Chapter 12: Hidden Pain

A few weeks later, things became quiet, maybe a little too quiet. Even for Selena's liking, she knew that something was going to happen. Which will bring back the memories Selena's been trying to harbor during the past two years.

Selena was lying in bed in her quarters at the base trying to fall asleep, but she was suddenly struck with fear. The same kind of fear she had felt two years ago.

(Flashback)

Selena was home alone looking over her data from her lab. She suddenly had a cold chill run down her spine, she shivered slightly and gasped when she felt a dagger press against her throat. "If you cooperate, I won't hurt you," Pallaton threatened. Selena bit her lip as she reached up to grab his arm and pry the knife loose from his grip. She elbowed him in the side and got up from the sofa.

"Stay away from me, Pallaton," she snapped.

Pallaton picked up his dagger and held it out to her. "You sit there and lead me on all day everyday during the past three years. I think its time you get what you deserve," he snapped. Selena bit her lip as she tried to do a swing kick to knock his dagger from his hand again, but Pallaton grabbed Selena's leg. He twisted her leg making the girl fall to the floor in pain. "Now to teach you a lesson," he snapped.

"NO!" Selena screamed.

She kicked him in the stomach and rolled away from him to try to escape when he grabbed her hair throwing her back on the floor. He finally had her pinned and an evil grin came across his face. "Pallaton, please don't do this. Please! You're not a bad person," she insisted.

"I still won't be if you just stop struggling," he answered.

Selena tried to fight him off again when she felt the dagger scrape her side. "Next time it'll go through your heart," he threatened. She felt the tears fall down her face as she submitted to him. Pallaton had taken something so precious that she had hoped to give to her future husband, but he took it away from her horribly and painfully.

Once Pallaton was gone, Selena puled on her clothes, curled up in a ball, and cried endlessly. Only to have her mother, brother, and sister find her. Only Ashley figured out what happened, because not only did her daughter have bruises, but Pallaton had left the dagger behind.

(End Flashback)

That same fear had returned to Selena as she lied there. "Selena…Selena…Selena," a voice whispered. Selena gulped and she let out a shriek when she felt a hand clamp over her mouth. She looked up and into a pair of familiar red eyes. Dorjan glared at Selena. "Listen to me, Selena, daughter of Andros. I want your father returned to me immediately," he hissed. Selena bit his hand and jumped out of bed.

"You won't get him," she hissed.

"If you don't get him, I'll make sure to have the same nightmare happen to you again."

Selena felt her heart stop, but she shook her head. "I won't betray my father. You can't control him anymore. You can't beat us," she answered.

"We'll see about that," he snapped.

Selena fell to the floor after Dorjan disappeared and the tears fell down her face. She placed her hand over her face and sobs wracked her body as she cried out all the fear and pain that she had endured. The pain that still wouldn't let her go.

The next day, Artemis couldn't get Selena to talk, all she did was work as hard as she could to try to find Dorjan. They only knew that one person that would get through to the now very silent Yellow Astro Ranger.

Selena was working in her lab when the door opened. "Selena?" Ashley called. Selena didn't answer. Ashley walked over and placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Sweetheart?" She murmured. Selena bit her lip as she looked at her mother. "What's the matter?" She asked. Selena sat down and looked at Ashley.

"Mom, dad's in danger," Selena replied.

""Yes, I know."

Selena started to shake. "He put the memories of what Pallaton done to me in my head. I couldn't stop thinking about it. He threatened me that if dad isn't return to him that it'll happen again," she babbled. Ashley stroked her daughter's face.

"Honey, nothing will happen to you, your father, brother, and I won't let it happen. Not only that, we won't let anything happen to your father," Ashley assured her.

Tears fell down Selena's face. "Why did it have to be me, mom? Why did I have to be the one to be attacked? Does daddy know about Layla?" She asked. Ashley shook her head slowly.

"Not yet, sweetie. I think it's something you have to tell him yourself," Ashley replied.

Selena bit her lip and nodded her head. She suddenly felt a tug on her space jacket. "Mommy," a little voice whimpered. Selena looked down and picked her daughter up. She had the young girl sitting in her lap. Ashley stroked the you girl's face and looked at Selena.

"Could you send dad over here?" She asked.

Ashley nodded and kissed her daughter's cheek. "Mom, wait…was it true with what happened to you before Andreas was born?" She asked. Ashley bit her lip as she remembered the day that she was also raped.

(Flashback)

Laura left the shop and Ashley got up from her desk and went out to the front to check on her orders that came in that day. She suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. She looked over her shoulder to see Todd standing there. "What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Came to get what I want," he replied.

Ashley got in a fighting stance, ready to take him on. However, her eyes widened when four other men came in. "Ricky, John, Terry, and Michael? What are you doing?" She asked.

"Heard you weren't giving Todd the welcome he deserves," Ricky replied.

"What? Am I supposed to give myself to him even though I'm married and trying to have a family?" She demanded.

"Exactly," Michael replied.

"You five are disgusting. You're the same as you were in high school," she hissed.

"Well, if you just listen to me now, there won't be any trouble," Todd stated.

"I'm married, Todd. I'm supposed to love, honor, and cherish him. Not commit a sin by sleeping with someone else," Ashley insisted.

"Well, too bad, you're going to," Todd answered.

Ashley backed up and she struck out, hitting Terry in the face. She did a side kick, hitting John in the chest. She did a jump front kick nailing Ricky in the chin. She screamed when Michael grabbed her around her waist. "LET ME GO!" She screamed. Ashley elbowed Michael in the side, making Michael let her go. She went to run for the door, but then all four of them grabbed her. "LET ME GO! LET GO OF ME! SOMEBODY HELP ME!" She screamed.

"She's all yours, Todd," Terry commented.

"Put her in there," Todd instructed.

"NO!" Ashley shouted.

She struggled against them as they put her in her office. "Keep watch," Todd instructed.

"You got it," Michael answered.

Ashley backed up against the wall with tears welling up in her eyes. "Please, Todd, I'm begging you not to do this," she insisted.

"And I told you that I'll get what I want the next time I see you," he answered.

He went at her and Ashley struck out with her nails, dragging them down his left cheek, and drew blood. He hissed in pain and he punched her. Ashley tried to run, but he grabbed her arm. There was no escape, she was trapped. "ANDROS!" Her mind screamed. Then darkness claimed her when Todd threw her up against the wall.

(End Flashback)

Ashley sighed and nodded her head. "Yes, it's true. I was raped by my old high school boyfriend. I broke up with him right before I met your father. I found out I was pregnant with your brother and I didn't know whether he was your father's or the rapist's," she explained. Selena bit her lip and looked down at her sleeping daughter.

"But I know who my daughter's father is," Selena whispered.

Ashley kissed her daughter's forehead. "I'll send your father right in," Ashley informed. Selena nodded hear head and watched her leave. She kissed the top of her daughter's head with a sigh.