Amber barely got a wink of sleep that night; her mind was filled with images of Jessica and the thought of soon being back in the girl's arms. She reflected on all the things she would say to the girl when she saw her again. At first she considered yelling at Jessica for running away and leaving them to suffer all on they're own, but decided against it. She did not want to scare Jessica off when the girl finally returned home on her own. That was not to say that Amber was not angry with Jessica, she would rather deal with that issue when they were far away from this place. First off, they needed to escape this place, and then she would have a word with Jessie about her running away. A smile played across her face as she envisioned where they would go after running away together. She imagined them all living together in a large house by a lake with many trees all around. Penny and Kim would have their own room together and so would Jessica and herself, while the rest of the girls would get their own rooms, if they liked. The house would have white walls and large open windows to allow the breeze to enter during the summer months. There would also be a large bench swing out on the patio that the girls could play on, their summer dresses swaying in the wind. No longer would there be shadows to haunted them or people to tell them that it was wrong to love someone as deeply as she loved Jessie. As her mind drifted over her imaginary world she was unaware of the sun's slow progression into a new day and that soon the outside world would begin to rising and she became startled out of her dreams by a knocking at the door. "Rise and shine girls!" Ma'am exclaimed as she opened the door, "I want you all dressed and cleaned up before I return." She commanded. Groggily the girl's began to rise from their slumbers. Amber quickly got to her feet when a wave of dizziness overwhelmed her and she nearly fell over when Sarah rushed to the girl's side and help her steady herself, "You going to be alright?" Sarah inquired of her sister. Amber nodded and yawned, "I didn't sleep too well is all." She explained sleepily. Ma'am crossed the room to look upon Amber's tired face, "We're you up all night talking again, Amber?" The woman inquired coldly. Amber shook her head and steadied herself with the dresser as another wave of wooziness washed over her, "N... no, Ma'am." She replied sleepily, her eyes fell upon Kim as the girl wiped the sleep in her eyes, "Kim was having nightmares so I stayed up with her to make sure she was alright." She half lied. "Alright then." Ma'am remarked with a stern nod, then turned to Kim, "Kimberly, are you alright dear?" She inquired gently. Kim slowly nodded as she rubbed at her eyes, "I'm sorry to cause so much trouble." She apologized, unsure as to what had happened over night, her mind fuzzy and she felt in a daze. Ma'am knelt next to the girl, "You are no trouble at all." She assured the girl and patted her on the leg, "Have a quick shower to wake yourself and remember you are safe here so there is nothing to be afraid of." She raised to her full height, "Isn't that right girls?" She inquired with a smile. "Yes, Ma'am." The girls lied, trying to conceal their true feelings about their home. "Good." Ma'am beamed, "It looks like I have the day off today so you girls can spend the day downstairs. That is if you get all your chores finished first, so let's hurry up and get going. Move those butts." She ushered April into the washroom then headed out of the room, "I want you all cleaned up before I return, is that clear?" "Yes, Ma'am." Satisfied with the response Ma'am left the room and closed the door behind her. Amber noted right off that she did not hear the click of the lock, "This is perfect." She said under her breath, not sure if Ma'am was still listening behind the door. "Don't you find it strange," Sarah whispered worriedly, "The day Jessica returns Ma'am has the day off?" "I think it's a miracle." Amber breathed, suddenly felling more awake then before. The very thought that she could met up with Jessica so early made her heart race, "I get the shower first." She called out as she rushed passed the sleepy girls, into the washroom and turned on the water. Sarah shook her head, "I have a bad feeling about this." She muttered. Kim sat upon the edge of the bed and stretched, her entire body ached in ways that she never felt before. She glanced down at her arm to see a strange burn mark on her wrist, then she remembered her battle with Akaime and quickly scanned around the room until her eyes fell upon the belt draped over the head of the bed. She reached out and gingerly picked it up, watching the way the light reflected off the metal star at the end, "I really found it." She stated nervously. Penny wrapped her arms around Kim's neck from behind and kissed the girl on the cheek, "I knew you could find it." She stated proudly, "I knew you were not lying to me when you promised to find it." She added, then took the belt from Kim's hands and looked it over, "But what was it doing in the washroom?" She inquired curiously. "Akaime had it." Kimberly remarked weakly, rubbing her head in confusion, she could feel there was something else she was forgetting. Sarah sat next to the girl, "Who is A... kai.. may?" She inquired, interested to learn what that black mass in the tub was. "A monster." Kim replied simply, "A man that Natalie and I fought back at our home." She blinked a few times and searched the room then abruptly got to her feet, "Natalie? Jenn?" Her eyes darted around the room, "Where are they? Where is everyone?" She exclaimed as she recalled her friends from the Western Dorm. Sarah placed an arm around the girl's shoulders, "Calm down. You're home now." She stated, "Here with me, Amber, April, Caitlin and Penny." "Penny?" Kim suddenly recalled how she got in that nightmare and spun around to face Penny. She took the girl's hand in her own and looked the girl in the eyes, "Of course. Penny. I came here to find Jenn and stayed behind because of you, while Jessica and someone else escaped to help Jennifer." Kim's head started to hurt as she tried to recall whom the other person was, "Why can't I remember?" She inquired in frustration. "What are you going on about?" Sarah inquired nervously, "You were brought here after your parents died, remember?" She reminded the girl. "No!" Kim cried out, "That is all wrong. I ran away after my parents died and met Lauren and she... we..." She suddenly remembered making love for the first time and flushed, then heavily sat upon the bed. She clamped her hands to the sides of her head, "None of this makes any sense." Tears streamed down her face as conflicting images filled her mind, "Who am I?" She sobbed in frustration. Penny sat down next to the girl and wrapped her arms around her, "You are Kimberly, the girl I love." She stated firmly. Kim looked into Penny's eyes, "How can you say that?" She inquired uneasily, "How can you even know me when I don't even know myself." Penny flushed then leaned in close Kim, "Because I know this." She lightly placed a kiss upon the girl's lips. A mixture of warmth and pleasure filled Kim's heart and mind; she placed a hand lightly upon Penny's cheek and deepened the kiss. This was real Kim thought to herself and she suddenly did not care about anything else her mind told her, because this felt right. She pushed Penny to the bed and let her tongue slip into the girl's mouth. "Ahem!!" Sarah cleared her throat, "Could you two hold off the love making? Ma'am could return at any time you know?" Kim pulled back from Penny and moved to the far corner of the bed, "I... I'm sorry..." She blushed brightly in embarrassment. She ran her hand across her face then bit down on her knuckle hard enough to force some form of control upon herself. She caught a faint whiff of Penny upon her fingers and quivered as the memory of her taste entered her mind. Lauren may have been the first time she had made love, but Penny will always be the first time she ever tasted such a flavour. The mere scent of the girl upon her figures made her yearn for more. She hungrily looked up to see Penny staring at her, quickly she hide her hand behind her back and reddened even more. Amber stepped out of the washroom while running a towel through her hair, "Shower is free." She stated as she wrapped the towel around her body. She spotted the restlessness in Penny and Kim the moment she set her eyes on them, "Kim, I think you look like you need one next." She remarked as she crossed the room and took the girl by the hand. "Huh? Wha?" Kim allowed herself to be pulled into the washroom where Amber closed the door behind her and glared at the girl, "What...?" Kim inquired nervously. "I know that look." Amber remarked sternly, "You had better keep yourself under control, you hear?" Amber warned. "How could you tell?" Kim asked in disconcertion. "It's written all over your face." Amber stated with a sigh, "I understand what you are going through, but you need to show some control or Ma'am will discover your secret and then things will get much worse for you." She explained as she pulled the shower curtain closed and turned on the shower, "Now get in." She playfully commanded. Kim stripped off her nightshirt and entered the tub, "God!!! It is freezing!!" She exclaimed in shock. "It will cool you off." Amber remarked with a nod, "Trust me. You need it." She stated, shaking her head helplessly. She did not know if she could handle another Jessica in her life, but if she could help it she would keep this one from getting in as much trouble as the other. Which reminded her that Jessica was awaiting her in the shed, "Wash up quickly, alright?" She stated to Kim as she left the room to search for some clothes. Sarah shook her head in disbelief, "That one is worse then Jessie." She remarked with distaste. "She is not." Penny protested boldly, "She's more then Jessie could ever be." Amber stood between the girls, "We don't have time for arguments you two." She stated firmly, "Get washed up and dressed or we'll be in trouble with Ma'am" Penny lowered her head, "Sorry..." She started to head for the washroom when Amber stepped in front of the door. "You may want to stay away from Kim for a bit, just while around Ma'am." Amber warned the girl. Anger filled Penny's eyes, "Don't tell me what to do." She returned irately, "I'm not like you. I can keep Kim under control." Amber glared at the girl, "This is not a game Penny." She stated coldly, "You want to know what will happen if Ma'am finds out about your little girlfriend? Huh? She will lock Kim away in the cupboard and then guess what our brothers will do with you afterwards if they think their little secret has been leaked out?" She remarked bluntly. Tears filled Penny's eyes, "I just want to be close to her is all." She cried, "It isn't fair." Amber hugged the girl closely, "I know... I know..." She wanted to tell the girl that everything would be all right, that Jessica has returned and she would make sure they all escape this nightmare once and for all, but she did not want to get the girl's hopes up too soon. So instead she kept her mouth shut and hugged the girl as tight as she could. ***** To be Continued . . .
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