This is it the final chapter. I want to thank everyone who read and reviewed this story. I really appreciate it. Well, here it is chapter 8….
Chapter 8: The Power of Love
Kori and Richard broke from there kiss. "Kori," Karen called form the doorway. Kori looked past Richard at Karen's worried face. "Roy's at the door."
Raven ran down the blocks. It was almost pitch black by now and she wasn't very close to home. She wiped the tears from her eyes and as she turned down her block and rushed into her apartment.
Raven ran into the kitchen, she knew what she want to do. She opened a wooden cabinet above the sink and grabbed a wine glass. Lifting it high over her head she then slammed it down onto the marble counter top. Glass shattered all over the floor.
Picking up a large piece of glass Raven ran into her bedroom…
ready to end it all.
Garfield raced down the street following Raven down the darkened streets. He saw her figure gracefully run past a dimming street lamp and he made a sharp right turn.
Running down a block full of huge apartment buildings Garfield searched for wherever Raven had went.
'I know Raven well enough; she's not a very stable person. She's had a rough life I'm sure of it.'
Hearing the sound of a slamming door Garfield turned around quick enough to see Raven rush into her apartment.
Running up to the door Garfield was relieved to find it unlocked. He opened the door just in time to hear the sound of shattered glass.
Kori looked up at Richard concern in her eyes. "Richard," she whispered with fear, "if he finds out, he'll he'll" Kori trailed off. Richard looked Kori in the eyes and his widened. Blood boiling he asked, "did he hurt you?" Kori looked down ashamed, "only once."
"Wait in the Kitchen please Richard, I would like to speak to Roy alone."
Kori walked up to the door of Karen and Victor's house and saw Roy leaning casually on the door frame. "Hey babe, I decided to be generous and take you back."
Kori looked at the ground, "Roy, we need to talk in the living room."
Richard watched from the kitchen, anger rising. 'How could she let him treat her this way?'
Raven stood over her bed with the sharp piece of glimmering glass to her wrist. 'One cut the wrong way and it will all be over," she though trying to reassure herself that she was doing what was best for her. "No one loves me and I should die."
Raven closed her eyes and exhaled. 'First to just relieve some of this pain, maybe just one or two quick cuts, before the finale.'
Raven dug the glass lightly into her skin in a way only experience could teach. She sigh as her body began to numb. She had cut almost all through high school. She stopped though and now it was like she was back at square one and all those years 'cut-less' didn't matter.
Finally, Raven sigh, she was ready to make the pain go away. "I've loved and lost too many times, I can't live through this again.'
Raven looked down at the glass only inches away from her now bloody wrist. The blood dripped off the sides of her wrist and blended into her black sheets on her mattress.
Only centimeters away now, Raven looked out the window into the dark star-filled sky. Tears streamed down her cheeks and mixed with the blood stains on her bed.
The glass began to pierce her skin, as the first drop of blood appeared on her wrists; Raven was jarred from her dreamy state…
"RAVEN NO!" "Don't please don't!"
Garfield walked into Raven's apartment and ran into the kitchen. Glass lay shattered on the ground. He sigh of relieve that there was no blood, but there was no Raven.
He walked out of the kitchen and looked around. Kori's jewelry lay strewn across the couch and the dining room table. On the coffee table Raven's books lay open or piled off to the side. Two sealed, unopened packs of cigarettes lay on the table next to her books.
Garfield quickly and fiercely grabbed the packs and threw them harshly into the trash bin.
He then headed into the hallway towards the bedrooms.
The bathroom and Kori's light blue and pale pink bedroom were both empty. Then he came to Raven's bedroom at the end of the hall.
It was silent and the door was open just a crack. Garfield quickly reached for the handle and pulled the door open with such force that he thought it might come off its hinges. He saw Raven sitting on the floor leaning against her bed. Blood was all over her wrist and on her hardwood floor.
Knowing what she was going to do next Garfield didn't hesitate to do anything in his power to stop her and tell her she was wrong, that she was loved…
By Kori and…by him.
"RAVEN NO!" "Don't please don't!"
Kori lead Roy into the family room and stood by the window. She looked out the window, closed her eyes and exhaled. She then turned around and faced Roy.
"Roy I…I can't b-be be with you, I am…sor-sorry." Kori stuttered scared of what he might do. Roy faced reddened with anger.
Kori backed away with fear and accidentally slammed her head into the window. "WHAT!" Roy walked up to Kori and clenched her jaw within his hand. He turned her face up to his. Fire blazed in his eyes. "What. Did. You. Say" Roy said through clenched teeth.
"Roy I-" 'SLAP' Roy slammed his free hand across her face throwing her to the floor.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!"
Raven didn't turn around, only froze in place glass resting against her this frail wrist.
Garfield ran up to her ripping the glass form her hand and throwing it across the floor.
He gripped both her arms tightly pressing them to the sides of her hips, pulling her down fully to the floor.
Raven remained frozen on the ground leaning against Garfield's chest. Eyes wide-unblinking. Garfield grabbed the blanket off the bed and used it to wrap around Raven's wrist to stop the bleeding.
Garfield slid his hands down to entangle in Raven's, "don't" he whispered lightly into her ear. Raven remained frozen her head resting on Garfield's strong chest. She closed her eyes and silently exhaled.
"I-I" was all she could muster. Garfield sigh with relief. Her tucked Raven's hair behind her ear and wrapped his arms around her.
"Raven, I-I-" at a loss for words Garfield slowly turned Raven's head up to face him and lifted her chin. Slowly he closed his eyes and carefully and gently captured her lips. Raven didn't hesitate before falling deeply into the kiss and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Raven I, I don't know when it happened, or how but I'm sure glad it did. I fell in love with you."
"Garfield, I'm in love with you." She whispered in a breathy voice before falling into yet another glorious kiss.
Kori lay on the floor silent tears falling from her face. Roy turned around and came face to face with Richard.
Richard rushed over to Kori bending down to lift her face up. He wiped her tears and helped her up. "Kori, are you okay?" All Kori could do was nod. "Go find Karen and Victor upstairs. Okay?" Kori nodded and headed for the door.
Roy ran up and grabbed her arm throwing her into a wall. He loomed over her and she whimpered in fear. "You're staying right here, baby." He spat with malice in his voice.
Richard gripped his shoulder and turned him quickly around. Kori took this opportunity to run out of the room and dash up the stairs.
Richard threw a punch directly at Roy's nose hearing the sickening cracking sound. Blood dripped from his nose, over his mouth and raced to the floor. His vision blurry from the impact he threw punches at Richard from every direction. Richard avoided each one with ease.
Suddenly Roy took a glass off the coffee table and threw in at Richard causing a shard of glass to pierce his skin. Richard gripped his shoulder and ripped the glass out.
"Get out!" Richard screamed at Roy. Roy looked Richard in the eyes. He began to back out of the room towards the door. "Fine," he spat "she's not worth it."
Richard watch the door slam shut behind him and he ran up the stairs to find Kori.
Garfield took Raven into the living room and then got the first aid kit. She sat on the couch as he wrapped her hand up in a real bandage. "I'm just glad I got here in time." He said as he got up, kissed her and turned down the hall in one swift motion.
Raven looked down, "why?" Gar turned around, "what?" Raven inhaled and looked up, "why did you save me, this world would be better without me," she said tears coming to her eyes; she turned her head in shame. Garfield sat next to her on the couch and turned her head towards him.
"Never," he shouted causing her to flinch, "never," he began to whisper moving closer to her face, "think that, you have touched so many lives and so many people need you." Raven exhaled a breath she didn't know she had been holding. "I-" "You don't have to say anything." Garfield then captured her lips in a searing kiss.
After they parted Garfield looked her in the eyes. A playful smile graced his lips, "I threw out those cigarette packs, don't think I didn't see them."
Raven laughed as she rested her forehead on Garfield's. "I guess you're going to be here a while." "I wouldn't dream of being anywhere else."
Richard walked up the stairs to be greeted by a gentle hug from Kori. He flinched at her hug and she raised an eyebrow before looking at is shoulder. "Oh, you are hurt. I am so sorry, this is my entire fault." "No it's fine." "Let's get this fixed," Kori said gently laying a kiss on his lips and leading his into the bathroom.
"I love you so much Kori," Richard said laying kisses along her neck. "I love you to Richard," she said breathlessly. "You have a gorgeous apartment." "Penthouse" Richard corrected heading for the kitchen to get some champagne.
Kori sat on the couch looking around the room. It truly was gorgeous and big. He had a huge plasma screen television and a huge stereo system. The couches and chairs were of the finest black leather and the curtains of the finest navy blue silk. "Breathtaking" Kori whispered looking around the room again, and this was only the living room.
"Funny," Richard said coming in with two filled glasses. "I was just thinking the same thing," he said with a smirk as he set the glasses down on the coffee table and sat down next to Kori.
Kori giggled as Richard caressed her cheek and then pulled her close. He pulled her into a loving kiss and she wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his ebony locks. He simultaneously wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to his toned chest.
As they parted Kori looked into his eyes, "This is a new chance," she said placing her right hand on his soft cheek, "for a new beginning."
THE END
ONCE AGAIN THANKS TO ALL WHO REVIEWED!
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED.
