Chapter Two-Thunder Days

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As a child, Rinoa Caraway had everything a little girl could want. She had nice, new toys to play with, gourmet food to eat, a beautiful home to live in, and two parents that loved her very much. So why was Rinoa sobbing now on the floor of her playroom? Thunder crashed again, and Rinoa's wails increased in volume until Julia came rushing into the room to comfort her only child.

"Shhh, darling, shhh. What's wrong?"

"The thunder is scary," a tearful Rinoa answered.

"Oh, honey, the thunder isn't scary, it makes lightning and lightning is beautiful!" Julia corrected her daughter.

Julia took her daughter's hand and led her over to the huge castle-like window at the end of the hallway. There, she pointed out all the pretty designs that the lightning made. Little Rinoa stared in awe until her mother notice what time it was.

"Oh dear! Rinoa, it's way past your bedtime!" So Julia once again led her daughter down the hallway and tucked her into bed.

General Jake Caraway arrived home at three o'clock in the morning. Everything was dark. Oh so quietly, he shut the door behind him, thinking no one was awake.

"Where have you been?" Julia demanded from the shadows.

Jake was a military man; he had been specially trained to lie without showing any of the signs. "Out," he said calmly.

"Oh. You were 'out,'" Julia said sarcastically, "Why didn't I guess?"

Jake's temper flared. he stepped forward and slapped her. "Don't talk to me like that ever again," he ordered.

All Julia could do was nod; a bruise slowly formed on her pale cheek.

"Good. Now I am going to bed." Rinoa's father removed a manila folder from inside his coat and shut it loudly into the safe in his closet.

Time and time again he had reminded both Rinoa and Julia never to go near it. Once, Rinoa had asked him what was in it.

"Nothing you need to know," General Caraway had snapped angrily. Rinoa never dared to ask again.

Thunder crashed again, and Julia went to check on Rinoa. As she walked down the hallway, tears flowed from her eyes and left a trail on the carpet.

Little Rinoa heard her mother coming and quickly jumped into bed and pretended to be asleep, wondering why her father would hit her mother.