We Meet Again 2

Thirty-Two

(Raven)

(Meanwhile)

As I watched Mandy enjoying her meal, I thought of my son. I know that he's being well cared for by BB, but I couldn't help but wonder how he's coping with quote-unquote regular life. Is he smiling and happy or is he crying and miserable. I wouldn't know because I'm not there. I wanted to go back so bad that my heart fluttered at the thought, but I had to maintain a certain stance. I can't appear weak... I can't show any feelings of any kind in Scathe, so I had to put my son in the back of my mind.

'The day will come when we meet again my beautiful boy.'

I then felt another buzzing sensation in my pocket, alerting that I had a new text message. As I was about to take a quick peek, knowing who it was, the very same Scathe members returned with Star's modified meal, and... STAR!!

"St!" ... I started to say her name aloud, almost jumping out of my chair, then I calmed down.

'No emotion Raven, no feelings!' I coached myself, but it was hard.

It was just too difficult to not to run up and wrap my arms around her beaten and bruised slender frame. She slightly smiled at me, but when I turned from her, I felt that very smile wash off her swollen face.

"You've done well. Now leave the prospect and escort yourselves from my presence." I announced, then walked over to the window, placing my hands behind my lower back.

"Dr. Abrams requires the prospect to take these antibiotics three times a day, and for her to rest a week before training. She has a few broken ribs and..." I cut the female member off.

"I said... escort yourselves! I do NOT need you to lecture me! I think I know what to do with my prospect! Now if you value your pathetic life, I bet you'd better leave." I quickly turned to them with the devil in my eyes! I didn't mean to frighten Star and Mandy, but I needed to make my point.

I think they knew that I was not kidding around with them. Both Scathe members, male and female, backed away swiftly and gently closed the door. I noticed that Mandy and Star still held fear in their expressions, but as soon as the coast was clear, I quickly ran to Star's side.

"Star!! Are you alright? Did they do anything else to you? Come... you must eat. Please have a seat while I get your food. Mandilion would you please help her to the table?" Mandy jumped from her seat to assist Star as I placed her meal in front of her. Star gave me another weak smile then tried her best to lift her spoon to her mouth.

'She looked extremely hungry... just as Mandy had!' I thought. These assholes taken it way too far with starving the potential recruits!

They starved my best friend!

"Funny... I never thought of eating baby food again at such a young adult age tah-hee." She joked, painfully lowering her utensil clearly in agony.

'She must have suffered from a broken shoulder too! This is unacceptable! Scathe severely injured one of my loved ones! I can't express enough how much they're suffering would be a million times worse! It's just a matter of time.'

I immediately got in front of her, took her spoon, and started to feed her myself.

"Here Star... here you go." I gave her a spoon full of the potatoes and she accepted with tears flowing. She closed her eyes as she savored the taste of the subterranean vegetable. I smiled at her, knowing that she was still able to enjoy food with the horrific injuries to her face and the metal immobilizing her lower jaw.

"Raven, are you okay?" She asked placing her hand on my shoulder. I hadn't realized that I was shedding tears too, looking into her black and blue blistering eyes.

"Uh.. yeah. I'm just glad that you're alright, even though you had to fight. Had I'd known that you were here, you know I would've allowed this! But you have my word that no one will ever hurt you again! Even if it means my life... you and your family would be safe."

"I don't need your life Rae, your love and willingness to protect us is enough for me. Please don't think that you're expendable because I am willing to die for you too! You need to understand that you are a victim as well! You don't deserve this, just like me, just like my baby, your baby, our friends... our family! We are all suffering from Scathe, so the burden isn't yours alone." The waterworks flowed without my control. I was on the verge of an emotional breakdown.

"You are my friend, my best friend Raven, my sister! Please don't think for a second that I'd let you fight this battle alone." Star said looking into my eyes, and I couldn't help it... I caved in tears. I'm talking full on sobbing, hyperventilating, and clutching the hem of Star's shirt for support. It hurt so much that I couldn't hardly breath through my cries.

"It's okay Ms. Raven. I will fight with you too. In honor of my grandmother, in honor of all those in your family, for you... for me, for us! I have nothing else to lose... I only have what's in front of me now. I trust you Ms. Raven. I know that you will take me home, us home." Mandy took ahold of both my hands, giving them a little squeeze.

For the first time in a very long time, I didn't feel like I was alone in this hell hole. Sure Rose claims that we're on the same team, but I knew better. I knew that she would flip on me for her own selfish gain in a half-heartbeat, but now I have two people I could actually count on! Why, because I can feel it deep within my soul that they are more than willing to help me take down these animals.

And it feels... euphoric.

I'm going home! I going home to my boys.

'My boys... shit! I have to read my text messages from my BB!' I thought aloud.

"Raven, are you feeling the o and the k?"

Classic Kori Star, hmp.

"Yeah I just." ...

"It's alright Ms. Raven, I will help Ms. Star eat her meal. You go ahead and do your thing." Mandy said while gingerly taking the spoon from me, moved Star's loose hair behind her ear, then started to give her small bites of her meal.

"Mandy? They took you too?"

"Yes, but it's okay. I know we're going to get out of here. Hey, take a bite of this... you're going to love it!" She spooned Star a small sample of the steak. They then both laughed and continued to conversate with one another as I took a moment to read my text.

I couldn't help but think of how sweet and selfless young lady is. I can tell that she's done this kind of thing before, perhaps with her grandmother, or some summer school volunteer program, but whatever the case... I can tell that she's a young caregiver. I will not let her become a monster like they carved me out to be. I will take care of her when we get home! This young lady will be under my custody with or without consent.

And I pretty sure she wouldn't object to that notion.

Nevertheless, I finally gotten the chance to read the messages from my BB.

I promise once I get home, I'm going to be so far up under him that he'd think he grew another limb! I couldn't hardly contain myself when I read his every word, and the fact that he still loves me, made my heart sing.

I quickly texted him back with just four words!

~ "I love you too!"

That's all it took for me. Game on! I have to end this shit quick and fast. I want to go home. I need my family. I need my Garfield... both of them.

*************

(Edited 2021)