Chapter 11: Her Secret

KANE'S POV

“What’s taking her so long?” I’d grown annoyed for the past 15 minutes, Kaylee our other group member is still not at the cafe that we agreed to meet up. I looked at Artea her brunette hair was tied into a ponytail and casually sipping her iced coffee, I noticed that she always drink that in the mornings or after school or if not coffee she would drink some soda, juice, or any flavored drink.

Rolling her eyes at my statement she picked up her phone and scrunched her eyebrows “She said she’s on her way”.

A minute passed and finally Kaylee came running into the cafe showering us with apologies. I noticed her dissolved red hair, untied shoelace, and out of breath state. We got into Artea’s car she drove us to her house.

I didn’t really noticed the house when I dropped her off, it was a modern structure, it looks big and classy. She welcomed us in and I asked “No one’s home?”, “My mom’s at work and Greg has club stuff” she shrugged, looks like she’s used to this.

Turning my head to the red hair she was fiddling with her fingers and gawking at the place. I can’t really blame her whoever decorated this place has some style, the shelves are neatly placed, everything is well organized, and the stuff here looks like it can be used efficiently without any problem.

Settling in the living room Artea set down her laptop and we started the project and boy it was hard that I wanted to find a spell to do this without actually doing it.

THIRD PERSON POV

“UGH! What equation is this?! Mr.Math didn’t even taught us this!” The Lenner let out a groan, the two turned their heads on the girl with a tired look. Trying to solve each equations they were assigned to, “w-well Mr. Lee gave us the project for us to figure out o-our own… I think” the shy girl who got solved 3 out of 5 of her equations stated in a soft voice.

“Tsk, no he gave us this equations so that he won’t have to teach them to us and let us do the work” Kane countered rolling his eyes annoyed when he read the mind of his Math teacher.

“Let’s take a break then…” Artea suggested the two “I’ll go get some snacks and drinks… Any food y’all have in mind?” Kaylee and Kane only shook their heads no so Artea went to the kitchen.

The hard headed boy and the shy girl were left, there was an uncomfortable silence both of them did not bother to start a conversation so they kept their eyes on their work. Kane being Kane wanted to penetrate the girl’s memories so he did casting a non-verbal spell and the shy girl’s mind being unguarded he slipped in easily.

‘YOU BITCH! IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT!’, a hand smacked against her face bringing her onto her knees

‘IF YOU WERE NEVER HAVE DONE THAT HE WOULD’VE BEEN HERE WITH US!’, a kick to the abdomen

‘YOU SHOULD DO EVERYTHING I SAY! THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME!’, a glass was thrown aiming at her face but she dodged it and ran into her room, locking the door and sobbing her heart out.

Kane felt pain to the places the shy girl were hit in her memories and he immediately broke the spell. His eyes widened shocked at what was happening in the girl’s home… more like house. Finally Artea came back with some chips, cookies, and sodas to beat their exhaustion and refresh their energy.

The teenagers continued to do their project, sometimes conversing into a meaningful conversation. Kane’s mind were not that focused on his work, he was drafting in and out of the conversation. Kaylee didn’t mind and honestly she was too shy to make the first move only the Lenner girl was trying and she’s getting sick of it.

7:00 PM

“I think that’s it for today we finished, I finished 4 out of 5…” Artea informed the other and looked at Kaylee “I f-finished 4 out of 5 t-too…” then both of the girls looked out Kane “3 out of 5” he stated in a monotone voice clearly his mind is somewhere else.

“It’s already 7 and—” Artea was cut off by Kaylee’s voice “I-I-I gotta go… mom will kill me” she mumbled the last part, her voice turned from shy to full of fear which the Vertrude boy raised his eyebrows shooting Artea a look.

“Let me drive you—” Artea offered but Kaylee only shook her head aggressively while shoving her things into her backpack messily. The two teenagers watched Kaylee scramble in fear, trying to ease the girl and help her but Kaylee only refused saying sorry and that she really need to go.

“Kaylee let me drop you off at the nearest stop to your house it’s already dark!” Artea shouted while Kane just dragged Kaylee and shoved her into the car. Kaylee stood shocked she slightly trembled because of Kane’s grip which was noticed by Artea, so she grabbed Kane’s hand and shot him a 'don’t' look.

They dropped her off at the nearest place and the shy girl dashed off to her house leaving the two teenagers dumbfounded and confused. Kane understood why and Artea will get sucked into this mess again.

“You should’ve seen the look on her face Kane… pure fear…” said Artea while looking on the road with furrowed brows, “you should’ve seen her memories….” Artea’s head whipped to the boy and they locked eyes “she was getting abused” Kane continued.

Artea was speechless all the time Kaylee flinched, her shy personality, the bruise was because she was getting hit. “Do you—” Kane didn’t let her finish that sentence saying that she shouldn’t meddle into somebody else’s life trying to be hero. Artea didn’t like the sound of him calling her a wannabe hero, she didn’t want to be Kaylee’s hero but at the same time imagining someone being abused without a reason didn’t sit right with her.

~~~

THIRD PERSON POV

Kaylee was out of breath resting her house, she looked at the windows and the lights were on in the living room. She slightly trembled in fear while walking inside her home. “Kaylee? Where have you been?” Hearing her mother’s voice it was monotone and that gave her chills. “S-sorry I stayed out too l-late…” footsteps closing in on her made her shrink back in her place “We were d-d-doing a project…” she finished still not looking her mother in the eye.

“And you didn’t inform me?” Her mother asked putting on a gentle face putting her arms around her trembling daughter “I think you should be punished for that….” Kayle became stiff and her lips trembled so she bit down on it.

Suddenly there was a sharp pain on her back she shrieked in pain and another she tried to get away from her mother’s embrace but her mother’s hold were too strong.

SMACK

OW!

SMACK

OW!

“Please stop… I-I-I-I’d never do it again!” The frail girl pleaded but her plea were ignored…

~~~

“All wounds heal, but what about scars?”