Brain surfing

[Raven]

"I hope she's not foolish enough to think it will happen immediately. I mean, the last time I got ahold of her she broke down crying. She wasn't in nearly as deep then," Kailen said.

[Gifted]

"But net total." Older Stephanie agreed dismissively. "You think you'll be happier?"
Young Stephanie braced herself for the attack. She took a deep breath. "Yes."
"When you're being tortured, you'll be happier?" Older Stephanie demanded. She didn't give a chance to answer. "That's all you're going to get out of it just the same as last time you tried it and you know it! Mental attacks, starvation, forced blackouts, hallucinations, do I need to go on?" She demanded. Young Stephanie had frozen up again, but older Stephanie went on immediately anyway. "You know he'll find you, dad always finds you. Blackwater Cave. The Winchester House. Cadburey Avenue, Riel Road, the dumpster off fourth, the casino on twelfth, Cultus Lake, Lions Park, Johnson Road, I could do this all day. It didn't work before and you were a nobody back then. Now the whole country knows your face. And you have the gall to think you can avoid dad? You know full well it's never going to happen! And you can't take that again, can you? That's why I exist! Because father always, always. Wins!"
She shoved the emotional Stephanie hard and the girl collapsed. Blood was seeping from her body, and she didn't immediately move.

[Raven]

Kailen shoved the older one back with a surprising amount of force. He crouched down next to his friend. "I won't let that happen. I've been in hiding for the last nine years. I know your father is a new caliber of criminal, but I know of someone who has been searching for a long time for someone to take his anger out on. I will never let anyone hurt you like that again. Soon you'll be safe."

[Gifted]

The older one caught herself on a wall, but it was a close thing. The younger girl was struggling to push herself to her feet, but she looked awful and worn and her whole body shook under her own weight as she tried to push herself up. "You can't guarantee that! No one can hide from my dad!" The elder one snapped.

[Raven]

"I think I've had a lot more practice hiding like not-you than you have," Kailen said, putting an arm around the young one to help her up. "And besides, the instant I'm found, a war veteran joins the party. We don't have to hide forever, we just have to work it right."

[Gifted]

She gripped his arm and with his help, managed to get to her feet. The older Stephanie fell to her knees.
"Let's go." The younger one wanted to pass her before she got any more hurt. She wouldn't withstand another blow. The assed the older one, Stephanie leaning on Kailen for support.

[Raven]

Kailen led her back the way he'd come. Truth be told, he wasn't sure how to leave, or where he should leave her. "When I leave your mind, I'm not actually sure what happens. I don't think time has passed, but it very well might have. Even if not, I kind of broke into your office. And you can't just leave in the middle of the day, it would draw too much attention too quickly."

[Gifted]

"I..I'll figure it out." She looked around her own room, or what was once her room. "I have to take things slowly, we can't alert my parents and I'm going to be fragile for awhile... scared. Just... stay with me, okay? Don't disappear. I don't know if this'll work or not, if I'll manage to get out of this okay, but I know I don't stand a chance without you. Please don't disappear."

[Raven]

"Why on Earth would I disappear?" Kailen smiled and kissed her forehead. "You're my favorite second cousin. Don't take that lightly just because you're my only second cousin."

[Gifted]

"But I'm not your only second cousin? I never mentioned him?" Stephanie looked surprised. "You should've seen him in the picture... my perfect cousin Austin."

[Raven]

Kailen frowned. "That's who the kid was?" He hadn't known. "Well, you're still my favorite, so don't worry." He rubbed her shoulder.

[Gifted]

She hugged him. "I'm so glad you came to rescue me. Thank you."

[Raven]

"You're welcome, Steph. Just do me a favor and don't disappear, right?" He forced a little smile and focused on going back. Just like that he was in Stephanie's office again.

[Gifted]

Not a second had passed. Stephanie's mother was still on the phone, and Stephanie herself looked exactly the same. But when the security came in to take Kailen away, Stephanie hesitated only a moment before holding up one finger, telling them to wait. Then she held the phone back to her ear. "Sorry, there's some kind of commotion going on outside my office. I'll call you back in a bit, okay? I need to sort this out."
"Alright. Take care, Stephanie. Love you." Her mom's voice came over the phone.
"Love you too. Stay sharp." Stephanie hung up and sighed. "My sincerest apologies about all this, Mr. Belacqua. I'm afraid I forgot to notify my secretary of our meeting. With all the excitement it slipped my mind. I'm very sorry about my people hassling you." She looked to her security guards. "Let him go please. This blunder is my fault."
"It's not scheduled meeting hours, he can't be in here-"
"You think I'm not aware of that? Extenuating circumstances caused me to make an exception in his case, that's all." She looked back to Kailen. "Would you like to accompany me for coffee? We can resume our meeting there."

[Raven]

Kailen took a breath to compose himself, then nodded. "I would love to." He glanced at the security. Did Stephanie remember that, or had he just changed her without her conscious knowledge?