Dani didnt go home after her counselling session. She didnt want to face
her mum and dad, or Josh, who had told her all along that this was a bad idea.
What would they think of her now? Shed stayed in that room for less than
10minutes and she couldnt take anymore. Shed complained to Flynn that her first
session wasnt real enough but this one was just a bit too real. She hadnt
achieved anything, she felt like shed taken a backwards step. She didnt
know what to do or who to turn to...surely her family were sick of the whole Kane
situation. Why couldnt she just let it go? Why was it just not that easy?
Josh interrupted Danis thoughts. Hed gone to the Drop in Centre, expecting
her still to be there but when she wasnt, he looked around and found her at
Miles bench.
"Babe, its ok, dont worry about it."
"Its not ok, you didnt hear what he said to me."
"What did he say?"
"That Id brought the whole thing on myself because of the way I dressed and
how I flirted with him."
"Scum!"
"I dont know what to do anymore."
"I cant believe he said that to you. Doesnt he even know what he done?
Doesnt he even care?"
"Well, it doesnt look like it."
"You know when I saw him, he looked almost exactly as Id imagined. I bet
that he isnt even sorry, Dani. He deserves to be taught a lesson."
"I need to go, Josh. Ive not seen mum and dad yet."
"Oh right, ok...call me."
"Yeah."
Dani left the bench and began to think of what she was going to say to her
parents. They would be disappointed for sure. Kane had disrupted the entire
family and he was still there. All she could tell them was the truth. After a
short walk, Dani arrived at her home. Her mum and dad were sitting worriedly.
"How was it Dani?"
"I'm not going to lie...you were right, it was useless."
"What happened?"
"He basically said that I brought the whole thing on myself, look, I really
dont feel up to talking about it just now."
"Ok, honey, I'm sorry." said her mum.
"No, hang on." said her dad.
"What?"
"Isn't he taking any blame for this at all?"
"No."
"Ive never seen anyone make me as angry as he does."
"Dad..."
"Ive got work to do."
He left the house and Dani left the room. She had things to sort out in her
head and it was going to take time and some peace and quiet.
Meanwhile, Kane sat at the back of the Drop in Centre, away from view from
most. He went over in his head, again, what he and Dani had said to each other
during the session. He knew what had done to Dani was wrong so why couldnt
he just admit it and say sorry and then it would be over with. He needed some
closure, he needed to get on with his life. Ever since the courtcase, his life
had been a mess. Hed transferred schools but became an outsider at his new
one. He soon dropped out and just got a job down on the wharf. He had no
qualifications so what could he do with his life? He was dwelling on the past and
there was no good in doing that, for him or for Dani. Kane had approached the
mediation in the totally wrong way and that was obvious to him now. He shouldve
let Dani speak and have her say then maybe they could have resolved things.
Flynn came out to join him.
"How you holding up?"
"Today was a waste of time, Flynn. It done more bad than good."
"I know. I just called the Sutherlands and Dani doesnt want to talk. Shes
just as down about the whole thing as you are"
"I feel really awful, Flynn. What I did to Dani was uncalled for and I know
that. She flirted, yes, and she kissed me, yes, but she did not deserve to
be...to be raped. Ive no idea how that feels and now Ive just made it worse."
"Maybe if you said all that to Dani then shed be a bit more understanding
and she wouldnt just walk out the room. A few days ago, I had an individual
session with Dani and we talked about how she felt about you. Now I probably
shouldnt be telling you this but I think it can help. She said that when she
sees you or thinks about you, she gets nervous and then scared and then come her
feelings of hatred. Without knowing, she practically made it clear that all
she wants you to do is recognise what you done and be sorry for it. Shes
blaming it all on herself and no doubt so are you. This could be resolved easily if
only yous were willing."
"Man, I dont know. I doubt that Dani would even want to try again."
"This isnt just all about Dani, you know. Yes, she is the victim but a boy
of 19years old does not go around kidnapping or attacking girls for no reason.
I know about your history with your father and brother and all that sort of
stuff but Dani doesnt. Youve got to make her understand and then if she
doesnt hate you so much then you can stop hating yourself. Just think about it,
Kane...it will be worthwhile."
At that, Flynn got up and continued his work in the Drop in Centre. As he
left, someone else approached. He creeped, silently, towards the shadow of Kanes
figure. What he saw was Kane Phillips sitting on the ground with his head in
his hands. Kane had his back to the man, unaware that he was there. The man
looked around, there was no one there. Just him and Kane. The perfect
opportunity. He couldnt risk getting himself too close to Kane in fear that he would
turn around and see him. He grabbed a stone from the ground, it was quite big.
He prepared to throw it...in his mind he counted...one...two...three...and then
he threw! As soon as the stone left his hand, he ran back about three metres
behind the building, then he heard the stone land on the grass. It had missed.
Kane had been alarmed by the stone but presumed it was just some kid mucking
around. He resumed his position and began thinking again.
How could I miss, thought the man. His hands were shaky, maybe thats why. He
wasnt used to doing this sort of thing but it had to be done. Kane couldnt
continue to treat Dani like that. The man thought over how else he could hurt
Kane. Whilst looking around, he spotted a fire log. Perfect! He slowly
approached the log and then picked it up. It was heavy, it could do a lot of damage
if used in the correct way. He walked towards Kane with the log in his
hand...was he really doing this? Yes! He told himself to stay focused and
concentrated, if he mucked up, hed be found out straight away. He was coming so much
closer...he was now so close that he could touch Kane.
Kane could feel someones breath on his back. He assumed that it was Flynn,
coming back to speak to him about the session. He stood up and began to walk
away but before he could get far...BAM! Right on the back of the head. The pain
was unbelievable...what was it? He turned around, preparing to fight back. He
came face to face with his perpetrator and before he got the chance to say
anything....BAM! Another hit, across the face and he was on the floor. His vision
was blurred.
The perpetrator looked at his victim, lying on the ground...weak and
vulnerable. His thoughts turned to Dani, how weak and vulnerable she must have been
when Kane was assaulting her. How she must have felt when there was no one
around to help her fight off this man who was at least two times stronger than her.
Now Kane was just getting a taste of his own medicine. The attacker may not
have been stronger but he definately had the upper hand. Kane was on the floor
in pain with no weapon and he was on his feet with a heavy log in his hands.
The attacker gave the victim one last kick in the face which knocked him out
then ran off, throwing the log far, far away. He had no regrets, Kane had got
what hed deserved.
her mum and dad, or Josh, who had told her all along that this was a bad idea.
What would they think of her now? Shed stayed in that room for less than
10minutes and she couldnt take anymore. Shed complained to Flynn that her first
session wasnt real enough but this one was just a bit too real. She hadnt
achieved anything, she felt like shed taken a backwards step. She didnt
know what to do or who to turn to...surely her family were sick of the whole Kane
situation. Why couldnt she just let it go? Why was it just not that easy?
Josh interrupted Danis thoughts. Hed gone to the Drop in Centre, expecting
her still to be there but when she wasnt, he looked around and found her at
Miles bench.
"Babe, its ok, dont worry about it."
"Its not ok, you didnt hear what he said to me."
"What did he say?"
"That Id brought the whole thing on myself because of the way I dressed and
how I flirted with him."
"Scum!"
"I dont know what to do anymore."
"I cant believe he said that to you. Doesnt he even know what he done?
Doesnt he even care?"
"Well, it doesnt look like it."
"You know when I saw him, he looked almost exactly as Id imagined. I bet
that he isnt even sorry, Dani. He deserves to be taught a lesson."
"I need to go, Josh. Ive not seen mum and dad yet."
"Oh right, ok...call me."
"Yeah."
Dani left the bench and began to think of what she was going to say to her
parents. They would be disappointed for sure. Kane had disrupted the entire
family and he was still there. All she could tell them was the truth. After a
short walk, Dani arrived at her home. Her mum and dad were sitting worriedly.
"How was it Dani?"
"I'm not going to lie...you were right, it was useless."
"What happened?"
"He basically said that I brought the whole thing on myself, look, I really
dont feel up to talking about it just now."
"Ok, honey, I'm sorry." said her mum.
"No, hang on." said her dad.
"What?"
"Isn't he taking any blame for this at all?"
"No."
"Ive never seen anyone make me as angry as he does."
"Dad..."
"Ive got work to do."
He left the house and Dani left the room. She had things to sort out in her
head and it was going to take time and some peace and quiet.
Meanwhile, Kane sat at the back of the Drop in Centre, away from view from
most. He went over in his head, again, what he and Dani had said to each other
during the session. He knew what had done to Dani was wrong so why couldnt
he just admit it and say sorry and then it would be over with. He needed some
closure, he needed to get on with his life. Ever since the courtcase, his life
had been a mess. Hed transferred schools but became an outsider at his new
one. He soon dropped out and just got a job down on the wharf. He had no
qualifications so what could he do with his life? He was dwelling on the past and
there was no good in doing that, for him or for Dani. Kane had approached the
mediation in the totally wrong way and that was obvious to him now. He shouldve
let Dani speak and have her say then maybe they could have resolved things.
Flynn came out to join him.
"How you holding up?"
"Today was a waste of time, Flynn. It done more bad than good."
"I know. I just called the Sutherlands and Dani doesnt want to talk. Shes
just as down about the whole thing as you are"
"I feel really awful, Flynn. What I did to Dani was uncalled for and I know
that. She flirted, yes, and she kissed me, yes, but she did not deserve to
be...to be raped. Ive no idea how that feels and now Ive just made it worse."
"Maybe if you said all that to Dani then shed be a bit more understanding
and she wouldnt just walk out the room. A few days ago, I had an individual
session with Dani and we talked about how she felt about you. Now I probably
shouldnt be telling you this but I think it can help. She said that when she
sees you or thinks about you, she gets nervous and then scared and then come her
feelings of hatred. Without knowing, she practically made it clear that all
she wants you to do is recognise what you done and be sorry for it. Shes
blaming it all on herself and no doubt so are you. This could be resolved easily if
only yous were willing."
"Man, I dont know. I doubt that Dani would even want to try again."
"This isnt just all about Dani, you know. Yes, she is the victim but a boy
of 19years old does not go around kidnapping or attacking girls for no reason.
I know about your history with your father and brother and all that sort of
stuff but Dani doesnt. Youve got to make her understand and then if she
doesnt hate you so much then you can stop hating yourself. Just think about it,
Kane...it will be worthwhile."
At that, Flynn got up and continued his work in the Drop in Centre. As he
left, someone else approached. He creeped, silently, towards the shadow of Kanes
figure. What he saw was Kane Phillips sitting on the ground with his head in
his hands. Kane had his back to the man, unaware that he was there. The man
looked around, there was no one there. Just him and Kane. The perfect
opportunity. He couldnt risk getting himself too close to Kane in fear that he would
turn around and see him. He grabbed a stone from the ground, it was quite big.
He prepared to throw it...in his mind he counted...one...two...three...and then
he threw! As soon as the stone left his hand, he ran back about three metres
behind the building, then he heard the stone land on the grass. It had missed.
Kane had been alarmed by the stone but presumed it was just some kid mucking
around. He resumed his position and began thinking again.
How could I miss, thought the man. His hands were shaky, maybe thats why. He
wasnt used to doing this sort of thing but it had to be done. Kane couldnt
continue to treat Dani like that. The man thought over how else he could hurt
Kane. Whilst looking around, he spotted a fire log. Perfect! He slowly
approached the log and then picked it up. It was heavy, it could do a lot of damage
if used in the correct way. He walked towards Kane with the log in his
hand...was he really doing this? Yes! He told himself to stay focused and
concentrated, if he mucked up, hed be found out straight away. He was coming so much
closer...he was now so close that he could touch Kane.
Kane could feel someones breath on his back. He assumed that it was Flynn,
coming back to speak to him about the session. He stood up and began to walk
away but before he could get far...BAM! Right on the back of the head. The pain
was unbelievable...what was it? He turned around, preparing to fight back. He
came face to face with his perpetrator and before he got the chance to say
anything....BAM! Another hit, across the face and he was on the floor. His vision
was blurred.
The perpetrator looked at his victim, lying on the ground...weak and
vulnerable. His thoughts turned to Dani, how weak and vulnerable she must have been
when Kane was assaulting her. How she must have felt when there was no one
around to help her fight off this man who was at least two times stronger than her.
Now Kane was just getting a taste of his own medicine. The attacker may not
have been stronger but he definately had the upper hand. Kane was on the floor
in pain with no weapon and he was on his feet with a heavy log in his hands.
The attacker gave the victim one last kick in the face which knocked him out
then ran off, throwing the log far, far away. He had no regrets, Kane had got
what hed deserved.