So in this chapter, Sam does not get her ass kicked. Sorry to the fans who were hoping for it. No, she has a much worse reaction that has to do with her past, of course. Bear in mind she's abnormally strong so if she wanted to kicked Sam's ass. she would have. But there's a price you pay with abuse.
Disclaimer: Wouldn't it be cool if we could get these things published?!?! Well, I can't cuz Danny's not mine. Kida is though. Maybe I can do something with her. Hmm...
Chapter 11: Demons
It was amazing how the simplest thing, the smallest action, can ultimately take you about twenty steps back from recovery. How the slightest trigger can send a memory flying up to meet you in a second. I wasn't afraid of Sam, not at all. I could kill her with a thought. It wasn't Sam that terrified me, but Darion. Or rather, the shadow of Darion, of his abuse.
Because with that one punch to the stomach, I found myself back where I had tried for so long to escape. The darkness was before my eyes once again as if a blanket had been thrown over my head, and all I could see was black. I could smell sweat, blood, and that disgusting musty scent that clogged my nose and made breathing difficult. I could practically hear the jingling of chains and my sore wrists hurt badly once again.
Before, when Darion would come in for my beating, he would take the chains off the wall and throw me to the floor. He liked to strangle; maybe he got off on it. Because more than a few times he had wrapped the chain around my throat, badly hurting my raw wrists in the process, and he would choke me. He enjoyed it immensely.
He liked to go for the stomach first, because it had always taken me a moment to curl into a ball before he continued on, and he knew it was the most tender place. It wasn't the primary target, but it was the worst.
My thoughts raced in my head and I tried to figure out where I was. I knew I was curled in a tight ball somewhere, but I was between worlds. Something told me I needed to get up, needed to find my way out, because where I was trapped was not where I really was, and I needed to get back. But I couldn't get myself to unfurl. I was too terrified to use my powers, too frozen with fear to even think straight.
I could hear voices trying to break through my mental field, but it was like listening to a badly tuned radio. They were so garbled I couldn't even make them out. They sounded vaguely familiar, however, and I wanted to call out to them, to ask for their help. But in this darkness there was no one to help me. A tear trickled down my cheek.
Weak, The snide voice said to me harshly. Suck it up and get up. You're weak. You're a coward.
I am, I agreed silently, miserably. Another tear trickled down my cheek and fell onto my bare leg. But I didn't feel it. I could see my naked legs beneath me. But I didn't feel the tear. Was I imagining wearing no clothes? Was I really wearing pants? I didn't know. I felt so upside down.
Hands were touching my shoulders and I curled more tightly inside myself, trying to escape them. They didn't seem unfriendly and they didn't seem to be hurting me. It was like they were trying to help me, to encourage me. I rubbed my wrists tenderly, but surprisingly they didn't feel as sore.
The scene was beginning to fade, the smells and sounds fading slowly but surely. Faint light began to creep into my vision through my eyelids, and I could slowly hear the voices getting louder.
"…could you do that?! What is wrong with you?!" That was Danny, I knew. I could recognize his voice more easily than the others. I concentrated on trying to figure it out.
"I didn't hit her that hard, I told you!" Another voice shouted. It was female, and sounded as if it had repeated this more than a few times. It was a voice I knew I didn't like, but the name was difficult. Another voice was sterner, definitely male, and it seemed to be addressing the two arguing voices. It was nearby, but there was no contact. I moaned quietly; it was all a garbled mess. My head hurt badly.
I reached out carefully with my mind so I could see without looking. I could sense spiritual signatures easily, and memorized a person's signature as soon as I met them. One was Danny's; I knew that bright, heroic signature. That one full of hope. Another was darker, angrier… that was Sam's. And the third was odd; a much older man who didn't understand but wanted to badly. I recognized that, however faintly, as Mr. Lancer's. There was no one else in the hallway.
"Enough!" Lancer barked sharply. I could feel him kneeling protectively beside me, but I didn't unfurl even though by now I was pretty sure everything was alright. No, the only emotion I was really feeling right now was anger and embarrassment. "Where is Mr. Foley with your sister, anyway?"
I felt a sinking feeling in my gut; they had called Jazz. Why Jazz? Why not the school nurse.
Danny seemed to want to know the same thing.
"Why did you call Jazz anyway?" He asked, his voice still tight with anger. "The nurse can help her more, right?"
"This… seems to be more of a Psychological-based issue than a pain-based one," Lancer admitted reluctantly.
There was silence from the other two and I could sense the discomfort that was thick in the air.
"How do you mean?" Sam asked carefully.
"I'm afraid I don't know, and if I did I couldn't tell you, Miss Manson," Lancer said sharply. "I think you should go to the office now, anyway."
"But-!" Sam began to protest, but it was Danny who cut her off.
"Just go," He muttered. "It might upset her to see you anyway."
"It's not my fault she's weak," Sam growled, but marched away anyway.
I seethed. Who is she calling weak? I thought angrily. But I felt too tired to be any more angry than I already was. The emotional exhaustion I was feeling was almost overwhelming, and I just wanted to sleep.
Unfortunately, Jazz chose this time to arrive.
"Mr. Lancer? What happened? Tucker just said Kida collapsed," Jazz said, her voice high with fear.
I tuned out as Lancer explained the whole thing to her quietly, and felt Danny walk over and kneel beside me. I tensed nervously, expectantly, and he seemed to feel it. He placed a hand resolutely on my shoulder. It didn't terrify me as much as I thought it would, and I didn't flinch away. I almost leaned into the comforting touch.
However, when the chatter stopped and Jazz's hand touched my back lightly, I unintentionally flinched away so hard I ended up slamming into a locker and tumbling from my curled position. Catching my breath, I looked around at the expectant and unsure faces. Danny, Jazz, Lancer, and Tucker all watched me as if checking for signs of a breakdown. I hated to disappoint them.
"Are we having a party?" I asked softly, trying to break the tension. Danny chuckled and Jazz threw him a disapproving look.
"Kida, can you hear me?" Jazz asked slowly and clearly.
"Aye, aye, Captain," I replied, flashing her a quick smile. She seemed unconvinced.
"Do you know where you are?"
"Casper High," I answered dully. "And it's October twenty-third, two thousand and seven. Can I go now?" I turned to Danny before she could answer. "Did anyone see?"
"No, everyone had passed to their classes except for a few stragglers. But they didn't see," Danny answered softly, laying a reassuring hand on mine.
"Good," I muttered. "Can I go now?"
I got up before anyone could answer now, laying a hand on the locker beside me for support. Everyone moved forward about a step and I began to grow irritated.
"You shouldn't-"
"I should," I cut across Jazz angrily, moving off as soon as I knew my legs would support me. I clenched my fists at my side and growled to myself, moving as quickly as possible to escape out the doors.
I'll kill Sam, I thought furiously. If it's the last thing I do, I'll kill her.
Someone's pissed! I kinda like that chapter because Danny sees her weakness. But it's ok, cuz she'll see his fairly soon. Ok, more comments please!!! I beg you!!! I'll give you cyber chocolate! It's not as good as cyber fudge, but... yea. PLEASE R & R:)
