Oh gosh, I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sorry…I have been holed up in my room doing nothing but homework and my computer couldn't function properly… so I'm so sorry….I deserve to be slapped to death by you guys..

SO just for that ultra long delay...i'll try to write my heart out, k?

Anna's POV

My head's in my hands as I sit in the police station. Every time I shift my body, no matter how slowly I do it, my body throbs and aches all over.

The police station is not a place I want to visit again. Even though the police are trying to be as friendly as possible, the station is still dark and gloomy, and an air of dread hangs in the air. So far, the policewoman over at the desk has given me doughnuts, coffee (which I poured into the pot when she wasn't looking), and a blanket. Right now she's eyeing me over the desk, probably wondering what to give to me next. I glance at my watch. It's been at least two hours since the police arrived and took my dad into custody.

I also count that on average, the policewoman gives me things every ten minutes. I count silently. Five…four…three…two…one…

"Why don't you take some Gummy Bears?" the policewoman suggests, right on cue. I resist the urge to roll my eyes. What am I, ten?

Luckily, the door down the hallway swings open, and I am saved by the policeman in charge as he steps out and heads toward me, his face grim. My heart sinks as he stops near me and crouches down. "Anna," he says. "Your father isn't admitting anything and your mother isn't saying anything, either. We need you to come and help." I nod silently, and ignoring the twinges of pain, I step towards the door. Behind me, I can hear the policeman say, "Heavens, Cammi, did you just give her my doughnuts?"

I attempt to hide my smirk. The task grows easier as I see my father sitting across the table, face perfectly blank and smooth. My mother is a raging contrast to him, her face tear-streaked and a bit of blood still on her lip. I look from my mother to my father, feeling pity and sympathy well up in me. Taking a seat across the table, I stare straight at the wall, refusing to look at either one of them. Tears well in my eyes and I struggle to restrain them.

"He is your father," my mother says softly in Korean. "You wouldn't give up your father."

"Mother," I reply, still in Korean. "He has gotten away with this for too long. We can't let him get away with it again."

"It's against the principles," my mother protests. "You must honor your parents!"

"No," I say firmly. "It isn't fair if he does it again."

"Anna-"

"Mother!"

Our argument is cut short as the policeman comes in, looking disgruntled. He's muttering something under his breath, and I can catch the words "doughnuts" and "gone". He stops once he sees us, drawing in a breath. Sitting down in front of me, he shuffles some papers, then says awkwardly, "Anna. Your father was caught abusing you. What do you have to say about that?"

I don't even glance at my parents. In fact, I don't even look at them throughout the whole interview as I go through a blow-by blow of the latest abuse and what I've suffered for so long. Of what our family has suffered for so long. I can hear my mother sobbing and I can hear my father snarling threats in Korean. I don't pay attention. It's until the officer stops me that I feel how exhausted I actually am.

"Clark," the policewoman outside pokes her head in to say. "Anna's sister is here. Does she want to go and-"

I'm out of my seat before she can complete her sentence. Once the policeman shows that he's done with me, I sprint out of the room to find a tall teenager sitting outside, gnawing her fingernails. She rises to her feet when she sees me, and says, "Anna! I just came back from college and I hear from our neighbor that all of you are at the police station! What's going on?"

I never answer because I have already thrown myself into her, hugging her tightly and trying not to cry. But just inhaling my sister's familiar scent causes the dam to flow, and I start sobbing.

It's over. It's all over.

Normal POV

Meanwhile, just inside the shadows, the policewoman watched Anna and her sister hugging. Her eyes blinked briefly before she melted into an owl and flew out into the inky darkness.

Anna's POV

"I don't want to go to school," I moan to my sister the morning after Dad's arrest. "I want to stay under the blanket and never see anyone again."

"Look at it this way," Anne says comfortingly. "Dad's arrest wasn't exactly front page news. Nobody will know."

I stick my head out to look at her. "You think?" I ask.

"I know," Anne says, trying to smile. And even though I know she's lying-she's always been a rotten liar-somehow that smile gives me courage to go back to school and face my peers.

But when I reach school, all my confidence from my sister is gone. Instead, it's replaced by trepidation, because everyone I see glances at me, gives a double-take, and then starts whispering to whoever is beside them. If that's not enough, every time I walk into a buzzing class, my classmates immediately hush up and whisper instead.

If that's not a clue about what's going on, I don't know what is.

By the time lunchtime rolls around, my head hurts and I don't feel too well. All I can eat is an apple. Instead, I pull out my book and start reading. It's not long before I get sucked into the story itself and I can actually be the character.

Too bad I can't shut out the whispering.

Normal POV

Jamie stared out across the cafeteria, chin propped on one hand. He didn't even hear Bobby saying his name till Bobby smacked him on his shoulder, causing him to multiply into two clones. Luckily nobody noticed.

"Man, you're being awfully spaced out lately," Roberto said, settling into the seat opposite Jamie, blocking Jamie's view of whatever he was staring at. Jamie tried to peer over Roberto's shoulder, but he was too short. He cursed silently, but was wise to shut up.

Too bad for him everybody noticed his actions.

"What are you staring at?" Ray demanded, sitting on the other side of the table. He twisted around to scan the cafeteria behind them. "All I can see are the nerds, Matthews and his gang, Anna Lee-" He stopped short and slowly turned around, a grin on his face. "Anna." He smirked. "Sounds like Jamie has a crush here."

The whole table burst into laughter, and Jamie felt his face turn red. "I do not," he protested, feeling his blush deepen.

"Sure you don't," Bobby snorted. Exchanging a conspiratorial glance with Ray, Sam and Roberto, he folded his arms. "Truth or dare, Jamie?"

Thankful that they'd gotten off his case, Jamie was about to pick truth when he stopped. They were bound to ask him about Anna. After considering, he finally answered, "Dare."

"We dare you to go over and talk to Anna, and ask her out."

Jamie's jaw hit the floor. He didn't see that coming.