"Daddeee," she hissed out, "I'm serious." Your high school curriculum is finished, right?" At Arlene's nod, he went on. "Helen tells me you and Ann ar...e just waiting until Jennie and Melissa finish up, so you will all 'graduate' together, but the fact is that both you and Ann have technically graduated, already. Am I wrong?" Uh, no," the young Queen admitted."And you and Ann are already taking a full load of college courses. Am I right?" Well, yeah. And that's my point..." Answer me this before. She was wearing a black choker round her neck. Her hands, withlong red nails, were on the arms of the chair - it was almost as if shewas siting on a throne.I tried to look downwards - my neck didn't want to move fully, but Icould see long nylon-clad legs and a short black skirt.Despite my confusion, I could feel myself getting excited.I was still woozy, and very, very thirsty. Maybe I said something, but avoice - in my head? in my ear? - said "Do you need a drink?" I nodded,sound seemingly. She'd earned every scar and wore them proudly. Her body was a road map of pain, and her fingers had traced every angry red line that was raised across her ebony flesh. I can't say I bothered to ask her name. In the weeks that followed, it became my obsession, that name I never thought to get. It would have made it a lot fucking easier to find her, I was sure. But at the time, it seemed... invasive. Almost rude. Odd that I should be so shy, but I remember distinctly wondering what to call her.. Rachel found blankets and linens and used some to make up the single bed for Cathleen. Rachel got Cathleen's shoes off, had her strip, wrapped her tightly in the blankets, and left her to sleep. Ragged breathing soon turned to soft snores.Rachel made up the queen bed, then stood by it looking at me. She crooked her finger, and when I went to her she said, "I just lost my husband. I killed his murderers. I'm lonely, scared, hurt, and horny. I'll be damned if I sleep alone tonight."With that, she.