Chapter 2- He Knows I Know.

We had been at Alicia's house for over three hours. I called my parents, well my mom, my dad is rarely home, and told her I was at Alicia's for dinner. If she wore long sleeves the only thing anyone would see is the bruise on the cut. I covered up the bruise with cover-up. She came up with the cover story that she had walked into an open locker. I hated this.

"Alicia, you need to report him. What he did was…so horrible. I can't even…" I was still frightened to say anything.

"Lexi, he said he would hurt me, and my family. He said he would do unthinkable things to them. I've seen what he can do and not even care. Lexi, I need….I need you to give me your word that you will not tell anyone. Anyone!" she had started crying again. "Please, I know your word is your law Lexi. I need it."

I stood staring at her for what felt like an hour. I looked down and felt the coolness of the tears on my cheeks. "You have….you have my wo…word." I only stutter when I'm at my highest scared point.

She sat down on her bed, her hair wet from three showers. I sat down next to her and we hugged. We both started crying. A lot.

--

Alicia hadn't come to school she was pretending to be sick. It had been three days. And. Well I missed her. I was always the quiet shy girl at school and she was really one of the only friends I had. Everyone else was just acquaintances.

The first time I saw him was the day after. I sat their staring at him which was a bad idea. He was with all the other senior jocks. When he looked at me I looked away. I wanted to kill him, and rip him apart. But most of all I just wanted my friend back. And he was what was keeping her from me.

--

It was the fourth day and Alicia was still not back. I had stayed after to finish the editing of the newspaper. My dad was coming to pick me up, yeah right; I would end up in a cab like always. I was walking past the girls' bathroom and I felt his hand around my neck but didn't see it.

His hand was over my mouth and he was behind. I felt the heat of his breath on my neck. I tried to yell but his hand was too tight.

"You know, I know you know. I can't believe she told anyone. But I also saw you too together constantly. So I think you are the only one who knows."

I tried to break free, his grip tightened and I couldn't move my arms. I had been in self defense for eight years. I couldn't do anything and I felt so ashamed. I thought he was going to do to me what he had done to Alicia.



"Now what am I going to do with you. I have to have our secret kept. You won't tell anyone will you?" He physically shook my head. "I thought so. And let me tell you, if you do tell anyone I will hunt you down and make you watch while I destroy your life. Family and friends or should I say friend. Although she is already mostly destroyed."

The next thing I remember was waking up in the corner and my head pounding. I stood up and looked in the mirror, a humongous bruise had formed. I felt like my head was going to explode. I fumbled with my cell phone and dropped it. 5:00PM. I was supposed to meet my dad a half an hour ago.

He hadn't showed up, otherwise there would be more trouble than already was. I called a cab but instead of saying my address I gave him the address of the prescient where my dad worked.

--

I walked in the station a half an hour later. I saw the other people I had grown up to know. Detective Munch and Tutuola. I always saw Olivia Benson. She was working at her desk. I walked over.

She looked up as I sat down in the chair next to her desk. "Hey, Lexi is everything alright?" I saw her look at my head. "Lexi?" She looked confused.

"Are you busy?" I said in a barely audible whisper. It was shaky and she heard it.

"No. Not at all."

I am going to break my word. What has happened to me?