Fragments - Book One of the Missing

Chapter 20 - Rowan

All she wanted to do was sleep. If she slept, she didn't have to think of it. The sleep was fitful, but it helped her avoid what happened. What almost happened.

She didn't want to cry about it. She couldn't. Nothing actually happened right? Taniel had been there to stop it. Why couldn't she be the one to stop it?

The door to the loft closed. Taniel gone to Edie's. Again. It was for the better. She didn't want him, or anyone really, to see her like this. She was stronger than this.

But just like always, what she wanted - she never got. Scooter peered around the partition.

"What, Scooter?"

"I, er... well, I'm sorry. I am so sorry. I never should have left." She looked at him. His face was screwed tight. She knew it wasn't his fault, but she couldn't forgive him yet. "Listen, a lot of shitty things happened to me in the Underground. And at St. Andra's for that matter. You know how boys are..."

"No. Actually I don't."

"Ah. Right. Well it always helped me after to fight it out. Not beat up on someone, per say," he looked at her sideways. "But, get the energy out. To make me stronger so I would never let someone do anything like that again. Learn to fight."

"Well, that's something I can relate too."

He brightened. "Show me."

She knew he was baiting her. But she was so angry, so tightly coiled as it was. He was right, she needed to let it go.

"Fine. Roof?"

"Perfect."

The air was biting, wind whipped around them. She relished it. "No bag?"

"No bag," he confirmed. "Just you and me."

"That's not a great idea."

"It's our only idea. And if you don't hit me, I'm coming after you."

She rolled her shoulders back and placed her feet. He mirrored her. "When you are ready."

She sprung. Punch after punch, Scooter took them all, never once coming back at her. He didn't even make a sound. She threw everything she knew at him, the anger fueling her into someone, something she didn't recognize.

"That's it, Rowan. Get it out. Hit harder."

All it took was a few more punches, and suddenly she felt it all go. The anger had emptied from her, all that was left was vulnerability. She fell into Scooter, hands over her face.

"Why is this all happening? Why is it happening to me?"

And to her great embarrassment, she started to cry in front of him.

"Do you want me to get Taniel?"

"No. No, I don't want him to know."

He was quiet for a few minutes while she pulled herself together. When she drew away and looked at him, there was a hard look in his eyes - more steel than blue at the moment.

"Something is coming, Rowan. I can feel it."

The wind whipped about her again, and this time she felt the chill in her bones. She shivered. Whatever was coming, Rowan felt it too.