Chapter 6: Tormented Soul

Odd watched his friend descend the hill, a yearning to understand clawing his insides. The rest of his friends had their eyes closed, and Yumi, who was somewhat of a big sister figure to the gang, cracked open a slanted ebony Japanese eye.

"Oh, quit staring at her like some lovesick dog and go after her." She said, a little agitated at her friend's behavior. He stood up, brushing the dead grass off of himself. Before sprinting sown the hill, he shot back,

"At least I'm not lovesick over Ulrich!" It was a common joke, even at their young age. The same held true with Jeremie and Aelita, and a very, very small amount for Odd and Zephyr. Odd was running was fast as he could, deviously planning a "glomp attack" until he realized how much that would hurt his would-be victim, especially on the cement. So, he chose the more docile approach of just running up behind her and throwing his arms around her. She let out a small "yeep" when it first happened.

"Odd, what exactly are you doing?" She asked, ducking playfully out of his grasp. She continued her forward walk as Odd fell into step beside her. He smiled and tousled her hair.

"Lookin' out for a friend. I don't know how or why you're being hurt, but I'm going to do everything in my power to stop it." Zephyr bit her bottom lip and studied the sidewalk intensely. They passed under a streetlight in uncomfortable silence, breath freezing in the air, the cold knifepoint stars winking down at them. Zephyr felt an extreme pang of guilt weigh in on her chest. Here he was, accompanying her to her abuse; while he thought he was protecting her from it.

"Odd?" She asked, looking at him, sorrow glazing her eyes. "How long do you plan on walking me home?"

"Until you stop getting beaten up." He replied seriously, then, slipping back to his normal self, "Or until I find the opportunity to play a really, really good prank on you, thus causing your ultimate demise." He grinned devilishly.

"Odd Della Robbia," She warned, narrowing her eyes at him playfully, "You try anything and I'll-"

"You'll what?" He provoked, pushing her so that it knocked her off balance. Amazingly, he pushed the part of her arm that wasn't bruised.

"Okay, that's it!" she yelled at him, playfully chasing after him as he fled wildly away from the pale watchful eye of the streetlight. In and out of the streetlamps' light, jumping, running, fleeing, chasing. Playing. Unwittingly they stopped in front of Zephyr's house, still running in circles. They'd forgotten why they'd started running, and who was chasing who and who had already caught who. Their breath come cold and ragged as they rested, sitting on the sidewalk.

"This is your house?" Odd asked when he'd caught his breath. Zephyr nodded, looking everywhere but at the house. Odd looked quickly and thought he saw a worn curtain shift, but he dismissed it, not wanting to be rude. "Well, until tomorrow, then?" He said, reluctant to say good-bye.

"…I guess." Zephyr was also hesitant, wanting nothing more than to follow Odd back to school, or better yet to keep chasing him as they dodged the circles of light, the artificial light that was not the moon.

"Well…Bye then," He said quietly, turning to walk down the street, back to Kadic. Zephyr suddenly got the same idea Odd had, and rushed him, pouncing, or "glomping" him. Her speed had given her force and she managed to knock him to the ground, his breath knocked out of his lungs.

"Hey! Get off me, you fiend!" He laughed uncontrollably, rolling over on his back when she let him up. She sat next to him while he still lay down, propping his skinny frame up on his elbows.

"Sorry," She smirked, "Couldn't resist." He smiled and, though the impulse startled him, held back the urge to brush a stray lock of crimson hair behind her ear. "I believe that is what some call 'retaliation'?" She grinned as he finally got up when she stood.

"I believe that you owe me an apology," He feigned disdain as he folded his arms across his slightly aching chest.

"Sorry," She hugged him lightly, pulling away before he could return the action. "Thanks. For walking me home, I mean."

"No problem," He smiled, gave a quick, choppy wave, and started back down the street, hands in his pockets, whistling softly. Left alone as he turned a corner, Zephyr sighed as she looked at the house, towering over her now like her father most likely would in a few moments. Swallowing the fear that was ironically climbing bravely up her throat, Zephyr entered the house.

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"Hey, dog, why are you so late?" Her father said in mocking tones, smiling sickly, as if he had vital information with which he could break her.

"I stayed after. With my friends." She stated the complete truth.

"Oh?" Jack smiled again, taking a step toward her, eyes the color of ice glaring into her, laced with hate. "Are your'friends' all boys like the one you were shamelessly flirting with on the sidewalk?" His whiskey-breath wafted to sting her nostrils, singe her eyes, her knees locked and she began to quiver.

"I--I wasn't flirting with him. He's just a friend." He snorted. She took a step back.

"I'm amazed you even have friends. Look at yourself, you worthless waste of blood and flesh." His voice made her "worthless" blood curdle, and she backed up into the open coat closet, sitting down against the supportive edge, shaking too bad to stand. "Who do you think you are, huh?" He leaned over her. "I never gave you permission to be a burden on someone else's life, did I?"

"No, b-but it just kind of-" The almost-teen caught herself. Why was she apologizing to him, her tormentor? It wasn't like it'd make a difference anyway. Her rage was stopped when she discovered that she could escape between Jack's leg and the doorframe. She took the risk

And she was sorry she did. Jack caught her by the hood of her sweatshirt, then held her against the wall, at his height. Her feet were about three feet from the ground. She was numb with purebred fear scampering rampant throughout her veins. He slapped her.

"Don't you run away from me!" He screamed, punching her in the stomach. He grabbed the whiskey bottle he'd set down to grab her and hit her face with that, causing even more shock. Her legs were shaking so clearly that it looked like she was purposely moving them. The bottle shattered, green glass spraying onto the floor. He brought her away from the wall, holding her at arm's length in mid-air. She was utterly at his mercy, something that never showed in his bloodshot eyes. He then slammed her against the wall, once, twice, three times.

The pains shot through her like missiles launched from her spine, wrenching a scream from her body. It was more like a roar as she gritted her teeth but the sound fled through them, bringing satisfaction to her father's eyes. He picked her up again, flinging her to floor. She skidded on the hardwood, and then stopped, breathing heavily.

"If you ever," He almost lost his balance, "Ever tell any of those…those…friends then I'll deal with them myself. Who's more dominant?"

"You," She seethed through still gritted teeth, sitting halfway up, drops of whiskey and shards of glass on her face. The alcohol burned when it entered the small cuts that slashed through her face.

"Good." He spit in her eye, the warm saliva dripping down her face, and he walked away, to once again pass out on the couch. She was left there right inside the front door, panting, gazing up at the ceiling.

"I guess I owe you an apology. I guess I owe all of you an apology."

And she was left with her pain, her guilt, and her fear.

Most of all, Zephyr was left with her heavy breathing in the darkness.