Kaitlyn stared at her brother. “Is he for real?” Bounced out of her mouth as she turned to her mom and dad.
   Mrs. Williams nodded her head. A smile stretched out on her thin lips. “Absolutely, dear.”
   “Daddy?” She asked, needing absolute proof.
   Mr. Williams nodded also.
   She screamed then. A loud ear-piercing one. Then she started running around and hugging her family members. Choking them with her tight grip.

   That was two months ago, and Kaitlyn remembered it so well now. It may have been yesterday, hell she wasn’t even sure if it was two months ago.
   But she did wish that it did happen yesterday. That way everything would be different now. She would still be in her nice warm house, modeling for the newest department store, and not half dead in an ally somewhere in New York City.

   “Kat, you gotta get going, babe.” Her brother Charlie said from her doorway.
   Mumbling, she stretched and rubbed her sleepy eyes. “Man, this is way too early.” She grumbled. “Cruel and unusual punishment.”
   Charlie laughed and left so that she could get ready. He carried her bags down the stairs, and set them next to his one.
   In forty-five minutes him and Kaitlyn were going on a plane to ‘The Big Apple’ to do a whole new layout with Calvin Klein. Every model’s dream basically.
   “Kat!” He yelled up the stairs. “If you’re not down here in ten seconds I’m going to do this photo shoot without you!”
   “You can’t do it without me!” She screamed as she ran down the steps. “You’d look terrible as the female you.” She muttered as she looked into her twin’s face.
   He shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah, and you’d play a lousy guy. We don’t take forever on getting ready.”
   “Whatever.” She said waving her hand.
   Charlie groaned and held the door open for her. “Mom and dad are already at work, and they wish us their best.” He told her as they walked down the sidewalk to the car that they shared.
   “That’s good. I’m gonna miss ‘em.” Kaitlyn said quietly as she slid into the passenger’s seat.
   Charlie nodded as he stuck the key into the ignition and turned it. Letting the sports car roar to life. “Here’s to life in the fast lane.” He commented tipping his water bottle to hers before he backed out of the driveway and headed towards the airport.

   Kaitlyn began to run quickly.
   She heard screaming, so she ran. Something was chasing her. No, no it was someone.
   She could feel it. She felt the hot breath on her ear and heard the pounding of their feet on the sidewalk right behind hers.
   Someone grabbed her arm, and she shrieked loudly. Her body was on overload. She hadn’t eaten anything in so long, hadn’t sleep in forever it seemed.
   Kaitlyn thrashed about as her captor tried to hold her steady. “Please God,” She said out loud in a plea. “Not again.”
   “Kat!” The person shouted. “Kat!”
   “Do you know me?” She asked, murmuring the question to herself before collapsing onto the street.

   Zac stared down at the girl at his feet. She passed out on him. Though even he could smell the alcohol on her a mile away. He could see the needle marks in her arms. The slices she made on her stomach with some sharp object.
   He swallowed the wave of nausea that washed over him and rose in his throat. He had to get this girl some help.
   Carefully he bent down beside her and picked her up in his arms. She was surprisingly light. Not quite weighing anything.
   He shuddered at how well he could feel her skeletal structure under her skin. She felt like frail bones under a black fur coat, a small tank top, and a tiny skirt.
   He may be young, but even Zac knew what kind of ladies wore those outfits and walked around late at night were called.

   “Charles.” Zac said the door quietly at some ritzy hotel.
   The door opened a crack and then all the way. “Zac, man.” Charles said as he embraced the young guy in front of him before allowing him in.
   Zac nodded and walked in slowly. Nervously he fidgeted with the zipper to his coat. “Dude, Charles, I found her.” Was all he said. It as all he needed to say.
   Instantly they were walking out of the room and heading for the elevators. “How is she?” Charles asked in a hoarse whisper.
   “She’s bad, man.” Zac squeaked. “She’s real bad.”
   Charles hung his head in shame as they climbed into the elevator.
   “Ground floor.” Zac told the operator.
   His request was granted.

   “How is she doing?” Charles asked instantly when he saw his mother and father in the waiting room.
   Mr. and Mrs. Hanson were there too for Zac.
   Mrs. Williams broke down when she saw her son, and the image of her daughter lying in the hospital bed flashed quickly in her mind. “They’re putting her through with-drawl.” She murmured as her husband stood at her side. Keeping her standing. “They say it’s a long and painful progress, and it’ll be worse on her.
   Charles looked up at his father.
   Mr. Williams looked away. “You can see her if you want. They’ll let you look through the window.” He said quietly, his voice oddly distant.
   Charles nodded his head sadly and started walking.
   Zac pealed away from his parents’ embraces. “I’m going with him.” He told them gently.
   Mrs. Hanson nodded her head in understanding. “We’ll see if we can help the Williams’.” She told him.
   Zac nodded once before he walked up to Charles at a large window.
   He watched silently as the girl inside thrashed wildly in her bed. Then she’d straighten out and howl in pain before she started sobbing and thrashing around once again.
   After a few moments, she passed out from the exhaustion and strain her body had just undergone.
   “I did that to her.” Charles told Zac guiltily.
   “You couldn’t help it.” Zac consoled as they continued to stare at the now immobile figure. “You weren’t the bastard that did this to her.”
   “You don’t understand.” Charles responded softly. “I am the bastard who did that to her.”
   Zac turned to him then. “What are you talking about, man?” He questioned harshly.
   “That party we met at?” Charles asked. “Remember that?”
   “Yeah.” Zac said slowly, already fearing where this was headed.
   “I wanted Kat to act all out of sorts. Calvin Klein was gong to be there shortly. And he had decided that he only needed one of us. Not both of us. And normally he picks the girl out of the duo or group he splits up.”
   He took in a breath there, a jagged painful one. “I did something to her drink. Something that a friend gave me. He said I could slip it into some girls drink have my way with her and she'd never know it.”
   Zac was shaking his head now. “I can’t believe you did this.” He stated in a shocked whisper.
   “I know.” Charles admitted. “I didn’t mean for all of this to happen though.” He stated quickly. “I didn’t know she was going to hook up with some drug dealer that night, then runaway to be with him.” He defended himself.
   Rage tensed Zac’s body painfully as he clenched his fist and teeth to try and keep it in check. “You bastard.” He growled in between his teeth. “She is your sister. Your twin sister.” He reminded him.
   Charles hung his head even lower. “I know.” He whispered.
   “You don’t even know what she’s been through.” Zac stated coldly. He could feel his skin flush in anger. “You weren’t there when I got her.” He told him. “And I don’t know all of what has happened to her either. But only whores would dress the way that she did. And walk the streets at night.”
   It was then that Charles punched Zac. “Don’t call my sister a whore.” He demanded.
   Zac was stunned at first, but punched Charles back. Knocking the wind out of him. “You weren’t there when she ran from me. When she pleaded to God for it not to happen to her again when I grabbed her arm and tried to hold her still.” He ground out.
   Charles winced. Not from the pain in his stomach, but from the harsh truth of Zac’s words.
   Zac looked down at him in disgust. “You’re not even worth it, man.” He said before he walked off to his parents.

   It was three days later when Zac peeked his head into Kaitlyn's room. “Kat?” He asked softly, walking in.
   The form shifted in her bed slightly before opening her eyes. They were a light sea green color.
   She stared at him for a moment. “Do you know me?” She asked tentatively.
   Zac nodded and reached into his coat pocket to remove a small grey kitten. “I think I do, Kat.” He told her softly as he handed it to her.
   Kaitlyn smiled up at him. “Thanks.” She replied as she held the kitten protectively in her hands as she stroked it cautiously. “I’m Kat, I guess.” She said as she held her hand out to him.
   “I’m Zac.” He responded as he shook her hand.