Kelen awoke very early the next morning. 2:30 to be exact. Raph still had
her under his arm. She wondered why she had wakened so early. Usually it
was because something was wrong. She listened to the silence but was unable
to detect anything out of the ordinary. She still couldn't shake the
nervous feeling though, so she slipped out from under Raphael's arm and got
up. There wasn't a trace of sleep in her body. She quietly opened her door
and left her room.
First she went to Lauren's room. Her TV was on so Kelen walked in carefully and turned it off. She looked over to find Donny asleep with her. She smiled slightly. It was good to see them both so happy. Next she moved to Mikey's room. She opened his door a crack and peeked in. He was talking in his sleep. She pushed away the urge to laugh. When he suddenly tossed over, almost falling off the bed, she had to close his door to keep from laughing. She took a deep breath to calm herself and walked over to Leo's room. Thankfully his door was open. His hearing was impeccable and she knew he would have heard her. She looked in at him. He was sleeping peacefully. She couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. She was making her way back to her room, when she was struck with a strong feeling of nervousness. She quickly recognized the feeling, having felt it so many times with her father, and broke into a run.
She burst her door open and Raphael woke up. She quickly scanned the room. There was a note stuck to the wall by her closet, held with a knife. "What?" Raphael asked. He followed her stare to the note. She walked over and pulled the knife out of the wall. She unfolded the note and read across the letters. 'You're saying too much. Say anymore and this knife won't be in your wall next time. It'll be in you, and you can bet there are more for your friends.' Raphael was behind her and read the note as well. He was filled with anger and confusion. A sick feeling flushed through Kelen's body as she recognized her father's handwriting. She covered her mouth and swallowed hard to keep from throwing up. Raphael took the knife and note from Kelen. He walked out of the room and pounded on everyone's door. They followed him into Kelen's room. She was sitting in the middle of the room cross legged with her head in her hands. Raph tried hard to bury his anger, but it was obvious in his voice. "What is this and who wrote it?" he demanded. Leo took the note from him and read it out loud. Everyone stared in shock at Kelen when he was finished. Mikey walked over to her and stood her up only to have her collapse in his arms. Kelen wasn't with them. She had removed her mind from the situation. They could tell right away that she had trained herself to do this long ago. Raph took Kelen from Mikey. He picked her up in both arms, holding her close to his body. She remained completely removed.
(Flashback)
Kelen was fourteen. She was living with her brother and Lauren's family. She had just started picking up the pieces of her life last year. She and Lauren had been at a school dance until 10:00 and at 11 they were both beat. Lauren had fallen asleep on the couch and Kelen was alone in the room they shared. She had a familiar feeling that something just wasn't right. She knew what was coming, or more, who was coming. She started to mentally prepare for herself for the pain about to take place. All at once, her window opened. A man covered in shadows climbed into her room. Kelen knew him all too well. He had been coming at least twice a week. Without saying a word, he undid his pants and climbed on top of Kelen. He ripped open her nightshirt to put new scars on her body. Kelen at once removed herself mentally from this. She didn't want to remember it. She tried to drift up to the happiness of elsewhere. She imagined being at the beach with her friends, she revisited the dance she had just come from; she tried to picture herself falling into a painting of liquid she had once seen. Just falling into the cool clear, liquid and becoming a part of its being. Finally, it was over, but she remained in the back of her mind, trying to pull out all the good from her life. When he was done, he slapped her across the face, his rude awakening for her. He left a red hand print on her face to warn her and remind her of the consequences she would face if she told. Then her father was gone. She climbed up from her bed and got in the shower. She washed herself over and over again. She knew she was clean, but couldn't get rid of the disgusted feeling inside. She gently touched herself with a washcloth. There was blood. She hurt so badly but didn't dare tell anyone. He might get Lauren. He might get her sister, Lindsay. She couldn't hurt them. Not after how they had helped her. Josh knew though. She didn't have to say anything to him and he knew. She had discovered his sources one night and hadn't spoken to him for months. He had suspected something and placed a video camera on top of one of her shelves. She had found it once and knew he had watched it. As much as she hated what her father was doing, she hated it more that someone else had watched him do it. She had silently pleaded for him not to tell, and he had agreed. When Josh was never killed "by accident," she knew he hadn't told. And she promised herself she would never tell either, no matter what the cost.
Kelen dragged herself away from her past and went over what had just happened over and over again in her mind. She thought that her father hadn't found her when she moved to New York. How did he know? Who told? She couldn't get away with lying anymore. She knew she would have to tell. She hoped they were strong enough to defend themselves against the strongest person she knew. Kelen was suddenly aware of a growing pressure around her arm.
(End Flashback)
She pulled her wrist away from Donny. She was back. Everyone let out their breath. Raph ran his hand over Kelen's hair. She looked into his eyes. Raph saw pure terror poring from them. "Kelen," Leo said gently, "you have to tell us now. You don't have a choice. You're putting yourself and the rest of us in danger by keeping your secret." Kelen nodded. She looked over at Lauren. "Why haven't you ever told me your dad is trying to kill you still?" Lauren asked, tears forming in her eyes. Lauren had recognized the handwriting also. She knew the way they were written. Kelen had gotten them from the time for some time after her father left.. Everyone suddenly directed their attention to Lauren. "What?" Raph asked in disbelief. He turned to Lauren, then Kelen, then Lauren again, wondering who was going to talk first. Kelen did. "He said if I tell, he'll kill me. And I know he means it," she said, "It also means he'll kill you too." Everyone glanced at each other. The guys decided they could face off with one dangerous man. They'd done it before. Leo nodded. "Kelen, whenever your ready," he said. Kelen got up out of Raph's arms and seated herself next to him. A circle was formed as she began. "After my mom died, my dad started telling me it was my fault. He blamed me for the death of my mother and grandpa. He was angry and took it out on me," Kelen couldn't believe how easily the words flowed from her mouth, like they had been waiting to come out all these years. "What did he do?" Mikey asked worried. "He beat me," Kelen said quietly. Everyone including Lauren was a little taken back, but tried not to show it. "He did it until I was ten. He said if I told he'd kill me and the person I told. Then he left one night and never came back. I finally got up the strength to tell my brother. He told me it was okay and he'd protect me. He said my dad wasn't coming back and couldn't get me anymore. The next day he was killed by a hit and run driver. The day after I got a not saying 'You told.' I didn't tell anyone ever again." Kelen tried to blink back the angry tears that came with the death of her brother and the pain that had been caused. She knew this was all her fault because no one had ever told her it wasn't. And somehow she thought they would have told her it wasn't her fault. But she felt like she had been blinking the tears back all her life, so she let them come. Kelen pulled her legs close to her chest and cried into her knees. Lauren crawled across the circle and held her. She hushed her and told her it would be okay. They all saw for the first time that Lauren felt a sort of motherly instinct over Kelen. They saw that Lauren had taken this role when Kelen had been such a mess earlier in her life. Lauren let Kelen go and told her to go on. Kelen took a shaky breath and continued. "When I was ten, I started to get threat notes from him. My brother and I went to live with Lauren. Her parent's tried to adopt us, but couldn't do it without my father's signature. My dad kept sending me notes saying I wasn't allowed to tell. He'd get me. He'd get Lauren and her family. When I was eleven, the notes stopped coming." Lauren expected the story to stop, as did they all, and they were surprised when she kept going. "One night, Lauren was at a sleepover. I couldn't sleep; it was weird to be by myself. I heard the window open and my father came in. I was scared; I thought he was going to kill me. I'm not sure what's worse anymore, killing me…or raping me," she said bluntly. This time no one hid their shock, "He started coming twice a week and still beat me and threatened me. Lauren's brother, Josh, he knew. I don't know how, but he did," she lied. Telling them that Josh had watched was too much for her to share. "One day Josh finally convinced Lauren's parents to let us move in with Lauren's aunt in New York. I haven't heard from him since. This is the first time," she finished. She broke down again.
Raphael scooped her into his arms and gave her an I-get-it-now look. Then he held her close. Everyone came and touched her shoulder or rubbed her back. Now they realized just how dangerous this guy was. They knew it wasn't going to be easy to beat him. But they knew even more, that they couldn't let anything happen to Kelen.
First she went to Lauren's room. Her TV was on so Kelen walked in carefully and turned it off. She looked over to find Donny asleep with her. She smiled slightly. It was good to see them both so happy. Next she moved to Mikey's room. She opened his door a crack and peeked in. He was talking in his sleep. She pushed away the urge to laugh. When he suddenly tossed over, almost falling off the bed, she had to close his door to keep from laughing. She took a deep breath to calm herself and walked over to Leo's room. Thankfully his door was open. His hearing was impeccable and she knew he would have heard her. She looked in at him. He was sleeping peacefully. She couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. She was making her way back to her room, when she was struck with a strong feeling of nervousness. She quickly recognized the feeling, having felt it so many times with her father, and broke into a run.
She burst her door open and Raphael woke up. She quickly scanned the room. There was a note stuck to the wall by her closet, held with a knife. "What?" Raphael asked. He followed her stare to the note. She walked over and pulled the knife out of the wall. She unfolded the note and read across the letters. 'You're saying too much. Say anymore and this knife won't be in your wall next time. It'll be in you, and you can bet there are more for your friends.' Raphael was behind her and read the note as well. He was filled with anger and confusion. A sick feeling flushed through Kelen's body as she recognized her father's handwriting. She covered her mouth and swallowed hard to keep from throwing up. Raphael took the knife and note from Kelen. He walked out of the room and pounded on everyone's door. They followed him into Kelen's room. She was sitting in the middle of the room cross legged with her head in her hands. Raph tried hard to bury his anger, but it was obvious in his voice. "What is this and who wrote it?" he demanded. Leo took the note from him and read it out loud. Everyone stared in shock at Kelen when he was finished. Mikey walked over to her and stood her up only to have her collapse in his arms. Kelen wasn't with them. She had removed her mind from the situation. They could tell right away that she had trained herself to do this long ago. Raph took Kelen from Mikey. He picked her up in both arms, holding her close to his body. She remained completely removed.
(Flashback)
Kelen was fourteen. She was living with her brother and Lauren's family. She had just started picking up the pieces of her life last year. She and Lauren had been at a school dance until 10:00 and at 11 they were both beat. Lauren had fallen asleep on the couch and Kelen was alone in the room they shared. She had a familiar feeling that something just wasn't right. She knew what was coming, or more, who was coming. She started to mentally prepare for herself for the pain about to take place. All at once, her window opened. A man covered in shadows climbed into her room. Kelen knew him all too well. He had been coming at least twice a week. Without saying a word, he undid his pants and climbed on top of Kelen. He ripped open her nightshirt to put new scars on her body. Kelen at once removed herself mentally from this. She didn't want to remember it. She tried to drift up to the happiness of elsewhere. She imagined being at the beach with her friends, she revisited the dance she had just come from; she tried to picture herself falling into a painting of liquid she had once seen. Just falling into the cool clear, liquid and becoming a part of its being. Finally, it was over, but she remained in the back of her mind, trying to pull out all the good from her life. When he was done, he slapped her across the face, his rude awakening for her. He left a red hand print on her face to warn her and remind her of the consequences she would face if she told. Then her father was gone. She climbed up from her bed and got in the shower. She washed herself over and over again. She knew she was clean, but couldn't get rid of the disgusted feeling inside. She gently touched herself with a washcloth. There was blood. She hurt so badly but didn't dare tell anyone. He might get Lauren. He might get her sister, Lindsay. She couldn't hurt them. Not after how they had helped her. Josh knew though. She didn't have to say anything to him and he knew. She had discovered his sources one night and hadn't spoken to him for months. He had suspected something and placed a video camera on top of one of her shelves. She had found it once and knew he had watched it. As much as she hated what her father was doing, she hated it more that someone else had watched him do it. She had silently pleaded for him not to tell, and he had agreed. When Josh was never killed "by accident," she knew he hadn't told. And she promised herself she would never tell either, no matter what the cost.
Kelen dragged herself away from her past and went over what had just happened over and over again in her mind. She thought that her father hadn't found her when she moved to New York. How did he know? Who told? She couldn't get away with lying anymore. She knew she would have to tell. She hoped they were strong enough to defend themselves against the strongest person she knew. Kelen was suddenly aware of a growing pressure around her arm.
(End Flashback)
She pulled her wrist away from Donny. She was back. Everyone let out their breath. Raph ran his hand over Kelen's hair. She looked into his eyes. Raph saw pure terror poring from them. "Kelen," Leo said gently, "you have to tell us now. You don't have a choice. You're putting yourself and the rest of us in danger by keeping your secret." Kelen nodded. She looked over at Lauren. "Why haven't you ever told me your dad is trying to kill you still?" Lauren asked, tears forming in her eyes. Lauren had recognized the handwriting also. She knew the way they were written. Kelen had gotten them from the time for some time after her father left.. Everyone suddenly directed their attention to Lauren. "What?" Raph asked in disbelief. He turned to Lauren, then Kelen, then Lauren again, wondering who was going to talk first. Kelen did. "He said if I tell, he'll kill me. And I know he means it," she said, "It also means he'll kill you too." Everyone glanced at each other. The guys decided they could face off with one dangerous man. They'd done it before. Leo nodded. "Kelen, whenever your ready," he said. Kelen got up out of Raph's arms and seated herself next to him. A circle was formed as she began. "After my mom died, my dad started telling me it was my fault. He blamed me for the death of my mother and grandpa. He was angry and took it out on me," Kelen couldn't believe how easily the words flowed from her mouth, like they had been waiting to come out all these years. "What did he do?" Mikey asked worried. "He beat me," Kelen said quietly. Everyone including Lauren was a little taken back, but tried not to show it. "He did it until I was ten. He said if I told he'd kill me and the person I told. Then he left one night and never came back. I finally got up the strength to tell my brother. He told me it was okay and he'd protect me. He said my dad wasn't coming back and couldn't get me anymore. The next day he was killed by a hit and run driver. The day after I got a not saying 'You told.' I didn't tell anyone ever again." Kelen tried to blink back the angry tears that came with the death of her brother and the pain that had been caused. She knew this was all her fault because no one had ever told her it wasn't. And somehow she thought they would have told her it wasn't her fault. But she felt like she had been blinking the tears back all her life, so she let them come. Kelen pulled her legs close to her chest and cried into her knees. Lauren crawled across the circle and held her. She hushed her and told her it would be okay. They all saw for the first time that Lauren felt a sort of motherly instinct over Kelen. They saw that Lauren had taken this role when Kelen had been such a mess earlier in her life. Lauren let Kelen go and told her to go on. Kelen took a shaky breath and continued. "When I was ten, I started to get threat notes from him. My brother and I went to live with Lauren. Her parent's tried to adopt us, but couldn't do it without my father's signature. My dad kept sending me notes saying I wasn't allowed to tell. He'd get me. He'd get Lauren and her family. When I was eleven, the notes stopped coming." Lauren expected the story to stop, as did they all, and they were surprised when she kept going. "One night, Lauren was at a sleepover. I couldn't sleep; it was weird to be by myself. I heard the window open and my father came in. I was scared; I thought he was going to kill me. I'm not sure what's worse anymore, killing me…or raping me," she said bluntly. This time no one hid their shock, "He started coming twice a week and still beat me and threatened me. Lauren's brother, Josh, he knew. I don't know how, but he did," she lied. Telling them that Josh had watched was too much for her to share. "One day Josh finally convinced Lauren's parents to let us move in with Lauren's aunt in New York. I haven't heard from him since. This is the first time," she finished. She broke down again.
Raphael scooped her into his arms and gave her an I-get-it-now look. Then he held her close. Everyone came and touched her shoulder or rubbed her back. Now they realized just how dangerous this guy was. They knew it wasn't going to be easy to beat him. But they knew even more, that they couldn't let anything happen to Kelen.