[Center][color=teal][h2][b]Lynette Marshall [/b][/h2][/color] Location: Harlan- Home Interacting with: Family/Cops **** [/center] [I]'You one of them freaks?'[/i] The words burned in her brain as she shifted restlessly in her bed. She just wanted to rest, Lynette wanted to close her eyes and escape but sleep wouldn't come. Instead she glared up with tear soaked eyes at the dark ceiling while her finger tips brushed over the mark that had appeared on her arm. It had come out of no where; dark beneath the thin white scars that laid there. It felt like it had always been there- apart of her. Yet every time she looked at it, it filled her with dread. 'Tille had a mark.' Her mind viciously whispered. It was true though. She had seen it for herself before the night she was murdered. It was rumored that the people who had killed her cut it off her body that night. Like a sick trophy. Tille was someone the community liked. She was kind hearted and always the first to lend a hand. Yet, they still killed her. They tortured her and took her life. Fueled by fear and mistrust. If they could do that to someone they liked what would happen to her? Her eye ached in response. She already knew. It was easy to keep it hidden during the day. Her jacket covered both her scars and the mark but when it came to work she was left in the open. At first she had tried to cover it with a bandage but that drew more attention and eventually her boss had pulled her aside and questioned her. Each shift she could feel eyes burn a hole at her arm. The air shifted when she approached her customers and fear burned in the pit of her stomach. She should of known it was only a matter of time. Lynette closed her eyes and let the memories drown her. He wasn't even in her section that night. Jared, a man she had known for years. He had called her over while sitting with a couple of his work buddies. Covered in the days grease and grime from working at the auto shoppe. [Color=teal]"What can I get you?"[/color] [B]"What's on your arm."[/b] It was like someone had shoved ice into her spine. Lynette could feel his eyes bore into hers. He hadn't asked a question, what he said was a statement and Lynette was caught as panic flooded her senses. [Color=teal]"I- it's a tattoo."[/color] she stammered trying to think up a quick lie, [color=teal]"In honor of Tille."[/color] Her voice was tight as she searched his face for a reaction but there was none, instead he looked across the table at his friends and asked for another round of beers. Lynette could feel the relief that came as she walked away. She was in the clear and soon the whole situation had faded from her mind. At the end of her shift, as always, she went to walk the few blocks to her parents humble home. The sky was dark and heavy with stars that smattered across its vastness. She had never been afraid to walk around at night but then again she never had a reason too be afraid before. It was his heavy steps that alerted her to his presence first. The faint scent of beer that wafted from his body. He was plastered. No doubt after they had left they hit the local pub while waiting for her shift to be over. [B]"You one of them freaks?"[/b] Jared had asked, speech slurred. His friends had been with him. Each as drunk as the other as they circled her. Lynette never had the chance to speak as the first hit rocked her small frame. The pain caused her vision to darken as she landed smack on the ground below. From there it was a blur. The insults. The pain. It all melded together as they kicked and spat at her. It felt like hours had passed before they stepped back. Leaving her bleeding and sobbing on the side of the road. She didn't even remember coming home, just that her mother had dropped the cup she was getting out of the cabinet when her daughter came through the door. Her father had dialed the police despite her weak protests. She didn't want them to know. She didn't want them to see. Her fear of them rejecting her burned brightly. The police took her statement. She remembered them pressing her for information as to what may of set them off but all she could do was shrug. She was lucky, though. Nothing was broken just some bad bruseing and a swollen, black eye. The sky outside had already started to turn pink with the rising sun. She listened quietly as the world began to wake. Cars rumbling to life. Her parents shuffling downstairs to start a pot of coffee. She wanted to get up and join them. She wanted to laugh and help her mom make breakfast but she couldn't move; wouldn't move. A soft rapping came from her door, [b]"Lynn, honey? Are you up?"[/b] Her mom's voice called softly. She could feel the worry in her tone and it stung her. As if she was causing her mother pain. Lynette didn't bother to respond. Instead she snuggled further down into her comforter and hoped her mother would just leave her be. [B]"Lynn. Baby. You need to get up,"[/b] her mom spoke louder as she opened the door, [b]"The police are here."[/b] Lynette rolled to look back at her mother. Sure enough there was two state troopers standing behind her like body guards. [B]"Miss,"[/b] One of the officers stepped forward, [b]"We're going to need you to get dressed and pack a few things. You'll need to come with us."[/b] Lynette shot up in bed. She looked over at her mother who was wringing her hands as tears slipped down her face. [B]"We'll give you a minute to get ready."[/b] They nodded curtly and backed away. [Color=teal]"Mom?"[/color] But her mom didn't answer. Instead she just shut the door and left her daughter to process what was being asked of her. [Center]****[/center] [B]"Is this necessary?!"[/b] Ryan yelled at the officers while his wife sat on the couch, face buried in her hands crying. [B]"Sir, we understand this is a difficult situation but you must trust us."[/b] [B]"Trust you?! You're trying to take my daughter! She's only seventeen!"[/b] He knew he was out of line but he couldn't control himself. Lynette was his only child. His precious little girl and now they wanted to take her. Whisk her away to some unknown place. One of the officers had had enough as he lurched forward. Squaring up to the belligerent man as his mouth formed a hard line, [b]"I. Was. There!"[/b] He breathed. [B]"I was there the night you called. I saw her! I saw her bleeding and crying and I saw [i]it[/i]. And I know you did too."[/b] Lynette's jacket had fallen down off her shoulder, exposing the devil mark on her flesh. He didn't say anything about it that night. The girl was already too shaken about being jumped but he knew. He knew the reason why she was attacked and now he was here, trying to rescue her before the next call he got was about her body. [B]"You remember Tille. That is exactly what is going to happen if we don't get her out of here."[/b] Ryan had gone quite. The weight of his words hitting him hard before he abruptly swung around to punch the wall behind him, [b]"Fuck!"[/b] He roared. [B]"Sir, you need to ca-"[/b] an officer was cut off by the soft thud of a small pack hitting the bottom of the stairs. [Center]****[/center] She stood there, shell shocked, before stepping off the bottom step. Lynette had gotten ready in mute silence. Her whole body and mind numb. A moment passed before her mother rushed off the couch and encircled her daughter with a tight embrace. Her father followed suit and while most teens would hate the feeling of being smothered by their parents, Lynette welcomed their warmth around her stiff frame. Soon she dissolved into a shivering mess. Her cries echoing her mother's as she managed to choke out, [color=teal]"I don't want to go."[/color] Her voice was edged with fear and pain. She didn't want to leave. She wanted them to tell her to go back and unpack her things. Instead the senior officer stepped forward and held out a comforting hand. [B]"Miss, I'm going to take care of you. Don't you worry."[/b] Her parents reluctantly stepped back as Lynette handed him her pack. Still shivering with silent tears she followed them to the police car waiting outside. They opened the door for Lynette and she hesitated, looking back at her weeping parents and silently begging them to fight for her. But the words never came and she slowly climbed inside. While she sat there she could feel her heart breaking in her chest.