Kit, Sportacus and Robbie were sitting in the living room trying to figure out who was responsible for drugging Robyn. They didn't know if she'd been taken or had wandered off before being attacked. What confused them the most was why she'd been drugged and dumped after someone had gone to the trouble of concealing her. There was no one that they could pin the crime on. Cain had kidnapped her before but he was dead which took him off the list. The only solution was that someone new had taken an interest and for all they knew they could be allied to Lily. The thoughts of the three men were disrupted sharply by the sound of a scream coming from upstairs.

Catch me as I fall.

Robbie ran upstairs and into her room when he heard Robyn scream. He gently pulled her to him as he sat on the bed. In the state she was in she offered very little resistance. She was scared and crying.Holding her tightly he rocked her as he whispered soothing words in her ear.

Say you're here and it's all over now.

After what seemed like an age she finally began to calm down. It was enough for her sobs to ease but there was still a long way to go. She clung to him like she had done when she was a child. Whatever had happened to her had seriously frightened her. So far she was the only one that knew what it was and he hoped that she'd be able to tell someone about it. The thought of someone hurting his daughter made him angry but he pushed it aside to help her. Whoever had done this would pay.

After the fright she had suffered at finding herself in the arms of her mother Robyn tried to convince herself that the person holding her now was her father. His hands and words were soft. They were what identified him and kept her from falling over the brink of absolute hysteria from her already terrified state.

When Robyn was a lot calmer Robbie carefully pulled back from the hug and looked at her. She was trembling and her eyes were red. Brushing her hair back from her face he kissed her on the forehead. He tried to get her to lie down but she wouldn't. In an effort to get her to comply if only for a little while he sung her lullaby. At first he thought it was working but she continued to resist his efforts to get her to sleep. With no other options he held her again.

"It's ok. I'm here. You're safe." Robbie whispered as he rocked backwards and forwards.

"Am I?" Came a tortured reply.

These two words shocked Robbie. They confused him and he didn't know what answer to give her. He wasn't sure if the answer he wanted to give her would be the answer she wanted or whether he'd be telling the truth. Until he knew what had happened to her and who had been responsible there was no right answer to her question.

Hugging her a little more tightly he replied with a voice broken by emotion, "I don't know."

Speaking to the atmosphere. No one's here and I fall into myself

Sighing quietly Robyn nodded. She knew that no other answer could be afforded her until she told her father what had happened to her. She wanted to tell him but she couldn't. The moment the words left her lips her father would be taken from her. No ears on earth could hear the words she so desperately wanted to say. The Judges would do as they had threatened.

This truth drives me into madness

There was no one she could talk to. No one she could share her nightmare with. People would ask her what had happened but she couldn't tell them. Even if she could lie it wouldn't make any difference. It wouldn't make things better and would be just a lie. If and when Lily chose to attack the truth would come out and she'd lose the trust of her friends and family. If she said nothing the outcome would be the same.

I know I can stop the pain if I will it all away. If I will it all away.

Thoughts entered her mind of trying to make herself forget what had happened but the Watchers would interfere. They would know what she intended to do and a visit from them was inevitable. She would be forced to tell them what she knew but she couldn't risk them betraying her again. Her father's life was too important. There was also a chance that they would choose to take her life as well.

Don't turn away (Don't give in to the pain)

No matter what she chose to do she couldn't let the fear take over. She couldn't think straight and the more scared she appeared the more people would ask her what had transpired making it difficult for her to remain silent. She had to find a way of shaking off the fear. There had to be a way.


Don't try to hide (Though they're screaming your name)

The thought that Lily would come after to continue whatever evil plan she had in her head was what scared Robyn the most. It was more than likely that she would be the target. Her mother wouldn't take Cain's death lightly and revenge would be served. She thought of running away, hiding somewhere her mother would never find her but it would leave her friends and family vulnerable.


Don't close your eyes (God knows what lies behind them)

The dreadful image of her mother's rotting corpse was burned onto her memory. If she closed her eyes she would be able to see it in full detail and she would only be able to escape it if she opened them again, an action which could yet again lead to her reliving her nightmare.


Don't turn out the light (Never sleep never die)

In one last attempt to get Robyn to sleep Robbie leant over to turn off her bedside light but she stopped him. She didn't want to sleep. If she fell asleep the Judges could summon her. They would make her tell them what they wanted to know and if she told them she couldn't risk them betraying her and taking her father's life. Locked in their domain she wouldn't know what was happening and wouldn't be able to plead for his life. There was also a chance that they would choose to take her life as well. It wasn't a risk she was willing to take. She had to stay awake.

Doctor Cole walked into the Rotten house at three in the morning. Kit had begrudgingly called him to ask if there was anything he could give Robyn to get her to sleep. She had absolutely refused to sleep despite numerous pleas from her family and their patience and energy were nigh on spent. They needed rest as well but couldn't rest until Robyn was safely off in the land of nod.

When Doctor Cole walked into her room Robyn knew exactly what was going to happen. She couldn't let it happen. He was going to sedate her so she'd sleep, she'd only be able to wake up when the sedative cleared her system. During that time any number of things could happen and she wouldn't be able to stop them. She'd be at the mercy of any attack made by her mother or the Judges.

Fallen angels at my feet. Whispered voices at my ear.

She watched as Doctor Cole filled a syringe from a vial and came over to her. When her father held her so she couldn't struggle she resisted but it was in vain. Sportacus had assisted him and she couldn't move her arm. She felt the familiar sting of a needle piercing her flesh. As the needle was withdrawn the hold her father and uncle had on her lessened.

Her eyelids began to droop and before she lost the battle to stay awake she heard her father whisper in her ear, "I'm sorry Robyn. I'll be here when you wake up."

Death before my eyes, lying next to me I fear

Trapped in unwanted sleep Robyn's nightmare returned. Lily held her arms and dug sharp fingernails into her soft flesh leaving crescent shaped cuts where they bit down. She could feel blood running down her arm and she cried out.

Hearing her daughter cry out Lily stopped laughing and looked at her. "Silly girl, this is the least I can do to you. Just think what could happen to your father when he goes to sleep. If he's lucky he might never wake up. Poor dead daddy!"

"Don't hurt him. Leave him alone. Take me; I'm the one you want."

"I might just do that but I might need reminding. Pay me a visit when you're next in the area and we can have a little chat."

Robyn opened her eyes and looked around. She was back in her room and her father was sleeping peacefully by her side. Sitting up she looked down at her pillow and saw herself sleeping, she'd found a doorway out of her dream. After making sure that her father was ok she stood up. She could hear Lily calling her from afar. A call only she could hear.

She beckons me, shall I give in?

She didn't know what to do. If she answered her mother's call she could end up walking right into a trap but if she didn't any number of things could happen. She had to find a way to bargain with Lily and convince her to leave him alone. Looking back at him and then at the window she made a decision.

Upon my end shall I begin? Forsaking all I've fallen for I rise to meet the end.

She was going to find her mother.

AN: The song running through the chapter is 'Whisper' by Evanescence.