off to sleep with her.
