We Meet Again

Thirty-nine

(Writer)

"WHAT!!! What WOMAN!! BB's voice almost cracked as he was blindsided by the news the young boy was relaying as best he could.

"Jillian's cousin was making mommy bleed! She was fighting her daddy! Mommy told me to run, so I ran to Mandy's house and... and..."

He started to sob again. BB held on tightly to Dylan, comforting the child while Vic stared intently at Raven.

Raven started to feel threatened by Victor's animosity. She was just as confused as they were. As she rubbed her left arm out of concern, looking at the wall with innocence, Victor stood up and slowly started walking towards her.

"What do you know about the crazy shit that's been happening since you arrived!" He said startling her out of her trance. He was so close up on her that she felt venerable again. The same feeling that she held in the beginning of the organization she was forced into.

(Raven)

"This is my friend, my big brother! Why would he approach me like he wants to pull my head off my shoulders... literally." I thought as he glared at me as if he was hungry for blood...

My blood!

He came within inches of my face, and started to aggressively ask questions I didn't have the answers to.

"My colleagues... my friends are DYING RAVEN!!! None of this would've happened if you didn't show up! Right now my wife, my QB, is headed into the melting pot! And I swear to everything holy in the heavens that if something happens to Karen, I will hold you fully responsible!" He pointed his finger in my face, reviling his anger all in that one phrase.

I meant none of them any harm. I looked over at BB to see if he was at least watching, to see if I was safe, to protect me like I was prepared to do for him and the kid, and I got my answer...

He wasn't.

He was still comforting his 'fake' son and ignoring what I know he evidently heard since we were all in the same room.

I felt alone, cornered, attacked, accused and... disregarded!

I suppose I deserved it though. I mean I did harm, mame, and even killed several people as the Beast for Scathe, but this... this... struck me to my soul! I didn't know that tears were flowing out of my eyes until...

"Pish... she cries now! Did you cry before all this, huh? You... you... BEAST!!!"

His words shocked me!

I knew that's what Scathe called me, but not them! Especially not my brother!

I felt an entirely new pain that I couldn't describe. I felt like I was choking... dying on the inside, all over again!

I didn't belong here!

I didn't fit in nowhere, not Scathe, not home, not anywhere!

I realize that now.

I glanced over at BB, who still didn't protect me from this verbal assault, and it broke my soul.

He didn't even budge!

I guess he wanted answers too. I mean, Scathe did hurt his 'beloved' Terra, so why would he give a fuck about me!

When Dylan stopped his theatrics, not belittling his feelings in any way, but children have a different way of exposing their emotions...

Dramatically