What happened to my baby girl

Warning this contains the subject of rape to a young girl. You've been warned. Thank you.

What happened to my baby girl? She used to smile. She used to laugh. She used to have friends. It seems that she has given up on something. What happened to her? Something is scaring her. I can hear her screaming in her room at night. I go in there and she looks terrified of something.

What is wrong with her? I try to think of any possible things but they have all proven wrong. She isn't on drugs. She's not in the bad crowd actually she isn't in a crowd at all. Her friends try to talk to her everyday. But day after day they lose any hope of getting through to her.

I went to a doctor with her and they said that she isn't mentally ill or anything. So what is wrong with my baby girl? Please someone tell me what's wrong. I've sent her to a psychiatrist. They said that she's pretty much a normal average kid. Then why won't she smile or laugh anymore. They couldn't tell me that. I look at her now from our porch with my new baby girl on my knee.

She's sitting out in the yard alone. I wondered why she was all-alone. When did it start? She had always got along with others. No one ever was her enemy. She always was a tough kid till recently. I don't know what happened.

A boy came up to our house. I watched him closely. "Hello, is this the home of Lei Smith?"

"Yes, who are you?"

"My name is Marty Walter. I saw her today and I wanted to see her again."

"Oh okay she's out in the yard. Over there." He walked slowly over to her. He seemed afraid to walk up to her. I wondered what she does at school. Now that I think about this all started a month ago when school was let back in after the winter break. It was a little cold that week. But nothing out of the normal for this time of year.

Marty sat down next to her crouching down. He was trying to talk to her.

~*~

"Lei do you remember me Marty?" She looked away, her eyes showed that she was hurt bad and she had a face that looked like a beaten pup coming back to it's loyal owner. "Please talk to your friends Lei. We can help you, we promise not to hurt you."

She turned away. I grabbed her arm. It was covered with her long sleeve shirt and sweatshirt. She had clothing covering her from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet. Not even her hands were free of clothing. She turned around yelping in pain. I let go immediately. I didn't mean to hurt her. I pulled rolled up the sleeve of her shirt. She shook her head no.

"Please don't. NO! DON'T!" I rolled it up swiftly. I looked at her arm. The skin was blotched with bruises. I gasped. Even though I was new at school. She still meant a lot to me. I liked her the first time I saw her. She looked so hurt. I just wanted to take the pain away.

I was shocked. She cried out hysterically. I held her tightly. "Please don't touch me."

"Shh, It's okay Lei I promise I won't hurt you."

"Oh it was so horrible he said he was going to kill me if I ever showed or told anyone."

"If he touches another hair on you. I'll personally put him out so he'll wish he was dead."

"No please just forget everything Marty you just stay out of it."

"I'm already in it." I took her with me crying hysterically. She had lost it. She finally broke down. I picked her up gently in my arms. She was pretty light. I don't think she's been eating or if she has she's thrown it all up. I knew something was wrong with her. Since the minute I met her I knew she hid a dark secret. I knew it didn't have to do with her family or friends. Some one on the outside has been doing this.

Shang and Milo my and her two best friends were running down the street. I think they knew something was wrong. We have been worried about her for almost two weeks. They were on the edge. They always tried to keep an eye on her but it was nearly impossible at times. I think that is when who ever did this hurt her when she didn't have anyone to protect her.

Her father who had her little sister on his knee was alerted right away and showed me into the house to a couch where I could place her. I told her father to take off her clothes. He was reluctant but I told him I had some suspicions. I held Lei's sister, Mya while he did as I asked him to.

Soon he slipped off her pants, shoes and socks. There were bruises all over her leg. Her father called out for Kit her twin brother. He came out of his room running. He gasped at what he saw. "Call an ambulance and the police. I think I found what was wrong."

Her father went into a back room and soon her father came out with a pair of gym shorts and a tank top. He slipped her shirt off and placed the tank top on. He lifted her up and placed her shorts on. I saw the bruises and cuts all over her. I winced at the sight and covered Mya's eyes. She had been definitely beaten.

I walked out of the room having tears in my eyes. I had loved her. It was like love at first sight even though she didn't talk much. I would try so hard to get her to talk to me. I got her to answer me sometimes. But I never thought it was this bad of a secret. But I got what I wanted. I got her to tell me what was wrong. Pretty much forced her to tell me.

I held Lei's little sister. She had bright eyes and a big smile across her face. Shang and Milo her two best friends told me that she used to look like that.

Milo Thatch well he looks sort of like a grade A nerd kind of nerd. His got big round glasses on his face in front of his soft brown eyes. On top of that large brain of his is blonde locks of hair that is cut real short except two things that are his bangs. He was kind and gentle kind of guy and often comforted people if they needed to be. He was smarter than any of us in school and had a little of street smarts.

Then Shang Li is a large well built guy. He is very quiet and understands a lot of things in the world that others don't understand. He looks tough and mean but is like Milo a gentle, kind guy. He in the last two weeks has been more worried than in his entire life. He was worried for Lei's life. He was the first one to catch that there was something wrong. His name equals how powerful he can be. That's a lot.

I looked at the baby girl. She slept holding onto my chest resting her head on my shoulder. She was so sweet. I hoped that Lei would one day be like that again. The ambulance came as I heard the sirens. Lei's mom walked out looking at her daughter and right after that she broke down crying. It reminded me of my mom before she died and I became an orphan.

I held Mya tightly. She was asleep but I didn't want to let go of her. Her father went with Lei in the ambulance. I sat down next to Lei's mother I think her name was Ro. I placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and smiled. I think she was thankful that she wasn't alone. That was the awarding thing about it. I held Mya and held Ro's hand. She needed someone strong to help her. I was going to help them through this whole thing.

~*~

My baby girl, she was hurting both on the outside and in the inside. I hadn't to take notice that she wore gloves all the time and her shoes or socks and she wore a long sleeve shirt and pants all the time. It was winter so I just thought she was cold. Now I was riding with her to the hospital. I left my wife and my other children.

I had to fix this. It was my mistake for not taking better care of her. I watch as they take her away on a stretcher to fix her wounds and get rid of any infections. The doctors questioned if I knew anything before.

"She was acting strange. She was afraid of people touching her and she had nightmares. I tried to find out but she wouldn't tell me."

"Okay thanks, it sounds like she was raped." I feared that more than anything. I sat waiting for her to come out. For it to be wrong. But the test showed that she wasn't a virgin. I cried that night for my baby girl. I called home. That boy Marty picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi Marty, is Ro up?"

"No she's asleep sorry. How's Lei?"

"Not too good she was probably raped but they have to ask her first. I think the person that raped her was the one that beat her."

"Oh no. Oh god why?"

"Please stay strong have the police questioned all of you?"

"Yes they did."

"Okay. Good please think of anyone you think could do this I think Lei is afraid to tell us for some reason."

"She said that if anyone found out she would be killed."

"Okay thanks Marty." I hung up the phone. Thank heavens for that boy. He found out what was wrong and was helping us fix the problem.

~*~

I woke up. I was in a bunch of bandages. How did I get here? Marty? What is he doing here? I remember he was talking to me and I turned away. He grabbed my arm. I yelped in pain. It hurt so much. I couldn't ignore it anymore. It hurt too much.

I looked around me. Marty was looking outside through the window. Pounding on the glass. He turned around as I hissed in pain and took deeper breaths. He walked slowly up to me. I could see that he was sad because of me. I didn't want to hurt him or any of my family. "Hi Marty."

"Hey little girl how are you feeling?"

"It hurts." I started to cry. He tangled his fingers in my hair.

"Shh, Shh, it's going to be alright. Nobody's going to hurt you anymore. I promise to protect ya no matter what."

"You really mean it don't you?"

"Yes I always did Lei and friends don't hurt each other not on purpose anyway. Shang, Milo and Kida have been worried about you why didn't you tell us."

"I was afraid. I was gasp, scared that he would come after me."

"Will you tell me who it is if I promise you no one is going to hurt you." I nodded I was afraid but I had to. For my family and friends who have been worried about me. For the whole gang of friends I used to have. For my sake.

"It was… Ace." I cried hard. That took a lot of my courage. Marty called an police officer in that was standing guarding the door. He came in. He looked down at me and nodded down to the both of us. I just turned around grabbing onto my pillow.

"Officer she just said it was Ace Mcneultian." He grabbed out a cell phone.

"Uh yeah chief look up the name Ace Mcneultian. Lei Smith says that was the person who beat her and possibly raped her. I don't think she's in any condition for questioning sir. Okay alright I'll ask her." HE flipped the phone shut.

"Okay Lei, I'm counting on you telling the truth okay." I nodded.

"Did Ace rape you?"

"Yes." My voice cracked.

"Only once or more than once?"

"More than once."

"Okay take deep breaths it's going to be alright sweetie. Nobody's going to hurt you anymore but you need to answer these questions if you don't want to get hurt anymore okay." I nodded. "Alright, has either your father or mother every hit you or caused any abuse."

"No never."

"Alright, have you got people who will be a character witness for you?"

"What is that?"

"People who know you well enough to say in a court under oath about you lying and other things we may ask?"

"Yes I have at least four I think."

"Okay good." The officer opened his phone and started talking again. Marty held my hand tightly. I need that so much. He sat down next to me. I still cried though from the pain. He gave me comfort.

I didn't know much about him so far except that he was sixteen. His name was Marty. He was a caring, gentle, kind guy like Shang and Milo. He was a big guy. About six feet tall and had a strong built. He was a gentle giant like Joshua Sweet who was a good friend of mine.

Joshua Sweet had sat next to me before school over the last week. He stayed silent as he could tell. He wanted to be a doctor one day. He was very good in medical science and if anyone from the gang got hurt he would fix them right up. I bet he couldn't fix me up this time. But I bet also that he would try real hard. I felt so much better. Almost relieved. I had held that all in this whole time.

Marty just stayed there looking at me with disbelief. I soon fell asleep. There where no nightmares this time. I heard voices out there but I didn't want to face them. "Lei Smith come on you can do better than that."

"Who are you?"

"I'm somewhat a guardian of yours."

"What's your name?"

"My name is Red. A good friend of your father's I've been watching ya."

"Why?"

"Because I like your mother and father so much I watch over their children as well."

"What are you?"

"A lonely spirit. But I'm the nicest one you'll ever find sweetheart don't worry about that."

"If your friends of the family why haven't I met or seen you before."

"Sweetheart don't you understand I'm a ghost."

"Huh?"

"A ghost, spirit, angel whatever you want to call it."

"Oh. So will you be my friend."

"All ready am missy. Your father was real worried about you. Do you know he thought you did something wrong?"

"But I didn't I'm innocent."

"That you are child. Here dry those tears." I wiped them off.

"You look like Joshua Sweet do you know him?"

"Yes I knew his father. Quite a fellow I hear. Actually I know all of your parents. I know everybody's parents that are your friends or siblings."

"Kit and you brought a great joy to your father and mother."

"What did we do?"

"Here let me show you." With a wave of his hand he showed me a scene of when we were first born.

I looked into it and I soon saw my mother but she was much younger only a few years older than I am. She had tears in her eyes and smiled weakly. She looked tired but happier than ever before. She held two small bundles. One was kicking around while the other was sleeping still. "Zee you're a daddy."

MY dad who looks a lot younger as well is holding us close to his chest. He looks down at us almost curiously. I don't think he ever had seen a newborn. "I'm a daddy…" I could hear his thoughts ~I was a father. My real dream had come true. I had reached my three goals before reaching my real dream. I was a daddy to two kids, one a girl and one a boy.~ "Ro do you know what you have done for me?"

"What did I do now?" That was my mother. She was always overly sarcastic to dad and teased him all the time.

"You made my real wish come true."

"What is that?"

"To be a daddy. But I had to get three things before that well maybe two but either way. I had to get my freedom, I had to become human and finally I had to find someone who I loved enough to have these children with."

"Well I'm always obliged to grant your wishes aren't I?" She said laughing. I never saw my mother that happy before. I guess I missed it because I was just born. My mom handed my dad Kit. ~MY son. No one would ever take him away. MY Kit Marty Smith. Then she took Kit back and handed me MY daughter. No one would ever take her away either. Lei Janet Smith.~ He kissed my forehead before just holding my in his arms. I was so tiny and small. Helpless to anything that could happen to me. I started to cry I was helpless against Ace as well.

"It's going to be alright Lei, it isn't anywhere near your time to die sweetie."

"How do ya know?"

"I have friends up there telling me you have a few years before you pass away." I hugged him.

"Thank you for giving me new strength." Red took a hold of me like my daddy would when I was scared. He rocked me back and forth. He was like what a grandfather should be. Soon I woke up to find my dad in the room. He was holding me like Red was a minute ago. It was a little freaky but I knew I was safe in his arms.

"Daddy?"

"I'm right here sweetie are you okay."

"Yeah better than I have been in a long time."

"I'm so, so, so sorry. I really am Lei. I wished I could have protected you."

"It's okay daddy. I'm okay now. Ace is going to be locked up forever. Don't worry everything is going to be fine." He looked up to me. I smiled for him. I hadn't in such a long time.

~*~

My baby's smile is back. She's back I can see the light in her eyes. The twinkle, the sparkle in her eyes are back. I look at my youngest child Mya sleeping in Marty's arms. He wouldn't leave so he just gave up on arguing with him. He was an arrogant teen. But I still liked him for not leaving and fighting to stay.

"Your friend here wouldn't leave."

"He promised me he wouldn't."

"Well then I guess that heated argument wasn't for nothing."

"Hmm. Sounds like him. He doesn't give up easily."

"Are you glad he doesn't?"

"More like relieved."

Soon after she went back to sleep. The trial was tomorrow. Lei would have to go in front of a court to tell her story. I hoped she could. They found Ace right away and placed him under arrest. They told us that if he was tried that he would be placed as an adult. Since it seemed he knew very well what he was doing.