Amber nodded. "Yeah, we've all noticed it. There have been a few discussions about what was happening, but none of us wanted to bring it up to her, and we definately didn't want her to hear us discussing it." Amber paused for a few seconds, debating whether or not she should bring it up, then added, "There was something else," as she lifted her shirt to expose her middrift and an ugly claw mark. Kristin blinked and dropped her cucumber piece. "Oh My God," she breathed. "Did...?" she was almost terrified to ask. Amber couldn't stop the tears from coming this time and nodded. Trying to keep her voice level as she started to explain. "I was playing my guitar without the earphones so everyone could hear. I'd done it before without anyone saying a word." A loud sob interrupted her. Kristin realized she was gripping the table so hard her fingers were beginning to hurt. She forced herself to let go, waiting for Amber to continue. "The next thing I knew, Jane was pounding at my door. She didn't even wait for me to answer, she suddenly burst in and started yelling at me for being too loud. I tried to explain, but she wouldn't listen, and she threw me onto the bed." Blinking, Kristin's face paled. She had no doubt that what Amber was saying was true, she just couldn't understand Jane doing anything like this. Amber went on, "I was screaming at that point, and Jane was on top of me. The others came in and as they were pulling her off me, Jane clawed me." She stopped to try and control herself, then said, "I think the worst part was that when they got her away, she just walked out of the room and acted as if nothing happened." With a gasp, Kristin left her seat and put her arms around Amber. She was stunned. She had no idea that anything out of the ordinary had been going on, let alone anything like what Amber had just told her. Regaining her composure, Amber pulled back from Kristin's hug after a few moments and smiled. She hoped her smile didn't look as fake as it felt, and said, "Well, at least here I can play without being attacked, right? Speaking of, since there's nothing I can do, and since you know what's going on, I think I'll go take a shower and get into some clothes." She hoped that her attempt at humor would take the attention away from her. Feeling Kristin's gaze and without waiting for her to reply, Amber turned and headed for her room. She was finally back to her comfort zone, even though she was a little embarrassed that she had cried. She turned on the shower, and winced with pain as she took off her clothes. She looked at her injury in the mirror and wondered if it would leave a permanent scar. Watching Amber walk out, Kristin rose from her knees and sat back in her chair. Her mind whirling, she tried to sort out everything that Amber had said. Her emotions were refusing to accept the possibilty that Jane was coming undone. Jane was her friend; and next to the people of this House, very nearly her only friend--and more than friend, her family. Jane had been one of the instrumental people in Kristin not turning her back on the Legacy after her father and brother died. Looking back to the empty doorway, she sighed, feeling for Amber. The girl had withstood so much pain in her young life so far; no wonder she was a little withdrawn. Absently crunching more cucumbers, and occaisionally a carrot, Kristin sat at the table, her mind churning. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com
