Hello everyone, I am very much alive. I'm truly sorry that I have not updated in such a long time. It's just that, well I kinda grew up and matured a little I guess. But that is not going to stop me from finishing this. It's what you've all been waiting for and I'm not about to stop now. And with that, here's the chapter.

Chapter 11: An Unexpected Encounter

Normal POV

As Kate laid nude and beaten in the ditch, she heard the song of a car stopping. The engine stopped and she heard footsteps, but couldn't see anything.

"Kate?" a familiar voice said. The voice sounded worried and surprised.

"Kate!" it was more panicked this time. Kate groaned and decided to reply.

"Yes?..." she spoke weakly. The figure jumped into the ditch, and Kate could see her now. She wore black and white sneakers, faded blue jeans, and a yellow shirt; which just so happened to complement her eye color. It was Lily.

"Oh my God! What the hell happened?" she questioned with fear.

"Please just help me up..." Kate replied softly. "I'll tell you about it in the car. Oh and what are you doing here?"

"Well my friend and I were going to go to the movies and I remembered that I had those gift cards at our house, so we were driving back to get them..but I guess we aren't now." she said uneasily.

"I'm sorry, this is all my fault anyways." Kate said as a tear slid down her furry cheek.

"No it's not." Lily replied and grabbed her paw to help her up.

Kate POV

The second my sister held my paw, I felt safe again. And memories of our childhood smashed together within my brain. She was always there for me, always had been, always will, and she was now. Lily was so pretty, I had never understood why she didn't think so. She had a pretty low self-esteem, and always hid herself with her bangs. I had always tried to convince her to get involved with people and sports and such. But that just wasn't her and I had to accept that. At times we were completely different people. In high school I was on the volleyball team, while she excelled in her art class. But one night, we realized we weren't that different, we were sisters. When mom and dad would argue I would speak up, while she hid behind the corner. I remember the night, Christmas Eve actually.

I was 16 and Lily was 13. We were both sitting in my room. I was listening to music, while she buried her eyes in a book. All of the sudden there was loud crash from downstairs, it sounded like glass breaking, and I could even hear it with my headphones on. I took them off.

"Did you hear that?" I asked my sister.

She nodded in reply. I knew she was scared, I could tell by her posture, and she was shaking a bit.

"Stay here." I said. I opened the door quietly and shut it the same way. I began walking down the stairs. I made it to the bottom and saw broken wine glasses, and could hear my mother swearing.

"Your daughter is just conflicted as you are and you don't even give a shit!" I heard my mother scream at my father.

"That's not true..." my father replied, angry and also ashamed. My father had cheated on my mother, and I guess he had been talking to the other girl again.

But this was something that Lily didn't know. It would break her apart. She was so much more fragile than me, she wouldn't be able to handle it.

"So why do you keep talking to her? Why?" my mother yelled.

"It's hard to let go."

"You are a fucking idiot."

Just as Lily always does, she didn't listen to me. I turned to see her, in tears. She had quietly followed me down the stairs and was hiding behind me.

"Lily-" I began to whisper. But it was too late, she heard everything. She ran back up stairs and to the attic, where we held a secret spot (a small crawl space where only the two of us could fit). I followed her quickly to the attic but she had already made it to the crawl space and blocked the passage.

"Lily.." I spoke softly and kindly. I then just listened. She must of had her head on her knees because it sounded as if her tears were muffled.

"Let me in..." I spoke again. I waited for about 20 seconds before she responded. She didn't say anything, and she didn't have to. She just moved the box that was inside blocking the entrance. I crawled inside and covered up the entrance.

Just as I had thought, she was an emotional wreck and she needed me, even if she didn't know it yet. I crawled over to her and held her. She cried softly and buried her face in my chest.

"Lily it's okay." I began to speak, but tears had began to fall from my eyes as well. I was just as innocent and torn apart as her, I had just been hiding it. I held her paw.

"We'll get through this." I said.

"Together." she said softly.

"Together." I smiled as she held my paw.

"What?" Lily asked a bit confused.

I shook my head away from the memories and entered back into reality.

"Oh never mind."

She helped me up and we got to the car. She wrapped a blanket around me. And then her friend began to drive.

"So Kate, you wanna tell me what's going on now?"

"Well.." I began.

I'm sorry that I had to leave it off here, but I've got stuff to do. The next chapter will probably be the highlight of this entire story: Humphreys Trial. Well thanks for waiting so long! I love you all! And as always review please and tell me what you think :)