Lana asked them both to sit at her table and handed them each a bottle of water. She also set some fruit on the table from her bag.
She sat opposite them without changing clothes. She stared at the bottle, took a drink then stared a moment longer.
"My brother and I were given to an orphanage at birth. From my earliest memories, I have been able to talk to trees which is why I say I was born with my ability. Around age 5 or 6, the orphanage came under new management. At first, Mrs. Fitts pretended to be nice. She wanted us to call her mom and all kinds of normalization types of things. The trees were telling me not to trust her. "
"So, I listened."
"Dobin has always followed my lead. It wasn't long before we started hearing strange noises in the night. Within a month of that, the men in the white coats started coming. They would select a few children to spend the night with them in the basement. Their screams pierced the night. After that first visit, the trees started warning me when they were on the way so I could get myself and my brother out. There were a few times I snuck down and tried to get the code to the cipher lock. I wanted friends and we were surrounded by kids. They were my friends but over time, they were told not to be nice and not to play with us. We were not helping the nice men who visited us so we could not be part of the group until we did. That's what we heard Mrs. Fitts tell them. "
"I did eventually get the code and snuck in when I was 8. The room was filled with torture equipment, medical tables and other things I couldn't identify. There was a table where I could see a hand hanging off over by the opposite wall. The white coats had left so I crept over and found it was little Toby. He was four years old, and he was dead."
"I think they had cameras down there because the next time they specifically went for Dobin and I. The trees said they were coming and I couldn't get him to wake up. I tried and I tried but they were already in the house when I finally got him to open his eyes. I managed to get him to climb down the side of the house and we ran toward the trees. Someone grabbed us both from behind and I screamed so loud my throat hurt. Next thing we knew, a tree came to life and grabbed us while another swung a branch and knocked out the men who grabbed us. At least I think they were knocked out because as far as I know, they never pursued us. We ran among the trees, along branches, I used my vine whip and momentum to move us in those heights. We stayed out there for three days. We knew we needed to go back. We valued what little education we were getting in school. Those three days were the best days we had while living in that wretched place."
"After a few years of abusing the kids, they started making the older kids abuse the younger ones. This abuse was taking place at night, mostly. It was mainly the sexual kind. When I asked one of the girls what was going on, at first she didn't want to tell me. Her name was Amanda. Eventually, she told me the previous visit from the white coats, grown men took turns on a girl in front of the boys. Then they put a different girl on the bed and made the boys do the exact same thing. They changed out the girl and made the boys do it until they demonstrated pleasure at forcing themselves on the girls. They turned these four boys into rapists over a weekend. One of those boys is here right now."
"Apparently, someone overhead Amanda telling me about what had happened. That night, the boys locked her in a room with them and took turns on her. She was screaming from the pain so loudly. We could hear them from our room and how much they were enjoying themselves. I wanted to go in there so badly and save her but Dobin held me tight and refused to let me become their next victim."
Tears were streaming down her face and her words were coming out hitched. She took a good long drink from her bottle of water.
"They killed her in their own desire for pleasure and to punish her for talking. The next day, Dobin and I were moved to the attic. We were 10 at that point. They gave us a twin mattress to share and one blanket and pillow. The roof had a hole in it so when it rained, we got wet. When it snowed, it landed on us. It was very cold but we did discover one good point. We were able to lock the trap door that led downstairs so they could not get to us while we slept anymore."
"While we got out of there physically unscathed, mentally and emotionally, we have huge scars."
Looking at Leo, "Quinn said I should give you some trust."
She took another slow, deep breath and more water, draining what was left.
"Leo, what life has taught us so far is strong adults mean us harm and weaker adults will allow the harm to take place ignoring it is happening. I trust Quinn. I do. But I'm not ready to let you spar with me. If you'd like, you can watch me spar with whoever. Monday through Thursday it happens right here after dinner. It's the best I can give you. Fridays are my day off from sparring since that is when I help Dr. Hayley. If you question the sincerity of my story, you can ask my roommate Kattie how many nights she has been able to sleep through the night without being woken by my nightmares."
More tears leaked from her eyes and before she could wipe them away, Vorden came around the table and wrapped her in his arms.
"I thank you for sharing this with me and for trusting me. I think I will take you up on your offer and pop in once in a while. But I want your goal to be to have this assessment with me before the next portal outing."
She nodded.
"What practice did you get before you came here in fighting? Was it just gym class in school?"
"No. Dobin was a level 1, no ability so he got bullied a lot. I always defended him and beat up whoever was stupid enough to touch him."
Leo grinned, "He's lucky to have you."
"That's what he says sometimes. Others he just finds me annoying," she displayed a small smile.
"One more question, then I will leave you to your practice. Are you in danger from this boy?"
She nodded, "but he's being protected by someone powerful in this school. He's even here under a different name. He had no ability that I ever saw but he has a level 7 teleport ability now. Of course, he could have hidden it since we were not allowed to use our abilities in the orphanage. I have to think, though, if he had this ability, he would not have allowed them to do that to him."
Leo didn't look happy at that. He excused himself and bid them a good evening before leaving them.