I guess I expected Officer Alto to be surprised or unwilling to help me after finding out I lied about my attack just being a mugging.

He simply nodded through the whole thing as I spoke to him uninterrupted. Every now and then he'd jot something down but his eyes never left my face, a reassurance that he was really listening and genuinely interested instead of brushing off my words as a lie.

After I finished speaking, I didn't immediately feels some weight being lifted off my shoulders because I knew this wasn't over but I did feel silly for being so reluctant to come in her and telling the truth in the first place.

The first time I came here and tried to report Adrian, I left feeling defeated and like I'd never feel normal again. Right now, I feel like there's a tiny bit of hope that maybe I might be alright.

The only way I can get better is to speak up and fight back.

I hear Dimitri, Dr. Belikov, and his grandmother's voice in my head when I remember that.

It's comforting.

"This is...admittedly overwhelming," Officer Alto says leaning back into his chair. "I just can't believed this is what's been going on."

At first I think he's finally mad and upset that I lied and caused so much trouble. I wait for him to tell me he can't help me and that nothing can really be done. It's what I expect to happen.

He leans forward in his chair again and offers a sympathetic expression.

"Are you alright?"

Obviously, I'm not. In fact, I'm less than alright but it takes me a moment to figure out what he's really asking. Am I alright enough to really continue with all of this because after today, after this second report, there's no going back.

I'm okay stable enough to continue down this path.

I hesitate but glancing sideways at Dimitri and thinking of what this could mean for his sister and Liss, justice for both of them even if they're not fighting it on their own, and I realize this the only path I can go down without having any regrets.

"I'm fine," I say firmly and this time, I mean it.

He seems to understand my meaning and nods curtly before leaning back in his chair.

"Do you realize what this might mean for your sister, Belikov?" he says turning to Dimitri. "Rose may not press charges but the district attorney might, assuming we find enough proof to arrest and prosecute Ivashkov and everyone else involved."

Dimitri looked like he was holding his breath. He had to have known the possible consequences when he encouraged me to come here and I thought I might have to offer some of that same encouragement now or give him a chance to walk away and let me do this on my own.

"You don't have to do this. You should stand by your family," I tell him.

He turns to face me, determination in his eyes. "Victoria's made her decision and so have I. What she did was wrong and she'll face the consequences with or without me helping you."

Office Alto says nothing for a moment, as if giving Dimitri another moment to really think about this and change his mind. When he doesn't, he nods the same way he did to me after giving me and out and clasps his hands together on his desk.

"This won't be easy," he admits. "There will be moments when all you want to do is scream, run, maybe even harm yourself or others."

"I already have those moments," I whisper.

"So do I sometimes," he confides.

"We all do," Dimitri chimes in.

"We just have to stick together to get through this. I'll need my partner, Mark's, help. Or if you prefer that a woman work with us so that you feel more comfortable..."

I shake my head. "You're the first one, beside my mom, that believed me."

"That's good 'cause I really want to be the one that takes these little bastards down, excuse my French," he apologizes. "I think my usual partner Mark would be best to help us too."

He gestures for someone to come over toward us.

Another older cop appears and greets Dimitri and asking him how he's been doing and everything. I hadn't really thought about how it might hurt for Dimitri to be in the once place he's wanted to work his whole life. He answers calmly and smiles so I guess he's more okay than anyone expects him to be.

"This is Rose. Remember, she made the report about Ivashkov," Officer Alto introduces. "I'm going to need your help with her case-"

"Speaking of Rose, I was already on my way over to you with something about her," the other cop interrupts.

He's looking at me with a sad expression on his face and that's when I know he's one of the few sympathetic cops that believed me and tried to help the first time.

"What about her, Mark?" Dimitri asks.

Mark sighs before he answers. "The principal of the high school, PTA, and school board members are requesting Rose be expelled for sending lewd photos around the school as well as to some of the phones of teachers, parents, even the principal himself," he says regrettably as if he wishes he didn't have to be the one to tell me.

"B-b-but I didn't...it wasn't...I didn't take those-"

"Relax. I know, Rose. I know," Office Alto tries to reassure me that I just told him it wasn't me who took those photos.

I relax a tiny bit before the enormity of it all sinks in. Parents, teachers, even the principal. More reason for more people not to believe me. This just got harder.

"Surely the photo can be traced back to the original sender," Dimitri says.

"Yes but it'll take some time and while it does I'll need you both to do a few things," Stan says. "Don't approach, try to contact, or go anywhere near Ivashkov and his associates. That's including your sister," he says to both of us but he's looking directly at Dimitri.

I wonder how that will work considering he apparently sees his family on the weekends. This all seems to really be hurting his family and I don't want it to be. I don't want him to have or end up with a broken small family like mine.

"It's also best if you stay out of school until we figure something else out," he adds. "Can you both do those things for me?"

Office Alto turns to Dimitri to wait for his response.

Dimitri nods curtly in reply. "I can manage that."

"Me too."

I suddenly remember what Dimitri told me about letting out pent up anger and control issues and I wonder what all of this will do to him. I wonder if he blames himself for getting so involved in this in the first place, blames his sister, or if he can really just get through this without blaming anyone and holding on to the argument that it's no one's fault but Adrian and his friends.

Right now I'm having trouble remembering that I didn't start, focusing on the fact that I didn't ask for any of this to happen. I could have prevented it from happening to Lissa and Victoria but I'm not the one who hurt them. I'm not as bad as Adrian and Camille, and their posse intentionally trying to hurt people.

Am I?

"I'll also need you Rose to go and get examined. I know it's been a while since the attack but there's always a possibility of scars and bruising to remain visible. We'll need a doctor to hopeful match any marks up with the attack."

I had scars and bruises everywhere and I knew it's help but the thought of a doctor poking and prodding me didn't sound like fun.

"They'll also ask for the clothes you were wearing the night of your attack as well as the clothes you wore the first time he tried to attack you just in case there might be evidence. They'll want you to go over it again, recount what happened in order to match up any found evidence. It won't be fun," he finishes, reminding me of my earlier thoughts.

"The last things I need from both of you is to stay strong and to look out for one another."

It feels weird that he'd ask me to look out for Dimitri. I think between the two of us, I'm the one that needs looking after. I can only imagine what kind of help I'll need to get through this. Maybe that's what he means. We need to support each other through the hard parts and never give up.

"We're going to have these guys-and girls-get the justice they deserve for what they did," Mark says after reading the few notes Officer Alto had taken during my story. "I promise."

Both officers offer a comforting smile and it warms me up a little to have people on my side, who are planning on fighting with me through this.

"Thank you," I manage to get out.

"All a part of the job," Office Alto smiles gently. "It's easier to get rid of criminals when we try as a group. That includes your mother. Have you told her the truth, that it wasn't a mugging?"

My stomach sinks to the floor and I can't look up from my lap. I shake my head.

"I hate to say it but eventually, the photos are going to reach your mother and then she'll start asking her own questions," Mark says.

"Not to mention, the school has probably already tried contacting her about your possible expulsion," Dimitri adds.

I let out a deep breath and lean back in my chair. "I'll talk to her tonight. It's not like I really have a choice anymore," I murmur.

"Odds all you'll also want to talk about getting a lawyer because there is no way in hell that Mayor Ivashkov is going to let his son go down without a fight," Officer Alto says.

He wasn't lying when he said this was only going to get harder.

Only a little while after admitting the truth and coming in here to report it, things were definitely harder.

I feel like screaming.

I feel like running.

I feel like hurting myself or someone else.

No, Adrian, Jesse, Camille, Ralph, Meredith, Avery...even Victoria and Liss won't go down without a fight. I can't let them beat me anymore or try and break me into even smaller more shattered pieces than I'm already in.

They won't go down without a few more painful jabs of their own...

But neither will I.