Ch. 6

.o0o.

Two years ago…

There were many things I didn't know for certain. You'd think that being a mind reader I would know a lot more about the world today.

Yes, I knew people died, and yes. I knew people got hurt. It was kind of obvious. My mother was hurt by my father, and also died. I knew that first hand. My dad was also hurt by life and one of his closest friends had died in an accident. I know because I saw it firsthand in his memories. That wasn't my greatest day.

I found out the year before that, 'how babies were made.' Also not my greatest day. I had been curious, saw something I shouldn't have, and asked my dad. He gave me a straight answer, also talking to me about how some girls would sell their bodies for sex in exchange for money, and told me stories of how unhappy those people were. That also showed me how people got hurt. I think I met someone who did that at least once, but I don't know for sure.

He told me that sex wasn't something to play around with. 'Sleeping around' (as it was also called) would lead to emotional scarring and many consequences for both parties. It wasn't good to do until you were in a committed relationship or marriage. He said that's what it was originally supposed to be for, anyway.

He told me that sometimes, people use sex for themselves, having it with someone who didn't want to have it. He said that was called 'rape.' The vague concept of it is just… appalling to me. Why would anyone do something like that?

I got the impression that my parents weren't supposed to...have sex and make me. That, with the way he thought about it, he never meant to have sex with my mom. That I wasn't really meant to be here. But he also told me that I wasn't a mistake. Nothing ever was. Not even being with my mom. Everything happened for a reason. Even if it didn't mean to happen, it was supposed to.

The overall concept of sex is kind of disgusting to me, though. Why would you let anyone do that? I mean, my dad did it….so it can't be that disgusting…

No, never mind. It's just….gross. It's even worse when thinking about my dad doing it. Blegchk!

Anyway, I was home alone. This week, Dad was out on another mission. 'Zashi was out with him.

So I was basically by myself until someone came back. We didn't live at U.A. full time because my school was closer to this apartment complex. On weekends, we stayed at U.A, but not this time.

He had our neighbor check up on me every night to make sure I was okay or if I needed any help. I had the kitchen pretty much figured out, so I didn't really need any help from anyone or anything. The cats had lots of food for the time being, and plenty of litter (Dad did that part. I just fed and watered them), and I was pretty good on my own.

The neighbor was a sweet older woman who took care of her grandson, who was around 13 or so. Probably older. She would knock politely, I would invite her in, she would look around and make sure I had everything I needed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, make sure I got to school, then go about her day after petting the cat. The one that liked her, that is.

One time, I met her grandson. And because I could read his mind, I did.

He seemed...lonely. Tired of life. Tired of everything that had happened to him. Someone else on his plate was not what he needed.

His mind was fuzzy. It was noisy. Like, all his hopes and dreams had been chewed up and spit back out at him. All kinds of trouble he had been through, all kinds of hurt. I didn't know whether he was abandoned or his parents had died. I had no idea, actually.

His hair was all kinds of messy-it looked pretty unbrushed but at the same time, it stuck up like an antigravity purple mop.

I had just gotten home from school and was doing some of my homework as I was waiting for the neighbor to come by. Since it was around winter-time, the days were getting darker quicker. There wasn't very much snow (surprisingly), but it was cold.

I sat on my couch, facing outside. Our room was on the second floor of the complex, so I only got a view of the cityscape from just a hovering bird's eye-view. And it was almost dark already so I watched the sunset as it went down.

When I finally had nothing else to look at, I returned to my reading. Sleepy decided to join me, falling asleep on my lap.

"Fitting name," I said aloud, stroking his back.

I don't know what happened or who said what next, but I do distinctly remember a strange shadow by our window.

The cats went on full defensive mode. They were alert, they were stiff, they were inconsolable.

Then I heard a loud, BANG on our door.

That did it.

I hit the floor and army-crawled to the window. I locked the windows and closed the curtains before booking it to the door and locking it shut as well.

I then hid underneath the sink, stuffing the cats in my dad's room as I pulled out my phone.

I needed to call my dad. So I did.

He picked up almost immediately.

"Samiko? What is it?"

"Dad, there's someone or...something at our door. I locked everything and shut the curtains but it's still trying to get in."

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

I flinched and went quiet.

"Where are you?"

"At home…?"

"No, in the apartment. Where are you?"

"I'm under the sink," I said quietly, "They're banging on the door, I think they're gonna break it down."

"Alright. I'm going to call Miss Shinsou, tell her to stay inside. You hang in there, okay? Call the police. You hear me? Don't do a thing. Just stay and call the police."

"Okay," I swore, "I will."

"Alright. I'm almost done here. I'll be back in no time."

"Please hurry," I whispered as he hung up.

I dialed the police immediately.

.o0o.

The banging continued outside on the door. I heard shouting. People yelling on the outside in here. I couldn't tell what they were saying. But it definitely wasn't nice and it was aimed towards me.

"This is 119, what is your emergency?"

"Hello, police?" I tried to keep my voice from shaking. "My name is Aizawa Samiko. Someone's trying to break into my apartment."

"Alright. How old are you, Samiko?"

"I-"

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

I took a deep breath. I couldn't deny that I was terrified right now, because I was.

"I'm ten years old," I all but whispered.

"Alright. Make sure you stay calm, Samiko. The police are on their way. Where do you live?"

I gave her my address and my apartment number. She told me not to hang up. She told me to stay calm, stay quiet, and stay hidden.

The door broke down.

I covered my mouth to muffle my scream.

"They're in!" I whispered desperately.

"Alright. Just stay calm. The police are almost there. Don't hang up, Samiko. Don't hang up."

I held the doors of the cupboard under the sink as tightly as I could, holding my breath to become as quiet as humanly possible.

"Come on out!" I heard a man yell. "We know you're here!"

"Are you still there, Samiko?" the lady on the line asked.

I stayed quiet.

"Samiko?"

I still didn't respond.

"Dial the number three on your keypad if you're still on the phone, Samiko," she told me.

I hurriedly did so.

"Alright. Stay quiet. The Police will be right there."

I heard footsteps coming my direction. I held my breath tighter. I turned my phone's volume down. I also turned down the screen brightness. I wasn't stupid. I knew how to hide.

"Come on out," someone said in a sing-songy voice. "We know you're here. We're not going to hurt you."

I highly doubt that.

"We just want to talk."

Likely story.

"Nothing's gonna happen to you."

How can I trust you without exposing myself and finding out on my own?

I sat there and prayed I wouldn't be found, squeezing my eyes shut and keeping my breathing steadied.

I hoped that my heart wasn't beating hard enough to be heard.

I heard footsteps stop right in front of the cabinet. I was near the back of it, so if he reached in, he would have to reach pretty far to get me.

But it still wasn't impossible.

And that scared me. More than the people in my apartment, more than me being home alone.

The cabinet door opened. I covered my mouth.

I saw someone look in. He smiled evilly.

"Well, look what we got here," he said, reaching in.

I screamed.

.o0o.

I don't fully remember all that happened from then. I was grabbed by the guy, and he threw me on the floor. He sat on me and tied my hands and feet together, putting duct tape over my mouth. I couldn't get out of his hold. I couldn't do anything. I was totally at the mercy of these guys.

And I was scared out of my mind.

I knew these people were villains. It was way too obvious.

I kept hearing them say something about 'Eraserhead. We need Eraserhead. Where is Eraserhead.'

I knew he was my father (obviously), and they did too, but I wasn't going to say anything. I couldn't say anything. Because if I said anything, it was going to be the truth. And they couldn't know the truth. Not at any cost.

One of them...started touching me. It felt...wrong. It felt really, really wrong. I couldn't stop it-no one could. No one would.

And...that must have been where I passed out, because I don't remember anything else.

I woke up in my dad's arms in the car. We were on our way to the hospital.

And even that's a little fuzzy.

The people at the hospital used a 'rape kit' on me. I don't think that I was actually 'raped,' but I don't know for sure. I passed out. I do...kind of remember Miss Shinsou's grandson though...he might have...stopped them somehow. EVerything is so fuzzy, I can't remember. I need to ask him.

In the end, we moved to U.A. full time. I got a new school, a new phone (because the other one broke), everything.

The police and my Dad eventually did find those men who broke in and had them arrested.

My life seemed to change for the better.

Until it changed for the worst.

.o0o.

A/N: Just testing the waters, seeing what works and what doesn't. I tried to go for 'suspenseful,' but I'm not sure if it worked. Please, let me know in the comments!

~W0L