Max awoke with a startled yell as her face was doused with water. "Oops." said Wrench, who received a punch in the arm from Sitara.
"You okay?" asked Marcus, who sat her up. Max nodded, hugging herself slightly.
"Max, what's going on?" asked Sitara, placing an arm around her for comfort. Max's lip trembled as she looked up at Sitara.
"I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. I didn't want him to come back into my life." She bit down on her lip and covered her face, her body trembling with every breath she took as tears streamed down her face. Sitara looked at the males and motioned them to leave, and they obliged. Josh lingered for a moment.
"It's okay, hun. It's okay." Sitara hugged her tightly and patted her back, moving her to the couch. "Just tell me what happened." Max sniffed and wiped away some of her tears, her makeup smudging. She was hesitant to open up. It had been so long since she'd told anyone about the incident. But she trusted Sitara, so she told her.
-----
When I was 18, I was raped by my best friends Pete and Joseph.
It was on the day I graduated high school. Aiden attended as my guardian, and I remember he gave me my own Foxhead mask that I wear to this day. He said he was really proud I got my life on track, and I told him how much I appreciated him being there for me. It was the only good thing about that day.
Aiden unfortunately left, attending to business like usual, leaving me with Pete and Joseph. At the time, I was blind to the idea that they'd do anything bad to me because I trusted them. I had known them for years. The truth was that they'd been planning it since the two of them met. They hated each other, and yet, the two of them were getting along that night. I didn't find it suspicious. My first mistake.
"Wow, it's a nice night, huh?" said Pete, a happy smile on his face as Joseph stared down at me with his usual, uninterested expression. "Have any plans for tonight, Max?"
"No," I said casually, clearing my throat to make my voice sound higher pitched. "I think I'm just gonna hang out by myself."
"By yourself? Why not with us?" He nudged my shoulder, a sly smile on his face. I nudged him back as a joke.
"I think I'm good. I'm a little exhausted from the ceremony. Anyways, see you guys!" As I tried to leave, Joseph grabbed my arm tightly.
"Max, come on, let's hang out." he pressured, his eyes boring into my skull as his grip on my arm began to hurt more and more.
"S-seriously, guys, I'm good." I said nervously as Joseph leaned next to my ear.
"Don't you want to feel like a REAL girl?" he whispered, causing me to shake from his grip aggressively. Without another word or a glance back, I left. I didn't see the advances they were making as anything serious. I thought it was some sick joke. They were known for that. But, looking back on it, it felt like they were conditioning me, making those things normal... So that I wouldn't be prepared for when they finally took things too far.
I was so fucking stupid. Why didn't I see it?
No, no, it wasn't my fault. It wasn't.
I immediately went back to my apartment, blocking out what those two asked me at the ceremony. I didn't want to worry about anything that night. I just wanted to relax and have fun by myself now that I was finally out of High School. As a way to enjoy myself, I decided to try the alcohol in Aiden's liquor cabinet. Looking back on it, it was such a stupid idea. But I went with it. I drank his alcohol and got drunk.
I spent the rest of that night on my bed staring at the ceiling. My mind was foggy, my head was hurting, and I couldn't register much. Then, I heard my window open. Two figures came in and made their way to my bed. When they came closer, I recognized them as Pete and Joseph. They were waiting to catch me off guard, and I fucking played into their hands.
Pete pulled out his switchblade and held it to my cheek. He told me if I didn't cooperate, he'd slit my throat have his way with my dead body. As a reminder of those horrific events, I now have a scar on my cheek.
Why the fuck did I trust you?! Either of you, why the FUCK DID I?!
I was lonely.
I let them in because I was lonely...
Fuck.
Everything else that happened has been blocked out of my memory. I only remember waking up in the bathtub. Aiden was there, and I could hear him cursing himself.
Why did this have to happen to me...?
What did I do to deserve it?
-----
Max couldn't help but laugh at how awful she felt. She felt so stupid for believing that she could outrun Pete and Joseph. But everywhere she went, so did they. "Listen, Max, we're gonna make things different." said Sitara. "Those two have no control over you. We're gonna get them sent to prison no matter what. They don't deserve to be free for what they did to you. We'll make things right for you." Max looked up at her, taken aback by her statement. It brought a smile to her face that someone she barely knew wanted to stand up for her.
"Thank you, Sitara. B-but before you tell them anything, I want to tell you a secret. You can't tell the others. Please promise me you won't." Max held out her hand, and Sitara took it firmly.
"I promise." Max nodded and out a deep sigh. She was going to tell her something only Aiden knew.
"Sitara, I'm trans." The female was unfazed by the statement. She only smiled and patted her back.
"And you're gonna live your best life. But, why don't you want me to tell anyone else?"
"I-I'm just afraid they'll think of me differently if I do. All my life, I wanted to be seen as a girl, not some boy pretending to be one."
"And they do see you as a girl, regardless if you're trans. You have nothing to worry about when it comes to us. We'll accept you no matter what." Max smiled happily and hugged her. For once in her life, she didn't feel like hiding anymore. She felt free, liberated even, like a weight was lifted off of her shoulders. She felt okay.
"Thank you. Thank you for accepting me."
-----
The next day, Max arrived at the Hackerspace with a box filled with personal belongings. It was decorations for her desk. She felt good, great even. Wonderful, if you will.
She made her way down the stairs and peeked her head around the corner, seeing only Josh there. She smiled as she sat the box on her desk, skipping over to Josh.
"Hello~" she said happily, startling Josh.
"Hello." he mumbled in response.
"Working on anything special?"
"Just numbers." Seeing that he wasn't interested in talking, she went back to her desk and began decorating. She pulled out various band posters and anime pictures, setting them up on the wall and shelves. It brought back memories, good memories.
She then pulled out her most prized possessions: her Giratina figure she won by hacking a poll, and her Black Series Kylo Ren lightsaber. The moment she pulled the lightsaber out and accidentally activated it, she captured Josh's attention. Almost immediately, he got up from his chair and walked over to her.
"Hi again~" she chimed, standing up on her chair to put the lightsaber up on the wall.
"Is that a Black Series Kylo Ren Force FX Deluxe lightsaber?"
"U-uh, yeah." She thought it was a little weird that he said the entire title, but she found it pretty cute too. "Why, you wanna hold it?"
"Yes."
"Okie dokie!" She handed it to him and started fixing the wall mounts, realizing they were a little uneven. Josh fidgeted with the lightsaber for a moment before activating it, admiring how nice it looked before swinging it around, narrowing missing the female as she balanced on the chair.
"It's a little heavy." he commented as she got down.
"I kinda like it that way." She took the lightsaber from him and swung it around like how Kylo did in the movie, just showing off how much she knew about his fighting style. It impressed Josh, like, a lot.
"Th-that was really cool." he told her bluntly. She giggled and bowed before setting the lightsaber on the wall. "So how much do you know about Star Wars?" Max turned around with an excited smirk.
"Pull up a chair, my dear Josh. I'll enlighten you on all that I know."
(Title song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCD2tB1qILc)
(Frame Of Mind by Tristam & Braken)