Love her, Save her, Don't Die. [A Mortal Kombat Romance Fanfiction]

Author's note. Here's what you need to know.

I was not in a domestic violence relationship so don't even bother pestering me with questions of why I have information. I went to a ton of websites—studied it—and voila.

Kitana, my lovely heroine, finally made the choice to leave her abuser. Now, had she not developed in the earlier chapters and remained scared, she would have been stuck with Daegon, or possibly, dead. To delve into this subject that is somewhat common all around yet no one bats an eye, I had to make Kitana weak. Yes, yes, I know; she's a badass, but I had to show a message here. Domestic violence will still continue even if the victim fights back. And well, I thought of her being totally vulnerable and not being tough when with Daegon when I wrote this. I was like, 15, at the time.

It can go in both ways—men on women, women on men. Women can have just the amount of temper and anger issues that a man can have when taking it out on their partner. And abuse can range from anything. A simple slap or punch, humility or coerced sexual encounters are considered as signs domestic abuse.

Here are some facts I have gathered while writing this short story, and editing.

One in every four women will experience domestic violence situation during her lifetime.

Women are more likely killed by their spouse than by an anonymous stranger.

Most domestic violence cases are never reported. Keep this in mind.

Men are also likely to be victims of domestic violence.

An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year.

Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults.

I originally intended to let Marshall save Kitana, or have her die, but then I realized how clichéd it was. Some girls can leave when they have the strength and courage. I decided to give Kitana that courage that some girls have. Well, teenage girls. Some girls don't have the courage and stay because they love them and take fault for the abuse.

Which is actually true—it is not a bullsh*t statement.

Most people are sometimes even tied to abuse—they can be witnesses or have evidence, be related to the victim or abuser in any way, shape and form. They may either encourage the abuser to stay, or somehow let things get worse. Like with Carly, Lacey and Skarlet, they encouraged her to be with Daegon despite the fact that she was pregnant because well . . . they were teens and thought it would make the abuse stop. Even Kitana thought that. They've also done their best to make her leave, but she denies it, and sooner or later, they end up making it be a part of their lives, whether they liked it or not.

Now . . . with pregnancy and domestic violence.

If you guys honestly think that because the victim is pregnant, the abuse may end, you are half-right and half-wrong. Half-right, because during this stage, the abuser may reconsider hitting his wife that is with his child, and stop. Half-wrong, because the abuse may start up once again, causing bad effects for the child (Like Bastian having a crooked foot), such as mental development, social awareness and interaction with the parents, etc. It even may affect the child so badly that they assume that violence is a common way of life—now, I do not know if that is for both boys and girls; my mind gears towards the males. I'm not sure.

One would think that DV and Pregnancy never mix—it's a lie. The abuser may appear to be nice and caring, but know that appearances can be deceiving.

The proper way to call what Kitana went through is Teen Dating Violence. Teen Dating Violence is common, but not so much as for adults.

Most victims will also commit suicide while in the relationship in order to get away from the pain.

For those who are reading my other work involving Domestic Violence and Child Abuse, Caught in a Crossfire, this is the same information that I researched.

If you, a friend, or family member you know is being abused, help is here. Look at these links and numbers, and recommend them to someone you know.

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/domestic-violence-and-abuse.htm

http://www.thehotline.org/

http://www.thehotline.org/is-this-abuse/

http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/violence/intimatepartnerviolence/sld001.htm

http://www.womensweb.ca/violence/dv/pregnancy.php

1-800-799-7233 <--National Domestic Violence Hotline

http://joyfulheartfoundation.org/?gclid=CJa46uznucECFQctaQodNFIAzQ

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/help-for-abused-and-battered-women.htm

http://www.enddomesticabuse.org/article_domestic_violence_awareness_355.php?gclid=CN2WzoXoucECFQiAaQodkTEAGA

http://www.safehorizon.org/page/domestic-violence--abuse-50.html

http://www.batteredmen.com/bathelpnatl.htm

I hope you take these links into consideration and know that it's not too late to make the right choice.