Nicole watched as Maddy packed her bags hurriedly. She had left the packing to the last minute as usual and now she was rushing around the room trying to find her things, which were everywhere. Nicole would have helped her friend in packing, but Maddy had become cold and distant and she refused to let Nicole help. She couldn't even stand to be around her anymore. 

Nicole had never seen this side of Maddy and it scared her. She hated that they had become like this. It had been nearly a month since Halloween and Maddy still wouldn't talk to her properly. She never spoke to her unless needed and she stayed out most of the time. It's like they didn't even know each other. Ryder and Erik had noticed this and both of them had tried hard to resolve the matter, but Maddy refused to talk properly until Nicole told her everything and Nicole wasn't about to tell her anything more. It was for the best. Neither of them knew what happened that Halloween night, and Nicole was sure that Maddy hadn't told Ryder her secret.

Nicole curled up under the blankets and looked at the page of the book she was trying to read, but she couldn't concentrate on the words. Maddy was accompanying Ryder to his parents' house for Thanksgiving. The holidays were for a week and Nicole had no idea what she would do all alone in this room for a whole week without Maddy. Of course, she could always go over to Erik's, since Ryder wouldn't be there, but she still felt uncomfortable. As much as she hated to admit this, she didn't want Maddy to leave. She didn't want to spend the nights alone. Maddy may be angry at her, but her presence was still comforting and with time, Nicole hoped she would forgive her.

Maddy cursed as she tried to find her purse. She flipped over the blankets on her bed, making it even messier, and rampaged her closet. 

"I think it's in the drawer in the dresser," Nicole said tentatively. 

Maddy didn't answer. Instead, she opened the drawer and took out her purse. Without thanking Nicole, she took the small suitcase and her purse and went out the door. She did stop once before exiting and turned around. She opened her mouth to say something but then thought better of it and closed it and went on her way.

Nicole watched as her friend left without saying goodbye. She was hurting so bad but she refused to show it. Tears pricked the corner of her eyes but she refused to let them fall. It hadn't even been a minute since Maddy had left and she instantly started missing her. She missed Maddy. She missed her incessant chatter and their small fights and the way she used to scold her when Maddy would arrive late from a party. She missed the way they used to be. 

Nicole got up from the bed with a sigh and stood near the window. It was around seven thirty in the evening, but it was pitch black outside. Rain clouds had gathered in the sky and it would start pouring any time. It wasn't supposed to rain in November, but then, the weather was as unpredictable as her life nowadays. Their first snow was yet to be seen this year.

A cold breeze blew and Nicole inhaled the night air. She was feeling restless and uneasy and she didn't want to be alone in this room right now, so she decided to go for a run, on a whim.

After changing her clothes, Nicole took her route to Lake Mendota. She had plugged in her headphones and her feet matched the pounding rhythm of the music. It wasn't a slow jog today. Nicole released all of her pent up anger and frustrations in the run. She grit her teeth and pushed harder when her muscles started to cramp and her lungs started to burn. The cold air brought tears to her eyes but she didn't care. She kept running. It started to rain after a while but Nicole didn't stop. 

Nicole took her secret route to meet Brian, but she was disappointed when she came to the clearing. Brian was nowhere to be seen. She whistled, but her whistle was lost in the howling of the wind. It was raining violently now and she was drenched. Maybe going out for a run wasn't the best idea today, Nicole thought to herself. The rain blurred her vision and she couldn't keep her eyes open against the strong wind. It was a full-blown storm.

She turned around and shielding her eyes with her arm, she started walking towards the narrow trail that led to the clearing. Suddenly, someone came up from behind and grabbed her arm. The person whipped her around and pinned her to a tree and he wrapped a hand around her throat.

Nicole cried out but her screams and shouts were lost in the strong wind. She was choking. Strangled sounds came from her throat as she tried to make out the person who was choking her. A hooded man came into her vision but she could not see his face, or make out any of his features.

Tears mixed with the rain rolled down her cheeks as she tried to cry for help and her nails clawed at the man's hand that was choking her and pinning her to the tree. Black dots swam in her vision and she felt faint and light headed from the lack of air. Is this how I'm going to die? Nicole thought to herself. The man leaned closer and whispered into her ear. He had a deep, rumbling voice, but it was filled with malice.

"Your end is near Nikki".

Suddenly the hand choking her with an iron grip went away and she was filling her lungs with the cold night air, drinking it in greedily. She coughed and clutched her throat and sank down to the ground, gasping. Nicole looked up but the man was nowhere to be seen, he had disappeared into the night just as suddenly as he came. Lightning crackled across the sky and it illuminated her surroundings just for a second. The clearing was empty.

She got up and ran as fast as she could. Branches scratched her arms as she tore down the trail, but she didn't stop. She kept running. Tears flowed freely from her eyes now and her heart was hammering away in her rib cage. She felt like she would pass out any moment.

She ran onto the main road and suddenly, lights blinded her eyes and she shrieked and cowered, sure that the car would run over her. The driver pressed the breaks hard and the car skidded and came to a stop, just an inch from where she was standing.

The driver got out and hurried over to her. She couldn't make out his face. The tears and rain blurred her vision but she could make out that pale blonde hair.

Erik hugged her and rubbed her back while whispering soothing words into her hair. He guided her to the passenger seat and buckled her in. Nicole was still crying and she couldn't form the words to thank him.

Erik started the car and drove off. He kept glancing at Nicole worriedly, wondering what she was doing here in the middle of a storm, and why she was crying. He had so many questions but he held them in. He didn't want to overwhelm her right now. It was evident that she was frightened.

The car was silent and only the sounds of Nicole crying could be heard. Finally, Nicole wiped her cheeks and glanced over at Erik. He was clutching the wheel tightly and his knuckles were white. She could tell he was tensed and upset on seeing her like this.

"Why were you going to Lake Mendota?" Nicole asked. Her voice came out rough and broken. Her throat still throbbed from the grip. She rubbed her neck, trying to soothe the pain.

This action wasn't lost on Erik. Even in the dim light, he could make out the red marks of fingers on her neck. It looked like someone had attacked her. This made him angrier than ever. To think that someone even dared to touch her!

"I sneaked in to your dorms to visit you since I knew that Maddy wouldn't be there, but the door was locked. No one was there in the room. Then I went to the coffee shop and to the library but Mrs. Davis said that she hadn't seen you. So that left Lake Mendota, although I was sure that you weren't crazy enough to go for a run in this storm, but I guess I was wrong," Erik answered. He tried to keep his voice calm but Nicole could sense the underlying anger and pain. She could feel the anger and worry rolling off him in waves.

"Yeah, you were. It wasn't raining when I decided to go for a run, but I just couldn't stand to be alone in that room. I felt restless".

"I know, that's why I was coming over, but you weren't there".

Nicole sighed. "Where are we going"? She asked. She didn't want to go back to her empty room without Maddy.

"We're going to my place, okay?" Erik asked.

"Yes". Nicole hugged herself. She was feeling so cold and afraid, but Erik's presence calmed her nerves.

"What happened Nicole?" Erik asked. He was getting impatient now. He wanted to know who did this to her and he wanted to snap their hand for attacking her.

Nicole sighed. Could she trust Erik? Will he still look at her the same way after she told him her secret, or will he pull away like Maddy did? She couldn't stand it if she lost Erik as well. She was in too deep now. The secret clawed at her chest, begging to come out. It was a viscous monster, lusting to ruin her life and wreak havoc. And Nicole finally bowed down to its will.