Serenia nodded her head as she looked at the people passing by. She really didn't like this conversation, but she knew that she needed to understand James' dad better, so she could defeat him.
James looked at her, "What are you thinking?"
"That there's no way out of this situation."
"That's not true."
Serenia looked at him, "Why didn't you ever kill him while you had the chance?"
"At first, I didn't care," he admitted a bit sheepishly, "And I can't kill him, because I'm pretty sure that everyone will know that it was me. No one will believe what he has done, because he is looked at as a 'good citizen.'"
"Well, we will have to kill him eventually. It's inevitable. More girls will die if we don't do something...and fast."
James sighed, "I know, but I just don't know what to do."
"I don't, either, but we'll think of something." Serenia tried to sound optimistic, even though she wasn't really feeling it.
James nodded and then he stood up, "Come on. You can't just sleep on a street corner."
"Well, I can't just sleep at your house."
"I know. I know somewhere else where you can stay until the end of this. It still cost's money, but it's cheap."
He led her down the street, and it felt like a mile before they finally reached a quaint looking motel. It wasn't big, and it was run by a friendly older couple.
Serenia found out that she had enough money for two nights, and she put her name as Katrina Brooks."
They didn't ask her for an ID, but instead, gave her a key and told her where the room was.

Serenia looked at him, "Well, I don't have grace."
"That's why he's teaching you. Normally, he only kills a girl a year to keep a low profile, and it's usually a girl who's not from around here, but the killer within him is getting desperate.
Serenia looked at James skeptically, "You know awfully about your dad's actions."
"Well, yeah, I lived with him for sixteen years, and he talks in his sleep." James shrugged his shoulders.

He saw her, the beautiful blonde on the ice. A twig snapped, and the blonde looked up. At first, she looked anxious, but then she Larry, harmless Larry.
"Oh, hi, Larry."
For the twenty-first time, he asked a young and beautiful ice skater to dance.
She looked at him warily, "My boyfriend will be here any minute."
Larry became angry and slapped her, "Do not lie to me! Everyone in town knows you're single!"
The girl didn't fall down like he had intended. Instead, she started skating for solid ground. It did not take him long to catch up to him, however, and before long, she was another ice princess.
Larry stood there a moment longer before slowly walking away into the darkness...

She walked to a street corner and hid as best as she could, away from the rest of the world.
"Serenia." she looked up and saw James.
She felt the blood burning in her veins, "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"
"I followed you." James said sheepishly.
Serenia didn't say anything. She just looked at him, waiting for him to say more.
James looked around before he looked back at her, "What are you doing here?"
"What does it look like?!" she snapped at him.S eh immediately regretted it, but refused to apologize.
James looked at her, "It looks like you're sleeping on a street corner."
"Good job, Sherlock, now go away."
James, instead, sat down next to her. Serenia wouldn't even look at him, "Look, I know I said some horrible things, and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted that way, but I don't choose to be abused. My dad is a drunk with anger issues."
Serenia finally sighed, "I'm sorry, too. It's just...I have a job now. If I have another episode, I might lose my job."
James looked at her, "I noticed you have a job, but I don't know how you can do it in the middle of everything that's going on."
Serenia laughed without humor, "Yeah, crazy, isn't it?"
James shook his head, "Yeah, it is..."
"I have no other choice."
James was quiet for a minute, "My mother..." he wasn't sure if he should go on, but he did anyway," My dad-he got drunk, and my mother was ice skating. He threw her on the ice and killed her. That's one of the reasons he is what he is."
"What's the other reason?" Serenia asked quietly.
James looked at her with tears in his eyes, "He's uglier than sin. Nobody really notices, but he has a limp, and he wears a mask to hide the scars. He's jealous of ice skaters because of their beauty and their grace...

Serenia went to work afters school. She had avoided James all day like she was sure he wanted. She was right on time. It was busy, so she was happy as she followed her "trainer" from table to table.
She was relieved when work was finally over. She smiled as she looked at her part of the tips and saw $100. She could definitely get used to this.

James couldn't concentrate once again. He felt like a jerk, but at the same time, he couldn't believe Serenia expected him to just stay clear of his dad. It wasn't like he went out to get hit!
He put his head on his desk. He shouldn't have told her not to come back. He was worried about her. He didn't even know where she spent the night last night!
He shook his head as he tried to pay attention to what the teacher was saying...

He was getting anxious. He didn't know where the girl was, and he was feeling the need to kill, whether it be Serenia or not. He decided to go to the lake that night. He will get Serenia later, but right now, he was going to get himself an experienced ice skater.

Serenia sat on the toilet seat, trying to pull herself together. She didn't mean for it to sound that horrible, but she needed this job. She need a way out of this trap that James' dad set for her.
It didn't feel like there was a way out. James was still going to get beaten, she was going to lose her job for acting strange, and the whole world was going to go to hell.
"Way to think positive." she said out loud as she looked at herself in the mirror.
She pounded the sink angrily and exited the bathroom...

The next day, James met Serrenia at school, but she didn't look good. "Look, I'm sorry-" he started.
"Yeah," Serenia sighed and looked a him. She didn't look like like she had much sleep. James couldn't say that he was surprised, because she hadn't gone back to his house last night. He was pretty sure that she didn't go back to his cousin's house, either, which meant that she had nowhere to go. She continued, "I...have a job."
"That's...good, I guess." James shrugged his shoulders, wondering where this was going.
"I know you can't really control it, but can you stay out of your dad's way?"
James felt his face flush, and he grabbed Serenia angrily, "Do you think I control my dad's anger, do you?!" he yelled. He could see that he was hurting her, so he let her go roughly, "Don't bother coming back!" he ran off.
The last time he saw Serenia for that day,s he was running to the bathroom, crying...

Serenia felt it and fell down on the ground. She started crying out. She got some strange looks, but everyone seemed too afraid to help her.
Ten minutes felt like forever, but it was over. She slowly stood up and walked some more. She didn't have anywhere to go. She felt lost and confused.
But one thing she did know was that she had to talk to James...and fast!

Larry ran into his son's bedroom, "Where is she?!"
James sat up in his bed, "Huh?"
"Where is that whore you always hang out with?"
"I haven't seen her, I swear!"
"Lies!" he yelled and, once again, pulled off his belt.
"No, please!" James begged.
"It's time you learned your place, boy!" he said and as he smacked James the first time, he yelped...

Serenia studied the questions on the application. Her heart sank. She didn't have any job experiences. Did that matter?
She shrugged her shoulders. Maybe they would hire her anyway, so she could get a job experience.
She finished filling it out and handed it to the manager. Ken asked her a few questions, and the next thing she knew, he said, "You're hired. When can you start?"
Serenia was so flabbergasted, it took her a minute to answer, "Well, um...today, if you want me to."
Ken lightly laughed, "How about tomorrow. You will be working part time from 3pm-9pm Monday-Friday. Is that okay?"
Serenia nodded, "Yes, that will be fine." she slowly walked around town, feeling more grown up than she had ever been before...