Paradise and Pain:

Simone’s Notes:

Sexual assault is any assault of a sexual nature on another person. Though sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may be of a man on a man, woman on a man or woman on a woman. While sexual assaults are associated with the crime of rape, it may cover assaults which would not be considered rape. What constitutes a sexual assault is determined by the laws of the jurisdiction where the assault takes place, which vary considerably, and are influenced by local social and cultural attitudes. It has been said that sexual assault includes rape, forced vaginal, anal or oral penetration, forced sexual intercourse, inappropriate touching, forced kissing, child molestation and the torture of the victim in a sexual manner.

Rebecca made it over to Alex’s house the same night that he was attacked. The door was unlocked so she walked inside. The girl looked around cautiously.

“Hello?” she asked. “Anybody here?”

“I’m over here!” her boyfriend called in a small voice. Rebecca ran into the living room. She found Alex sitting alone in the dark in pain. The light from the windows showed her the horror of what had happened a couple of hours ago. She gasped in terror.

“Alex!” she called. “What happened to you?” The lamb looked up at her quietly.

“Shhh!!!” he whispered to her. “Just come sit by me.” His girlfriend nodded and did so. She got a good look at his face. Alex had been crying. He was trembling all over. His girlfriend’s heart ached for him.

“Awww, Alex,” she whispered to him. The girl reached forward and lightly wiped away his tears. The lamb looked at her in silence. Rebecca waited away before speaking again. Soon, Alex was calm enough to talk. Rebecca decided to take slow steps with him.

“What happened to you?” she asked her boyfriend softly. The lamb looked away nervously. He didn’t know if he should tell her at all. Rebecca lightly took him by his hands.

“It’s okay,” she said to him. “I won’t leave you. Take your time. I’ll be here all night long.” Alex nodded quickly. Rebecca held him close to her chest. The heavy scent of her released more tears.

“It was terrible,” he wailed in her chest. Rebecca shushed him softly.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “It’s okay.” Alex just kept crying. His girlfriend lightly kissed him on the head. She lightly stroked his short blackish-brown hair. The lamb looked up at her in desperation.

“I’ve been hurt,” he said in a hoarse voice.

“Shhh!” Rebecca whispered to him. “I’m here for you now.”

“Don’t leave me!” Alex pleaded.

“I won’t!” his girlfriend promised. “I won’t!” Alex cried even more. His heart ached so much that night. But he couldn’t tell her what was wrong just yet. She wouldn’t believe him. No one would or could. However, Alex had to say something. Anything to feel better again. Alex swallowed hard in pain.

“Becky,” he said nearly choking. “I’m in serious trouble.” His girlfriend looked at him confused.

“What do you mean?” she asked. The lamb grabbed her tightly by the hands.

“It’s not any trouble that you’re used to you…” he trailed off. Rebecca kept her eyes on him.

“Go on,” she said to him. “Take your time if you have to.” Alex nodded at her calmly. He breathed in her scent again heavily.

“I… was attacked…” he managed to say at last. Rebecca looked at him in slight surprise.

“Attacked?” she asked. “But who?” Her boyfriend shook his head. It was clear he wasn’t going to say who. His girlfriend held him again.

“Right,” she said to him softly. “You don’t have to tell me anything just yet. But why not go to police about it?” Alex looked at her with wide eyes.

“NO!!!” he said quickly. “I can’t do that, he said that he won’t be so forgiving next time if I do!!!” Rebecca looked at him confused.

“What are you going about?” she asked. “Who is said they won’t be so forgiving next time?” Alex shook his head bitterly as he tried his best to fight back more tears from coming. He couldn’t risk her being dragged into his problems. The Fallen Ones were flat out jealous of her. They wanted him to break up with her. Despite what they would all do to him, he wasn’t going to leave her at all. But, the lamb couldn’t tell her anything. She probably won’t believe any of it.

“I can’t tell you!” Alex whimpered out. “They’ll kill me if I tell! They will kill me if I talk! They will kill me!” His girlfriend looked at him confused.

“Who will kill you?” she asked. “Who are you talking about?” Alex just broke down crying in her chest again. Rebecca lightly stroked his hair again.

“Shhh!” she whispered to him. “It’s okay. You’re safe now! I’m here!” The lamb nodded at her words. Rebecca was a brave girl. She didn’t know was she was getting herself into by being involved with him. Right then, a scary thought crossed his mind. What if they were to kill Rebecca themselves? He couldn’t risk that at all. But would she stay if he warned her.

“They’ll kill you too if you stay with me!” he blurted out quickly. Rebecca looked at him again.

“What do you mean?” she asked. “What would they want to kill me for?” Her boyfriend looked up at her desperately. He had more tears in his sad eyes.

“You are in great danger!” the lamb said. “Are you sure you want to stay with me because of it?” Rebecca smiled at him kindly. She didn’t even have to think about the answer at all.

“Yes!” she said. Her boyfriend looked at her confused.

“B-But why?” Alex asked her in surprise. “Aren’t you afraid for your life? You could die!” Rebecca gently put her finger over his lips.

“Shhh!” she whispered again. “I’m not going to leave you until you are okay again. If it means risking my life, then sure. I will help you survive this. Okay?” The lamb didn’t know what to say. Rebecca had shown a nice side to herself. Not only was she a sweet and caring girl, his love was not afraid to stand by the ones she loved. There was nothing really to say for all of that. The lamb just hugged her tightly.

“Thank you, Becky!” he whimpered out. “Thank you!” His love just hugged him in silence.

“I know,” she whispered into his head. “I know.” Rebecca stayed with him the whole night. Alex cried himself to sleep in her lap. His girlfriend didn’t mind one bit. She was going to keep her word about staying with him until he got better. The girl lightly stroked his hair and gave him a little butterfly kiss on the cheek.

“Sleep well,” Rebecca whispered to him. “You’re safe now that I’m here.” Then, the girl pulled him up to his feet and helped him up the stairs to his bed.

From above, the Fallen Ones were all watching. They did not like what they saw. In fact, Rebecca had turned into quite a problem for their plans for Alex. He didn’t leave her the first time he was attacked. This was a bad sign for them. Something had to be done fast or everything would be ruined.

“Becky got to go!” Dr. Pierce hissed to Edward. The alchemist kept his cold serious face.

“I know,” he said. “I’m already working on it!” Rebecca Cho’s life was now on numbered days.