Betrayal
-Chapter 10-
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The first thought that came to Kim as she woke up was of how utterly horrible the world was. She wanted nothing more than to retreat into that unknowing state of sleep, to escape her life and the lingering sting in her cheek from the slap she had received. Despite her best efforts she couldn't, thus she was forced to lay there wide awake in the dark room hidden beneath her stifling heavy blankets.

Kim dully realized something, it would have been shocking if she had any shock left in her: She had no emotions left. She couldn't laugh, or cry. She couldn't remember what it felt like to love or to hate, she was utterly devoid of any emotions at this moment. For the first time the despair, loneliness, and confusion were gone. In they're place was an utterly frank and brutally honest series of thoughts. Mainly these thoughts consisted of remembering the slap and of realizing how right everyone had been; life really wasn't worth living.

These were thought without emotions, they came to her as if they were bland unimpressive facts. Finally she spoke to herself, her tone devoid of any human feeling "I'm done." Whatever that meant se wasn't entirely sure, it could have meant thousands of things, however it also seemed to summed up everything about her. Her She had nothing left, no energy to keep going or any desire to do anything. Whatever had made Kim go, that indefinable source that had made her the hero was gone.

It had taken her years and an unbelievably painful road, but she had finally bowed to defeat and given up. It was that simple, that effective. Kim closed her eyes, detachedly trying to find any semi-balance of emotion left in her but there was none. The slap didn't even evoke any, the memory was still crisp and clear, but she didn't feel any emotions. It was this alone that cemented the fact that she didn't care in her mind.

Quietly she opened her eyes once more as the door to her room creaked open, a small amount of weight being placed on one foot. Then a head appeared, topped with short blond hair and a severe looking face "Oh," the woman said softly "I thought you were still sleeping Kim." The red head in response made an indistinct noise earning her a concerned look from the other woman "You want me to stay?" Kim made another indistinct noise and the woman sighed "I'll be at that teachers meeting at the University if you need me."

Kim remained motionless and Justine let out a sigh full of frustration before she retreated back through the door. Distantly Kim heard the front door to the apartment close a few minutes later, allowing only silence to fill the apartment. Not that it mattered to her, she just didn't care if she alone. All she wanted was for everything to be over, that was all, it was just too hard, too painful. As if her body had made a decision and declined to tell her mind, she cast aside the heavy blanket and slid out of bed.

She paused, spotting her duffle bag near the dresser. Her gaze didn't linger and instead she padded quietly out into the empty apartment and turned, as if on instinct and made her way through the silent and cold place. She crossed the living room without glance, moving directly to the bathroom. Opening the door she flicked the light switch and stepped onto the ice cold tiled floor. Quietly she moved across the small room to the sink where the medicine cabinet hung, ignoring her reflection in her quest.

Once there she rummaged through the cabinet's ordered content, seeking something that was just beyond her consciousness. Then her hand found it, a white and red bottle with a childproof cap. Without thought she popped the lid and paused staring at the round, small white pills contained inside wondering just how many it would take. How long would it take. Would anyone find her in time. Now that she had the pills and understood what her body was suggesting, she decided if she would do this she wouldn't do it in the bathroom.

closing the cabinet she turned and walked out of the room, turning the light off as she moved back toward her dark room. Once inside she hesitated, considering everything carefully. It wouldn't be right to be found in sweats, the small part of her mind that was objecting to the whole decision was asking why she wanted to change clothes if she didn't care about anything else. Kim however ignored this and picked up her duffle bag, then moved to her bed where she sat down and considered both the pills and her bag.

"So this is how it feels," Kim whispered to herself in a hallow tone, realizing for the first time that what she was feeling had to be familiar to one other person. Quietly she sat the bottle on the night stand near the bed and began pulling things out of the duffle bag.

The handsome young man behind the leather bound steering wheel of the white jaguar was very pleased with himself. All of his plans for freedom had come to fruitation without a hitch and now he was working on the details on his plan for revenge. It was to be intricate, to be precise, to be for lack of a better word Perfect. Of course it involved Kim and Ron, those two had been the whole reason he was forced into this situation. His plan, such as it was and of which he was very proud, was both his revenge and his way of making amends to those two.

He really did think highly of them after all and he had been made to hurt them both. This would ease his guilty conscience and make him feel better about what he was going to do. Because the bitch that had ruined his family was going to suffer, he was going to take everything she cared about and he was going to get revenge. Step one was simple, get Kim and Ron back together. Step two was to get her under his thumb. Step three was to ruin her, destroy her reputation, her standing. Step four was even simpler, make her disappear.

He smiled, changing lanes reading the green turnoff sign as it blurred by. He was going to enjoy this, he excelled at revenge and he had been on a very short leash for a very long time. He reached out, turning the radio down as he quietly took the ramp up onto another highway that led into Ypsilanti. Once he had adjusted his speed and his location in the light traffic smiled deciding to get the ball rolling.

Scooping up his cell phone he glanced at it briefly to make sure he pushed the right speed dial number and then placed it against his ear. Hey was already predicting how the conversation would go, he felt a moment of sadness for the bitch she should have never tried to mess with his families business. He smiled, easing back on the speed as the ringing finally stopped "Well hello there Marie," He listened for a moment then laughed "Just wanted to tell you that you should never put all your eggs in one basket."

He listened and shook his head "Yes, I've gotten everything back and interestingly enough I've got bonuses!" Yes, there was the tone of worry that he had expected. Now he'd just ease his way into revealing what he had "Well, all I can say is I think brain surgeon conventions are under rated. I guess what happens there stays there...unless you've got pictures of a certain red headed doctor having an extremely good time."

He nodded, listening to the stammering on the other end before interrupting her "You know, maybe I should let hubby see these pictures. He might be interested in seeing what you were up to while he was taking care of the kids in Middleton." Josh took a moment to check his mirrors and adjust his speed listening to her pleading and threats absently. Shaking his head he cut her off "Be quiet. Now you're going to help me out, several times of course...I got a few friends that would love to have some 'private' check ups."

He laughed openly at her impotent rage, amused at how easy it had been to make her explode. It was absurd, really it was. He held all the cards and she didn't hold anything. Still, it was time he got onto his actually plan "Calm down. Now!" He paused, then satisfied he continued "Now then, like it or not your going to help me. You know what I can do if you don't, so don't make me make the obvious threats. Understand?" He nodded and glanced at the road seeing his was alone, the buildings of his destination a speck in the distance "Just remember that everything that happens to you is your fault. You should have left my family business alone, now then ready to help me out?"

He nodded grinning "Thought you'd feel that way. Just remember, what I said." When he was satisfied that she was beaten, he chuckled "Now then, this is what I want. You're going to get Kim to transfer schools. Put some motherly pressure on her but I want her out of U.S.C. by the start of next semester."

He checked his gas gauge nodding to something then smiled, his voice hard "I don't care if you don't think she'll go. You make her go, you're paying for her education after all. As for where I want her to go, the University of Michigan." He savored the silence that her torment was creating in her. It had to be tearing her apart, all her efforts tossed aside by her own hand, it was delicious. "That's where I want her to go, get used to the idea and she better transfer or else."

He glanced at the radio clock then smiled "I'll see you back in Middleton Mrs. Possible, this was a very entertaining conversation. Later babe." That said he moved the phone from his ear and end the end button, before dropping the phone to the seat beside him. Now that he had that behind him, he was immensely pleased that it had gone exactly as he had pictured it going, he had only one thing to do. A visit to the 'XXX: Strip Club' and he could be on a plane, winging his way back home. Josh couldn't help but start laughing at it all, everybody was a puppet now and he was a puppet master. Life was sweet.

Grumbling slightly to herself, an attractive women with raven black hair and a light chocolate complexion strode down the deserted hallway arms laden with a set of small paper sacks. She hadn't meant to actually volunteer to fix dinner for tonight, it had Just sort of happened. After Ron, she was the only one in the group that could cook halfway decently and since Ron was now estranged it had fallen to her. Unlike Ron, she didn't enjoy cooking. Why cook when you could buy nacho or some other food, or so she was found of saying.

She stopped at a door and adjusting the sacks to hold them awkwardly she fished for the spare key that Justine had given her last night before she had fallen asleep on the couch. "Come on," The woman muttered as the key escaped her grasp "I can't hold this stuff with one hand!" Finally her fingers closed around the cold and forlorn key, before unlocking the door and pushing it open with her hip forgetting about the key.

She paused in the livingroom listening for any sign that Kim was up, finding none she quietly continued into the apartment, heading into the kitchen. She slipped into the kitchen quietly and deposited her bags on the counter, allowing a sigh to escape her. Kim had been so out of it yesterday after the fight, almost as if she had been broken but Monique of course knew that wasn't possible, Kim was too tough for that. Still she was worried and this lack of noise bothered her and before she knew it she was padding down the short hallway to Kim's half-opened door.

Cautiously she peeked into the dark room and blinked seeing Kim sitting on the bed, legs crossed and holding something gently as if it was the most precious thing in the universe. Frowning Monique started to move away from the door when Kim spoke up, her voice low and mournful "He was sorry," Monique stopped and Kim looked over at her, unshed tears in her eyes "He was sorry, Mon and I picked a fight."

Against her common sense Monique slipped into the room and moved to the bed having a seat across the girl Now she could see what she was holding, something made from construction paper. Having taken that in she looked up to lock eyes with Kim her voice soft and searching "About what?"

"He...h-he said he hated me and he called me a selfish-bitch..." Kim whimpered dropping her gaze to the piece of construction paper in front of her. I was covered with a child like scrawl and in the shape of a heart "I made this for him in the second grade, I made fun of him...I can't even remember why, but I was mean to him for no reason. He was my best-friend even then and I made him cry, mom suggested I make him this when I told her how horrible I felt. I was only playing when I was being mean, but Ron didn't know that."

"Kim,"

"Mon, I gave him this the next day and he forgot everything and forgave me. He kissed me on the cheek." Kim let out an emotion filled sigh "I know why he took the picture now, he wanted to... he was trying to show me how much he cared by giving me something so precious to him. He was trying to show me that he really didn't hate me as much as he claimed."

"Oh," Monique mumbled uncomfortable only to wince as Kim, who had seemed on the verge of crying, suddenly grew angry.

"Oh! OH! That's all you can say to the fact that he came her to show me that I wasn't just some worthless bitch that didn't have anybody? That he actually cared about me, despite what he said? That he did that and I picked a fight and hit him!"

"Whoa," Monique said, shocked by the anger in her voice and held her hands out in a peaceful gesture "Calm do-"

"No! I've screwed everything up...my life, his life...my family!" Kim shouted only to stop as she heard a small tear in the construction paper heart. That seemed to calm her and she set the heart on the bed carefully, continuing in a more subdued voice "I was going to kill myself, put an end to-to everything. I've lied to you too, because I slept with Ron and I told him that I loved him..."

"Wh-what? When did you..." Monique asked, her mind in a whirlwind of surprise

"A few days before Josh asked me out again...and before you convinced me to give him another shot. I was so stupid...I had-I'm not even sure what I had, but I gave it up for two years with snake in the grass." Kim paused closing her eyes "I'm going to see Ron again, I don't care what I have to do but I'm going to tell him...everything...how stupid I've been and that he was right about me."

Monique let the silence settle over them, unable to say or think of anything. It was just so much to absorb, Kim and Ron had...she had always suspected something but to have it thrust in her face so blatantly. When she finally spoke her voice was bare of anything she was feeling "I understand Kim. Why don't you lay down and get some sleep while I go start on dinner? It'll take a while, maybe afterwards we can go with Justine to see Ron."

"I-I...what time is it?"

"Nine past twelve." Monique answered as she glanced at her watch then looked up at her friend "You need some sleep, you don't look like you've slept all night." That said she quietly stood up and cleared the bed, being extra careful for Kim's sake with the construction paper heart. Once it was on the night stand and the pill bottle was secure in her pocket, Monique turned back to a still sitting Kim "There we go..."

Nodding the red head laid back in her bed and Monique quietly pulled the blankets up to cover her friend up and kiss her forehead talking softly "Things will be fine, you'll see..." when Kim nodded mutely, Monique kissed Kim's temple and turned walking of the room her face revealing several emotions.

"We don't normally get, that is to say..." the pudgy man with watery eyes said to the well toned young man walking behind him as they headed for a back room to the dark establishment "I don't know if we have any...that is to say, all our dancers are straight."

The boy smirked, glancing sidelong at a girl and a male dancer disappearing into a private room "That's obvious Mr. Nox, but I've got an old friend working here. He'll suit me fine."

"Oh, we don't judge here..." the pudgy man said then stopped blinking "Who's this old friend?"

The boy in question snorted "I'll tell you after you get me to a room." The man nodded and started off once more, till they reached the last room. Obviously the real money made wasn't in the drinks or the dancing, but in the private rooms. Some guys would never come out and most of the women that slinked out of the rooms looked extremely guilty but satisfied. It left little to wonder about what really went on in some of those rooms. It was a nice set up Mr. Nox had, but that was the furthest thing from the young mans mind as he stepped into the small, dimly lit room.

"Here it is, I hope you find it-"

The boy however turned and handed the man cash talking in a clipped annoyed tone "Fine, fine...Just send Ron in."

"Ron? Ronnie?" Mr. Nox squeaked then laughed "I knew he was queer! He never-well lets just say that more than a few women have complained about his lack of interest. Good bartender though..."

"Whatever, just get him." The boy grumbled and the pudgy man nodded, hurrying out of the room closing the door behind him. Once he was alone the boy let out a breath and took in the room more closely, it was smaller than any backroom he had been in before. But the floor was tacky and the air stale with a scent that was better off unknown. He scowled in distaste before he moved to the only chair in the room. It was of the folding variety but it had some padding so as to be mildly comfortable.

He shook his head and cautiously sat down, crossing his arms to stare at the door and wait. He hated this place, he couldn't even imagine how Ron felt about working here. Maybe he enjoyed it, women fawning over him when he did dance. Josh doubted it though, even if Ron was a regular dancer and the girls did like him like that, Ron would never like it here or enjoy it. At least he didn't think the boy would.

Shaking his head he closed his eyes, letting his thoughts wander. They eventually came back to what would happen when Ron came in and saw him, several flashes of deadly violence passed through his mind and then several of reluctant acceptance. He weighed everything up mentally, and decided that the most likely would be a checked deadly rage, which of course meant he would take some convincing to listen to anything.

A minute later the door creaked open and allowing the blond male in question to step into the room, he was taller and had more of a lean muscular look to him. His left wrist was freshly bandaged and there was a shocked expression changing to anger on his face. This anger soon became hate and the blond's jaw muscle clenched while he balled a hand into a white-knuckled fist "Josh."

He smiled in response "Funny the type of people you run into,"

"Give me one reason..."

"Hey, relax. No reason to get violent," Josh reasoned standing as he did so "Besides I'm here to help you out."

"I'm trying to keep from killing you." Ron snarled, eyes narrowed.

"That would be a waste of time for both of us," Josh sighed, mentally wondering how to play this boy as he needed to be played.

"I don't want you're help, Josh." Ron snapped half turning to walk out of the ajar door.

"Wait," Josh said crossing the small room, holding up an envelope "You really should hear me out. This is important, about Kim." Ron hesitated and Josh plunged ahead"It's about keeping her safe." Ron looked back at him and Josh thanked his lucky stars his gamble had worked "There's a snake in the Garden." Ron turned around completely and shut the door behind him, face serious and eyes hard.

AN:

Yes! Kim's mother was the one that has been blackmailing Josh and was the one that made him date her...and she was the one that made him hunt Kim down after she left. Makes you sorta wonder what else I'll pull don't it? XD

As for the line about obvious threats, lets face it every time somebody blackmails someone they make the same threats 'I'll send them to your family, friends, where you work and etc.' Josh didn't feel like bothering with stating obvious threats.

Geor-sama