I Am Deaf

Chapter 23

Rin POV

He's back.

Dell.

My body was overcome with shivers as I remembered him... and the things he would do to me. Why, of all people? Why him?

My life was momentarily perfect with Len, and then poof. He comes. I swayed unsteadily on my feet, memories of meeting Dell clouding my mind.

"My name is Dell. And the woman you call your mother, is MINE."

"But... But that's my mommy!"

"No... She's mine. And you'll pay for taking her."

"Pay? I don't have money! Daddy says I can have an allowance soon, though!"

"Oh, sweetheart, you're not paying through money."

I was aware suddenly of being shaken out of my skin.

"Hey!" I cleared the dizziness and glared at Len.

"G-G-Gomen, Rin, but you just suddenly spaced out."

"I'm just... thinking. Listen, we should probably head home, so I'll see you."

I turned towards my house, but Len grabbed my arm and yanked me back, smirking.

"Rin, you live with me now, remember?"

"Oh! Right!" I laughed and followed him, lagging slightly behind. Lola smiled at us.

"Look, lovebirds, I have to go to Australia for a while, in about a week. And your father's gonna meet me there, Len." She sniffed. "Len, you smell like bananas." I giggled.

"Rin smells like oranges!" he glowered at us.

"Hmmm. She does. But bananas, sweetheart?"

I turned, almost doubling over with laughter. Len scowled at me. I turned just in time to see his words.

"Oh, you think this is funny?"

"Yes." I said loftily. "I think it's quite hilarious."

"Wait till we get home. Don't you remember what happened when you called me a shota?"

"She called you a shota?" Lola frowned.

Len nodded fiercely.

Lola high-fived me, grinning. Gosh, I remember the crack of a high-five. Rinto and I would do them all the time. Speaking of which, Rinto never really did know that I was deaf, did he?

"Niiiice."

I grinned at Len's disbelieved look. Then I did remember what he did when I called him a shota. My breath hitched as I looked him over, a somewhat panicked look in my eyes. Len merely smirked and cracked his knuckles.

"Lola. Lola, please tell me you're gonna be at your house today." I pleaded.

"Ooh. I have shopping. But Len will be nice, right, Len?" She asked sternly. Len smirked again, very, very, sadistically.

"Oh yes Lola. Very nice." I groaned inwardly. Oh, well. If I still had the energy to crawl upstairs, then I would sleep tonight. Len and his relentless tickling abilities.

Lola dropped us off at the house and drove off, waving.

Len unlocked the door, and we stepped inside.

"So, Rin, up for some TV?" he asked casually. I glared suspiciously at him.

"Okay."

I plopped on the couch, Len beside me. He played some weird Disney movie. I stared at the screen, irritated, wishing that whoever they were could talk a lot slower.

"Screw TV." I mumbled. I sank against the couch, tired. My eyes felt heavy, and ended up closing. Until I felt Len's fingers dance across my waist, that is. I sat up quickly, my eyes opening, a pink blush spreading across my cheeks.

"Don't you dare." He whispered, causing me to giggle hysterically as his spidery fingers tickled me harshly. I gasped, half laughing, half pleading.

"Len... come on, I'm sorry I lau- STOP! HA AHA HA AHA!" I shrieked again, terrified that he had found this vulnerable weak point of mine.

"Don't you wish you had stopped, then?" He smirked, moving his hand to my feet. I gyrated in place.

"YES! YES! I'M SORRRY- HA AHA HA!"

"No, you're not." My stomach was his next point. I laughed till tears poured down my face, and I was gasping more than laughing. "I AM! I AM!" I managed to gasp/scream out. He finally dropped his hands, laughing quietly. I stared at the screen, completely drained, my body shaking, and my face red from laughing. Len reached over, but I scooted away from him, still terrified.

Dell would do it to me. Fifty times harsher, in places I didn't even KNOW were ticklish.

Would I ever recover from him, now that I knew he was after me?