Ingrid had obviously said something to her parents because they questioned her thoroughly over dinner. The terrified Kel answered as best she could, with a tale about falling out of trees and walking into a wall. Whilst Conal glared menacingly at her from across the table. Once dinner was finished she scurried upstairs to bed and laid awake late into the night, fretting over what he would do to her the next day.
She tried to have breakfast late so as to avoid him, but it was to no avail, for he was waiting for her as soon as she left the kitchens to go and visit her pony. He cornered her and clapping his hand over her mouth, he picked her up and carried her up the tower. She struggled helplessly but he carried her as easily as if she were a rag doll. When they reached the top he kicked the door shut behind them and dumped Kel on the floor, he turned and bolted the door shut. Kel began to tremble, she felt like a cornered animal, with no visible means of escape. The door down to safety was blocked by the menacing figure of her brother. And the only other door, led out onto the balcony.
'Conal, please..' Kel whimpered as he advanced towards her. 'Let me go.'
'And why should I do that? You told them, you little wimp. Its time you learnt the lesson, never grass anyone up.'
'I didn't,' protested Kel, 'It must have been Ingrid.'
'Shut up.' He said kicking at her hunched up form, quivering on the floor. Kel shut her eyes feeling the blows rain down on her. Pain flooded her brain as Conal kicked her back and neck, bruising nerves. He picked her up and threw her against the wall nearest the door leading out to the balcony. She felt several ribs crack on impact and her collarbone crushed. He dragged her feet and punched her straight in the face. Her nose instantly broke and blood stained her shirt. She kept silent through all of this hoping he would eventually get bored and leave her alone, but unfortunately her silence infuriated Conal even more. He twisted her wrist, causing the bones to break and he kicked her to her feet. Kel tried to escape by running through the door out onto the balcony. Tears mixed with blood, ran down her cheeks as she tried in vain to barricade herself on the balcony, but her injured wrist and broken ribs meant that Conal managed to shove the door open sending Kel sprawling on the floor. Conal was really mad now, he picked her up easily and holding her by her ankles, dangled her over the balcony railings. Kel looked down at the immense distance between her and the ground, and a new fear flooded her, she no longer cared about the pain, she couldn't move in her terror and everything went black.