Her hands were burning from the slap so there had to be a bruising effect on Sophie's face. Skaii didn't bother to spare her mother a second glance, her disgust towards her did not allow it. She trotted past her to the table and snatched up the keys to the house. She briskly walked towards the door and opened it. Her mother was still standing, frozen in the middle of the kitchen, with her hand on the cheek that Skaii had struck.

Skaii welcomed the cool evening air as soon as it hit her. She inhaled deeply and slowly shove the strands of hair that loosely hung in her face. She began walking down the concrete pavement towards the gate. As soon as she was out on the street she, she took her phone out and dialed her brother's number.

"Ian," Skaii breathe out. "Ian."

"Skaii?" His voice was deep and groggy, it sounded as if he was awaken by her call. Tears rolled out of her eyes as her brother called her name. She was glad he answered. He was the only person who she could talk to; he was the only person she had to talk to.

She cleared her throat and asked, "Are you okay? Were you sleeping?" She bit her lip anxiously, she knew by now that if her brother had seen the message she sent to him just moments ago, he would not be this calm.

"I think I should be asking you that. Where have you been? I mean, I called, I texted, I left a bunch of voice messages and I haven't heard back from you until now. What's going on Skaii?" He was fully awake now, his voice was laced with concern. Skaii took a deep breath, in an attempt calm herself down, Ian was too smart and he knew her sister well. She heard him shuffle on the other end, then his voice was stern as he spoke, "What did they do?"

Skaii paused for a moment, she had already told him what happened to her, but it was over the a voice message, now telling him, like this, was more difficult. "I broke my arm and neck,"

"You broke your arm and neck?" Ian's voice lowered but it held a double meaning and slightly more darker.

"Don't want you to worry about me, I'm okay." She hurriedly assured him, Skaii could only imagine what Ian was planning in the back of his mind but she knew it could not be good.

"I think it is a little late for that sis." He said softly but Skaii knew he was angry. She admired that her brother was always calm, no matter how he felt, he just knew how to control his feelings. But Skaii found it had now driven her into a state of unease.

"Ian, what are you thinking?" She finally asked.

The other line fell into silence and it stretched until what felt like a millennia when Ian spoke again, ignoring her question, "Where are you?"

"Outside," Skaii gazed up into the starry sky as she continued, "Ian, please don't tell dad, you know how it will affect him. His heart can't manage this." Skaii pleaded, even in her state, she still had the strength to protect her father. It was not hard to predict what would happen if he found out that if Ian kept him in the dark about what happened to her, but it was for his own good. He was diagnosed with a severe heart illness, about two years ago, then he had a heart attack a few months ago. Since then, he was off of work, focusing on his recovery, a blow like this would give him another attack. She didn't even want to think about it.

"I won't." She could picture Ian running his hand through his hair in frustration at her request but he couldn't deny it, he was aware that what Skaii asked was for his father's own good.

"Thank you." She whispered in the phone, taking more prominent steps along the neighborhood's asphalt.

"They're going to get what's coming to them. I can promise you that." Ian said absentmindedly and a chill raced down his little sister's spine.

"Ian what do you mean by that?" Skaii asked warily, when he did not reply, she spoke again. "I hope that you're not planning to do anything stupid. You know what these people are capable of doing. They operate outside of the law."

"But not above it." He said with a tone of finality.

"Ian-" she began to protest but suddenly paused with a frown. "Um, let me call you back." Skaii's voice was distant as she stared blankly in front of her; the familiar figure began to slowly materialize in her view.

"Call me as soon as you're done." there was a beep at the other end indicating that Ian hung up. Skaii was surprised that he didn't protest. She shove her phone in her top pocket and continued walking, slower than her usual pace curtesy of her throbbing left hand.

His head was lowered, and he was mumbling some words that Skaii couldn't hear. But the anger he possessed was flowing off him in waves. He was preoccupied with whatever he was holding until he shifted his gaze upwards, noticing her presence. He frowned. "Just when I thought this neighborhood couldn't get any worse." She finally came face to face with the person she knew she recognized. His face was bitter as he brought the box he was holding to his feet. He was wearing a navy blue tee-shirt that wrapped around his chest for perfectly that his entire physique was noticeable, the deep dip in the middle of his torso was what Skaii's eyes were set on first. Instinctively, her eyes lowered to his stomach as he straightened himself, the movement jerked the ripples on his abdomen and jerked her to a standstill. "Captain Holder." The mockery was evident in his voice.

"You really need to work on your conversation skills." Skaii smiled up at him daringly.

He shook his head and shove his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "So, visiting?"

Skaii rose an eyebrow, it did not take long for her to figure out what he was implying. "I guess you've heard the rumors, I'm not surprised you believed them though." He chucked lowly, sending a sharp tingle through her body. His large hazel eyes were warm as they bore into hers, they did not hold the iciness that his voice emitted. She found herself locking into them unmovingly, searching. Nicholas noticed this but he never acknowledged, he just her held her there, frozen in her step and took control of the power he clearly had.

His next words broke Skaii out of her daze. "No captain, I'm not one to believe rumors. But when the person who they're about continues to act like a complete-"

"-Bitch?" Skaii threw in before he could finish, he opened his mouth to correct her at first but then he pursed his lips. He could see that whatever else he said would be digging his own grave with this girl.

"It's hard not to believe they were true." He snapped at her, looking away for a brief moment.

And he's acting like a preacher's f*cking son? Skaii stepped forward and leveled her eyes with his again, this time she didn't care how captivating they were. Her hands began to tremble as she spoke, "I don't know who told you-" She chuckled harshly, "No, I don't fcking care who told you that you could approach me and talk to me as if you have a like. It's conceited assholes like you who I have no problems wiping completely from the memory of everyone at Trinity Vale. You only care about half truths, damn, you might not even care that it was true."

Nicholas found himself laughing, this girl really did think highly of herself. Maybe it was even justified, he was aware of the weight she had when it came to Trinity Vale High, people worshipped her. His laugh triggered ripple of irritation in Skaii, so she screamed, "You are just like that woman! Pie or whatever, you could have just minded you own business and go along your way! Couldn't you even be decent enough to ask me if I actually live here?"

Nicholas face tightened at the mention of his aunt. "Gee captain, do you live here or are you just here to f*ck the guy that broke your neck?" His tone was harsher and his eyes held a certain fire. She jerked slightly, hands tight. She wasn't in the slightest afraid of him but it was that word he used, it flowed off his tongue as if it was something so casual. But it wasn't for her.

Skaii slowly straighten, her mind was in a reel but her face was completely bare. She rose an eyebrow at him. "I don't see how that concerns you."

He smirked at her, knowingly. "Who said it did?"

A man's voice echoed from a truck behind him that Skaii did not notice before. "Nick why aren't you back yet?" They broke their glare and shifted their attention to the man that was stalking towards Nicholas' side. The street would have been close to pitch black without the streetlights, but Skaii could still make out the shiny gold badge which was pinned to the man's left breast.

He was a cop.

Skaii impulsively took a step away back, distancing herself from the man. They were still close to the Saw's residence. Nicholas noticed this, his eyes narrowed at her. Skaii did not realize that what she did just confirmed the rumors that flew through the entire county about her. Nicholas perceived the entire incident as Skaii not wanting her boyfriend spotting her talking to an officer. He remained quiet when the man stopped at his side.

"Nicholas? What are you doing? There are more boxes to unload." He urged. "Nick?"

"Yes dad?" Nicholas turned to the man after a moment.

Dad? This man was his father?

He was ready to repeat his order when he realized that Skaii standing there. "I see you've made a friend." The man said, walking closer to Skaii, he scanned her over once, taking note of the cast on her hand and her neck brace. He, however, remained silent.

"Good evening sir, Skaii Holder." She extended her right hand to him and he grasped it and shook it firmly with a smile. This man really was Nicholas' father, albeit, his features were more matured than his son but they were so similar she chastised herself for not making the connection on the first go.

"Pleased to meet you miss Holder. John Harvey." He was smiling gently as he released her hand. "I hope Nick is behaving like the son I raised." He glanced behind him at Nicholas who was watching them interact silently. Skaii was wary at the politeness of the man, she was unaware if he knew about what happened at school or what people were saying about her. Or if he was similar to his son his more ways than one. But he answered her unasked question with that one smile and she instantly liked him. Her mind was still telling her to run but she wouldn't allow herself to be rude to him.

"Likewise Mr. Harvey." She smiled genuinely.

"She is beautiful and polite too." He threw over to Nicholas, followed by a nudge to his lower side. Nicholas gave him a noncommittal grunt but John ignored him.

"Do you live around here Miss Holder?" He continued to inquire.

Skaii could see that his father's friendliness was taunting Nicholas beyond end so she smiled and turned to meet Nicholas' eyes then said while shaking her head, "Nope, I'm just passing through."