A Week After

Sonata waved good bye to Joe, and was surprised to see darkness of the night. So she went on walking home, thinking about the fresh treats she had just bought of her and sisters, wishing that she had some company. Aria had just texted her that her found Adagio.

Sonata decided that she didn't like being alone so much, it was terrible and wasn’t fun, when she caught sight of something following her. She was almost two blocks from home, so she started walking a little faster. Sonata’s has never been jumped before, and she wanted to stay that way.

But before she knew what was happening two boys came up beside her. The street light illuminated their faces, so she could clearly see the grins on their faces.

Sonata automatically hitched her thumbs in her skirt and slouched, wondering if she could get away if she made a break for it. She remembered Adagio after the fight with Star Swirl, with her face all cut up and bruised, she remembered how hard she had cried when he banished them, alone, in an ally way. And it took a lot to make Adagio cry.

She glanced around for a glass bottle or a stick or something, but there was nothing. So Sonata stood there like a bump on a log while they both surrounded her. They walked around slowly, silently, smiling, like lions cornering their prey.

“Hey, Sonata," one said in an overly-friendly voice. "Remember how you and your friends were making trouble at the high school."

She recognized that voice anywhere, Flash. The other one, that she didn't know, laughed, and cussed her out in a low voice. She couldn't think of anything to say. Her mind was screaming for her to run, but her body was frozen still.

When both boys began to approach her, Sonata’s mind and body cooperated and she ran. But Flash was quicker and kicked her hard in the rib cage. With a screech Sonata fell the concrete and curled in a tight ball.

Taking this opportunity, the other boy kicked her in the head so hard it stunned her, she lay limp, trying to clear her mind and get up, but she couldn't.

She could hear some racket, but very dimly through the buzzing her ears. Soon the boys had flipped Sonata over and had her arms and legs pinned down to a wall, Flash had her shoulders pressed on the wall.

She fought to get loose, and almost did for a second; then he tightened up on her and the other boy, punched her across her jaw and lip. The other boy’s cold fingers and already took off her boots, and now gripped the waistband of her skirt.

Sonata went wild, and started screaming for Adagio, Aria, anyone. Her screams were cut short by a slap to the face. She still wouldn't stop fighting him through, twisting her head from side it side. Flash punched her in the jaw for the second time, almost breaking it.

Soon he had her skirt down to her ankles, tearing them off her legs in one fluid movement. The boy let out a grin a pitched her outer thigh. Flash smacked her inner thigh. Tears began to pour down her face like a river. She wanted nothing more than to go home, she tried to think of anything, something to get out of situation.

“Your one strange bitch, you know that? Thinking you could just walk in and do all you want to do.” Flash let out a dry laugh and instructed the other boy to hold her hands up.

“Please, Please stop Flash, I’m sorry!” She sobbed out, finally finding her voice.

Flash looked up at the trembling girl, smiled and turned to leave. “You will be.”

Sonata looked at him with sorrowful eyes and they filled with tears. She didn’t cry, now there were just tears in them, just as Flash returned with a switch.

“Now were going to play a game,” Flash said standing in front of the blue siren.

“You are going to get sixteen licks, one for each thigh. If you make me miss you'll get two more. Understand.”

Sonata slowly nodded her head.

“Good.”

SMACK!

“OW!”

SMACK!

SMACK!

“FLASH I’M SORRY!”

“I bet you are.”

SMACK!

SMACK!

SMACK!

SMACK!

“PLEASE!”

SMACK!

“Oh see it wasn't even that bad,” Flash said with a smile. “your already done with the first thigh.”

With out warning Flash pulled back the switch.

SMACK!

SMACK!

SMACK!

“IT BURNS!” Sonata jerked her leg away causing Flash to miss.

“Oh looks like I missed..”

“NO WAIT I-”

SMACK!

SMACK!

“STOP PLEASE!”

“Oh quit your crying,” Flash said looking irritated.”You only got five more to go.”

Sonata let out a small whimper. “Flash Plea-“

SMACK!

"AHH!"

“I said quit you crying!” Flash yelled agin and slapped across her injured jaw. Sonata bit her trying her hardest not to cry out.

SMACK!

SMACK!

“MMHF!”

SMACK!

“Just one more to go.” Flash said with a grin. Sonata squeezed her eyes shut and braced for impact.

SMACK!

“MMMMHHF!”

“All finished.” Flash said with a smile, grabbing both sides of her collar pulling her off the wall, and pushed her back to the ground.

“Now put on your clothes.”

Obediently, Sonata scrambled to her feet and did as instructed.

“Now get out of my sight, before I change my mind.” Sonata turned and ran without hesitation. She didn't even want to hurt him, all she wanted to do was get out of there.

She ran home, faster than she ever ran before. Leaning up against her house, Sonata peeked in the living room window. Aria was stretched out on the sofa, sound asleep, but Adagio was in the living room pacing around in circles.

Sonata gulped, and opened the door softly. Adagio looked up from the floor. She stood there, chewing on her thumbnail.

"And just where the hell have you been? Do you know what fucking time it is?" Sonata shook her head wordlessly.

"Well, it's eleven o'clock, another ten minutes and I would have had the damn police out after you. Where on God’s green earth where you?"

It sounded dumb but she had to lie, she just couldn't tell the truth she stammered, "I... I-I"

"You what?" Sonata winced at Adagio's loud voice and tried to hold in her tears. As she was shouting, the other siren sat up and rubbed her eyes.

“Sonata?” Aria rolled over and asked sleepily.

"I didn't mean to Adagio." Sonata pleaded with her. "I just lost track of time..."

"Did it ever occur to you that your we might be worrying our heads off, afraid to call the police because something like this could get all our asses thrown in the jail! Sonata, what the hell is wrong with you?"

Sonata felt hot tears of anger and frustration rising. "I said I didn't mean to..."

"Adagio..." Aria began, but Adagio turned on her.

"You shut the hell up!" Adagio snapped. Aria winced and backed down instantly.

"You don't yell at her!" Sonata shouted back .

Adagio wheeled around and slapped Sonata so hard that it knocked her against the front door.

Suddenly it was silent. They had all frozen. Aria was wide-eyed. Adagio looked at the palm of her hand where it had turned bright red and then looked back at her sister. Her eyes were huge. "Sonata I…”

Sonata suddenly started to bawl, fighting to control herself, then sobbing all the more because she couldn't.

Sonata recoiled in deeper tears, and drew her knees to her chest and buried her head in them. She was crying harder than anyone had
ever witnessed, and Adagio knew she had not done the right thing. She needed her soft side, not her aggressive one.

Aria was standing next to Adagio, swearing under her breath.

Adagio stopped and examined Sonata more carefully. A stricken expression on her face. Adagio quickly got by her side. Sonata was sitting face in hands on her knees.

Sonata face was hurt, and there was a wide bruised from her temple to her cheekbone. Aria just stood there, trembling with sudden cold. Adagio closed her eyes for a second and muffled a groan as Aria dropped on their knees beside Sonata.

"Sonata?" Adagio lifted her up and held Sonata against her shoulder. She gave the limp body a slight shake. "Hey, Nata. I’m sorry.”

"I know," Sonata said, putting on a fake smile, but the ground began to blur and she felt hot tears running down her cheeks and brushed them away impatiently.

"I'm just a little tired, that's all." She drew a quivering breath and quit her crying.

Adagio sighed to herself, she knew Sonata wasn't going to tell her the truth no matter what she said.