AN: Thanks so much for the reviews, you guys! Hopefully I haven't kept you in suspense for too long…okay, okay, I know! It was too long! Don't hate me! This chapter contains an extremely graphic flashback that is slightly more disturbing than chapter one. I'll say from the start that if this chapter were a scene in a movie, it would make the movie R. If you don't think you can handle it, skip over the italic font; the story will still make sense. I promise before you even start reading it that I haven't gone psycho on you; I've done research on cult/religious abuse, and I won't shy away from what unfortunately happens. Like I said, I made sure the story would be understandable with or without reading the flashback.

Please review!

"Guilty."

Mary and Casey hugged, Casey unable to hold back her tears, for the first time, heard nothing past the verdict. She snapped out of it when she heard shouting.

"Mary! God is never going to forgive you for this!" Adam shouted at his daughter, the court officers dragging him away.

"Let's go," Elliot said, motioning for them to get outside. He put an arm around Mary, guiding her out, walking at a fast pace, praying that she wasn't listening to her father's shouts.

Once Elliot and Casey had ensured that Mary was out of her father's shouting range, the group hugs started, Elizabeth and Mary in the center, being the first to hug.

"Well, Mare," Elizabeth joked, "You better love us, cause you're stuck."

"I've got no issues with that. None whatsoever."

Laura walked up to the group, smiling.

"I'm assuming no one heard past guilty…but they were sentenced to life. Without parole." Laura's eyes shone as she laid a reassuring hand on Mary's shoulder, "It's over, Mary. Well, I have to go. Casey, call me. We should go out for coffee sometime soon."

"I will." Casey said, smiling, then holding her daughter in a tight embrace, "It's over, Mary. It's going to be better from now on."

Mary Constantine Johnson had never in her life cried from joy. She'd never had a reason to. But God was giving her another chance; a new start at life.

She didn't cry from joy.

She flat-out sobbed.

"So, Mary," Doctor Elizabeth Olivet said, smiling and closing her office door, "How are you feeling today?"

"Do you want that in one or multiple emotions?" Mary smiled.

It was her first therapy session, and she had no idea how to handle it.

"Well, are you nervous about these sessions?"

"A little."

"I appreciate your honesty," Dr. Olivet said, "I want this to be easy for you. You can call me either Doctor Olivet or Elizabeth, your choice. Try not to be nervous, we're just talking. Okay?"

"Okay."

Mary forced herself to relax. Elliot hates shrinks…even he thinks she's okay …relax…relax.

"So, how was school today?"

"Oh, great! I have tons of homework, but it's better then home schooling."

"What didn't you like about home schooling?"

Mary sighed, remembering. The past is behind me…now there's just the memories to tear me apart.

"My parents were slave drivers, they expected perfection, it was straight work, it's not like I could have turned around and talked to any friends. Then again, I didn't have friends."

Elizabeth Olivet felt her heart break for the first time since she'd started the job. She'd seen pain, neglect and acts of human evil. This one took the cake. It was then that she noticed the flash of red on Mary's lower arm, only noticeable because Mary's sweater sleeve had pulled up.

"What is that?" She gasped.

"Nothing," Mary said fearfully, memories haunting her, "It's nothing!"

Elizabeth gently pushed up Mary's sleeve.

Revealing red cuts up to her elbow.

"Mary, have you been cutting yourself?"

Mary tried to back away, fear evident in her eyes.

"No, no!"

The one memory she had always locked out of her mind made an unwelcome return…

Mary stood in front of the bathroom mirror, eleven years old, tears in her eyes, razor in hand. Her parents' hateful words rang in her ears, the bruises from the last beating running down her legs. It hurt so much inside, and the pain on the outside wasn't doing anything.

She pressed the razor above her wrist, welcoming the pain; leaping into it. The pain was slipping out with the blood.

And then the blood had started gushing. Too much of it.

"Mary, what's taking you so long?" Her father shouted, walking into the bathroom, then noticing her wrists.

"Well, aren't we feeling rebellious?" He sneered, "I should just let you die from this, you stupid slut. It's a sin, you know. Tell me you want to live!"

"I don't…I don't! I don't want to be here!" She sobbed.

Her father picked up the razor, cutting her deeper. She screamed out in pain. Nothing had hurt this much. Ever. She fell limp, too weak to move.

"Tell me you want to live!"

The last think she remembered before she blacked out was crying out that she wanted to live.

"Mary, it's okay. I just want to help you. Do you cut yourself?"

"…Yes!" She said, sobbing. "I didn't want to do it! I thought it was the only way out!'

"The only way out from what, sweetheart?"

Dr. Olivet walked out of her office, surprised to see Elliot.

"Elliot. Where's Casey?"

"She had to go to trial prep, I was off from work early, miraculously, so she asked me to come pick Mary up. So, um, where's Mary?"

"You're never going to believe what she told me," Dr. Olivet said, "She asked me to tell you for her, so I'm not breaking confidentiality. You're going to have to keep an eye on her."

"What, what did she tell you?"

"She cuts herself. And she also blocked out some memories. That were…worse then what is already on file."

"What could possibly be worse? How much more hell is it possible for her to have gone through? Wait…did you just say she's cutting herself?" Elliot said

"A lot more could be worse, and yes. She's cutting herself." Elizabeth said, her eyes flashing, "Sit down. And when I'm done telling you, you're going to have to take her to the hospital to make sure the cuts aren't infected."

"Oh my God." Elliot said, "What happened?"

Mary gasped out in pain as a nurse applied disinfectant to the cuts, and Elliot squeezed her other hand.

"Sweetheart, take a deep breath, close your eyes." He said, "Picture yourself somewhere else. You're not here. Relax. Relax. Count to ten and it's all going to be over."

The nurse gently finished wrapping the cuts in gauze, and patted Mary's hand, then walked out of the room.

"There. It's over, Mary." Elliot said, helping the teenager up off the bedside. "Come on, honey. You can hang out with Elizabeth until your mom gets home."

"Elliot," She said quietly, "Are you mad at me?"

"No, Mary." Elliot said softly, "I'm not mad at you."

"Promise?" She asked tearfully.

"Mary, I promise you. I am not mad at you. I can't say I understand what you're going through, because I can't even start to comprehend it. But I do want you to make me a promise, okay? Promise me that you won't cut yourselfagain. Promise me that you'll talk to someone."

"I promise," Se said tearfully, falling into his arms.

Last time she had cut herself, for her life in genral,there had been someone to haunt her.

This time, and forever, there would be someone to catch her; someone would always have her back.

She was sure of it.

There was still darkness that she would have to get through; fears that had to be fought; a road full of emotions; a world that had haunted her for her whole life.

But with anything that dark, there's always something justas light.

Please review, you guys! I'm still not done this story, and the more I hear your response, the more I want to write! Hope to hear from y'all! Adios until next time!

Faith