On with the fic!
As Time Ticks By...
Nadir straightened his tie, as the girl of his dreams opened her car door.
It had been a year since her attack, and after wound infections, painful rehab, counseling she hadn't needed, and quite a bit of fighting, mostly with Erik Bathory, she was allowed to return to school. She had chosen a pair of cargo jeans and a black off the shoulder shirt, the pockets of the pants holding her many identification cards, her housekeys, pens and pencils, and her pepper spray. She held a red tipped cane, tapping it lightly against concrete, as she and her gaurdian marched up the sidewalk, to the opening of her worst hell.
Erik had been patient with her, for the first few weeks after the accident. She had refused to talk, eat, and be touched. It wasn't until she was force fed by Erik that she had been inclined to take muorishment freely. The man was a persistent bastard, she would give him that. When rehab had started, she had flat out refused to wear the shorts and tank tops she would need, other clothing weighing down too heavily for the water excercises.
Erik had eventually taken her in his arms and tossed her in. He knew she couldn't swim, so it was only the shallow end. When she managed to struggle her way up to the surface of the water, he had faced down her wrath, a terrible grin on his face. After all, what threat did a little blind girl pose to a monster like him? He could have killed her so quickly she wouldn't have felt pain.
The other half year, he forced Christine to go to counseling sessions, even thought she wouldn't speak to anybody about what they deemed 'her ordeal'. She spent her time memorizing her way around the house, perfecting her other senses, and strengthening her muscles. She started taking kick-boxing, venting her excess rage on the bag, picturing Chagny, her parents.. anything.
Then there was the trial. Erik had started a suit against the football palyers, thinking they were behind the attack. But when Christine had taken the stand, she had amazed the jury.
She did not remember who attacked her, but she knew it wasn't them. They had roughed her up a little, and left her there, passed out. After all, they had taken Raoul to the hospital, to get his wounds taken care of. After the case was dismissed, the boys had stated their gratitude to Christine, who coldly pointed out that if she hadn't been left there, she wouldn't have been beaten and raped in the first place. And that, unlike them, she didn't punish other people for things that happened by accident.
He said goobye to Erik at the door of Nadir Khan's office, stepping in, only to have the familiar Nadir smell enter her system. He smelled almost like cinnamon, but warmer, if that made any sense. She waved the cane lightly, until it thunked against a chair. She occupied it, after sweeping her hand across it, making sure it was what she thought it was.
"Hello, Mr.Khan. How are you today?"
She could almost hear the bitter regret in his voice as he spoke." I am fine, Christine.Though I should be asking you that question, seeing as the only reason you have been absent was my failure to protect you."
She sighed. It was the cripple guilt again. She had seen enough of it in the past year. Everyong thought that it was their fault she had been blinded and beaten and.. well it wasn't It was Fate being her usual bitchy self.
" Mr.Khan, I am fine,otherwise I doubt Erik Bathory would have let me attend this year. He is a rather strict man. I now have a means of defending myself I assure you. And besides, it isn't your fault I was attacked. After all, Buquet or Moncharmin could have taken me to the nurses or something.So it is their fault, and the fault of the person who did this. But not you. "
He watched those eerily vacant eyes stare at the wall behind him, as her face lit up in a sarcastic grin." Now stop feeling sorry for yourself before I whack you with this stick!" She waved the cane lightly, before dumping her schoolbag on the floor beside her." Do you like the change in wardrobe? Yeah, that was Bathory again. He seems to have burnt all my comfy stuff after the accident, stating that,"If I ever wanted to look attractive, I would have to accessorize. I swear to god , I think I damn near strangled him."
Nadir and Christine made with the small talk, until it came time to give her the class schedule. He handed it to her, only to feel like jumping out a window when she couldn't read it." Uhh, got braille, Mr.Khan? Cause unless the paper starts talking, I am gonna be screwed."
He was glad she had made a joke of the mistake. He asked her if she knew her way to the classes, and when she told him she had come their a week before to memorize the wings, he was startled, but thankful. He was surprised to see that her gaurdian had signed her up for musical talents for first period. He would have to listen in. She went to take her leave, smiling in his general direction.
He looked down at his papers, only to hear a thump. He then noticed, she had shut her hair in the door! Running over and opening it, he pulled her up to her feet, praying that she was alright. He was dazed, as he pulled her into his office, to hear the sound of laughter emanating from the girl.
He brushed the hair from her face, noting that it was much softer then he had ever imagined. He tilted her face up, looking for abrasions or anything of the sort. He noticed the thin trickle of blood running from her lip, smeared across her chin.slightly. She looked so beautiful, eyes of pure white, crimson lips. She was frail and fiesty, beautiful yet cold inside. His hand slipped up the plane of her cheek, into those soft curls.
He moved his face closer to hers, noticing the small scar running over the bridge of her nose. She was flushed now, her vacant eyes staring into his own . It was an oddity, and he thoughtfor a moment that this was justice, brought into the world to end the suffering of the weak. She had not spoken, and as she tried to speak, she felt lips crush against her own.
Nadir new he was being foolish, hoping against hope that he wouldn't frighten her, as he gently brushed against those bloody lips, tasting her. It was delicious, almost sinful. Igniting his own blood, he was surprised to find her submissive, allowing him to slid his tongue against her own. It was a beautiful feeling, until he realized that she was trembling. He withdrew, holding her shoulders lightly as he berated himself. She had been raped, and he was doing nothing to prove that the male race was redeemable.
She was trembling, hoping the kiss would never end. It was pure, erasing all the painful one she had ever received. It was like the first taste of water, after a lifetime of living in the desert. She knew though, that when he pulled away, he would regret doing it. She was disgustingly used after all. Scarred and blind, like a lost little mouse. He had seen her weakness for him, and like so many others, had turned her away.
" Have a nice day, Nadir."
With that, she retreived her things, and made her exit.
Music was fun, she had to admit. The teacher sat in his office, while she and the few others talented enough for independant musical study, played with the school's mediocre, but functional, guitars.Little did she know that one of her fellow classmates was Nadir's son, Reza. He was a rather sickly boy, who had the nicest attitude. She had spoken to him for a few moments, before warming up her guitar.
Reza watched her as she started in on a song.
" Finally recover ,And the mood is right,
Looking up into a neon sky
Child in me takes over
Guess it's been too long.
Since the last time that I tried to fly.
Finally I find when I lose control,
Inside my body crumbles."
She remembered the rush of kickboxing, giving into the need to hurt; to make something else feel what she felt.
"It's like therapy for my broken soul ,
Inside my body crumbles.
All I need's a moment,
Chance to get away
From the stressfulness of every day.
Know if I don't question
And I never doubt,
Everything is gonna be okay."
She remembered her fear that she would go back into foster care, frightened of what people would adopt a blind girl . Lock her up, use her like she had been used her whole life?
"Finally I find when I lose control,
Inside my body crumbles.
It's like therapy For my broken soul.
Inside my body crumbles"
She remembers the words she spoke to the counselor, the only thing she had ever said. It was their last session before she had stopped going.
"It's okay to be myself."
"I don't know if I'll be alright!
I don't know if I'll be alright !
Why do we have to fight!
I don't know if I'll be alright !
I don't know if I'll be alright!
Try to realize I don't know if I'll be alright .
Now I know It's alright!
Finally I find when I lose control,
Inside my body crumbles.
It's like therapy,
For my broken soul .
Inside my body...
Finally I find when I lose control ,
Inside my body crumbles.
It's like therapy for my broken soul.
Inside my body crumbles."
She played the last few riffs, before settling back into her seat. She couldn't see the gaping look Reza had, as he admired her work. Or the look Nadir was casting her, through the glass door of the music room. She took a seat at the piano, and checked it's tuning quickly. She then started in on another song, hoping nobody was paying too close attention to her.
"Moon hangs around.
A blade over my head,
Reminds me what to do before I'm dead.
Night consumes light and all I dread.
Reminds me what to do before I'm dead."
She paused for dramatic effect, smiling when she heard Reza play the beat, letting her sing, and not worry about the playing.
"The sun reclines ,
Eats my mind .
Reminds me what to leave behind .
Light eats night and all I never said.
Reminds me what to do before I'm…
To see you..
To touch you..
To see you ..
To touch you.."
Nadir and Reza marveled at her voice, which encompassed and absorbed them . She drew out the notes, a haunting lullaby seducing the Khan men.
"Epochs fly, reminds me what I hide,
Reminds me,the desert skies
Cracks the spies.
Reminds me what I never tried .
The ocean wide salted red,
Reminds me what to do before I'm…
To see you..
To touch you..
To feel you..
To tell you..
The sun reclines ,
remind me.
The desert skies ,
remind me.
The ocean wide salted red.
Reminds me what to do before I'm…"
Nadir felt like the haunting song was for mourning, and in one brief moment, he was reminded of his beaufitul , dead wife.
"See you ..
Touch you ..
Feel you ..
Tell you..."
Reza let the notes drift off, as the bell rang. Christine gathered up her backpack. She left the room, not noticing Nadir running from the hallway.
The rest of the day went by, a plague of whispers and apoligetic words. She made her way to the parking lot. Leaning against her cane, she waited for Erik. It was always a relief to have someone with her who didn't baby her, Erik being one of them. He treated her the same as always, expecting her to do more, even. She had to clean her room, do her own laundry, cook dinner.
She was stunned from her reverie by a bony hand clasping her wrist. She knew Erik when she felt him. He was in a bad mood, practically throwing her into the passenger seat, before getting in and pealing ut of the parking lot.
Driving down the highway, he was cursing under his breath, the tension in him making Christine uneasy. They pulled into the driveway, Christine getting out and unlocking the door, while Erik slammed the cardoor loud enough to tear it off it's hinges. They entered, Christine dropping her things in her room, while Erik took a seat in the family room.
She knew how this would go, they would argue, then he would feel better. It almost always happened that way. She didn't know what he did during the day, considering he forbid her the information, but it almost always left him pissed off. She changed into a pair of black silk sleeping pants, returning to the family room, and seating herself. She wrapped her arms around her knees, eyes focused on where she thought he was.
" So, what crawled up your ass and died?"
She could almost feel the rage in his tone, as he answered." Maybe what crawled up my ass and died, as you say, is the fact that I am taking care of a useless crippled girl who has no decorum. Or manners, as a matter of fact"
She shrugged her shoulders, not allowing it to effect her. The truth was the truth, after all.
" Well, it could be because your a bastard and nobody likes you. After all, when one is lonely, they take what they can get."
"Really? Is that why you whored yourself out with your principal, my dear? And I thought it was just because you were loose. At least he had the common sense to refuse you, we wouldn't want anything bad to happen to him, after all."
She was frozen to her seat, as Erik's angry bootheels clicked way. She slumped over, lertting the sobs overtake her. Why couldn't people just leave her be? How dare he call her a whore! One moment of comfort, and she was fucked over again!
She ran into the music room, glad that Erik had wandered off. She let the angry tears burn her sensitive, dry eyes.
"I'm over it.
You see I'm falling in the vast abyss.
Clouded by memories of the past ,
At last I see.."
She remembered all the fighting, all the horrible words they slung at each other. But never once had he actually meant them, till then.
"I hear it fading,
I can't speak it,
Or else you will dig my grave.
You feel them finding, always whining .
Take my hand now be alive.
You see I cannot be forsaken,
Because I'm not the only one.
We walk amongst you feeding, raping.
Must we hide from everyone?"
She let the words fall from her lips, tears and rage pouring from her with each syllable.
"I'm over it .
Why can't we be together embrace it?
Sleeping so long taking off the mask At last I see.."
The mask, the one thing she would never see, the horror beneath it. She was almost glad. It had eliminated the tense nature he had about it. Being blind did have a few upsides.
"My fear is fading,
I can't speak it ,
Or else you will dig my grave.
You feel them finding, always whining.
Take my hand now be alive.
You see I cannot be forsaken,
Because I'm not the only one.
We walk amongst you, feeding, raping.
Must we hide from everyone?
Everyone..
Everyone.."
She decided to return to her room, wiping her eyes.
She didn't notice Erik remove himself from the music-room later, a look of absolute horror on his face.
Hope you guys liked it. Read and reveiw.-Krys