So, tell me about yourself Case. What you like to do for fun, if you have a job, or a boyfriendor a girlfriend. You know, ***** like that.

Case averted her eyes for a moment, looking a little afraid. She darted them back to Shane, seemingly ready to speak. She wasnt really interested in talking about those things. To Shanes surprise, she decided to jump right into the gut of her demise, and although at first she was weary, the girl began to open up rather quickly.

Well, Ive been on the streets for about 4 years now, I think. I didnt plan on it. Theres this story that sort of leads up to it all. Not really something you would like to hear.

Shane knew shed probably be able to relate.

Try me. She smiled, an expression of honesty and warmth spread across her sharp but soft face.

Ok. See, my mom – she wasnt too smart when it came to picking her men. She married my dad pretty young. I knew they never loved each other. Youd have to be blind and stupid not to see it. They would find excuses just to fight. Its like they craved itlike heroin or something. They were so fucked up. They did a lot of heroin too. I think that had something to do with it, but they were so strange. I think they were happy being miserable, as much as that doesnt make sense. I get it, though. For the longest time, Ive been happy being miserable. Actually, I dont know if Im happy, but I know its comforting, its a familiar feeling. I dont know how else to live my life. So anyway, one night they were drinking and shooting as usual. I was in my room, watching some cartoon or something, I dont remember exactly. I think it was Popeye. So I was in my room, wasting time, and I heard them yelling – which was usual, because they did it every ***** night, you know? So I thought, oh, no big deal. Theyll get so fucked up they wont be able to yell anymore, and then I can get some sleep. But they just kept screaming at each other. Then they started throwing things. I heard something crash onto the kitchen floor, and that scared me. I jumped up at the noise, then walked quietly out of my room into the hall, and peered around to the living room. My mom was lying on the floor, bleeding from her head. I wanted to run to her, but I knew she would be too messed up to let me help. I started to cry. My dad came from the kitchen, practically butt naked. He had on a pair of Felix the cat boxers. That I can remember. The look on his eyes made him seem mad, almost like a murderer. I ran back to my room and grabbed a baseball bat made out of aluminum. I played little league when I was a kid, and always kept all my gear. I crept back out into the hallway, almost crying too loud, I thought for sure hed hear me and take the bat out of my hand to beat me with. I looked into the living room and found him ripping her clothes off. Her head lolled to the side, and foam came slowly oozing out of her mouth. I think she was having a seizure. He was going to rape her, and I knew it. So I snuck up behind him, held the bat up high, and swung as hard as I could. I hit him right in the back of his head, right where that soft spot is. He went down instantly. I pulled at his shirt and tried to get him off of my mom. He was too heavy. I grabbed the phone, called 911, packed my bags with a few things, then left. I never went back. I never found out if the blow had killed him. Honestly, I didnt care. I still dont. My mom, wellI dont know what happened to her either. I hope shes alright, but its hard to care when I know they treated me like a leech all my life. And thats when I ran away.