After a few days of speaking only when necessary and eating as little as possible, Kurt realized that he really was safe from Karofsky.  He completely unpacked all his possessions and moved in. He even took Finn up on an offer to play Mario Kart. Kurt finally felt like he was home. Burt, Carole, and Finn were truly kind and accepting. After a particularly awkward conversation with a naïve Finn who didn't understand that “I don't like girls that way” meant that he was gay, Kurt officially came out to his family. He would never get tired of saying family, because for once in seven years, Kurt really had a family.

Now it was August, and in a few short days he would start school at McKinley. Over the summer Kurt had met all of Finn's New Direction friends, so he was glad to know some people already. Kurt liked Mercedes the most, and they had become very close friends. Kurt also liked Rachel, even if she was a little self-involved and narcissistic. He tried to steer clear of Santana out of all the glee kids because she somehow sensed that he had more of a traumatic past then he was letting on. Due to Finn's inability to keep his mouth shut, everyone knew that he had become anorexic due to something that happened when he was in foster care. But now he was eating normally and Kurt assured them that they had nothing to worry about, yet Santana was always prying about his history. Hopefully she would never get it out of him, because if she did, the carefully constructed cage Kurt had made to silence the memories of his haunting past would come crashing down around him, taking any courage and stability he had with it.

Kurt looked at himself in the mirror for the third time that morning. He had changed his outfit completely twice, and now he was making minor changes, but this ensemble looked the best so far. Carole took him shopping a week ago and he redid his whole closet with clothes that really reflected the real him- skinny jeans that looked painted on, eccentric designer pieces, several pairs of boots, lots of unique sweaters and jackets, and never forget the right statement accessories. This was the real him and he let his clothes reflect that, even if his personality was still quite fragile, and the confident air his style radiated was just enough to help him fake that confidence until it was real. But most importantly was what was underneath the many layers; his mother's necklace chain. Kurt promised to himself that he would let her metaphor live on, and the constant feel of the cool metal on his skin reminded him that she was always there and he was safe now.

As Finn's car pulled into a parking space, Kurt was jolted from his thoughts. He looked out the passenger window at all the kids dotting the school's front yard. This was going to be the first time in a very long while that Kurt would be surrounded by so many new people. But he could do this, and after running a hand along his neck where the necklace was, Kurt opened his door and stepped out.

“You can find your way around, right? I have to drop this off in the locker room.” Finn held up his football bag.

“I'll be fine.” Kurt was lying, but he wasn't going to be that clingy little brother, even though he was older than Finn.

“Just look out for one of the glee kids if you need help, they're always around somewhere.”

“Kay. I'll be fine, Finn. Don't worry about me.”

“Okay, well, see you at glee then!” With a perky smile Finn jogged over to the athletic entrance where a group of boys all in McKinley football jackets were.

Kurt walked over to the main entrance, careful to keep his head down. He was aware that his unconventional clothing style would stick out, so he anticipated the looks others gave him. But not even ten feet into the building and Kurt's bitch slapped by an ice cold slushie to the face. Due to the purple dye stinging his eyes he couldn't catch the face of the jerk who did it, but he heard their voice as it rang in his ears.

“Get back in the closet, faggot!” He brushed the derogatory curses off, but the sound of that person's voice was familiar.

It couldn't be. They live in Arkansas.

“Kurt!” Oh thank god, it's Mercedes. “Are you okay? Let's get you cleaned up.” Kurt still couldn't see, but he let himself be guided into a bathroom by Mercedes, and soon he felt a scratchy paper towel drying off his face and jacket.

“Thank you, Mercedes.”

“Boy, you gotta be careful next time. Never use the main entrance unless you want a daily slushie facial. All the football jerks hang there, but they're everywhere so always keep your eyes open. And your clothes are fabulous, but maybe tone it down.”

“Why… who would do such a thing?”

“Ignorant jerks, that's who. Finn and Sam are the only ones on that team you can trust.”

“At least the jacket isn't designer. Thank you again.”

“No need to thank me. It's almost time for first period, and you don't wanna be late on your first day. See you second period at glee practice, okay boy?”

He just nodded his head in agreement. Mercedes left the bathroom and headed to her class, and after Kurt checked himself in the mirror, he scurried to his first class, not bothering to look where he was going because the hallways should've been empty. But they weren't, and Kurt ran right into someone. Shit, this day is not going so well.

“What the fuck, fag?” No no no no no. That can't-

With a very tentative glance, Kurt was face to face with years of suppressed memories. Karofsky.

“I'm sorry.” Maybe he forgot he forgot who you were. Keep your head down and leave.

“Holy shit! It's the fucking fag. You think it's okay to waltz like a faggy princess into my school? We left you as a skinny dying mess with a couple of old hag's years ago because you're a fuck up, and no one likes a fuck up. So stay the fuck away from me, and go kill yourself.” Karofsky took Kurt by the collar of his shirt and shoved him into the wall of lockers.

“And if you ever tell anyone what happened I will hurt you. Got it, queer?”

This can't be real. He can't be here. I'm supposed to be safe here.

Kurt nodded his head, forcing back the tears.

“Then leave me the fuck alone.” Karofsky stormed off in the other direction.

Kurt stood in shock as a few silent tears fell down his face. Then he bolted back into the bathroom. Locking the stall behind him, he waited out first period and let the tears flow. Horrible sobs rang throughout the small room as Kurt continuously rubbed his mother's necklace around his neck.

I'm not safe here.

“Where's Kurt? He promised me he would be here!” Finn paced around the choir room, impatiently waiting for Kurt. Glee starts in a minute, but Mr. Schue is always late, so Finn's freak out could go uninterrupted for another ten minutes.

“Finn, it's going to be fine. Kurt's smart, he probably was talking to teachers or went down the wrong hallway. Calm down.” Rachel gently ushered Finn into a chair and soothed him while Quinn glared at them.

“What's going on?” Mercedes asked as she walked into the choir room.

“It's Kurt, he hasn't gotten here yet.” Santana, though trying to hide it, was very stressed out too.

“Oh my god. Are you sure he isn't just lost?” After what happened this morning, Mercedes started to panic too.

“He promised he would come here as soon as first period ended. We talked about this!” Finn started to pace again, nearly taking Brittany out in his path.

“Do you know what class he was in?” Puck remained calm, but seeing Finn so stressed was frightening.

“Algebra 2 with Mrs. Fulton. It's only a minute away and he only has to turn once! He isn't lost. Something happened, and I don't know what happened, he's my brother, dude, I can't let anything happen to him!” Finn snapped at Puck.

“Whoa, calm down, why don't we go look for him? Mr. Schue won't mind.”

“I drew this in math.” Brittany showed Santana a crayon drawing of a dolphin. “My dolphin was gone and it was sad.”

“Wait, Britt, what do you mean? Are you in Kurt's math class?” Everyone's attention turned to Brittney. Finn practically pounced on her.

“The dolphin was missing.” And with that, Finn was down the hallway in an instant, Puck and Santana on his heels.

“Tell Shue we'll be back!” Santana called down the hall to Rachel who stood shocked in the doorway. Mercedes came running out of the choir room too, pushing Rachel to the side while she sprinted to catch up.

“Guys, wait! I might know where he is!”

Finn stopped dead in the middle of the hallway, the other two falling into him like dominoes.

“Where?”

“He was slushied this morning by Karofsky. I took him to the empty girl's bathroom near the main doors. I never checked to see where he went, but that's where he was last.”

“Karofsky?” Finn was decently good friends with Karofsky, so this was news to him. He was aware of his homophobia, but Kurt was Finn's brother. Even if he's just a step-brother, doesn't Karofsky have any respect?

“It doesn't matter, let's go!” Puck pushed forward and three continued their pursuit, detouring down a hidden corridor to make it to the front of the building. Without any care that it was a girl's bathroom, Finn pounded right through the door.

“Kurt?” He heard a faint sniffle from behind a stall. “Kurt, let me in. What happened?”

“Finn?” Kurt shuffled up and unlocked the door.

With one look at Kurt, something was dead wrong. His clothes were disheveled, his face was red and puffy, his breath was coming out in short, heavy shudders, and his eyes were filled with so much pure terror it was heartbreaking. Kurt tried to step forward, but instead he just fell into Finn's arms, severely shaking.

“What the fuck happened to you?” Santana's face went white when she saw Kurt's back. His shirt was rucked up, and on his skin there were deep textured imprints, some bleeding.

In between whimpers, Kurt let out a breathy “Karofsky.”

“Let's get him back to the choir room.” Puck said as he helped hold Kurt up. They half carried/ supported Kurt down the hallway, and when they got back, everyone scrambled to help at the sight of the broken down boy. They go him into a chair quickly and Rachel had him sip some water.

“What happened?” Tina asked, who was mostly unaware of the situation. Mr. Schuester was still nowhere to be seen, but she, Mike, and Artie where there now.

“Karofsky did something to him! The fucking bastard!” Santana was officially losing her cool. “I'm gonna go all Lima Heights on his ass, he won't be able to tell up from down!” Santana started for the door, but Mike and Puck held her back. “La maldita perra necesita morir [the fucking bitch needs to die]!”

“Calm down Santana. You're not helping anything.” Quinn said from her chair in the back of the room. She was the only one who hadn't moved to help Kurt, even Artie was helping, though his wheel chair was getting in the way.

Eventually Kurt was able to calm down enough to speak clearly. “He, he threw me into the lockers.”

“Why the hell would he do that?! You never did anything!” The betrayal was starting to sit with Finn now, and he not like it.

“Yes I did.”

“No, Kurt, You're not the one at fault here. Never think that.” Rachel ran her fingers through Kurt's hair while she and Mercedes held him.

“But… I… I did. He knows me.”

“What the fuck?” Finn was utterly confused. So many different things were running through his head and he was still high on adrenaline.

“He was my foster brother.” Kurt said quietly.

Finn stood up so quickly that his chair upended beneath him, knocking over two others. “HE WAS WHAT?! WHY THE FUCK DID HE DO THIS?!”

“Because I'm gay.” Kurt whispered, barely audible.

“THAT HOMOPHOBIC BASTARD!”

“What is going on in here? Finn, I can hear you down the hallway.” Mr. Schue came in looking pissed, but his expression changed once he saw Kurt. “What happened?”

“Karofsky threw him into the lockers. Apparently he was once Kurt's foster brother.”

Mr. Schue remained in his spot near the piano for nearly a minute, still processing everything. He didn't even know the boy, all he knew was that Finn asked if Kurt could join as a special favor due to ‘circumstances' that Finn wouldn't tell him. Once words were capable of being formed, Schue asked, “Is he hurt? We need to get him to the nurse, he might be shock. Should I call Ms. Pillsbury, or his dad, or the principal?”

“No, I'm… I'm fine. This is nothing compared to…”

“Compared to what, Kurt?” Santana was waiting for this. For a little clue that proved her theories right.

“Nothing.” Kurt insisted, sitting up in his chair, rubbing the tears from his eyes. He went to sit back in his seat, but jolted forwarded in pain. Damn, that really hurts.

“Kurt, what did he do to you?” Santana was not giving this up.

“Nothing! Let's just start or whatever. I'm fine, my back's fine, and I am not in shock. Don't call anyone. Bullies are bullies, I get that and I can deal with it.” Everyone watched Kurt for a minute to see if he really was okay, even though it was painfully obvious it wasn't. But they continued with glee club anyway, and the whole time Kurt was playing with the silver necklace chain around his neck, while Santana intently studied him.

Kurt had been at McKinley for a whole two weeks now, and the bullying just intensified. There were a few occasions where Santana had to be restrained in the hallway because she witnessed it, but Kurt could tolerate it. He found that your eyes adjust to the sting of artificial dye over time and it stops hurting as much. His back got its consistent deal of bruises and cuts from the lockers and dumpsters, but Kurt could manage the pain. At least, that's what he told himself.

Very quickly Kurt was falling back into his anorexia. Sometimes someone would notice he wasn't eating at lunch and they would force him to eat, but that just made Kurt spend more time in the empty girl's bathroom during lunch so he could avoid everyone. Another result of the bullying that Kurt wouldn't admit to was the nightmares. He would be taunted by re-livings of his past when he closed his eyes, so Kurt would try to stay awake as long as possible, but sometimes he succumbed to the horror.

“No! NO! GET Ofghhh.” A hand smothered Kurt's mouth as he tried to squirm away from the dark figure holding him there.

“Shut up, queer.” The shadow's hand raked over Kurt's slim figure roughly, slowly making their way to his crotch.

“Mrpppphhhh!” Kurt tried to scream when the hand over his mouth was replaced with the cloudy shapes lips.

“You say one word and you'll regret living.” Said the outline as he turned Kurt around and forced him to bend over.

Tears cascaded down Kurt's face as the shady mass defiled him.

Kurt bolted up in his bed, sweating and shaking. It's just a nightmare.

For once Kurt was able to walk down the hallway without running into Karofsky. He knew he was around somewhere because he could sense it, but that didn't stop Kurt from walking with his head up for once. Then Kurt was grabbed at from behind and pulled into a dark empty classroom.

“Wha- NO! HELP!” Kurt tried to scream but his mouth was muffled by Karofsky's hand.

“You tell anyone or say anything, and I will kill you. Down, on your knees.”

“No, please!”

“Shut the fuck up unless you want to die.”

So Kurt kneeled, his eyes shut tight. This is just another nightmare.

Karofsky undid his belt and forcefully pushed himself into Kurt's mouth. Kurt tried his best not to throw up because he knew what would happen if he did.

This cannot be real. I can't be here right now. Help! Oh my god, help, someone, please. Get him away from me!

Kurt was glad when it was over. Karofsky was gone in seconds and Kurt ran to the nearest bathroom to throw up, violently. After 10 minutes or so, Kurt was barely able to pick himself up from the floor and make it to the sink without falling because he was shaking so much. But after he splashed lots of cold water on his face, Kurt was able to drag himself to his next class. If he made it there intact.

In the hallway there was a gang of football players, and Karofsky was in the back. What's happening?

“Hey princess, let's walk.” One of the taller boys grabbed him by the arm and shoved him toward the doors that led to the far side of the field. This is not going to end well.

 He walked forward and hoped that today wouldn't be the day he died. Then someone grabbed him by the back of his jacket and threw him against a nearby tree. “I'm tired of this fag, aren't you too?” one of the football players asked the other. And then everything went black.

The one boy had punched him square in the temple, causing him to fall to the ground unconscious. That didn't stop them though, and they kicked him over and over until they could see his blood on their shoes. Content with what they did, the crowd left him for dead on the ground. But Karofsky lingered behind, and when Kurt slowly came to, he grabbed him by the throat and shoved him against the tree.

“Got it fag? Don't come back here, because if you do, I won't hesitate to send them after you again, and again, and again.” He pulled a switchblade from his pocket, and Kurt's eyes bugged out in fear. “No one will ever love you. And if someone tries to, I won't mind killing them too.” Karofsky ran the blade down Kurt's face lightly, not leaving a mark, but putting enough pressure to prove his point. He really will kill me. “You are a worthless piece of used trash. Go kill yourself.” Karofsky left Kurt against the tree, not looking back once. Kurt fell back to the ground, traumatized. He fiercely gripped at his mother's necklace and convulsed in pain, sobbing quietly.