Chel clutched the dataplate closely, thinking things through once again. 'I'm free. I can abandon Lexx… but it's not right what is happening to him. If I really care even half as much as I feel, I should help him. He needs it. I'm not going to give him a false hope… that wasn't how I was raised and that's not how I am. He needs me at least as a friend. I am his friend. I don't know where this path is taking me and I'm afraid because I don't want to follow it, but it's the path that's being laid out before me and I can't ignore it. I'm the only one who gets to even see it. Lexx didn't get to choose… I do. I do. I want to."
She got up and gathered the plate, bloodstone and photo album in her arms. Then walked to her bed and slid them back into the spot she had been hiding them. Chel noted that she had left the remote in that spot and not even considered breaking it. Of course, the remote wouldn't do anything for anyone but herself.
Chel realized that it wasn't really a justified concern that someone would find them. Her parents did not have a reason to search her room and she kept it tidy enough to satisfy them. It was all in her mind.
Kip floated behind her, relieved at the close call he'd just had. "Is that the end?" He inquired curiously.
"Yes…. Yes, it is." Chel wiped a hand across her eyes. "There's no turning back now. I'm not going to have this conversation with you… or myself again. If someone finds out, I tell them the truth. I'm not going to lie. Why should I lie? My biggest worry is how to explain Lexx… people might think I'm crazy." She blinked, "But I'm afraid of what might happen to Lexx if I did tell. I want to keep him to myself. My own little secret… and most importantly, I don't want anyone to hurt him." She shook her head and sighed. It was still too much to think about. "Nobody can hurt Lexx. He can take care of himself."
