Chapter 3:
Normal POV
Later that evening, Cornelia was done her shift and Angelo picked her up and treated her to dinner before he drove her home. They enjoyed their dinner talking about things at school and stuff. Once they were finished with their meal, Angelo drove Cornelia home. And it was here when he decided to try and find out what was going on.
"So, how was work?", Angelo asked as he turned a corner.
"It was okay.", Cornelia said. "Ms. Vandom came in looking for a dress with Will. It was kind of funny seeing them compare dresses.", she said with a grin.
"Cornelia? I have to ask this.", Angelo said. "Is there something going on at home?"
Cornelia's grip on her purse tightned after hearing this question. Part of her wanted to tell him everything, yet part fo her knew that if she did, he'd want to go to the police. And if that happened, Billy would just lie and say it was Leon who did it. And that was a risk she couldn't take.
"Everything is fine.", Cornelia said with a smile hoping Angelo would believe her.
"Okay.", Angelo said with a smile. "I was just wondering cause of the way you've been acting the last few weeks."
'She's lying.', Angelo thought to himself as he looked at her. 'Something is going on!'
"I'm just a bit stressed from school, work, and ice skating practice.", Cornelia said with a smile. "I just need to get more sleep."
"Well, be sure to get some tonight.", Angelo said as he pulled up to the apartment building where she lived. "And here we are."
"Thanks for the ride home.", Cornelia said as she leaned over and kissed Angelo.
"It was my pleasure, Me Lady.", Angelo said with a wink, making Cornelia smile before getting out of the car. "Goodnight, Cornelia."
"Goodnight, Angelo.", Cornelia said smiling before watching Angelo drive off.
'I'm sorry, Angelo.', Cornelia thought to herself as she headed inside the building. 'I wish I could tell you everything. But there's to much at stake.'
Once in the apartment, Cornelia went straight to her room and hoped that Billy would leave her alone for the night.
No such luck.
Later that evening, Cornelia, Lillian, Leon, and Billy were playing a board game that Leon bought. At first things were okay as Lillian was talking about her day at school. But then...
"So, Cornelia. I got a phone call from one of your teachers.", Leon said. "She tells me that you've fallen asleep in her class a few times. As well as a few other classes."
"Y-Y-Yeah.", Cornelia said nervously. "Well, I've been having trouble sleeping lately. You know, with school work, my job, and ice skating practice.", she explained while looking at Billy out of the corner of her eye who was giving her a look that said 'watch what you say'.
"Well, maybe you should cut back on the ice skating.", Leon suggested. "You're a great skater, Cornelia. No need to over do it with the training."
"I guess you're right.", Cornelia said with a small smile wanting to tell Leon the truth.
"What about that boyfriend of yours.", Billy questioned. "What was his name again? Angelo something or other."
"His name is Angelo Vanders.", Lillian said while rolling the dice to the board game. "He's really nice."
"That's it.", Billy said. "I think you've been spending to much time with him when you should be more focused on your studies. I mean you came home late one night because you were out on a date with him. Am I right?"
'Why you little...', Cornelia thought to herself.
"Is this true Cornelia?", Leon asked.
"Well, yeah.", Cornelia said. "But, it only happened a few times."
"A few times is a few to many.", Leon said. "Billy's right. I think that you should cut your dates with Angelo down to just the Fridays and Saturdays."
"But...", Cornelia said about to disagree.
"No buts, Cornelia.", Leon said. "You parents left you in my care while they're away. And I'm not about to let them down. So, no dates on the weekdays. Okay?"
"Okay.", Cornelia said knowing that she wasn't going to win against her cousin.
'At least I only have to put up with Billy for another two weeks.', Cornelia thought to herself.
"Speaking of your parents, they called today.", Leon said. "It seems that they're going to be staying in Europe a bit longer. Some of our family are whining about the things that were left to them by Great Uncle Tim. So it'll be a few more weeks before they return."
"Well it seems that we'll be getting to know each other a lot more.", Billy said with smile.
Hearing that sent a chill down Cornelia's spine. She could feel Billy's eyes on her as she smiled, knowing that the abuse would continue.
'Can this get any worse?', she thought to herself.
Later that evening, Cornelia had just finished getting ready for bed when Billy barged into her room. Once she closed and locked the door, she went straight after Cornelia and struck her in the side where she hit her the other night. Cornelia dropped to the floor from the pain while holding her side.
"For a moment there, I thought that you were going to rat me out.", Billy said as she knelt down to Cornelia and grab her shoulder and squeeze it hard.
"Why are you doing this?", Cornelia asked as the pain in her shoulder was increasing.
"Why? Why?", Billy questioned with a smirk. "Becasue I can't stand spoiled little rich girls like you. Look at you! Beauty! Smarts! A talented skater! And you even have a rich and good looking boyfriend! Just about everything was handed to you on a silver platter!", she said only loud enough for Cornelia to hear. "So, for as long as I'm here, I'm going to make your life miserable.", she said before pushing Cornelia to the floor and leaving the room. "Goodnight, rich girl."
Once Billy left the room, Cornelia got to her feet and got in bed as tears ran down her face. She wanted this nightmare to end before she's forced to do something she'd regret.
End Flashback
Cornelia's POV
The next few days were going pretty well for me. Billy didn't attack me for some reason. Maybe it was because I kept to myself. Not to mention Leon taking her out to dinner or to the movies at my suggestion. Whatever the reason, I was glad for the peace. As for the girls, for some reason they stopped asking me about me having any problems at home. I was happy that they stopped but part of me knew they were up to something. I just didn't know what it was. As for Angelo, he was still worried about me, but didn't bring anything up. I guess he wanted me to come to him about whatever my problems were, when I was ready to. For that I was grateful. Soon it was Thursday night and I was home watching Lillian, who for some reason wasn't as hyper as she normally was.
Flashback
Normal POV
"You okay, Lillian?", Cornelia asked her little sister. "You're not as hyper as you normally are. Is something wrong?"
'Wow!', Cornelia thought to herself. 'I sound like the others now.'
"I-I'm okay.", Lillian said with a small smile. "There's nothing wrong."
And it was there she saw it. Cornelia knew, by the look on Lillian's face, that something was wrong.
'Something is wrong.', she thought to herself. 'But what? Wait! It can't be! She wouldn't!'
Cornelia then walked over to Lillian, who was playing with her doll and knelt down to her and...
"Lillian. I want you to be honest with me.", Cornelia said to her little sister as they were face to face. "Did, Billy..."
Suddenly, the front door to their place opened and Cornelia heard Leon and Billy laughing as they came into the place. Cornelia quickly rose to her feet and sat down back on the couch and went back to reading her book as the couple walked into the Living Room.
"Hey, you two.", Leon said with a smile getting the Hale sisters' attetention.
"Hey, Leon.", they both said.
"So, did you two keep out of trouble while we were away?", Leon said with a grin. "Aunt Liz told me about how you two can be, sometimes, when left alone."
"I'm sure they were good.", Billy said looking at the girls. "I'm just glad that we had the time to go out and have some fun."
"Well, thank Cornelia for that.", Leon said with a smile. "She's the one that suggested for me to take you out these last few nights."
"Did she now?", Billy questioned.
"Sure did.", Leon said. "That's my little cousin. Always giving good advice."
"And you're a great boyfriend.", Billy said giving Leon a hug that he returned.
As they were hugging, Billy looked over Leon's sholder at Cornelia giving her a glare that told Cornelia to watch her back. Seeing that glare, Cornelia knew she was in for another 'Billy Beating' as she called them. Later that night, after dinner, Cornelia had gotten ready for bed and waited for Billy to come in and do whatever she was going to do to her. But after a half an hour of waiting, she didn't show up. So, she got in bed and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Suddenly, Cornelia was wakened up by sudden pain on the right side of her face. Her eyes opened wide to se Billy standing over head with hatered in her eyes as she glared down at her!
"Thought you were slick, huh?", Billy questioned as she yanked Cornelia up by her night gown only to rip it apart at the straps. "Make me to tired to beat you by having Leon take me out on some dates, did you? Well, guess what? The only reason I didn't beat you, the last few days, was because I wanted a real good reason to pound you! And guess what, rich girl? By doing what you did, you gave me a REAL good reason! Not a smart move!", she said followed by a back hand to Cornelia's face before she pulled Cornelia out of her bed.
Billy then punch Cornelia a few times in the stomach followed by some knees there as well! Having enough, Cornelia pushed Billy away followed by a punch to her face. At first, Billy was surprised that Cornelia fought back the way she did. Normally, Cornelia would push her away or slap her back. But to punch her was something new.
"So it's like that, huh?", Billy said with a smirk. "Then let's play!"
Moving quickly, Billy struck Cornelia in her right shoulder with the middle of her fingers bent outward a little. It was so hard that Cornelia was about to scream only for Billy to put her hand over her mouth.
"Shhhh! Shhh!", Billy said as she grabbed Cornelia's right wrist. "It's almost over. It's almost over."
Billy then squeezed and twisted Cornelia's wrist causing her to scream from the pain. Only no one heard her due to Billy covering her mouth. Billy then let Cornelia fall to her bed holding her wrist as tears fell down her face.
"Let that be a lesson to you, Corny.", Billy said with a smirk. "Never, EVER cross Billy Jones again. Or you'll regret it. Or shall I say, Leon will regret it.", she said making Cornelia eyes widen in fear for her cousin. "Remember, all I have to do is go to the police and tell them that it was Leon who beat on you."
"Please don't.", Cornelia pleaded to Billy.
"Don't worry, Cornelia.", Billy said faking concern. "I'll say nothing. Good night, Cornelia.", she said as she left the room.
Once Cornelia felt that Billy was really gone for the night, Cornelia got up slowly, due to the pain in her stomach, and went to her dresser and got her first aid kit she had bought to tend to any wound she would get fighting any of her enemies during her Guardians duties. She never thought that she'd be tending to any wounds she got from a human. She took great care at wrapping her wrist and taking some asprin for the pain. Cornelia was about to turn off the lights and get in bed when her bedroom door slowly opened.
'Not agian!', Cornelia thought to herself as she turned around.
But instead of Billy, there stood Lillian in a long sleeve night gown. Breathing a sigh of relief Cornelia walked up to her little sister wondering why she was up.
"Why are you up, Lillian?", Cornelia questioned as she knelt down to her.
"I had a bad dream.", Lillian said. "Can I sleep with you? Just for tonight."
"I'm sorry, Lillia.", Cornelia said. "But..."
"Please.", Lillian pleaded as she looked at her older sister.
"Okay.", Cornelia said with a smile as she placed her hands on her sister's shoulder.
"Ouch!", Lillian said as she flinched from her sister's touch.
Seeing the look on her little sister's face, Cornelia knew something was wrong. She slowly and gently moved the shoulder of Lillian's gown. And what she saw made her gasp in shock as she placed her hand over her mouth. On Lillian's right shoulder, was a bruise that was a mix of black and blue.
"Who did this to you, Lillian?", Cornelia asked as she sat her sister on her bed. "Was it Billy? Was it?"
Lillian said nothing as she shook her head hoping Cornelia would let it go.
"Did she say that she'd put the blame on Leon?", Cornelia asked making Lillian look at her in surprise.
Cornelia then saw Lilllian's eyes water. That was all she needed to see to know what happened. She then took her little sister in her arms and hugged her as they both shedded some tears. After a few minutes, the two sisters pulled away from each other with Cornelia looking at her sister.
"When did it start, Lillian?", Cornelia asked.
"Last week.", Lillian said sadly. "Billy wanted to watch something on TV but I didn't want to. Leon said that it was okay for me to watch what I wanted. Later that night, she came into my room and... and..."
"She beat you.", Cornelia finished for her little sister who nodded.
"Did she beat you, too?", Lillian asked.
"Y-Yeah.", Cornelia said surprising Lillian. "But it's not going to happen anymore. To either of us."
"What are we going to do?", Lillian asked as Cornelia got to her feet.
"First, we're going to pack some clothes.", Cornelia said as she changed her clothes slowly, due to the pain in her side and stomach.
Once Lillian saw the bruises on her sister's side and stomach, she let out a gasp.
"It's not as bad as it looks.", Cornelia said as she put on a shirt, jeans, and boots, which did hurt a little. "Okay. Maybe it does a little. Now let's get you some clothes to take with you as well someting to wear."
Being very quite, the two sisters went to Lillian's room and packed her some clothers in a small suitcase. They then went back to Cornelia's room and did the same thing. Cornelia then went to one of her stuffed animals and unzipped the back and pulled out a large thing of money.
"Okay, let's go.", Cornelia said as they snuck out of her room and towards the door.
"Where are we going?", Lillian said quietly as they neared the door.
"Somewhere safe.", Cornelia said. "Somewhere I know we can get a good night's sleep.", she said as they left their home.
They then went to the elevator and took it to the first floor. They then left the apartment building and called a cab.
"Where to? Wait a minute!", the cab driver said as he got a good look at the two girls. "You two are way to young to be riding a cab alone, this late at night!"
"Please, Sir.", Cornelia said to him. "We really need to get away from here! Just take us to the Silver Dragon and I'll give you double the pay!"
The cab driver saw the looks on both girls' faces and knew something bad must of happened for them to be doing this.
"Okay.", the driver said. "And keep your money. I have a feeling that you two may need it."
"Thank you, mister.", Lillian said with a small smile that the driver returned before driving off.
As the cab driver drov away from the the apartment building the two Hale sisters lived in, Cornelia looked out the window of the cab as they were driving away from the place.
'No turning back now.', she thought to herself. 'I'll do what I have to do to protect my sister.'
Soon the cab pulled up to the Silver Dragon, which was closed. Something Cornelia was glad for. For she knew that if Hay Lin saw her and Lillian, she'd of called the other girls. And she wasn't ready for that yet.
"Here we are, girls.", the cab driver said.
"Thanks.", Cornelia said. "How much do we own you?"
"Like I said before, keep your money.", the driver said. "I think you may need it more than I do."
"Thank you.", Cornelia said with a smile that the driver returned.
Once Cornelia closed the door to the cab, the cab drove off.
"So, what now?", Lillian asked.
"Now we go across the street.", Cornelia said as she took her sister's free hand seeing as the other one has pulling her little suitcase along. "And hope that Angelo is awake."
Once across the street, Cornelia and Lillian stood in front of the apartment building Angelo's Uncle John owned. And I mean the whole building. You see, John Vanders bought the whole building and had it redone so that the first floor was a gym and a martial arts school. The second floor was made so that it had a Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Den, and two Bathrooms. Only they were a bit bigger than normal. The third floor was cleared out for two things. One side was clear out to be a lounge while the other was cleared out to have parties. The last two floors had regular apartments, where John had himself one on the top floor as well as his parents, Joe and Kadma. And Angelo had an apartment on the fourth floor. Also staying in an apartment on the fourth floor was Cassidy, who as we know is close friends with Kadma and Joe. Hoping that Angelo was either awake or a light sleeper, Cornelia pulled her cell phone out of her purse and dialed Angelo's cell phone number.
"Please answer.", Cornelia said as she heard the phone ringing on the other end.
As for Angelo, he was in fact sleeping in his bed when he heard his cell phone ringing.
"What the...?", he questioned as he looked at his clock that was sitting on the stand. "11:37? Who the heck is calling at this time?", he questioned as he checked his phone. "Cornelia? Why is she calling this late?", he questioned as he answered his cell phone. "Cornelia? What's wrong?", he asked as he sat up in his bed.
"Look out your window.", Cornelia said.
"Ooooookay.", Angelo, who was dressed in a pair of blue sleeping pants and a gray tank-top, said as he got out of bed and headed for his window.
Once at his window, Angelo opened his blinds and looked out his window. He then looked down to see Cornelia and Lillian standing on front of their apartment building.
"Why are you and your sister standing out there?", Angelo asked.
"We... We need your help.", Cornelia said.
A/N: Now Cornelia turns to someone for help. Well, when you see a kid get beat things change. Here's hoping they can get the help they need.
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