Corruption

Chapter 10: How To Make Things Worse: Part 2

A/N: There, uploaded on time, just as I promised. Yeah, I'm surprised too.

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Summer had come to an end. The final few days of the season had been rather awkward for Karen. She had tried quite a few times to locate Kai and attempt to explain everything to him. Every time that she had located Kai, Rick showed up to interrupt things and cause havoc. It was almost as if Rick had been following Karen around, stalking her.

Karen found herself growing paranoid. Whenever she was walking down the streets by herself, she swore that she could hear footsteps behind her, yet nobody was there when she looked. The problem had grown so bad that she had gone to Officer Harris, asking him to kindly do something on the matter. Harris promised Karen that he would speak with Rick, but couldn't guarantee that anything would happen. Still, the knowledge that someone was looking out for her was comforting.

The first day of fall had been just a regular day. Business was good for the Supermarket, especially with the new fall shipment creating excellent sales numbers for the day. Karen looked up at the clock on the wall beside the counter. Just a few minutes remained before closing time at five. Maybe I'll just close up a few minutes early.

Karen casually walked over to the front door, where she gently turned the lock to the store. The blond haired shopkeeper returned to the counter, reaching for the clipboard resting against the cash register. Everyday, she paused when she picked up the clipboard, remembering watching her father counting stock. The memories were all that she hand of her kind and loving parents that had been taken from her so cruelly. She silently cursed Zack as she approached the nearest shelf.

A loud knock on the front door caused her to lose track of her tally. "We're closed!" Karen shouted out in the direction of the door.

"I know. I just would like to talk to you." It was Kai. Karen put down the clipboard and quickly ran over to the door. She jerked open the door after unlocking it and smiled at Kai. "Can I come in?" Kai asked politely.

Karen stepped aside, ushering Kai inside. She felt herself becoming flustered in Kai's presence, even though all he was doing was just smiling politely to her. "Kai… I… I want to apologize for…"

"No, don't. I should be the one apologizing. I acted like a jerk that night. I know that you and Rick were an item for a long time. It's a hard thing to let go of someone who you love." Kai winced at his own words, as if they spoke true to his own heart. Karen understood what he meant though. She and Rick had known each other since they were little children. That friendship had been something that both of them had treasured deeply. It was such a shame though that it had to end the way that it did.

Karen was snapped out of her daydream by a sudden warmth on her hands. There was Kai, gently holding her hands in his. Kai flashed a quick smile as he gazed into Karen's eyes. "Karen, if I may, I wish to do something that I should have done on the dock."

His face was just inches away from hers, his breath whispering along Karen's neck. Kai released Karen's hands, gently placing them instead on Karen's hips. Karen's eyes closed, anticipating the coming kiss eagerly. Her arms were wrapped around Kai's neck, pulling the sailor closer. Their noses brushed together briefly, their lips hovering just millimeters apart.

The kiss was soft and romantic, lasting for what seemed like forever before Kai pulled himself away from Karen. Kai simply smiled as Karen's eyes fluttered open. "Come with me." Kai whispered.

"What?" Karen asked, shocked by the suddenness of Kai's request.

"I'm heading back to the big city and I want you to come with me."

Karen seated herself on the seed table, staring at Kai. Is he serious? "I don't know…"

Kai's smiled suddenly vanished, turning into a disappointed frown. "Oh, I see. Goodbye then." Kai averted his eyes as he turned towards the door.

"Kai, wait!" It was already too late. Kai's back had been turned to Karen and the bandana wearing sailor walked away from her. Karen stood in the doorway, shouting at Kai to come back. The calls were falling upon death ears.

Karen continued yelling after Kai until well after the sailor vanished into the distance. She gently pushed shut the door, locking it once again. Why she had reacted that way to Kai walking out on her was a mystery to her. She never even liked Kai. He was just… me denying myself. Karen picked up the clipboard, returning to her count. Angrily, Karen slammed the clipboard to the floor as she slumped to her knees. "I turned my back on the only man who truly cared for me."

"That's so kind for you to say Karen."

Karen felt a chill ride up her spine at the sound of the voice. "How did you get in here?" Karen demanded as she turned to face Rick, who stood in the doorway between the supermarket and the house section of the building.

Rick casually made his way over to the main door, making sure that the door was locked. "Oh, me? I let myself in while you were busy sucking face with that disgusting freak. I think that you owe me an apology for cheating on me."

"Look Rick. Get it into your head already! We broke up when you did nothing to help me when Zack was assaulting me!" Karen's voice faltered slightly as she attempted to make distance between herself and the advancing Rick. Karen suddenly darted behind the counter, frantically searching for something, "Where is it!"

"Looking for this?" Rick asked. Karen peeked over the counter to see Rick holding up a long knife. "That's not the way to treat your boyfriend."

"Damn you Rick!" Karen snarled, her eyes locked on Rick, not trusting the look that was on his face.

Rick had now cornered Karen behind the counter. Karen made a last ditch effort to vault over the counter, but Rick grabbed her around the waist violently. Cold steel was pressed up against Karen's neck as Rick pulled Karen back onto the floor. Rick was actually laughing to himself as he placed his free hand against Karen's stomach. Karen found herself freezing up, the déjà vu scaring her into a defenseless mess.

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Jack was pacing back and forth nervously along the dirt path. In one hand, he held a bundle of flowers. Jack kept casting a nervous glance at the barn shaped house, telling himself to just go up there and get it over with. Finally, he gave in to what his brain was telling him. Nervously, he raised a hand to the heavy wood door, knocking ever so lightly. No answer, good, just walk away. Just as Jack began descending the stairs, the door inched open and Popuri poked her head out, "Hello? Oh, hi Jack!"

The farmer quickly jumped to face Popuri. The girl was smiling brightly at him, but remained in the doorway. Jack found himself stammering as he attempted to remember the speech that he had prepared earlier. His mind drew a blank. "These are for you," jack stated simply as he held forth the bouquet.

"Oh, you shouldn't have!" Popuri gingerly reached out to retrieve the gift, making sure not to open the door any further than it already was. Seeing Jack's skeptical look, Popuri laughed nervously. "I would invite you in, but I'm… naked. Sorry if I seem strange to you."

Jack nodded in understanding, "It's alright, I understand. I just wanted to give you those flowers. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Jack." Popuri whispered as she quickly shut the door.

Jack sighed to himself, disappointed that his romantic gesture went for not. He kicked at a loose pebble absent mindedly, watching as the rock bounced along the ground. The rock came to a stop as it struck someone's leg. Jack looked up to see Rick, who looked as if he had just been mauled by a bear. His clothes were torn wildly, he had blood across his face, and his glasses were broken. "What the hell happened to you?" Jack asked, his jaw slightly ajar as he stared at the disheveled poultry raiser.

Rick violently shoved jack aside as he made his way towards the door. Jack was about to warn him about his sister being naked inside but his eyes were drawn to what Rick held in his hand. Rick was clutching onto a patch of dark purple cloth. Jack recognized the fabric nearly instantly. It was the same fabric that Karen's vest was made of. Jack's mind was clouded over as he found himself running towards town in a frantic daze.

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A/N: You have a bad feeling in your gut right now, don't you?