Chapter 11: The Storm
Joan disliked group therapy sessions. They had them every couple of days. For the most part, they sat around in a large circle and discuss their feelings. Often times, the counselor in charge would have general questions about their life at Gentle Acres.
"Alright, today we are going to discuss some important events you have experienced why at Gentle Acres!" A middle aged dark haired women chimed pleasantly. Joan groaned.
"I would like to share," Judith said. Everyone looked towards the door where Judith was standing.
"What is it you need Judith?" The Counselor said.
"Well Counselor Betty, I have been transferred to this little get together." She walked towards the Counselor, handed her a slip of paper and sat down next to Joan.
"Very well, what is it you like to share?" Betty asked.
"I have found a great friend," Judith placed her arm around Joan. Joan felt uncomfortable with all the eyes focused on them. She could hear distantly someone cough 'queer.'
"Very good, anyone else like to share?" Betty looked around the group. They were all sitting in a large circle on the floor, much to Joan's butt's displeasure. The room was silent, except for the small talk Joan and Judith were sharing a private joke. A boy raised his hand and began to comically wave it around.
"Yes Gaven?" Betty pointed towards the boy.
"I
got laid!" He shouted. The room burst out into laughter. But Joan
noticed a girl on his left. She had the potential to be gorgeous. She
was tall, slim, and wavy black hair. She had a pained expression, and
at the mention of sex she cringed.
"I... was attacked." A
girl cried out. Joan saw Judith's eyes grow wide.
"Attacked, what do you mean Isabella?" Betty took on a very serious tone, much different then the friendly casual one she had been using. Joan looked to where the voice came from. Joan easily found her, it was the same girl sitting next to Gaven. She was crying and her body was violently shaking, as if she were standing in Antarctica. Tears were running down her face.
"I was..." she looked down in her lap, "I... I was... rapped." She let out a wail, as if the very word had stabbed her. Joan remembered clearly of how her mother looked when she told her own story. She knew something had happened to her, thinking back she was unsure how she knew, something evil. The fear in her mothers eyes, the way her normally steady voice was shaky. In fact... it was the same look she now saw in Judith's eyes.
"Everyone you are excused." Betty called and began shooing us away, all except for that girl. Judith was the first out of the room, running off. The sight of her strong willed friend in terror sent chills down her spine. Joan, unsure why, hung around the Group Therapy building. After awhile, she realized it was pointless, she decided to find Judith.
Joan found Judith several moments later. She was sitting on the same bench under the giant oak tree. Joan quietly approached her. She hunched over, her arms against her body as if she were sick. When Joan sat down, she jumped. Joan could see she had been crying, or at the very least was about to. Judith took a deep inhale, followed by a slow exhale. She then wiped her eyes clear, and tried to put on a strong smile. Joan, unsure how to respond, just smiled back.
"So looks like we..." Joan paused realizing what she was going to say next. Whatever happened in the group therapy she thought it was best to avoid the subject all together. "I hear its about to storm." Joan blurted remembering her talk with that Goth Kid from earlier. Judith looked at her with a puzzled look, and glanced at the sky. "I know what your thinking. But I also hear nature can be unpredictable." Joan decided to keep the other part of it a secret. "So I think we should stay in the Cabin, steal some ice cream from the counselors personal fridge and..." Joan smiled weakly.
"Yeah... alright." Judith said. Whatever had gotten into her, it appeared to have passed.
When sat there under the Oak Tree for a few more moments, and left for the Cabin. When they arrived at the cabin, the news of Isabella's alleged rape had spread quickly. Just as Joanith had been the subject of rumors, and Jamie Lynn's murder had been before that. It sickened Joan to think that people could treat such subjects as rumors. The walk to the cabin was silent, except for the whimpering of Judith. Joan felt cold, the kind that clings to your bones and refuses to leave.
They found Darlene sitting on the couch reading People. When she noticed Joan and Judith she got up and made her way towards the door. On impulse, Joan seized Darlene's arm. Darlene whirled around, her face scrunched in anger. Joan wanted to let go, but she remembered what the Goth Kid had said that both Darlene and Judith had to stay at the Cabin.
"You don't have to go," Joan said, "I mean if you don't want to leave." Joan glanced at Judith who looked like she had been betrayed. "Look. We all know that there has been unneeded tension in this house. Maybe we could... well start over?" Joan offered weakly.
"Only if she admits to sending those pics." Judith said. Darlene looked from Judith to Joan, and back to Judith.
"Maybe..." Darlene said.
"Ha! I knew it." Judith said excitedly. She then turned to Joan and announced, "you owe me a dollar."
"That... that's it?" Joan asked baffled.
"I don't even remember why we are fighting." Judith shrugged. Joan felt relieved. Well one thing came out of listening to that Goth Kid, Joan thought.
All three girls decided to sneak into the counselors private fridge. When they returned they were good friends. It turned out they had a great deal in common. When they finally sat down around the couch, happily scooping into some chocolate ice cream, it began to rain. Joan paused for a moment. So it was raining, Joan thought, it doesn't mean anything. So they continued to talk, eat, and laugh. But something was different about Judith. Her eyes revealed fear.
The first flash of lightning startled them all, all three screaming in surprise. A few seconds later the thunder's sound rattled the building, its very sound deafening the world to all sound except its mighty roar. Joan looked at Judith who was slowly losing it. She was holding herself, face down casted, tears dripping from her face. Joan stood up, and the world of light ceased. They had been casted in a world devoid of light, except for the flashes of lightning. The rain slowly began to increase in intensity. Darlene was whimpering loudly, Joan just stood there, and Judith had made a run for Darlene's bed.
Joan was allowed a few images of her friends from the lightning. Thunder continued to explode around them. She felt paralyzed, unsure of what to do.
Then, as if being manipulated like a marionette, she slowly walked towards Judith. Several times she stubbed her toe on something, each time cursing. When she reached Darlene's bed, Judith sobbing audibly even during the assault on their ears, on her bed. She was curled in a ball facing the wall. Joan reached out to put a comforting hand on her shoulder. But that only made things worse. She screamed as she jerked away. Judith looked at Joan, her eyes wild with fear and anger.
"Judith?" Her voice was silenced by the thunder. Judith looked like a frightened child.
There was a loud knocking on the door. Darlene made her way towards the door to answer it. Joan wanted to tell her to stop, but it was to late. Dr. Dan was standing at the entrance. He was drenched from head too toe, and that look of triumph on his face and sparkle in his eyes dominated his features.
"When I heard the thunder," Dr. Dan said, "well I knew Judith's fear of storms and I thought I could help her through it." Joan nodded, it made sense. But something was nagging at the back of her mind. Something didn't make sense, but she couldn't piece it together. Joan was standing at the door, when he explained this and when she turned around to lead Dr. Dan to Judith. She was standing up, she looked crazed.
"Get him away!" Judith demanded. Then she pleaded, "please JoJo? Get him away?" The last word never reached their ears as thunder rumbled. Dr. Dan took the initiative and pushed his way past Joan towards Judith. Joan could see her try and back away, but Dr. Dan had grabbed her arm. She struggled against him and then they stood frozen. Joan wanted to rush to her friends aid. Dr. Dan was whispering something into Judith's ear. Joan strained her ears to try and listen, except she couldn't. The thunder only made her deaf. Judith broke free and raced past Joan and Darlene and out the door.
Next time I see that Goth Kid... Joan thought...
