Into the Darkness

Three months had passed since Marty told Dr. Larry about the attack. During that time, she seldom attended school. She was doing her studies at home with Meredith's help. Larry told the school teacher that Marty had been ill. Her tummy was starting to grow, so he knew had to think of a solution quickly. It wouldn't be long until the little one came into the world. Larry wanted to be prepared, but his options were few.

He was sitting by the fire one night, trying to come up with an answer when an urgent knock sounded upon the door. "Dr. Larry!" a voice called out.

Larry stood up. He pulled the door open to see Todd standing there, a frantic expression upon his face. "What is it, Todd?" Larry asked in concern.

"It's Barbara!" Todd exclaimed. "Come quickly! She's bleeding. I think she's losing the baby!"

Todd's eyes were frantic. He looked at Dr. Larry, in desperate need of help. "Hurry!" he begged.

He did not tell the doctor about the recent beating that Barbara had sustained at his uncle's hands. He didn't tell him about the bruises and the welts he had upon his own back and how he struggled to walk after the many brutal and repeated rapes. All Todd could do was tell the doctor that it was urgent; that his aunt was in need of assistance. He didn't think that Barbara and the baby were going to make it. He was sure they were both going to die.

Seeing Todd's frightened expression, Larry did his best to reassure him. "I will get there quickly," he promised. "Try not to worry." He reached for his doctor's bag and then he was gone.

Marty had been sleeping peacefully when an urgent knock had awakened her. She climbed out of bed in her nightgown and hurried down the ladder. She was standing by the fireplace as the flames lit up her long blond curls like a golden halo. "Marty," Todd said in a gasp. He gazed at her, silhouetted in the light of the fire. There was no mistaking the bulge that was forming at Marty's middle. Marty- HIS Marty was pregnant!

*Who was it?! Who has Marty been with?!* Excruciating thoughts were racing through Todd's head, causing him to be filled with rage.

"Who did this to you?" he demanded. He had to know who was in Marty's life. What was the young man's name so he could hurt him for getting her pregnant?

Marty didn't answer. She suddenly turned away. She rushed very quickly back up to the loft. Todd followed after her. He wasn't going to let her get away before she told him the truth.

"Marty, stop!" he called out as he caught up to her. She was sitting on her bed, softly crying.

"Marty, please. Tell me what happened," he prompted as he sunk down on the end of the bed.

"It was... it was awful," she said in a whisper. "It was... that night... I came to see you... That dark night, in the woods..."

"What happened in the woods?"

"A man... a man hurt me."

"What are you saying?"

"The man... he-he raped me," Marty managed to get out before her voice left her. Painful sobs took over.

"No... NO!" Todd cried out. He was sobbing, too. He was crying from the depths of his soul when he heard how Marty had been hurt.

He wanted to kill whomever had hurt her! He wanted to...

*Ohhh God,* Todd was thinking as he started to put two and two together. Memories of Peter saying lewd and disgusting things regarding Marty suddenly assaulted his senses. On more than one occasion, his uncle had said he wanted to get Marty into bed. Could it be true?! Had his uncleraped Marty?!

If it was Peter, Todd wanted to kill him. He wanted to pulverize his uncle. After all, Peter had hurt and raped him, too. The beatings and repeated sexual abuse had caused harm to Barbara and the unborn baby as well. Seething, Todd vowed revenge upon his uncle.

"I will find the one who did this to you and HE WILL PAY!" Todd bellowed.

"No, Todd... I don't want you to get hurt!"

Todd's mind was focused elsewhere at the moment. He wasn't listening to Marty. *I'm going to kill him,* he silently vowed.

He hadn't heard a single word that Marty had said. He turned and left, heading in a rush down the ladder.

"No, wait! Stop!" Marty pleaded as she scurried after him.

Todd couldn't hear her. All he could hear was the anger seething in his soul. *I want my uncle to die!* he was screaming deep inside.

Despite Marty's protests, Todd ran out the the cottage, He had every intention of killing his uncle.

Marty went after him, nearly tripping as she stepped off the ladder. Merrie watched helplessly as her daughter stood at the door after Todd's departure, crying her heart out because she knew that Todd was going to confront his abusive uncle. Meredith had heard their loud conversation from the loft. She was very worried, but there was nothing that she could do.

"Marty, come back here!" Merrie yelled, but it was too late. Marty had went running out the door after Todd. Her daughter had gone out into the night and she was only wearing a thin nightgown.