FrAcTuReD (Part One) (Completed continued in Part Two)

Chapter. 28

Alex couldn't say anything in response. "Uh about what I asked before..." she trailed off and shook her head. "No, forget it. Asking you again after just blacking out like you just did would probably be a bad idea."

Charla just looked at her but said nothing as she grabbed her backpack. "It's fine, sorry for being such a hassle, I'll leave now."

"Hey hold on!" Alex said as she quickly stopped Charla from leaving. "Look you just collapsed, it wouldn't be good to go wandering around after what happened you know? I know you say your fine, but you're still pale and I wouldn't feel right if I just let you leave right afterword's. At least let me walk you to your place alright?"

With a sigh, Charla said. "Even if I told you not too you'd still do it. It's fine with me, if it puts you at ease then go for it. I won't stop you from it."

"You know, I'm surprised no one came to investigate what happened." Alex looked at Charla when she then added as they walked to her place. "Having that moment and blacking out. With all the noise, you'd think someone would check."

"We tend to get a major rush around that time, it's why no one bothered us while we tried to talk. It's like if someone was screaming bloody murder, no one would hear it you know?" she stilted and quickly cleared her throat. "Not that it's happened though, sorry."

"For what? It's a good analogy, people wouldn't react to something if it's overly noisy unless it's happening in the same place with said nose. Like a night club or a bar."

"Oh, I guess that's true. Though sometimes I tend to forget that you live in the city with how you act sometimes."

With a slight smirk, she said. "I'll take that as a complement." But then Charla stilled, her gaze no longer on Alex but something else down the road. Her hazel green eyes now locked as her whole body turned stiff.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Alex asked, but then soon received her answer when she looked down the road where Charla lived. "Nina?" There in front of the house was Nina, and a man that Alex hadn't met before, but suddenly felt something was dreadfully wrong with this picture.

"Nina!" Charla suddenly snapped in such a commanding authority that it caused Alex to jump slightly as Charla then quickly walked over to the little girl and distrustful man. "Get away from that man."

"Oh, Big Sis," quickly she did as she was told and went right to Charla who wrapped a protective arm around the little girl's shoulders and pressed Nina close to her body while glaring at the man who now seemed to smile arrogantly at them.

"Well hello again Charla Liebert." Duke said.

"What where you doing?" Charla demanded.

The man scoffed. "What was I doing? Just talking to the girl is all, come on Charla you know I'm a journalist. Unless," he walked towards her and stared her down. "You don't remember us meeting." He said with an arrogant smile. "You socked me good that time, but don't think that it'd be the end of it. How's your head? You look like your about to collapse."

She looked at him with narrow eyes. "Go inside and lock the door, when you do call your father immediately, tell him what's happening." She said before letting Nina go.

Nina looked up at Charla confused, before her grey eyes went wide slightly as if she had realized something and nodded before quickly running to the door only to be stopped when Duke grabbed her arm.

"Now hold on little girl, I'm not done talking with you little lady." He said almost tauntingly.

"Let me go you mean---" the rest of what Nina was going to say stopped short when Charla acted instantly. She moved like a flash, instantly separating Nina and Duke, then using her weight she pushed Duke back, shoving him down to the ground while keeping one of his arms in the air while her knee pressing hard into his stomach.

"You little..." Duke gritted out only to stop when she jabbed her left foot into his stomach once more.

"Nina, into the house." Charla said quickly, and Nina quickly did as she had been told. Once Charla heard the lock of the door did her gaze return solely to Duke that was still pinned. "I told you before," he stilled the tone of her voice was different, he looked up at her and saw her eyes dark with a maelstrom of rage. "I told you," she spoke in a soft voice. "I've told you before not to harm those that we both care for, and what do you try?" she began to twist his arm and he grit his teeth in pain. "So, tell me journalist, what's stopping me from ripping your arm right out of it's socket? After all, you've done your research haven't you."

Duke grit his teeth, grasping at the girl's arm, trying to pry her hands loose but it did little to no good. Her grip like a vise, refusing to let go.

"I told you," she said again, twisting his arm further. "And you don't listen. You should really learn to listen to people when they tell you something critical..." in that instant she twisted his arm she dislocated his shoulder from his socket.

Duke let out a strangled sound as he thrashed on the ground gripping his now injured shoulder while the young woman looked at him with an almost empty stare. Alex on the other hand remained motionless, what was happening here? Why was Charla even acting like this? Unless...

A car quickly skidded to a stop as Charla's uncle, and his partner came rushing out, the look of concern on there faces as Duke tried to get away only to have his right hand stepped on, he grit his teeth and looked up to the emotionless girl. "Its people like you... that I cannot stand, try anything like this again and I'll kill you. Keep that in mind, won't you?"