Warning:

This episode has physical violence from bullying.

Narrowing his eyes, Ramiro launched a kick at me and smashed my ribs. I spun across the floor. 

“What is that noise?” a distant voice said, and I saw Ramiro look around. 

He didn’t want to get caught.  Grabbing David’s spiral, he stalked towards me.   As I tried to get up, Ramiro wrapped his hand in my hair yet again.

“We will finish this lesson later,” Ramiro told me almost tenderly before he tossed me to the ground again.

This time I stayed down.  His footsteps disappeared and I lay there shaking.  He was as dangerous as Ruben, but almost more psychotic.  At least Ruben was predictable; I never knew what Ramiro was going to do. 

My lungs were still burning, and I just wanted to rest.  Slowly breathing, I struggled for composure.  A gently hand touched my shoulder and I jerked away from it.  Hot pain shot through my neck as I turned too quickly, and I gasped in pain. Snapping my eyes open I saw my teacher, Ms. Ludgit.  She was looking at me with concern and she was saying something.

“What?” I asked shaking my head.

“What happened, Eri?” she repeated, her face etched with worry.

“I don’t know,” I lied. “I was getting my books, and someone came at me from behind.  They were choking me and then they threw me against the lockers.  Then I was here.”

I figured saying that it was Ramiro would be dangerous for my health.  He didn’t seem like the type would take to being ratted on well.

“Did you see the person’s face?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“I would tell you if I did! Ms. Ludgit, I was so scared.  I thought I was going die.”

“Did they touch?”

“What?”

“Did you feel them touching you, you know, inappropriately?”

“No…no…when they threw me against the locker, I heard another voice.  It must have scared him or her off.”

“That was me.  I heard the crash of the lockers.  It was so loud. We should get you to a doctor.”

“No…no…I just want to go home.”

I was crying by then and I must have been really convincing.

“Eri, I know you are upset but you need to see a doctor.  We need to call the police.  You were just attacked!”

“I know.  I know…but I just want to go home.  Please…I’ll tell my mom…she’ll call the police…”

“No.  I have to report this.  Stay here.  I’ll be back with the nurse.”

Straightening, Ms. Ludgit briskly walked off.  Biting my lip, I knew I would get in trouble if I left but, if the nurse looked me over, she would see all the bruises and cuts from the men. I don’t think I could lie well enough about them.

Quickly I ran to my locker and grabbed my backpack.  Groaning I swung my backpack onto my back and left out the near bye door.  I ran for a while before I slowed to a walk.  My ribs felt as if fire was burning between them, tearing apart my flesh and bones.

Ramiro’s face kept appearing in my mind.  He looked insane.  He was insane.  Why did he care if I was talking to or hanging around David?  It was none his business.  Screw him.  I wouldn’t let him scare me.  Maybe I was being stupid, but I didn’t care.  The bastard had thrown me against the lockers! He kicked me!  Ramiro was going to pay. 

I ran most of the way home.  For some reason I kept thinking that police would show up, following me because I ran out on Ms. Ludgit.  The walk that normally took twenty minutes took me only ten minutes running. Sweat poured down my face.  Between the run and Ramiro, adrenaline pumped through my body. Going through the front door, I sprinted up the stairs and into my bathroom.   No one stopped me.  No one said a word to me.  Staring at my image in the mirror, I shook with rage.  What made these men think they could treat me like this?  I had done nothing wrong and yet they bullied and abused me. What right did they have?  I wasn’t some weak woman to abuse for their amusement.  Damn them! Damn them all.

Turning my head, I examined the marks on my neck.  Bruises in the form of Ramiro’s fingertips dotted my neck, speckled with pricks of blood from where his nails dug into my flesh. Sighing, I didn’t think make-up could cover it up. Taking off my shirt, I didn’t even look at my ribs.  Pain when I took a breath in told me my ribs were badly bruised.  Turning on the water, I waited for the water to heat up.  Just as I started unbuttoning my jeans, the bathroom door flew open.

“Kitty!” Ruben bellowed.  “Where have you been?”

Startled, I swiveled around and looked at him.  His eyes widened as he stared at me.  Quickly I reached for my shirt to cover my chest.  With incredible speed, Ruben grabbed the hand that held my shirt and yanked it to him.  Eyes roaming my body, Ruben frowned, studying the growing purple on my ribs.  Turning my head away from him, I tried to think of something to say. 

“What the hell?” he said, grabbing my chin and forcing my head up to better expose my neck. “Kitty, where did these marks come from?”

“What do you mean?  You all did this to me.  Jeez, you guys don’t even remember what you do anymore,” I scoffed, pretending to be upset or indifferent.

“These are not from us.  I never forget any of the marks I leave on you.  Who did this to you?”

“I told you!  You all did this!”

Roughly grabbing me, Ruben dragged me down the stairs.  Digging my heels in, I protested and demanded what he was doing. Ignoring me, Ruben dragged me to the basement.  The men all stood in a group talking.  Hearing my protests, they all looked up.  Some whistled at seeing me in jeans and bra, but Bryan grimaced.

“Ruben, could you please let her be until after dinner?  Some of us are hungry and her sister had to cook yesterday, thanks to you. I’m still dealing with the acid reflux from that,” Bryan grumbled.

“Look at her,” Ruben growled back, holding me in front of Bryan.

“I see her.  She is a lovely young girl,” Bryan nodded.

“No, look at her.  These bruises don’t belong to us,” Ruben said, emphasizing his words.

Freezing, Bryan narrowed his eyes and stepped forward.  Diligently, Bryan examined my bruises and cuts.

“I told Ruben that these are from you all,” I countered, averting my eyes from Bryan.

“You can see that she is obviously lying,” Ruben sighed.

“Yes, clearly these are from someone not with the Reformers.  We will need to handle this,” Bryan scowled.

“Why do you care?” I snapped.  “Even if someone else did that, why would it matter to you?  You guys beat me all the time.”

“Do not exaggerate, and we know our limits.  We are professionals, Eri, and you belong to us.  No one would ever do serious damage.  We must protect what belongs to us.”

“Belongs to you?  I’m a freaking human being, not an object.”

“While that may be, you still belong to the Reformers.  We do not take abuse lightly.”

The hypocrisy of what they were saying stunned me.

“Ruben, take her to her room.  We need to discuss this.”

Ruben nodded and lifted me up like a child, cradling me.  Leaving, Ruben carried me away.  As Ruben climbed the stairs, I heard Arkon’s voice.  Trying to look back, I saw Arkon standing near Bryan.  Where had he come from?

“This changes things,” Arkon said somberly. “We need to move up our plans.”

“Yes, sir,” Bryan responded before I could no longer see.

Quickly Ruben carried me to my bedroom and lay me once again on my bed.  Soon as I was free from his arms, I kicked him hard in the gut.  Grunting, he clutched his stomach.  Bracing myself, I expected a hit for retribution, but Ruben didn’t.  Straightening, he looked at me, his eyes dark with contemplation.

“What?” I snapped angrily.

“Nothing…”

Ruben started to leave, and I couldn’t help but speak out.

“Who is Linda?” I asked, chest tight with fear and curiosity.

“What?” Ruben stopped, snapping around.

“Linda…you said that name last night,” I said meekly, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

Striding over to me, Ruben grabbed my face and kissed me.  It didn’t have his usual force or lust though.  It felt more desperate. Breaking from me, he tossed me down on the bed, my head bouncing on my mattress.

“Forget that name,” he said gruffly. “Or else I will make you forget it.”

Slamming the bedroom door, Ruben left me alone with my thoughts. After about forty minutes of solitude, I was called to fix dinner.  The Reformers were oddly sober during their meal.  No one made comments or jokes.  No one touched Summer or me.  It was nice, but odd. 

After dinner, I cleaned the dishes alone.  Summer and Peter had homework and I had finished mine at school. Oddly doing the dishes gave me peace of mind.  With time to think I wondered about what plans were to be moved up. I wondered why Arkon hadn’t said something when Ruben had paraded my bruises.  And I continued to wonder who Linda was. A soft touch on the back of my head signaled that Arkon had joined me.

“What has you so deep in thought?” Arkon asked politely.

“What plans are moving up?” I asked as my reply.

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”

“But…”

“How about you take tomorrow off?”

“Huh?”

His sudden change of subject confused me.  Studying his face, I couldn’t see any hidden meaning behind his suggestion.

“Life has been hard for you last few months between school, friends, family, and us.  You should take a day off.”

“Won’t Bryan get mad?  He said school is important to the Reformers.”

“Don’t worry.  I’ll talk to him.”

Pausing I thought for a moment. Shaking my head, I decided against it.

“Naw, I want to go to school.”

“Why?”

“How else am I to escape this?”

Gesturing with my hands, I pointed to the house.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I don’t want to spend any more time than I have to in this hell hole.  School is my refuge from you men.”

“Us men?”

“You know, Reformers.”

“So you would rather go to a school where there is someone being physically violent towards you than stay home with us Reformers?”

“Can you blame me?  I mean seriously, Arkon, why would anyone in their right mind choose to be with these men?”

“I see…”

“School sucks, but it’s better than here.”

“I didn’t realize you hated us all that much…”

“It’s not like I asked to be Reformer property.”

“No, you didn’t.”

Arkon gave me a curt bow and began to leave.

“Good night, Ms. Lee.  I won’t force you to be in Reformer presence any longer.”

“Arkon?”

Ignoring me, Arkon left. Confused, I wondered what had gotten into him.  He never called me Ms. Lee.  And he had never been so cold. What was his problem? Shrugging it off, I finished the dishes and went to bed. Arkon locked my door as was tradition, saying nothing to me.

“Fine,” I thought.  “If he is going to ignore me.  I’ll ignore him.”

So, I said nothing to him as he checked my room and locked the door.  I made it painfully obvious that I was ignoring him.  Then I chucked a pillow against the door to vent my hurt feelings.

“Stupid Arkon,” I grumbled into my pillow, falling asleep in a bad mood.

In the morning my alarm woke me instead of Bryan or another soldier. I didn’t think about it until I was eating breakfast.  Taking a deep breath in, I sighed.

“It is so peaceful,” I said aloud to myself. “No one bugging me, demanding food.  No one…”

No one.  That was it. No one was about.  I didn’t hear or see anyone.  Creeping into the basement, I found the Reformer sleeping packs neat, but empty.  Bewildered, I searched the whole house.  Still no one.

“They aren’t here,” Peter said from behind me.

Spinning, I saw him staring at the basement’s door. The hate and anger that scrunched his small face made my heart ache. 

“Peter,” I said, reaching out to touch his shoulder.

“I hate them, Eri.  I hope that they never come back,” he said, his chin quivering.

Pulling him to me, I hugged Peter tight.  Stroking his hair, I tried to offer some comfort but knew it was empty. Fixing him breakfast, I studied his features. There was a hardness around his eyes and mouth that hadn’t been there before.  It worried me.  My mother and dad hadn’t been home for several days.  Often when my mother was home, I wasn’t. I would hear from Peter or Summer that my mother had been home that morning or afternoon.  My dad I would see.  He’d come home for a shower, a hug, and some sleep, then leave.  I was jealous that my mother would make sure to see Peter, but not me.  Yet Peter shouldn’t suffer from my jealousy. 

“Let’s get you to school, okay?” I smiled, picking up his bowl.  

Shuttling him out of the house, we jogged to the bus stop.  Sitting with Peter on the bus, I talked to Maria over the back of the seat in front of me.  Summer sat with Maria. Staying silent, Peter watched the world outside the window.  Maria gave me a concerned look, but I shook my head.  She wouldn’t understand because I couldn’t tell her the truth. 

“What happened to your neck?” Maria asked instead.

Peter’s head swiveled around, and his eyes met mine.  Subtly I shook my head at him this time to signal he should stay quiet. 

“Uh...” I struggled for a reasonable answer.

“Are those hickeys?” Maria grinned.

“Yes…its so embarrassing…” I lied, latching on to her assumption.

“That’s a lot of hickeys. Who is the guy? Please, tell me it wasn’t David.”

“God, no!  It wasn’t David.  It’s no one you all know.  Just got carried away.”

“Nothing more happened?”

“No!  I am not nearly ready for anything more.”

“Okay!  Okay.  I was just asking.  You know girl talk.”

Smiling, I nodded.  Quickly I changed the subject.  Arriving at school, we unloaded from the bus and I gave Peter a tight hug before shooing him off to his side of school.  Kristy appeared and Summer gave us all a hug.  I had a flash back to the day the Reformers first came.  Yet today they were gone when I woke, so it had to be a good sign.  Right?

Someone called my name as soon as I walked through the front doors of my school.  Searching the crowd, I felt my stomach tighten. Ms. Ludgit waded through the crowd of students towards me.

“Go on without me,” I told my friends. 

“Everything okay?” Summer asked, seeing the angry expression on Ms. Ludgit’s face.

“Don’t worry.  I’ll see you all in class,” I reassured her.