A/N: The idea for this is based off of The Five Caves Katara Never Made it Out of. Go read, it’s so good. Warning: implied self-harm.

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything related to Life With Derek.

I : versus stepbrother

Derek’s angry with her. He’s yelling, “I told you to just stay the hell out of it!” She’s backing up a little, feeling very sorry at the moment for meddling in his relationships again, and what for?

“If you hadn’t gone and said those things to her, then maybe-”

“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” she tries. His face burns crimson and he comes closer to her, closer and closer until she can feel the heat emanating from him.

“You never do, but that doesn’t stop you, does it?”

She contemplates running away, and when she gets the nerve, she doesn’t come back.

II : versus date rape

There was something in her drink.

It’s just punch, I swear.

There’s hot lips trailing down her neck, and she can feel the hurried suckling and the beginnings of a hickey.

Are you sure?

She tries to push back with her knees, to do anything, but she isn’t strong enough.

You don’t-

so good-

out of my life!

Now, more than anything, she wishes she had listened to Derek. When she feels the rip and tear of violation, and the beginnings of drugged tears, she knows she can’t fight back. And more than anything, she knows nothing will ever be the same again.

III : versus killer

It’s freezing outside, and she doesn’t even have her jacket. Her mom would be mad at her, if she could see this. It’s just after play practice and Derek was supposed to pick her up, but she figures he’s busy with girl of the week.

She needs a ride. And she’s called him five times now, at least, and where is he? It’s starting to get downright frigid.

Even worse than the fact that she’s cold and alone, someone’s following her. And after Derek doesn’t pick his cell phone up for the tenth time, she feels it behind her.

And it appears that she won’t need a ride home anymore.

IV : versus morals

“What freaks.”

“Can you believe them?”

“It’s practically incest!”

She buries her head further into Derek’s shoulder wishing she would disappear. He kisses her temple, holds her closer, and whispers in her ear-“They’re just jealous.” It doesn’t make her feel any better.

When she gets home that night, she finds the perfect, pricey chef’s knife buried in the kitchen drawer and takes matters into her own hands. She hears Derek pounding up the stairs a second too late and hopes he’ll eventually understand.

V : versus self

She examines her face in the mirror with a strange, steady look. Gently fingertips probe every inch. She sees the pictures of dancers hanging around her room and knows her limits.

Smoothing over her lips. She sees the smiling picture of her mother and father at their wedding and knows what she cannot be.

Gripping the skin over her heart. She sees the scowling picture of Derek and knows what she cannot have.

And when the only thing she can control becomes herself, what else is there to do?