Disclaimer: Don't own The Lost Boys only Rhiannon and any other characters.
Thanks to all who reviewed, follow, and added to their favorites. I'm sorry this took so long but I was having real big case of writers block on this. This chapter was inspired by a dream I had . Actually it's pretty much the actual dream. This is the longest chapter by far. Hope you guys like it.
Warning: contains some violence and language. Fluff too!
And Then She Is the Darkness
Chapter 4: When I'm with you / Sometimes she cries.
Rhiannon had her arms still wrapped around Paul's waist in a death grip as they zoomed along the crowded boardwalk. Soon she noticed another bike zoom past she looked quickly and saw David fly by causing the crowd on the boardwalk to part even more. She heard two more bikes coming near and knew that Dwayne and Marko weren't too far off. Marko rode up next to her and Paul and gave Paul a playful shove. Rhiannon's grip on Paul tightened afraid she would fall off.
She relaxed when she realized she wasn't going to die. Rhiannon put her head on Paul's shoulder as the boardwalk whipped by them and she let herself relax and her mind wander off. She was proud of how she stood up to her brother. She had never just blatantly ignored her brother like she had. To be honest, if Paul and the others hadn't been there she probably would have gone with Xander.
She was mad at herself for putting up with their crap. With every ones crap really but she felt she there was nothing she could do. What she didn't realize was she was silently letting the boys know her problems. Paul didn't know why but he couldn't help but want to help her. Rhiannon sighed trying to push the thoughts from her mind unconsciously she pulled herself closer to Paul hugging him close to her.
Meanwhile over at the comic shop Edgar was kicking the last of the people out of the store. Alan was trying to straighten up the store. As he was putting one of the books back, it reminded him of Rhiannon. Suddenly an idea hit him.
"Hurry up. Edgar I want to get upstairs. I have things to do."
"What things?"
"Just thing. . . Don't worry. Just wake mom and dad up so we can close up faster."
Half an hour later the store was closed, straightened and ready to go for the next day. As soon as it was Alan took off out the shop and up the stairs next to the building leading to their home.
"What's up with him man?" Their father said. Edgar just shrugged and headed up the stairs himself.
Edgar walked in the kitchen when a spoon went whizzing past his head into the sink. Alan had stuff all over the table,the counters, Pretty much anywhere there was space to put something. Edgar just shook his head as he looked around at the mess.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"If your not going to help don't make any smart ass remarks."
"This is about Rhiannon isn't it."
Alan just looked up from one of the sandwiches he had finished wrapping and tossed it into the fridge next to some sodas he pulled from the cabinet.
"This is. You don't even have to say anything."
Alan just pushed past and headed into the hall. He opened up the closet and began digging through it tossing out several items. A book and a beaded curtain when by Edgar. Finally after a few minutes Alan found what he was looking for. It was buried all the way at the bottom of the closet. He pulled it out and held it up. If it were a movie this would be the part where the ray of light hit the object and the angels start singing. Alan shoved the junk back into the closet before heading into the room he shared with Edgar and tossed the picnic basket he dug out onto his bed.
"You got it bad bro."
"Shut it." Alan said before returning to the kitchen to clean up.
The boys, Paul and Rhiannon had in the meantime pulled up to the bluffs not far from the big old lighthouse. Paul killed the engine and hopped off the bike. Rhiannon went to hop off herself thinking she could pull it off but her leg got caught and she fell into Paul's arms. She was holding on to the corners of his jacket. God I am such a spaz. She thought quickly hiding her face in his shirt trying to hide the fact her face was turning red.
"Walk much Rhi?" Paul asked jokingly.
From behind them she could hear the others laugh. She turned red again. "Ignore them."
"Yeah I see they have the same sense of humor as you. Misery of others get your rocks off."
David came up behind Rhiannon and put a gloved hand on her shoulder. "I don't think that's what gets his rocks off sweetie." He smirked because he knew damn well that his comment was the reason her face was red now.
The boys all began heading for the lighthouse. Rhiannon just stared off for a second before taking off after them. "Hold up. . ." She ran up between Marko and Paul, Dwayne was walking along Paul's other side.. David as always seemed to be up front. Leader of the pack.
"What's going on? Where are we going?"
" Rhiannon wants to know what's going. Marko. What's going on?"
"Who wants to know?" Paul teased wrapping his arms around Rhiannon's waist.
"Rhiannon wants to know." Dwayne said.
Rhiannon looked around between the boys. Marko suddenly took off and headed towards the old light housekeepers building. Since the lighthouse had been turned electronic there was no need for a lighthouse keeper so the building had remained abandoned for years.
"Okay blondie, you mind telling me why y'all dragged me here?"
"We're going ghost hunting babe." He replied giving her a wink. She turned and looked at him.
"Your joking right? Ghosts. . . what comes after this we going to look for unicorns, alien, vampires, little green leprechauns? We better hurry. If we don't get on there the others may find one first and get the Lucky Charms!"
Paul shoved her playfully. "Jack ass."
"Well you get like who you hang with. . ." She gave a squeal as Paul lunged for her. She took off running to the house where the others were waiting. "Ha. . .to slow old man. You gotta move faster than that if you wanna catch me blondie."
Paul ran after her letting her get a head start. He could have caught her easily without even trying. Rhiannon ran and hid behind Dwayne. "Your tall . . . save me!" She said from behind him. Holding the corners of his jacket as Paul tried reaching around to catch her.
"Your on your own . I'm not involved in this." Dwayne replied as Rhiannon continually ducked and weaved back and forth behind him trying to evade Paul's grasp. She let out a squeal when Paul just about grabbed her. She wiggled from his grasp and made a beeline for the house with Paul hot on her heels.
"I'll give you this much. She gives a whole new meaning to the term fast food." Marko joked. "How long before he gets bored and turns her into a snack?"
"She seems different. He may not let us make her a snack." Dwayne replied coolly as he walked to the house.
After a few hours and a bit of overly dramatic and perhaps a bit traumatizing but friendly teasing Rhiannon finally came down from the fun and adrenalin rush she was having and reality began to sink in. They had driven back to the boardwalk that now seemed all but abandoned. Paul slowed the bike as they rode over the planks.
"Hey blondie what time is it?"
"About three babe. Why?" He felt Rhiannon's hands tighten on his waist and her nails dig into his kin through the holes in his fish net top. "You all right Rhi?"
"I am so friggin' dead! I need to get home. . . now. He's going to kill me if he's home. . ."
Paul could hear the fear in her voice. "Who Rhi?"
"My dad!" She said, her grip tightening even more.
Paul pulled up to the others and told them he'd be back. Soon he and Rhiannon were speeding off through the streets of Santa Carla to her house. She was silently praying her father was still out or had left for some business trip. To her great disappointment and dread she saw his car in the driveway from a few houses away. Paul sensed her apprehension and cut the engine on the bike.
"What are you doing?"
"Don't worry babe. Just stay quiet." He rolled the bike forward slowly. Rhiannon could see the blinds pulled down and the silhouette of what looked like her father and brother in the living room fighting with one another. She could see her brother getting hit as the two fought.
Can you pull around the side of the house?"
"Sure babe."
They pulled along the side of the house and Rhiannon hopped off the bike. She quietly walked over to the tree just under her window. She put a foot on a branch and reached up trying to pull herself up. She slipped and scraped her hands on the tree. Cursing under her breath she hopped up and tried it again. She jumped when she felt someones hands on her waist.
"Chill babe it's just me. Let me help." He hopped up into the tree and reached out a hand to pull her up. She took his hand and crawled up the tree. Once she got to her window she did a balancing act on the branch and crawled into her room. Paul Sat on the branch and watched her go in. "Thanks." She whispered "Be careful." She added before turning and closing the window silently behind her.
She quickly tousled her hair and wrinkled up her pajamas before she changed into them and tiptoed to the door. She could hear her father and brother still arguing downstairs.
"What the hell is wrong with you. What do you mean she didn't come home with you, where the hell is she?!"
"She left with some guy. I have no damn idea where she went." Xander had enough he began to walk out the room.
"Don't you walk away from me boy!"
Rhiannon walked down the stairs pretending to have just woken up like she was going to get a drink from the kitchen. As she came into the room her fathers attention turned from Xander to Rhiannon. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed he against the counter.
"Where have you been."
"I don't know what your talking about. I just woke up."
"Don't lie to me . . ." Her father said shaking her and shoving her into the edge of the counter again.
"I'm not. I've been here for hours."
"You took off with some guy. Who the hell is he!"
"He's a friend, he gave me a ride home when I got bored with hanging out on the boardwalk."
Rhiannon felt a sting cross her face as her father slapped her. "You no good little tramp. Who is he? And you better give me the answer I want to hear.?"
Rhiannon felt tears welling up in her eyes from the pain. She looked past her father at Xander who she knew had ratted her out for hanging with Paul. Xander just gave her a cold look before turning and walking out of the room.
"I told you dad he's just my friend."
"Don't you call me that you lying tramp." He said before slapping her again. "I ever catch you coming home with anyone but your brother again and it will be the last thing you ever do. You hear me?"
Rhiannon simply nodded her head fighting back the tears. Her father slammed her into the counter again. "I SAID DO YOU HEAR ME?!"
"Yy...yes sir."
Her father let her go and shoved her out of the room. "Get out of my sight."
Rhiannon ran upstairs slamming her bedroom door behind her. She let out a frustrating cry and threw the nearest object at the opposite wall. She continued to scream and cry as she threw several more things about the room.
Her bed was wrecked, sheets and pillows lay scattered all about the place. Nail polish bottles, books, cassettes were scattered across the floor. She slid down the wall put her head in her hands and began crying.
\
The next morning
There was a tap on Rhiannon's window. Then another, and another. Rhiannon's eyes fluttered open just as another tap hit her window. She groaned as she rolled over and pulled a nail polish bottle from underneath her. That's when she remembered the night before. She looked around at her room that was now a shambles. Another tap hit the window. Rhiannon didn't want to get up so she crawled over to the window and looked out. Alan was outside. She opened the window just in time to have a small rock whiz by her head and land on the floor.
"Are you nuts Alan? What in the world are you doing?"
"Come outside."
"What time is it?" She asked with yawn.
"Six in the morning. Oh and bring your bathing suit."
Rhiannon shook her head trying to make sense of Alan's randomness this early in the morning. She popped her head back out the window. "Do I want to ask?"
"Just come down."
"All right, all right. Give me few minutes."
Alan bounced back and forth on his heels waiting for her to come down. She was taking a while and he was starting to get nervous she wasn't coming. In the mean time Rhiannon had cracked her door open and peeked her head out. No sign of her dad and her brother and stepmother were still sound asleep. She ran back to the window, stuck her head out and shouted down. I'll be down in a minute.
Rhiannon raced to the bathroom with a hand full of clothes from her closet. After ten minutes she emerged pulling her tank top over her bikini and shaking her hands through her hair. She gave herself one more look in the mirror before heading out the door. She grabbed her sneaker and bag tiptoeing past her brothers room and down the stairs. She made doubly sure to be even more quiet when she saw her step mom passed out on the couch. She opened the door and closed it behind her slowly. Once outside she felt a hand on her shoulder which made her jump out of her skin.
"Whoa, easy it's just me." Alan said giving her a look.
"Jesus, don't do that shit to me man, you'll give a girl a heart attack!" She replied smacking him playfully. "So what's with the basket? You going somewhere over the rainbow Toto." She smiled.
"No wise ass. Just follow me."
"Hold on." She dropped one of her shoes on the ground and reached up putting a hand on Alan's shoulder for balance while putting on her shoe. Once her shoe was on she bent down, grabbed the other one and repeated the action.
Good thing I'm not with Paul. He'd be making some dirty comment about my ass right now. Rhiannon thought to herself. She let out a little snicker.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about something."
He grabbed Rhiannon by the hand and the two began walking along. Soon Rhiannon could feel the breeze blowing off the water as they came closer to the boardwalk. The sun was still coming up and it's reflection shone bright on the water. Surprisingly there were several people walking along the planks of the boardwalk and even several sun worshipers getting ready and setting up their towels and beach gear on the sand.
Rhiannon watched as Alan walked down the steps to the beach. She removed her shoes and followed after him. By the time she reached him he had all ready set out a blanket, the picnic basket and was blowing up a beach ball.
"Wow I always thought Edgar was the one full of hot air." Rhiannon said as she plopped down on the blanket beside him.
"Funny, I almost forgot to laugh." He said as he tossed the beach ball to her. "You try it if you think it's so easy."
"Fine. When I do you totally owe me ten bucks." She stuck her tongue out before she turned to blow up the ball.
Alan pulled out a small radio and began tuning it. "You get that blown up all on your own and I'll make it twenty."
"You got a deal bud." She returned to blowing up the ball. Five minutes later she turned to Alan. "You owe me twenty bucks bud." Holding out her had she waited as he pulled some cash from his pocket and handed it to her. She tossed him the ball and went to stand. She swayed a bit and grabbed her head.
"Whoa, next time maybe I shouldn't blow so hard. . . because that came out sounding so right." She said sarcastically.
"Come on air head. I'll race you to the water."
"You plan on going in like that?" She asked pointing at the camo jacket and t-shirt he had on.
Alan rubbed his neck and looked down. "Yeah your right."
He stood up taking off his jacket. When he heard a wolf whistle from next to him. Rhiannon was waving some money at him. "Woo hoo take it off!"
He turned around and went to take off his shirt. In the mean time Rhiannon had taken off her shorts and folded them up, placing them neatly on her shoes. Alan still hadn't taken his shirt off. Rhiannon just stood there in her bikini bottom and t-shirt and shook her head.
"Geez, you'd make a horrible Chip & Dale dancer. . . Look this is how you do it." She reached for the edge of her t-shirt and peeled it over her head in one swift motion. "See it's easy." Alan just stood there gawking. Rhiannon turned a bit red when she noticed Alan looking at her. She shook it off and walked over to him.
"Oh for the love of. . ." She reached down and pulled his top off over his head, tossing it over on the pile with her things. She picked up the ball and tossed it at him. "Twenty bucks says you can't catch me."
Rhiannon made a mad dash for the water line. It took Alan a minute to register what happened before he took off after her. The surf was gently rolling in and out, at least before she disrupted the peaceful image by splashing through the waves. That's when she saw the beach ball float by her and felt a hand wrap around her waist.
"Gotcha!"
Rhiannon let out a little squeal. "Damn, there goes my twenty bucks." The two laughed before they spotted their ball floating away. Alan swam out after it. Minutes later he returned and tossed it at Rhiannon. Only problem was that she wasn't paying attention and it hit her in the head.
"Ow, smooth move exlax!" She said tossing the ball back to him.
"Sorry." He said tossing it back. The two continued to toss the ball back and forth for a while before Alan took the ball and said he'd be right back. Rhiannon swam out further out bobbing up and down in the waves.
After a few minutes she began looking around. Alan hadn't come back yet and she was starting to worry. What Rhiannon didn't know was Alan was silently sneaking up on her. He was hiding behind people, and bobbing and weaving between them inching ever closer to her. When a wave came Alan dove under the water and began swimming toward Rhiannon. She kicked her legs bobbing up and down like a cork when Alan swam up under her grabbing her legs and popping up out of the water with Rhiannon on his shoulders.
Rhiannon shrieked and laughed. "Your totally nuts, you know that!" She leaned backwards falling back into the water. Alan looked around when she didn't pop up right away. He turned back and forth looking for her when suddenly she popped up and wrapped her arms around his neck jumping on his back.
"I think I need help. I got a gnarly little monkey on my back!"
"Ha, ha, your funny." Rhiannon couldn't help but feel good then. Sure they were taunting each other but she felt like she used to. She felt like a normal girl again.
"C'mon, let's go. I got lunch waiting on the beach."
"You thought of everything haven't you?"
The two walked back to the blanket he set up earlier. Rhiannon grabbed a towel and laid it down on the blanket not wanting to wet it. She laid back on her elbows while Alan began digging through the basket. He pulled out a couple of sodas, a bunch of sandwiches, fruit, and candy.
"Wow is there a bottom to that basket?"
"I didn't know what you'd want. . ." He handed her one of the sodas.
"You've known me since we were kids. You know I'm not picky." She said picking up a sandwich and taking a bite. "Oh and by the way I got dibs on the cherry fun dip!"
Alan just shook his head and laughed as he flipped through the radio stations. Rhiannon put her hand out and grabbed Alan's wrist. "Wait put that back. I love that song."
Alan quickly changed the channel back. Luckily the words hadn't began yet. Rhiannon was tapping her hands to the beat. That's when she did something that surprised even Alan. She began singing.
Remember the nights we sat and talked about all our dreams Well little did we know then They were more distant than they seemed Well I knew it you knew it too The things we'd go through We knew the things we had to do to make it, baby.
You gotta cry tough Out on the streets To make your dreams happen You gotta cry out Out to the world To make them all come true.
Alan sat watching in amazement. In all the time he had known her she never sang once. At least not that he could remember. Especially when her mother died he saw Rhiannon become more introverted by the day. He was glad to see the old Rhiannon come back. He couldn't figure it out. But he was glad to see her happy.
The song ended and she looked over at Alan. He was in his own little world. She shook her head and riffled through her bag. She pulled out her suntan lotion and began putting it on. After a few minutes she knocked on Alan's head.
"Ground control to Major Tom. Are we coming through up there?" He shook his head.
"Huh."
"Nice to see you've rejoined us. I asked if you could put this on my back. One bad side of being Irish means I don't wear a gallon of this I look like something the Captain's Galley sells."
Alan took the bottle of lotion from her as she turned and pulled her hair up from off her neck. He squeezed some in his hand and began rubbing it on her shoulders and back. Eh slid his had down the side of her ribs and she jerked forward and laughed.
"Watch it! I'm ticklish."
"Oh really? Where? Here?" He said poking her in her side as she jerked again. "How bout here?" He said poking her on the other side of her ribs. "What about here?" He ran his hands down her lower back when she let out a hiss of pain and jerked forward. That's when he looked down and noticed a bruise just under the strap of her bikini top.
"What happened Rhiannon?"
"Oh, nothing. It was an accident." Alan decided to drop the subject. Just then another song began playing on the radio.
Let's dance put on your red shoes and dance the blues
Let's dance to the song they're playin' on the radio
He grabbed Rhiannon by the hand. "Well you heard the man."
Let's sway you could look into my eyes Let's sway under the moonlight, this serious moonlight
If you say run, I'll run with you If you say hide, we'll hide Because my love for you Would break my heart in two If you should fall Into my arms And tremble like a flower
When the song had ended Rhiannon began laughing. "You know, people were staring. I think they thought we were a couple of complete spaz cases."
"Who cares. We're having fun. Let them stare." By now hours had flown by. The two were having a ball when Alan started packing up their stuff.
"Aw we're leaving all ready?"
"Nah not quite c'mon."
Rhiannon looked confused but began helping Alan pack up. She pulled on her shorts and top before tossing Alan his.
"Hear, I wouldn't want to have to beat off the girls with a stick as we walk by." She teased.
"He pulled on his shirt and tossed his jacket with the other things into the basket. They soon headed back onto the boardwalk. Alan and Rhiannon stopped by the comic shop Alan walked over to the counter tossing the basket behind it.
"Well look at Mr. and the future Mrs. Frog." Edgar teased from behind the counter before getting elbowed in the ribs by Alan.
"You been inhaling too much old news print again Rambo?" She said yanking his red bandana down over his eyes.
"No, just calling it like I see it." Again he got elbowed in the ribs by Alan.
"Don't mind him."
"Do I ever? I'm used to his weirdness."
"Like your the queen of normal." Edgar said readjusting his bandana.
Alan hopped over the counter and took Rhiannon by the hand and began leading her out of the store. From behind them Alan heard Edgar make kissing noises, he turned and flipped off his brother before continuing his day with Rhiannon.
The sun was just starting to lower in the sky as Alan and Rhiannon walked along the boardwalk. The breeze blew gently off the waves as the tourists began packing it in for the day. Rhiannon tucked a piece of her long brown hair behind her ear and looked out at the sunset. She felt a tug on her arm. Looking up she saw Alan staring at her.
"You okay?" He said looking at her.
"Yeah, fine."
Alan and Rhiannon walked along the boardwalk till they came to the game stands. Alan walked over to one of them.
"Come on."
Rhiannon walked up behind him. He had a bunch of colored rings in his hand and handed her half. He flung a ring and got it on the bottle neck in one easy motion. Rhiannon on the other hand wasn't having such good luck. Every time she threw a ring it would hit the bottle with a plink and bounce off. Alan laughed waiting for her to finish. When Rhiannon tossed the last of her rings and missed for the last time she let out frustrated sigh. She turned to walk away from the stand when she felt something fluffy thrust in her face. She looked up and Alan was holding a big fluffy fish in her face.
"For me?"
"Yep."
Rhiannon took the fish in one hand and hugged Alan giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks."
The two spent the next couple of hours walking the boardwalk and playing the games. Rhiannon had given up after a while with the games because apparently she came to the realization that she just plain sucked at them. Alan just laughed when she failed.
"You have to be doing this on purpose. There is no way anyone can possibly suck this bad at these games. . .look even that little kid won a toy."Alan said pointing at a five year old.
"Gee, that totally makes me feel so much better." She said rolling her eyes and sticking her tongue out at him.
"Aw, c'mon you know I'm just teasing." He said hugging her close to his side.
During all the fun Rhiannon forgot all about what time it was. The sun had finally set and the moon was shining bright in the sky. Rhiannon and Alan walked back toward the shop when she caught sight of one of the clocks along the boardwalk.
"Shit." She mumbled under her breath.
"Everything okay?"
"Can you walk me home?"
"Home?" He asked feeling a bit dejected. "Yeah, sure. No problem."
After a few minutes they eventually arrived at Rhiannon's house. She let out a small sigh of relief when she didn't see her father's car in the driveway. She turned to Alan and thanked him again for everything and told him how fun it was before disappearing into the house.
Later that night
Rhiannon was so glad that tonight her father was going out on business. She would be free. No more playing Cinderella. That's what she always felt like since her mother passed away. Rhiannon hated how things had changed so much in just four years and she hated it. She was cooking dinner for everyone and couldn't wait for the night to be over.
During dinner it was the same as always. Everything was out and ready before anyone sat down. God forbid it isn't. Then their would be hell to pay. Everyone sat down same as always. No one ever touched anything before their father ate. Once he was done taking his food everyone else was free to take what they wanted. Everything was silent, Rhiannon kept her eyes down and just ate her food. When she was finished she took her plate and went to get up. She quickly sat back down.
"May I please leave the table?" All she got in response was a grunt and a wave from her father.
Rhiannon dumped her dishes in the sink and went upstairs till everyone was finished. She sat up in her room playing with the fish Alan had given her. She changed into her pajamas and headed back downstairs. Needless to say she wasn't surprised when she walked back into the dining room. Everything was a wreck. It looked like a heard of animals ate there not four humans.
Rhiannon picked up a stack of plates and bowls and carried them into the kitchen piling them into the sink with the others. Before turning to get the rest she went over to the counter next to the fridge and turned on the radio.
Returning with more dishes she put them in the sink and began cleaning up and singing along with the song on the radio. Half an hour later her father came in and not in too good a mood either. She looked over at him and noticed he must have left for the bar as soon as dinner was done.
"What's going on? Lower that shit down."
Rhiannon didn't hear. She kept right on doing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen. The leftovers were sitting on the counter ready to go in the fridge and the dishes were just about done. Compared to the pile that lay in the sink when she started.
Again her father yelled to turn down the music. He was standing in the kitchen this time so when he yelled it startled her. Rhiannon jumped dropping the dish she had in her hand it fell to the floor shattering in a million pieces.
"Look what you did!" her father said grabbing her by the arm. "What's wrong with you? Are you really that incompetent that you can't even hold a dish?"
He shoved her back into the counter. Rhiannon let out a small oof as she hit her back where she already had a bruise from the previous night. He went into a tirade cursing and screaming at her. HE grabbed her again.
"I thought I told you to turn that shit down!" He said slapping her across the face. She reeled back grabbing her now stinging face.
"I didn't hear you."
"Don't talk back to me girl." He slapped her again.
What the hell is this? Why isn't this put away?"
She didn't answer when he grabbed her again. She began to tear up. He flung her to the other side of the room knocking her into the kitchen table. More dishes and glasses hit the floor followed by Rhiannon . She tried to get up putting her hands out only to hiss in pain as shards of glass dug into her hands. She heard more dishes. Looking up she saw her father throwing the food she had put in the containers now all over. It wasn't long before one of the containers came flying in her direction. It hit the wall next to her exploding open and the contents splattered all over the wall and her. He r father stalked over from the other side of the room. As she tried to get up again he kicked her in the back sending her back onto the shattered glass on the floor. She yelped when she hit the floor again as more glass cut her.
"Clean this up you worthless piece of trash."
"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?" Rhiannon sobbed. "You bark orders and I do nothing but obey, and you still treat me like trash. I'm not a slave!"
He grabbed her from the floor twisting her arm hard. She screamed before he struck her again. She whimpered and tried to wriggle from his grip to no avail. For the next hour Rhiannon was continually berated cursed at and physically abused. Finally after what seemed like an eternity the beating stopped. Her father threw her down on the ground and walked out of the house. Once Rhiannon heard the car pull away she cleaned up the kitchen and headed out of the house.
It was one in the morning as Rhiannon stumbled through the streets of Santa Carla. Blood and tears rolled down her cheeks as she managed to make her way through town. Soon she could hear the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore. She stumbled along past all the stalls that were closed for the night. She fell to one knee trying to catch her breath. Quickly she continued on passed the carousel and a shop that had the tv's in the window still on. As the dim light flickered on Rhiannon could faintly hear the music video that was playing.
Sometimes she cries, When she's alone at night, Sometimes she weeps, When she's feelin cold and weak, Sometimes the pain, It just tears her up inside,
Finally Rhiannon had come to where she was looking for. She all but dragged herself up the long set of stairs on the side of the building. She went to stand but she was exhausted between the beating and coming here her body finally gave up and she collapsed against the door.
On the other side of the door Edgar and Alan sat in the living room widdeling stakes. "Christ what was that?"
Edgar said jumping up from his spot on the couch. Alan shoved the stake under the table and jumped up to join Edgar. Silently the two made their way to the door, creeping along slowly. Once they reached the door Alan stood a few inches behind Edgar. Edgar held up a finger signaling him to be quiet as he reached for the door handle with the other hand. Edgar took a deep breath and flung the door open. He quickly jumped back as Rhiannon fell over the threshold.
"Rhiannon!" Alan shouted as he practically shoved Edgar aside. HE bent down and scooped her up into his arms. Quickly he walked over to the couch laying her down.
"What happened to her?" Edgar said looking over at them as he closed the door behind him.
From the couch Rhiannon said something but it was so faint they could barely hear her. Alan leaned down and began looking her over. She had cuts and bruised covering her. Edgar left the room and came back minutes later with an arm full of first aid items and some water.
"Rhiannon sweetie, I need you to sit up can you do that for me?" Alan asked taking her lightly by one arm.
"Alan?" She whispered.
"Me and Edgar are going to clean you up okay." Edgar handed Alan the bowl with water and a rag. HE began rolling out some gauze.
Alan tilted Rhiannon's head to one side gently while wiping some blood from her face. Edgar elbowed Alan and pointed to her arm where he reached out and pulled out a piece of glass. The couldn't believe how bad she was. Several minutes later the boys managed to fix her up. To their relief, mostly Alan's, her injuries weren't severe and they were able to patch her up pretty good.
"What happened Rhiannon?"
"Dad." Was all she could manage to get out.
Edgar had put away all the first aid things. When he came back Alan had Rhiannon in his arms and was heading into his bedroom. Edgar followed behind and watched from the doorway as Alan placed Rhiannon down on his bed.
"Did you find out what happened?"
"Her father." Alan said between gritted teeth.
"Calm down. We fixed her up. We'll keep her here for the night. She'll be fine here."
Alan relaxed a little heading over to his bed as Edgar plopped down on his own. Alan gently sat on the edge of his bed and kicked his shoes off. He laid down beside her wrapped his arms around her. She rolled over facing him.
"Alan?"
"It's okay. Shh, your safe."
He pulled her closer to him and she put her arms on his chest. Suddenly she began to cry against his chest. He stroked her hair trying to calm her down. Soon she had stopped crying and was fast asleep in his arms. He kissed her gently on her head and was soon fast asleep himself.
Well there you have it. The long awaited chapter four. Again I am sorry for the long delay. I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you all for the favorites and reviews. It's your support that keeps me going.