Hidden Talents

Prologue

3 years before...

"And now taking the ice... Charlotte Evingston out of Chicago, Illinois."

"Another flawless routine as expected from Charlie."

"And those scores are enough to keep her well ahead in this competition and in first going into tomorrow's free skate program."

Sitting in the locker room I still feel the high I get every time I step off the ice. I close my eyes and visualize the performance I just gave. Going from first pose, to first jump, to the final spin and ending pose.

I open my eyes and there stands my coach. Viktor Vgostky. He looks proud. "Charlotte that was one of your best skates of the season and if you keep it up you'll be standing on that Olympic podium in February. No one will be able to hold a candle to you."

He walks towards me, then crouches down in front of me. He begins talking to me about what I need to focus on for tomorrow, but I'm not listening. I am too focused on the way his hand is sliding up my leg and his face is way too close to my own. As his hand get closer to the no go zone I grab his hand and toss it aside.

"Stop," I say. He tries again with the other hand, I stand up quickly trying to back away from him.

"I said stop." He kept coming toward me so I slapped him hard across the face. When he looked at me there was something not right in his eyes. Suddenly, I am being slammed up against the wall Viktor's mouth crushing mine, while his tongue is shoving its way down my throat. My first kiss stolen and ruined. I am pinned against the wall and can't fight against him forcing his fingers into me. Tears are pouring down my cheeks. I feel helpless.

After what feels like hours he backs away putting his fingers in his mouth. I scramble to grab my things and get out of there as quickly as possible. As I head for the door I am yanked back by my hair. I can feel his breath on my neck and it sends a shiver down my back as he says,

"You are mine, on and off the ice. No one else will ever have you or it will be the end of them. That's my promise." He lets go. Infuriated I whip my head around and seethe at him,

"That's an empty threat. You and I both know it. I'll skate without a coach tomorrow, you're fired." I walked out of the locker room before he could respond.

Brandon is waiting for me outside the rink for our usual post-skate activities. As I step out of the doors he turns smiling at me until he sees the look on my face.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I say trying to look more like my usual self. No such luck.

"Charlotte, do not tell me nothing because it is definitely something." When he reaches out for my shoulder I unwillingly flinch.

"Charlie..." he says concern flooding his eyes. "What's wrong?" I close my eyes, take a deep breath then tell my big brother everything that just happened. His face went from concern to fury.

"That bastard! Charlotte, you have to go to the police about him!"

"NO. I do not want this getting out. I fired him. He has no reason to be near me anymore. Please don't tell anyone B, I don't want anyone to know what he did to me."

Brandon stares are me for a good 3 minutes and then finally closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "Fine, but if anything like this happens again you go straight to the police."

"Promise, thank you B."

He looks at me for a few more seconds and then says, "Alright, well I still don't like this, but let's go. Matt is waiting for us at CoffeeShoppe and then you and I are going to have some quality brother/sister time at the Blackhawks game." I smile up at him and loop my arm through his and reply with a devious grin,

"There is no way he is letting you go to a Hawks game without him." He smiles back at me that lazy lopsided grin he always does,

"Oh believe me I know, that's why you're gonna tell him he's not going." And then he takes off running.

When we arrive Matt is already sitting at a table outside with a doughnut and coffee in front of him. Facing away from us, I sneak up and clap my hands on his ears just as he's about to take a sip of hot coffee, causing him to jump and spill all down his front.

"Dammit Brandon!" He turns around and sees me struggling to contain my laughter. "Well, well Charlotte you do take after that childish brother of yours." Matt said with a smirk.

"Well I have to do something in order to live up to his standards." Matt begins cleaning up his mess as Brandon walks up with our drinks. He takes one look at Matt and then utters,

"A bib next time perhaps?" Then cackles at his own lame joke.

"Funny. Remind me, do you turn 9 or 19 tomorrow?" Matt retorts, as Brandon sits down.

We sit and talk for awhile and then Brandon looks at me with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes and then turns to Matt.

"Matt, Charlie has some gloomy news to share with you." Matt looks at me.

"Well Charlie, what is it?" Matt asks. I look right at him with a smile and declare,

"Brandon and I are going to the Hawks game tonight without you." Matt looks at me as if waiting for someone to jump out and say "Gottcha!" When it didn't happen he cries out, "Well Charlie, I'm pretty sure you have just broken my heart, and you," pointing at my brother, "you cheating bastard you. I am never speaking to you again." He then turns his chair around, pretending to ignore us. Matt lasts about 2 minutes before he turns back around and continues with constant chatter only he can effectively accomplish.

As he talks I glance around at the people walking and then I see him. The color drains from my face and I suddenly feel sick.

"Brandon he's here." Brandon looks to where I am staring and says,

"Matt, take Charlie inside and do not let her out of her sight." He then gets up out of his chair and heads in Viktor's direction.

"Where are you going?!" I ask frantically.

"I'll be right back. I am just gonna tell him to back off."

"Charlie, what's going on?" Matt asks.

"I'm having trouble with my coach, Brandon can tell you later. Let's just..." I say never taking my eyes off of my brother. POP POP POP Gun shots. I see Brandon crumple to the ground.

"BRANDON!" I scream as I run towards him. As I reach him blood is dribbling out of his mouth and he is grasping for breath. Viktor is already in handcuffs.

"Not so much of an empty threat now is it my little prodigy? Remember that before you step on to the ice next time. I will come back for you. No one will get in my way," Viktor sneers as the police officers slam the door on him.

Tears are pouring down my cheeks and when Matt crouches down beside me Brandon looks at him and gasps, "Watch her." His eyes gloss over and the labored breathing ceases. I put my face onto his blood soaked chest and cry. I cry for what seems like hours until I feel a hand on my shoulder. "Charlotte, the coroner needs to get to him," Matt says gently. I slowly lift my head and then turn into Matt's chest and start crying again sputtering, "It's all my fault. All my fault." I silently vow that no one else will ever get hurt because of me again.