Chapter Twenty-Nine
A Mother's Love
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.
Hello everyone! Thanks for the rave reviews for the previous chapter. I am so glad you're enjoying Ever After. By the way, I am posting a new story soon called The Lords of Lancaster. It's a short story about a poor peasant girl turned courtesan Serenity Kyle who finds herself the object of desire between two brothers, the Lords of Lancaster, Diamond and Endyimon Lancaster. It took me a couple of days to write. I'm in the process of editing it and will start posting it soon. Again, thanks for the love with Ever After. Here is the next chapter and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Dr. Adam Bennett stepped into the laboratory where Raye lied unconscious. The doors automatically slid closed behind him. A couple of doctors were in the room monitoring her vital signs. He ordered them to clear the room. They immediately left out without hesitation. He approached her sleeping body. He stood over her body gripping the railing as he watched as her chest rose up and down indicating she was still alive. He brushed back her bangs. He touched her forehead with his hand and vanished. Raye lied asleep in the room alone.
On the monitor, Raye sat in a white chair bolted to the floor in the all-white padded room. Her arms were unrestrained. In front of her sat a doctor. He told her that his name was Dr. Adam Bennett. With a lean frame and a height of about six feet tall, he was quite handsome with dark wavy hair and cold blue eyes hidden behind black square frames. She watched him over the months as they kept her in captivity. He never smiled and always looked quite serious. His clothes were always neatly starched without one wrinkle. He came to work every day dressed in a long sleeved-white dress shirt and black tie along with black pleated pants and dark shiny loafers that were always impeccably clean. There was not even a trace of dirt on the bottom of his shoes. He did not look like he was rich and always spoke in a remote tone devoid of any emotions. He almost sounded like the operator on the telephone or the robotic voice on a GPS. Raye could tell he was a person of importance that the other doctors respected and feared. The other doctors always did whatever he asked without question. This was the first time anybody actually spoke to her in months. Everyone ignored her cries and protests like she was not there.
Dr. Bennett did not try to befriend Raye or make her feel better about being reborn. He treated her strictly as her patient and only asked her questions that he needed to ask. He spent hours watching her memories and dreams play on the monitor. He spent more time with her than any other patient. He was supposed to kill her when Rick found that they could not successful clone her with her powers intact. When the humanoid Chad killed her and destroyed her transformation stick, the spirit of Mars left her body. She was powerless with the exception of her still possessing her psychic abilities. Dr. Bennett came to the conclusion that the sailor soldiers had to have children while they still possessed their powers in order for their offsprings to inherit their powers. They could not clone the outer Senshi because their bodies perished and faded away before Dragon destroyed Sailor Moon's imperial silver crystal. Now, that the crystal was destroyed, Sailor Moon no longer had the power to bring the sailor guardians back to life or had to power to recreate the world. He killed Sailor Saturn first because he knew that she had the power to destroy and rebirth an entire solar system. He killed Sailor Pluto second because he knew that she controlled time and space. No one had ever destroy the silver crystal and Dragon had no idea by doing so he could not claim the souls of the outer scouts whose spirits now roamed peacefully in the heavens above.
When Sailor Mars died, her spirit remained in limbo on earth. She wandered around her former host's body like a ghost not aware she was comatose. She was aware of her surroundings and everything that was going on except that she was a spirit witnessing the events of her host's life. She could not be resurrected since the silver crystal no longer existed. When he was summoned to Dr. Thornton's office earlier that day, Dr. Bennett suggested to his superior that instead of killing the remaining sailor scouts, he should keep them alive and procreate with them and make their offspring submissive to the New World Regime. Rick liked the idea. He nursed his chin with his index finger and thumb. He decided to capture the remaining sailor scouts who still possessed their powers, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mercury. He also wanted their children whose powers will awaken on their fourteenth birthdays like their parents did. Josh Tenou was the offspring of Sailor Uranus. Sarah Kino and Zayden Furuhata was the offspring of Sailor Jupiter. Ariel Brandon was the offspring of Mina Aino. Katherine Shields was useless to him now since her father removed both her Lunarian and Elysian power. However, Serenity and Derrick Shields still had their Elysian powers as descendants of the Earth King. They may come in handy to him.
Rick immediately ordered Dr. Bennett to execute Raye Hino since she was useless to him. Dr. Bennett attempted to argue with Rick to let her live. She could be used as a weapon against the sailor scouts and her memories were filled with useful tools to weaken them. Dr. Bennett knew it was a weak argument since it was unnecessary for her to be alive for either reason. Dr. Thornton smirked amused at young doctor's feeble attempt to spare Raye Hino's life. Rick mocked that Dr. Bennett must have liked Raye Hino. Dr. Bennett's face remained stoic not depicting any emotions. Dr. Thornton laughed then said amused that after he disposed of her remains, he was more than welcome to keep a reborn version of Raye Hino. An image of a disposal room with dozens of dismembered body parts of humanoid copies of Raye flashed in Dr. Bennett's head. Dr. Bennett bowed and thanked his superior for his kindness. Before he stepped out to leave, Dr. Thornton called his name in a nonthreatening manner. Dr. Bennett turned around and listened as Dr. Thornton warned him in a jovial tone to never question his orders again. Dr. Bennett knew that behind that jovial voice was an actual threat. Dr. Bennett nodded in understanding and apologized for his disrespect before Dr. Thornton dismissed the young doctor from his office.
Raye watched him as he glanced down at his clipboard taking notes. His legs were crossed as he balanced the clipboard on his knee.
Raye looked at him with cynical eyes. He spoke without looking up at her. "Tell me about your plans to save the world." Raye looked at him strangely. He glanced up at her. "You met with Cain and his sister Evelyn. He told you about the end of the world so tell me about this infamous October 22nd."
Raye mocked him. "You tell me. You obviously read my thoughts."
He glanced up at her. "I find it interesting that you think the world is going to end on October 22nd but Dragon doesn't. He's a god. He is God."
Raye said irritated, "He's not my God."
Dr. Bennett smirked. It was the first time she saw him smile since she'd been in captivity. His face became serious again. He looked up at her. "It's blasphemy to say such things. Do you know what happens to reborn who speak ill of the master?"
Raye sighed. "They get out of listening to your boring voice."
Dr. Bennett glanced up at her, a glint of amusement in his eyes. He looked back down at his clipboard and continued writing. Raye said frustrated, "What the hell are you writing?"
He did not respond to her as he continued writing. Raye became frustrated. She reached for the clipboard yanking it out his hands. His pen slowly dropped to the floor. Her eyes widen when at lightning speed he quickly uncrossed his legs, restrained her with strength that matched her own, grabbed his clipboard and the pen before it touched the ground. He then sat back in the chair as comfortable as he was before. Raye looked surprised as he sat in the chair with the clipboard in his hand.
After several minutes of eerie silence, he stopped writing and asked, "Are you ready to leave here?"
Raye asked confused, "What do you mean?" He showed her the clipboard and handed it to her for her to read.
"It's your release paper. I am taking custody of you as my personal servant."
Raye frowned and looked at him with spiteful eyes. "I rather die."
Dr. Bennett laughed. "Do you want to know what happens to a human once they are arrested?" He uncrossed his legs and leaned towards her with his hands clasped together on his lap and their faces inches apart. He looked her directly in the eyes and said, "They are arrested then they are imprisoned. The following day we execute them executioner style. We like to aim straight for the head so that we know they are dead. It takes us three days to reborn a human by taking the hair, skin, DNA, and blood of the deceased human and making a complete replica of that person in our labs. We trapped the souls before they ascended to purgatory by making the humans pledged their allegiance to Dragon .Every human that is reborn has their soul sent straight to hell making Dragon stronger every day as he collected their souls. When a reborn dies, his soul is released and he or she spends their afterlife in eternal damnation. What frightens you, Raye? Is it being alone? Is it death? Is it watching your mother died? Whatever haunts you, whatever gives you nightmares, is your damnation. So do you really want to die?" Raye remained silent.
Serena sniffed her nose. She was surrounded by darkness. She smelt the scent of lavender and roses. She slowly opened her eyes and saw that she was in a room lit by candles. She was wearing a sexy red dress that left nothing to the imagination surrounded by silky red sheets. The room had a red shade and she realized that she was surrounded by fire on a rocky cliff. She felt hot from the scorching heat that surrounded her. She walked towards the edge of the cliff in her red pumps. She screamed when she almost fell off the edge as she looking down and saw there was nothing by red mist thousands of feet below her. She tried to teleport but she could not. She held out her hands. She was losing her powers. The more she remained as Alex, the weaker she became.
Serena screamed as loud as she could, "Someone help me! Anyone!" When she heard nothing but her echo bounced across the mountaintops for miles, she collapsed defeated to the ground. She said weakly, "Darien, help me."
Lita sat on the sofa of her home. Nick asked with a gun pointed towards her head, "Where are the children?" Lita lied that they were not there. Nick did not believe her as he slapped her harshly across the cheek. Lita's head turned stinging from the blow. She turned back frowning at him with pissed off eyes. He gave her a look that dared her to try to attack him. He gestured for the police officers to search the home for the children. She felt horrified when he added for them to find her transformation stick. He knew who she was.
She thanked God that it had been thirty minutes and the children still had not been found. The police searched her home up and down for them. After ten minutes of searching, they found her transformation stick in her bedroom dresser. She hardly used it anymore since the war ended. She no longer needed to have it with her all the time to harness her powers but it was the source of her powers. Without it, she would lose her powers forever.
Rita busted into the house with a gun pointed towards a handcuffed Andrew's head. She pushed him against the sofa next to his wife who comforted her husband. Nick and Rita stood next to each other.
Nick asked, "Where's the girl?" Rita knew he was referring to Serena.
Rita said not taking her eyes off of Lita and Andrew, "In hell and ready to get plucked by the master." It sickened her to see them together like lovers. She wanted to puke.
Nick said, "It's about damn time. She bears his child and he gets to walk the earth and control everything."
Rita cocked her gun at Lita.
Nick said, "He doesn't want her dead or the children." Nick turned to Lita with a look that frightened her. "Guess what Lita. You and your friend whatever the blue haired nerd is get to be personally treated like the whores that you are. So many men are going to get a taste of that tight little cunt of yours." Lita looked confused.
Rita said, "You are going to be used to create an army of children with the power to control the weather and nature while Ami is going to create an army of children that can manipulate water. You are going to birth as many children as possible until you die."
Lita looked horrified. "Why is he doing this?"
Rita said, "The only way for a sailor scout to pass on her power is through your off springs. All of your children will awaken their powers on their fourteenth birthdays. We have failed at trying to clone the powers of mystics. Now, we know that we have to do it the old fashion way and let your powers be passed on through procreation."
Andrew yelled outrage, "You're sick bastards."
Amber and AJ walked in together. They said in deadpanned voices, "Let's go play with our brother." They walked upstairs with guns in their hands. Andrew moved to get up. Nick fired the gun shooting him in the chest. Lita looked stunned for a moment as if time stopped. She yelled horrified, "Andrew!" His body slowly collapsed to the ground.
Lita knelt to hold him in his arms as his body jerked as he coughed up blood. Lita cried as she rested his head on her lap.
Rita looked shocked. "You weren't supposed to kill him."
Nick shrugged his shoulders. "He wasn't needed. Now, you can get your useless ass husband back." Lita cried over Andrew's dying body. His eyes wide as looked up to her as her tears dropped on his face. She looked upside down to him as a white light surrounded her and she looked like an angel. He slowly reached to touch her crying face.
Sarah came out of hiding having seen the whole thing. Her eyes full of shock. Her legs trembled. She screamed in horror. Everyone looked up at her. The military came out and rushed towards the girl.
The room grew cold. A powerful wind formed blowing everything around them. Andrew's hand collapsed to the ground. The military man with her transformation stick huffed when it flew out of his hands and into hers. He looked up at her and gasped when she lifted her head revealing green glowing eyes. He stepped back. She gently removed Andrew's head from her lap.
Sarah screamed again when they started firing at her mother shooting up the house. A white light shone around Lita blinding all of them and everyone except Sarah was hurdled against the wall. When the light faded, there stood Sailor Jupiter. She said in an emotionless voice, "Sarah, leave the room." Sarah nodded. She glanced at the unconscious Andrew lying on the floor as she ran off as the military and Rita and Nick slowly stood up.
Jupiter yelled, "Supreme Thunder!" The antenna from her tiara rose up as electricity blasted from it electrocuting all of the military officers in the room as they screamed and exploded as their circuits fried. She turned to Rita and Nick with pissed off eyes. They gulped. Rita launched to attack her as a shaking Nick fired gunshots at her that bounced off her.
Sarah heard gunshots coming from the attic. Josh hid behind a table with a crying Zayden in his arms. He cowered behind the table trying to make himself and Zayden smaller.
The door kicked opened and Amber and AJ turned to Sarah. She gulped. They began firing at her as Sarah ran around the room as they continued to fire at her. She started running across the wall as they continued shooting until they ran out of bullets clicking their guns. Josh looked up to see a ticked off Sarah leaping down and racing towards Amber and AJ as she kicked the guns out of their hands and engaged in hand to hand combat with them.
Josh set a crying Zayden on the ground. He knelt before the toddler petting his blonde mop. "I'll be back in a second."
Josh stood up and frowned as he raced towards the sibling and began joining Sarah in the fight. They switched up as Sarah took on Amber and he took on AJ and switched opponents again as they blocked their kicks and blows. Zayden stopped crying as his eyes moved side to side watching the fight. They looked like blurred images as they fought extremely fast and matched the humanoids children super strength and speed. AJ punched Sarah knocking her backwards as Josh punched Amber in the face crushing her nose until her face looked disfigured. Sarah raced towards AJ. Her heart started pumping fast as she felt Andrew's heartbeat slowing down. His eyes slowly closed as his spirit started leaving his body like it did two years ago.
As she fought AJ, she thought about Andrew. She never in a million years thought that she would like him. She called her father to kick him out of the house when she saw how closed her mother was getting to him. She started to feel sympathy for him when she saw the rejected look in his eyes when his mother kicked him out the house that day. She saw the pain in her mother's eyes when she watched him slowly die in front of her. He made her mother happy. She never saw her mother as happy as they all were when Andrew married her. Her relationship with Andrew was more of a big brother and little sister relationship than a father and daughter. She still called him Andrew and he did not care. They watched wrestling together and he allowed her to play with his hair and comb his hair into pigtails. He told her great stories for bedtime and snuck them pizza and cookies and candy money when their mother said no. Her mother was completely happy with Andrew. They hardly argued and when they do, it is over the silliest things. Her mother hated when he left up the toilet seat. He hated when her mother left hair in the bathroom sink and shower clogging up everything. She found out that they had something in common. They loved horror movies especially the slasher movies. He would stay all night and watch them with her even if he had to work in the morning. He was a good man. She would not say love, but she liked him and she did not want him to die. Her mother deserved to be happy. She wished Derrick was there.
She frowned when AJ punched her so hard she landed against the wall next to Zayden. She shook the debris off her shoulders. She wished she had her mother's powers and could fry these annoying brats. Then, something happened. She felt a change inside of her like something was awakening.
Jupiter yelled, "Supreme Thunder Dragon!" Rita and Nick's eyes widen as they screamed. The room turned black as a dragon made of electricity charged towards them. Lita watched with cold eyes as the dragon engulfed Lita and Nick. Her eyes met Nick's steel ones. There was no love lost between them as Lita watched with a cold heart as the dragon obliterated their former lovers, once and for all.
A wicked smile came across Sarah's face freaking out AJ.
Josh felt the same thing. A wicked glint appeared in his eyes.
Josh yelled holding out his hands, "World Shaking!"
Sarah held out her hands and yelled, "Supreme Thunder!" AJ and Amber screamed as their attacks obliterated them and they turned into dust. Josh and Sarah smiled in excitement at their newfound powers. They high fived one another as Zayden clapped his tiny hands and jumped up and down in glee.
The military officers lied dead around her as she detransformed back into Lita and slowly knelt down to Andrew caressing his hair. His heart stopped and his breathing stilled. Sarah picked up Zayden in his arms and raced out of the room with Josh.
Derrick smiled as they drove into town. He gasped when he heard the sound of Sarah's voice in his head. Karen noticed. "What's wrong?"
Derrick said strangely, "Sarah's calling me. She needs me."
Karen smiled. She noticed how close Derrick and Sarah had gotten. There was a time when Sarah and Rini were inseparable. Ever since Derrick and Sarah played together at Katie's birthday, they have grown closer together. Derrick was too young and innocence to realize that Sarah liked him.
Karen said, "You should go."
Derrick turned to her in shock, "I can't. Dad will kill me if I leave you alone."
Karen looked amused. "I'll be fine. Go! It may be important."
"But-"
Karen laughed amused. He really was taking his father's order to be the man of his house too seriously. "I'm your mother. I outranked you. Go!"
"But daddy said I can't use my powers."
Karen turned to him taking her eyes off the road. "And mother says you can use it to help others if you are careful. Who is more powerful?" Derrick giggled as a big smile appeared on his face. His father was more powerful, but his mother had control over his father. In a way, she had power over his father and the majority of the time, his father bended to his mother's will.
Derrick said, "Ok mom. I love you."
Karen grinned. "I love you too." He disappeared. He smiled as she turned back to the road and continued driving. She was unaware that the military was watching her and had seen her little boy disappeared.
Derrick appeared in Lita's living room. He saw Lita, Sarah, and Josh holding Zayden. They were all sitting in a circle by the sofa. He stepped towards them as he heard their sobs. Sarah cried as she leaned towards Josh who was crying also. Zayden looked around confused not knowing what was going on and why everyone was so sad.
Watching Sarah cried affected him the most, he did not understand why. He liked her and she was fun to play with. He liked Josh too, but it was different than the way he liked Sarah. He also thought she was very pretty even though he did not have to guts to tell her that. He was afraid she would beat him up again. He had no idea why Josh called him up and said that Sarah liked him. They were just friends.
He walked over to the crying family. Lita looked up with red eyes and a face covered with tears. She was surprised to see him. "What are you doing here, Derrick?"
Sarah and Josh turned to him. Sarah broke away from Josh and ran over to Derrick. She sniffed. Her face was slightly bruised and swollen like she was fighting. Her eyes wet and red from tears. Snot dripped from her nose as she wiped it away with the back of her hand. He looked down when he felt her tiny hands encircled his. He felt a spark as he stared at her. He did not understand why her tears affected him so much.
Sarah cried, "Please save him, Derrick. Please don't let Andrew die."
Derrick glanced at the body and was horrified to see it was his Uncle Andrew, his father's best friend. He liked Andrew very much and enjoyed when he came over because he treated him like one of the guys. Derrick turned to her. "I can't. I can't heal anything. I tried to heal a bird with a broken neck in fourth grade and it still died. Rini can…"
Sarah cried, "You can do this, Derrick. I believe in you." Derrick became quiet. She believed in him. She wanted him to save Andrew. He nodded.
"I'll try." Sarah smiled and nodded quickly letting him know that she would accept that.
He knelt in front of Andrew as they parted giving him room. He checked Andrew's pulse. He saw his father do it many times when he gave free house calls to the poor in the village. He felt a pulse. It was weak but he was still alive, but barely.
Derrick rubbed his hands together and took a deep breathe. He splayed his hands over Andrew's body closing his eyes.
Karen sped through town with the police hot on her trail. She beeped her horn to warn pedestrians to get out of the way as she zoomed through the streets. They jumped out of the way as she raced passed the streets. She screamed when she saw a small child standing in the middle of the road. She blew her horn for him to move out of the way but he stood there staring at her. She tried to hit her brakes to stop from hitting him but she was going too fast.
Derrick started to panic. Nothing was happening as he was now afraid that Andrew was going to die and it was all his fault. Why hadn't she called Rini? Why had she summoned him? He would never be as powerful as Rini. He stilled when he felt her hand on his shoulder. He stared at her. She looked at him and smiled a little. "I believe in you." He saw his mother in her and heard his mother's voice say, "Believe in yourself. You are your father's son."
Derrick turned back to Andrew. His eyes glowed golden along with his hands. Sarah smiled. Lita and Josh sighed in relief as he slowly started to heal Andrew.
Karen swirled to avoid hitting the small child and crashed into a building. She saw the smoke coming for the hood of her car as she groaned holding her throbbing head. She grabbed the door handle and opened the door as she staggered out of the car holding her bruised arm. She could hear the sirens behind her, but she was more worried about the small child she almost killed. She glanced over at the forest then she looked at the small child crying in the road. If she took the forest, she could probably escape but the child concerned her. She sighed as her maternal instinct got the best of her and she ran to the child. She knelt in front of the child checking to see if he was hurt. The child was fine. The cops pulled up in front of her. Karen grabbed the tiny child. They did not care who they killed or who was harmed during gunfire as long as they got their target.
She held him in her arms as she raced through the forest. The military officers chased after her on foot firing the rifles at her. She ducked as she avoided their gunfire. She hid behind a tree. She knew the easiest thing to do was to call upon Darien, but if he was revealed, then they were all in danger. He would be labeled as a mystic and they would all become fugitives of the law. Their lives would be over.
The small child rested his head on her bosom. His small hands clutched her shoulders. The officers surrounded her as they patrolled the forest with guns looking for her. She did not see the speck of red in the child's eyes.
Lita embraced her husband as he slowly stirred. His gunshot wounded disappeared and healed. Josh and Sarah happily embraced a shocked Derrick. He was impressed that he actually did something right. Andrew was the first life he ever saved. Lita cried in relief as he thanked her. She hugged them tightly. He blushed awkwardly as she crushed his head in her large bosom. Josh and Sarah snickered; even Andrew looked amused as he rubbed Derrick's hair.
"I love you, Derrick." Derrick gasped when he heard the fading whisper of his mother's voice. He slowly backed away worrying them.
He suddenly vanished and reemerged going on pure instinct as he sensed his mother's presence. He appeared in a forested area. In the middle of the dirt road, he found his mother's body lying flat on her back. He saw strangled marks around her neck like the life was choked out of her. Dozens of military officials stepped out the hiding position in the forest and approached him with rifles in their hands. His eyes turned golden as the soldiers pointed their weapons towards him.
Before he could do anything, he watched as the guns in their hands slowly bent. He looked as a golden light annihilated the military men one by one turning them into dust like they never existed. Derrick's eyes returned to normal as he felt a powerful aura behind him. He already knew who it was as he turned around and saw his father on a war path as he destroyed dozens of police officers and their vehicles as flames and smoke surrounded him. When his father glanced at a small child with hateful eyes, he held out his hand as a powerful bolt of golden energy blasted from his hand passed Derrick's ear and straight through the clone's skull. The small child collapsed to the ground. Derrick looked around and saw that all of the military men were dead. Their vehicles were destroyed. His father walked in a trance passed his son and towards his wife's body. He slowly lifted her lifeless body into his arms and disappeared. Derrick disappeared also but it was not his doing. His father forced his teleportation.
His mother's body rested on a bed in one of the guest rooms. Her eyes closed and her hands clasped together on her stomach. She did not look dead. She looked beautiful like she was sleeping. Darien sat in a chair next to her bed. His body arched forward and his arms propped up on his knees. His fists clenched together and his chin resting on top of his fist. Derrick stood in the room for thirty minutes and no word had been spoken. No one else in the house knew that Karen was dead. Derrick was afraid to talk to his father. His father remained silent with an intense look in his cold eyes like a time bomb read y to explode. Derrick was too afraid to grieve over his mother. It was his fault that she died. If he stayed like he was supposed to, she'd probably still be alive. He broke his promise to his father and paid dearly for it.
He stood in front of the bed staring at his mother's lifeless body. He asked stupidly breaking the silence, "Can we heal her? Can you use magic to bring her back?"
Darien stared at his son with hate filled eyes, like he was stupidest child he ever laid eyes on. Darien answered in a tight voice through clenched teeth, "You cannot heal the dead. She was dead for at least an hour by the time we arrived."
Derrick said shocked, "But she called for me. I heard her."
Darien said in a cold voice, "It was a trap by the government to expose you. I am linked to you because my blood runs through your veins." He turned to Karen. "We can't sense mortals only other supernatural beings. If she would have called out to me, I could have saved her. "
Derrick sniffed as his eyes started with tears. Darien scolded his son, "Don't you dare cry. You have no right to cry. I never asked you for anything in your life. I ordered you to protect your family and your mother and you failed. Your mother is dead because of you. If you were there, I could have sensed you were in danger." His son disgusted him at the moment. His weakness repelled him. He always wanted a son and his sisters were stronger than him. Derrick felt his father's hatred towards him. Darien lowered his voice and said in dark tone that frightened the small boy, "Get out."
Derrick trembled as the doors of the dark room flew opened behind him. Derrick slowly backed away. Darien shouted again, "Get out!" A powerful wind hurled Derrick backwards out of the room knocking him against the wall and onto the floor. The door quickly slammed shut and locked. Derrick groaned feeling the pain of hitting his head against the wall. He quickly rose to his feet staring at the door then hurried off to his room where he cried in the darkness for the loss of the only woman he ever loved and the father that hated him now.
