Chapter Three-Untitled

"Now, we'll be gone until at least two a.m. Kori. And the butler, cook, chauffer, and gardener have gone home for the evening, so you'll be alone. There's plenty of food, and it's quite all right if your friends come over. Have a party if you want, as long as there's no one leaves drunk. Honestly, you're sixteen…" Mrs. Anders's voice trailed off.

"There will be no parties unless Kori wants to clean them up," Mr. Anders interjected, walking up behind his wife and daughter. "Good night, Kori," he added, kissing the top of his daughter's head.

"Good night, Daddy," she said. "And there won't be any parties, don't worry."

"You're a good girl, Kori. I trust you. Now, Margaret, Peter and Mary-Jane are going to be insulted of we're not on time…"

"Yes, of course," Mrs. Anders agreed. "Bye Kori, dear. I love you."

"I love you too, Mom. Bye."

The Anders' swept out of the front door, Mrs. Anders's high heeled shoes clicking against the marble foyer.

Kori smiled at her parents; it was nice to know that they were still in love. She remembered how Karen had felt when her parents had gotten divorced and was grateful she never had to worry about it.

Kori walked into the kitchen, bare feet padding quietly against the thick cream-colored carpet that covered the floor of the Anders' enormous home. She strolled over to the industrial-sized fridge and found a can of soda. Still smiling about how happy her parents were, she fixed herself a large bowl of buttered popcorn.

Taking her small feast into the living room, she curled up on the white leather couch and turned on the TV.

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At around eleven that night, Richard trudged wearily up the two flights of marble stairs until he reached his room. He, Gar, and Vic had eaten between them three pizzas, seen a horror movie while consuming more junk food, and gone bowling, where Gar had bought ice cream and insisted they all eat it. Falling onto his bed, he curled up, exhausted and stuffed.

He had drifted off to sleep when he had a dream. Kori…Kori was crying, shaking, shivering, and needing him.

Richard sat up, suddenly wide awake. He shook his head, trying to clear all remnants of his nightmare from his mind.

'Calm down,' he ordered himself. 'She's gotta be safe, there are four employees of her parents there, they would never let anything happen to her.'

This was true; Kori was a sweetheart and everyone loved her.

With a sinking heart, Richard remembered the Anders' had gone out for the evening. With a new feeling of panic, he recalled that the employees always went home when the Anders' went home.

'I'll call her, just to see if she's OK. It's the perfect solution.'

With a slightly trembling hand, he plunged his hand into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a slim sliver cell phone.

Kori's cell phone rang to the tune of 'Check On It" by Beyoncé. Four rings later, she hadn't answered. Richard frowned deeply and tried her private line. There were still no answers.

"I hope I'm just being paranoid," he muttered to himself, rolling off of his squashy

double bed.

He pulled on his black leather jacket, took his keys from the nightstand and practically flew down the two flights of marble stairs.

Racing to Bruce's vast garage full of expensive cars, he threw himself into his silver convertible.

Struggling to maintain calm, Richard sped across town to Kori's. Not caring where he parked, he got out as soon as he was close.

He ran up the walk, hopping over huge potted plants and ornamental turtles.

He knocked furiously at the huge oak door, but to no avail.

'No matter,' he thought. 'The spare key is right here.'

He kneeled, stuck his hand under the doormat, and came up with the spare key.

"Kori?" he called gently as he entered the house. "Kori, sweetheart, where are you?"

There was still no reply.

'Oh, God, please, she's gotta be OK.'

He hastily climbed the staircase. "Kori?" he called again.

Richard noticed the light in her room was off. 'She's asleep, you idiot,' he scolded himself. 'I'll just make sure she's fine and go home.'

He pushed the door open, a quiet creak emitting from its hinges. Richard distinctly heard a small whimper from Kori's bed.

"Kori?"

Another whimper.

"Kori, it's me, sweetie," Richard said softly. He walked over to her canopied bed, perching on the edge of it. She turned away, the covers shifting and revealing a large portion of her bare back.

"Kor? Are you wearing clothes?"

She shook her head furiously. "Please go away," she squeaked.

"Sorry. Bye." He leaned down and kissed her cheek tenderly. Richard couldn't help but notice she shuddered at his touch.

He was to the door when-

"Richard?"

Richard turned around. "Yes?" he grunted, harsher than he'd meant to.

"D-Don't leave," she pleaded.

"You're not wearing any clothes," he said finally. "I don't want to stay here when it's obvious you've been with someone else."

"Please?" Kori's trembling voice begged. "I need you."

Richard's expression softened. He realized she did indeed him right now. "What drawer are your pajamas in?" he asked gently.

"T-Third," she spluttered.

Richard strode over to the large dresser that was painted lavender, similar to everything else in her room. Pulling open the third dresser, he dug through until he found a pair of lilac silk pajamas.

"Here, Kor," he said, laying them next to her. "Tell me when I can come back in."

And with that, he quietly left his girlfriend's bedroom.

"You may come in now," she called quietly a minute later.

He did so. Richard noticed she looked shaken, as if she too had had a nightmare.

"What's wrong?" Richard asked, taking her gently into his arms. Kori still shuddered involuntarily as his hands made gentle contact with her soft, silky skin.

"R-Roy," said, burying her face into her muscular chest.

"Was he here?" Richard asked suspiciously.

Kori nodded. Richard tightened his hold on her, yet again inhaling her strawberry-scented locks.

"Did he touch you?"

Kori sniffled loudly, and then nodded.

"Oh, Kori," Richard breathed. He held her more tightly still, hating Roy Harper with every fiber of his being.

Greetings, me faithful reviewers! It was a more serious chapter, I think. I know it was mostly narrative, but I put description in where I could. I'll say RobxStar4eva and falyn anjel were the closest, so cookies to them.

Love,

Queenie