Sunshower

Chapter 7: Dreams

Hoseok left Cassia's room and closed her door behind him. He leaned against the door frame, thinking about what he just made her relive. He and his father had problems during his time at home, but he couldn't imagine growing up without him - and there is no way he would still be alive without his mom. He slumped against the door, making it creak a little, and buried his head in his arms. The overwhelming sadness took over again.

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Cassia laid in her bed quietly thinking of Hoseok and how he was there for her. How he said he wanted to be able to be her 'person'. She shut her eyes, for once, feeling peaceful. She felt friendship, protection, inclusion; all the things she swore she didn't need. Now in the short amount of time she spent with him she craved all of it.

She heard the door creak from the outside and her breath caught in her throat. She looked at the door, but no one was there. The door was shut, just the way Hoseok left it. Then she thought she heard a small sniffle, or maybe a whimper. She thought of getting up to check, but the thought terrified her. She squeezed her eyes shut tight and tried to block out all the sounds. She began to think of the things she had just revealed to her new friend. Those things she hadn't talked about in years. The memories came all flooding back to her mind, except Hoseok wasn't here to help her control her fear anymore. She tried to imagine him in her head, but couldn't get a clear picture of his face. She felt her mind begin to take over and soon it had pushed any good memories away. Her mind was hyper aware of the information she had shared with Hoseok. She had never shared that with anyone except her best friend. Of course she no longer had a best friend. She had abandoned her as well after that night.

She tried breathing big deep breaths to calm her heart rate and found Hoseok coming back into focus. She started to see the features of his face more clearly, and her mind started to ease a bit. Before she knew it she was drifting off to sleep.

The door shut behind her and she heard the click of the lock. She turned to see the same man from the kitchen walking toward her.

"You really shouldn't ignore someone when they tell you that you're pretty," the man said. "That makes a man feel rejected and pathetic. And it really makes me mad." He pushed her shoulders hard and she fell back onto her bed.

"See, that's what I mean. You should be ready when a man tells you you're pretty. I'm just trying to teach you proper etiquette. You may need it later in life." Cassia jumped to her feet, a feeling of fear washing over her. She looked the man directly in the eyes.

"Get the fuck out of my room!" she demanded. The man ignored her and walked closer to her. She moved to step around him, but he was completely blocking her path with his large build. He grabbed her by the shoulder and pushed her down again. She landed on the floor in a heap. She looked up to see him removing his belt. She tried to crawl to the door, but he kicked her back, his boot making contact with her cheek. He picked her up and pinned her to the bed. She thrashed and kicked - any movement so that he couldn't hold her down. He was too strong.

"MOM!!! MOM!!!! HELP ME!" she screamed. It was no use. Her mom was passed out drunk on the floor of her own room, all the way on the other side of the house.

"PLEASE STOP - PLEASE! GET OFF OF ME!" Cassia began to cry as the man kept forcing himself on her. She tried with every ounce of energy she had to push him away, but she was too weak.

"Cass, Cass! Cass, wake up!" Cassia's eyes flew open and she saw Hoseok above her holding onto her shoulders. She jumped backwards, into a sitting position, out from under his grip. He backed away a little, taking the cue from the look in her eyes. Tears were pooling at the corners and she looked horrified.