Chapter 11
Friday December 21 (Day before Christmas break)
Raven is no longer suspended and has returned to school. Because of her suspension, she has to take all of her finals in one day instead of them being split between two days. During 5th period after she finishes her final, Raven uses a hall pass to go to the restroom. On her way back to class, she goes to her locker to get a book to read. As she closes her locker, she sees two people making out down the hall. Raven sighs as she walks toward them, being in the direction of her class. When she gets near them, she sees that it is Terra and Malcolm. She rolls her eyes and continues walking. Terra hears someone and looks up, breaking her kiss from Malcolm. She sees Raven walking in their direction.
"What do you want?" Terra says to her.
"I'm going to class which is in this direction," Raven replies. "Why are you cheating on Logan?"
"He's nice and all but he's not exciting enough for me. He moves too slowly for my liking, if you know what I mean."
"So you don't like that he's respectful of you? How sad. You don't deserve him."
"Oh well. I'm still dating him."
"Why? You obviously don't like him if you're cheating on him."
"He's the kind of guy my parents want me to date. So as long as I am dating him, my parents don't bug me about where I am and what I'm doing."
"You don't think he will find out that you're cheating on him? And with Malcolm no less."
"He won't as long as you don't tell him. And Malcolm is more like the type of guy I usually go for."
"He's just using you for sex."
"Maybe I'm using him for sex instead."
"Didn't need to know that. What will you do if I do tell Logan that you're cheating on him?" Malcolm grabs her and pushes her against the wall. Her book falls to the ground as he pins her arms to the wall above her head. He presses against her and leans in to whisper in her ear.
"I'll rape you again," he says. Raven struggles to get away from him.
"Let me go," she says. Malcolm doesn't move.
"Do you promise to not tell Logan?" Terra asks.
Raven glares at her. "Fine."
"Let her go," Terra tells Malcolm. He releases her arms and steps back. Raven picks up her book, glares at them then walks back to class.
Logan is walking to his 7th period class. He stops in the bathroom on his way to class then continues on. When he rounds the corner of the hallway where his class is, he sees Terra kissing another guy. He goes over to them.
"What the hell, Terra?" Logan says. Terra and Malcolm pull apart.
"Logan," Terra says. "This isn't what it looks like."
"So you're not cheating on me with Malcolm?"
"…okay so it is what it looks like."
"How long has this been going on?"
"Logan—"
"How long?"
"About a month."
"Raven was right. I can't believe I yelled at her."
"Raven told you?"
"Yeah. I didn't believe her but obviously I should have. Why did you cheat on me? I thought you liked me."
"I do. Malcolm just gave me what you wouldn't."
"So you just wanted sex. Why still date me then?"
"My parents like me dating you so they don't ask me where I'm going or what I'm doing."
"Well I guess you'll have to tell them now because we're done." Logan leaves Terra and Malcolm in the hallway and goes to his class.
"That little bitch," Terra says. "She promised not to tell."
"Obviously she didn't mean it," Malcolm says.
"She's going to pay for this."
"I'm gonna enjoy this."
After school, Raven is getting her things from her locker. She closes her locker then stars walking to the parking lot to wait in her car for Logan. Before she can leave, she is pulled into an empty classroom by Terra and Malcolm.
"What do you want?" Raven asks.
"You bitch!" Terra says then slaps Raven. "You told Logan I was cheating on him." She hits Raven again. Raven tries to retaliate but Malcolm grabs her.
"You know what that means," Malcolm says, smiling maliciously at her. Raven struggles to free herself.
"Let me go!" Raven says. "I didn't tell Logan."
"Liar," Terra says then hits her again. "He told me you did, even though he didn't believe you." Malcolm pushes Raven away from him. She hits a desk then falls to the ground. Malcolm pins her down before she can get back up. He covers her mouth before she can yell for help.
"Give me the tape," Malcolm says to Terra. Terra grabs a roll of duct tape and some rope from a bag. She tears off a piece of tape as she walks over to Raven and Malcolm. Malcolm takes the tape and puts it over Raven's mouth so she can't talk. He uses the rope to tie her hands above her head around a desk leg on the teacher's desk. He then sits up and moves back so he is straddling her legs. He unbuttons her jeans and starts taking them off her. She moves as much as she can to try to stop him. Terra kicks her side to make her stop moving. Malcolm finishes removing her jeans then pulls out his pocket knife. Raven's eyes widen when she sees the knife. She stops moving when Malcolm puts the knife near her body. He starts cutting off her shirt. Tears start running down her face.
"Never thought I'd see the day when Raven Roth cried," Terra says. Raven glares at her as Malcolm removes her shirt. Malcolm cuts off her undergarments and removes them from her body. He roughly grabs her breasts and Raven winces in pain. He forces her legs open and moves between them. He lowers his jeans and boxers and positions himself to enter her. Raven squeezes her eyes shut. Malcolm slaps her face and grabs her chin.
"Look at me," Malcolm growls. Raven opens her eyes and Malcolm thrusts inside her. She screams as much as she can with her mouth taped shut. He keeps moving inside her. As this is happening, the classroom door opens and Logan walks inside. He sees Raven on the ground with Malcolm on top of her.
"What the hell is going on?" Logan says. "Get off of her!" Terra moves in front of Logan to stop him from getting to Malcolm and Raven. Logan pushes Terra out of his way then grabs Malcolm and pulls him off Raven. He punches him and Malcolm falls back. "Get out of here." Malcolm fixes his jeans and glares at Logan.
"It'd be more enjoyable if she actually participated," Malcolm says. "I'm sure she'd like it more too."
"Get out of here before I report you," Logan says. Malcolm and Terra leave. Logan takes off his zip-up hoodie and puts it over Raven to cover her. He kneels down next to her and grabs an edge of the tape covering her mouth. "Sorry about this, Rae," he says to her then quickly pulls it off. She squeezes her eyes shut in pain. Logan then moves up to her bound hands and removes the rope. Raven curls up under Logan's sweatshirt. Logan picks up her scattered clothes and puts her ruined ones in his bag. He takes her jeans over to her and kneels down. "The rest of you clothes are cut up but your jeans are still good. Put them on and wear my sweatshirt and we'll leave. Okay?" Raven looks at him and nods once. He hands her her jeans then stands and turns around to give her privacy. She dresses and Logan turns back around. He picks up both of their bags. "Do you want me to drive?" Raven nods and hands her keys to him. They start walking out of the school and Raven stays close to him, wrapping her arms around one of his. When they get to Raven's car, Logan opens the passenger door and helps Raven inside. He then goes over to the driver's side and gets in and starts driving. "We should report this."
"No," Raven says, looking out the window.
"Why not?"
"I just want to forget about this."
"But he could do this same thing to other girls."
"I don't want to deal with the police." She looks at him. "Can we please just keep this between us? I don't want the others to know."
He looks at her while at a stoplight. "Okay. I won't tell them, but I won't lie to them either. If they specifically ask if you were…sexually assaulted, I will tell them that you were."
"Fine, but don't hint at anything. Avoid the subject as much as you can."
"Deal." They finish driving back to the Tower. Logan parks in the garage and they get in the elevator. They go up to the floor with their rooms. Raven leans into Logan as they ride up. He puts his arm around her. When the elevator doors open, they get out and walk to her room. Raven opens her door then moves away from Logan.
"I'm going to take a shower," Raven says, facing Logan. "I need to wash Malcolm off of me."
"Of course," Logan says. "Do you want me to make you something to eat?"
"I'm not hungry."
"Okay. Well let me know if you need anything."
"I will." Logan turns to walk away. "Logan." He turns back around. "Thank you for today. For…getting rid of Malcolm. And…" She trails off and Logan notices she is near tears. He moves back to her and pulls her to him.
"Hey," he says, hugging her. She puts her arms around him and her head on his chest. "It's okay. You're okay. You're safe." He repeats this and rubs her back soothingly until she calms down. She pulls back from Logan and looks up at him.
"Sorry," she says.
"It's fine. I'd be more worried if you didn't act like that."
"Well thanks again Logan."
"You're welcome. Go take a shower. Come find me if you need anything."
"Okay." Logan walks to his room and Raven grabs a change of clothes then goes to the bathroom to take a shower. 30 minutes later, she exits the bathroom. She puts her jeans in her laundry basket and takes Logan's sweatshirt with her as she goes to his room. She knocks on the door then opens it when she gets no answer. His room is empty so she takes the elevator down to the living room. She finds him sitting on the couch watching TV with Kori. Dick is in the kitchen making supper. Raven goes over to Logan. She taps his shoulder and he turns around.
"Hey Raven," Logan says. She hands him his sweatshirt.
"Here's your sweatshirt," Raven says.
"Thanks," he says as he takes it.
"Why did you have his sweatshirt Raven?" Kori asks.
"I was cold at school today so Logan let me borrow his sweatshirt," Raven says.
"Oh," Kori says. "That was nice of you Friend Logan." Dick walks over to them.
"What happened to your face Raven?" Dick asks.
"What's wrong with it?" Raven replies.
"Your cheek is bruised." Raven moves her hand to cover her cheek and feels the heat from it.
"Oh. I didn't realize it was."
"What happened?"
"I got hit." Dick and Kori look at her shocked.
"By whom?" Kori asks.
"Me, unintentionally," Logan says. All eyes look at him.
"Why would you hit our friend?" Kori asks.
"It wasn't on purpose," Logan says. "We were at her locker after school. She was getting her stuff and I was standing by her. Some guys were messing around shoving each other when one bumped into me. I got pushed into Raven's locker, causing the door to hit Raven."
"That is unfortunate," Kori says. Dick looks at Logan skeptically.
"Yeah," Dick says. "Unfortunate."
"So," Logan says, changing the subject, "what's for supper Dick?"
"Spaghetti and garlic bread," Dick replies. "It should be ready in about ten minutes."
"I'm not hungry," Raven says. "I'm just going to make some tea and go to my room."
"Are you feeling okay?" Kori asks.
"I'm fine. Just not hungry." Raven starts heating up water to make tea. Dick, Kori, and Logan are still at the couch.
"What's going on with Raven?" Dick quietly asks Logan.
"I don't know. She said she's fine," Logan says. "Maybe she was just stressed from having to take all of her finals today and she's still trying to relax from that."
"How did she get the bruise on her cheek?"
"I told you. I accidently hit her with her locker door."
"I don't believe you."
"Well believe it or not. That's what happened." Logan gets up, grabs his sweatshirt and walks to the door where Raven is also leaving.
"Where are you two going?" Dick asks. They both turn to face him.
"I'm going to my room like I said I was earlier," Raven says then takes a sip of her tea.
"I'm putting my sweatshirt away," Logan says, holding it up. They both turn back around and leave the room. They take the elevator up to their rooms.
"I thought you said you wouldn't lie to them?" Raven asks.
"I know," Logan says. "But if we told them Malcolm hit you—"
"And Terra," Raven adds. Logan's look darkens at that.
"And Terra," Logan says. "They would have asked a lot more questions, ones you don't want to have to answer."
"Thank you for that."
"You're welcome. Dick doesn't believe it though. When you were making tea, he asked me what really happened."
"But you didn't tell him."
"Nope. I'm sure he'll keep asking me though."
"Probably. Sorry."
"It's fine. I won't tell him what happened."
"Okay. Maybe I'll tell him eventually. Or just some of it. Not now though."
"Well you can always talk to me about anything."
"I know." The elevator doors open and they walk out. They stop outside Raven's room.
"Can we talk later?"
"What about?"
"Today."
Raven sighs. "Do we have to?"
"No but I'd like to."
"I suppose we can."
"Where do you want to talk? My room, your room, the roof?"
"If it wasn't as late, I'd say your secret spot."
"Down on the rocks is my spot here."
"Can we go down there to talk?"
"Sure. Do you just want to meet me down there or do you want me to come get you?"
"I'll just meet you down there."
"Okay. 7?"
"That's fine."
"I should probably go back down. Dick's gonna wonder why I'm taking so long."
"Probably."
"I'll see you at 7 then." Raven nods. Logan goes to his room and puts his sweatshirt away. Raven closes her door then grabs a book, sits on her bed and reads. Logan goes downstairs to eat with Dick and Kori. At 7, he goes down to his spot on the rocks. He sees Raven already there.
"Hey," he says as he sits next to her.
"Hi," she replies. They sit in silence for several minutes just looking out at the ocean.
"So was there a reason what happened today happened or did Malcolm just feel like doing it?" Logan asks.
"There was a reason," Raven replies.
"What was it?"
"That's what confuses me. I caught Terra and Malcolm kissing in the hallway during 5th period when I went to my locker to get a book. They saw me and threatened me to not tell you. After school, they pulled me into the classroom. Terra hit me and said I told you even though I hadn't but they didn't believe me. Then Malcolm tied me up and raped me." She looks over at Logan when he doesn't say anything. He is looking out at the ocean.
"It's my fault," he says softly. Raven touches his shoulder and he looks at her. "I'm sorry. It's all my fault."
"How could it be your fault? You didn't do anything."
"When I was going to 7th period, I found them kissing. I had said that you were right about Terra cheating on me. When Terra asked if you had told me, I said yes even though I hadn't believed you. I was referring to last week when you had told me. Terra must've thought I meant today and carried out her threat to you. I'm so sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. It's not your fault."
"Yes it is. This wouldn't have happened if I didn't mention you."
"It probably would've happened eventually. I don't blame you for it. You couldn't have known."
"But—"
"Stop blaming yourself for something you couldn't control." Logan sighs and they sit in silence.
"Are you okay?" Logan asks.
"Yeah," Raven says, looking at him. "I'm fine."
"Are you really? You can tell me Rae."
"It's Raven not Rae. I'm sore but I'll be fine."
"What about mentally? Psychologically?"
"I'm fine."
"I'll take your word for it but I'll be there to talk if you need to."
"I know, and I appreciate it." They sit in silence again. After a few minutes, Raven breaks it. "Could you tell me one of your secrets?" she asks.
"I guess you do deserve it after today," he says. "There is something I want to tell you but I don't think now is the right time."
"Why not?"
"It just isn't. How about I tell you what the other language I speak is?"
"Okay. You will tell me the other thing sometime won't you?"
"Yes. Eventually."
"Okay. What's the other language you speak?"
"Croatian."
"How'd you learn that?"
"I'd rather not talk about it."
"I didn't want to talk about today but I still did."
Logan sighs. "Let's go inside." He stands up then holds out his hand to help her up. She takes it and gets up.
"So I'm guessing we're done talking?"
"No. I'll tell you but I want to go inside so you can see."
"See what?"
He tugs on her hand that he's still holding. "Come on." They go back to the Tower and up to Logan's room. They go inside and Logan closes the door. Logan starts pacing.
"Are you okay?" Raven asks. Logan looks at her.
"Just trying to prepare myself to talk about this," he says. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "Okay," he says to himself then takes his shirt off.
"What are you doing?" Raven says, moving away from him.
"I'm not going to do anything to you," Logan says. "And you're clearly not okay psychologically but we won't talk about that now. You've seen me without a shirt several times before. Have you ever looked closely at my chest and back?"
"You want to know if I've ever checked you out?"
"That's not what I meant but have you?"
"I'm not answering that."
"I'll take that as a yes then. But back to my original question."
"No I haven't." Logan moves toward Raven but she moves back, keeping the same distance between them. Logan stops moving.
"I'm not going to do anything to you, I promise. Why don't you come toward me? I want you to look at my chest and back closely."
"Why?"
"Please Raven. It will, hopefully, make talking about how I learned Croatian easier." She looks up at him and sees a pleading expression on his face.
"Okay." She moves closer to him and around him to look at his back first. She doesn't see anything at first glance but then notices faint scars on his back. Some are long, some are short, and some are darker than others. She moves around to stand in front of him and sees much of the same on his chest, only fewer than his back. She notices one scar starts on his back and wraps around to his chest. She looks up at him. "What happened?" she whispers. He sits on his bed then pats the spot next to him for her to sit down; she does.
"I told you that when I was younger, I lived in Africa with my parents."
"Yeah. You said that's where you learned Swahili."
"It is. In the area that we were living, there were gangs, for lack of a better word, that spoke Croatian. There were also other people who spoke Croatian living in the area that were good people. The tribe we were with taught us Croatian so we could understand what the others were saying and if they were good or bad people. When I was seven years old, my Croatian wasn't real good yet. I had only been learning it for about two months. I was fluent in English and Swahili but never spoke Croatian regularly. I could understand some but needed a lot more practice. I was in the jungle playing like I did a lot. I went farther into the jungle, following one of the animals, and I stumbled upon a group of men. They started yelling at me but I didn't understand them; they were speaking Croatian. One man spoke English and asked me my name. I told them and the man asked me if my parents were the famous scientists; I said yes. They kidnapped me and took me away from the tribe and my parents. They took me to their camp and the next day, we moved again. We left Tanzania and went to Sudan. The men made me their slave. If I didn't do what they wanted me to, they would beat me. They would make me steal for them a lot. When I wasn't stealing or being beaten, I was kept in a cage with a chain around my ankle. They always spoke Croatian around me so I eventually learned some of what they were saying. I was held captive by them for about a year before I was rescued. I was reunited with my parents and found out they had been looking for me nonstop. I continued learning Croatian and became fluent in it within two months of being rescued."
"I can't believe you went through all that."
"Well I did."
"So all of these scars are from that?"
"Not all of them but most are. Remember I told you I got into fights when I ran away from foster homes?"
"Yeah."
"I've got scars from those too. Especially the knife fights."
"You got into knife fights?"
"They would have knives. I usually didn't. I didn't have one when I got this one." He indicates the scar that wraps around his torso. "The guy had his knife pressed against me and I twisted away from him, causing the cut to wrap around. I ran away and when I wasn't being chased anymore, I patched it up."
"Do the others know about your scars?"
"They've seen them but I've never told them how I really got them. They don't bother me about my scars anymore because they know I won't tell them."
"I'm glad you trust me to tell me."
"Me too. I don't like talking about my past but it is nice that someone knows. I don't have to hide from everyone and I can show you the real me."
"I agree." Logan puts his shirt back on.
"Do you want to watch a movie with me?"
"Thanks but I'm just going to go to my room and read. Maybe another time."
"Okay. I guess I'll see you later then." Raven nods then goes to her room. Logan goes down to the living room to watch a movie.