The rain continued to fall around them and the only sound was the pounding of the rain on the car. It was extremely dark outside and not a soul or another vehicle was on the road. Lightning shot across the sky and booming thunder resounded, making the car tremble slightly. The storm was reaching its peak now and the wind was howling louder than ever. This was the worst storm that they had experienced in months.

Nicole didn't answer right away. After a few seconds of mentally debating with herself, she decided to tell Erik everything. He deserved to know. He had done a lot for her and somewhere in the depths of her heart, she knew that she had come to love him, even though she wouldn't admit it right away. She was afraid of his reply, and he needed to know this part of her life before they committed to each other. She needed him to accept her like this.

Nicole sighed and took a deep breath. " I will tell you once we reach your apartment, it's a very long story and I don't think saying everything in the car right now in the middle of this storm is a good idea," Nicole said quietly.

Erik sighed but nodded his head. He could wait for some time longer. He was relieved that Nicole had finally decided to share her secret with him. He reached over and covered one of her hands with his. Her hand was wet and cold. His heart reached out to her and he wanted to stop the car right now and hug her and kiss her and tell her that everything would be okay, that nothing bad would happen. She looked so scared and broken. He hated the fact that he couldn't do anything to help her.

Nicole looked at him gratefully and squeezed his hand gently. Both of them turned quiet, lost in their own thoughts. Nicole looked out the window and watched the rain fall in a thunderous roar around them. She leaned her head against the cold window and traced a water droplet as it rolled down the glass.

Once upon a time, she was like the storm, wild and free, not stopping for anything. But suddenly, her life took a sharp turn and she turned as tranquil and quiet as a small pond in the middle of a secluded forest. But Erik stoked that dying spark in her. She felt alive with him. It was a feeling she hadn't experienced in four years.

Erik stopped the car outside his apartment and helped Nicole get off. They were drenched within seconds again as they entered the apartment and went up the steps. It was a three storeyed, brick apartment, kind of like the one where Sarah lived in, but it was smaller.

Erik held the door open for Nicole as she entered. She had been here a few more times before with Maddy, when Ryder used to live alone. But she hadn't visited the place after Erik shifted in. It was a cosy apartment, with a sofa and bean bags in the living room and a kitchen in one corner. There were two doors which led to Ryder and Erik's rooms.

Nicole stood in the middle of the living room and hugged herself. Her clothes were plastered to her body like a second skin and they had become see-through. She shivered in the cold.

Erik noticed her trembling and beckoned her to follow him into his room. He handed her a towel and one of his T-shirts and closed the door, to give her some privacy while she changed.

Nicole peeled off her wet clothes and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was wet and a tangled mess and she looked scared. Bruises had formed on her neck and the marks of His fingers were still visible. She traced the bruises and winced. They were hurting bad.

She wiped herself dry with the towel and put on Erik's T-shirt. It hit her mid-thighs but what choice did she have? Besides, she was too exhausted to mind.

Nicole looked around Erik's room. There was a picture of a small, platinum-blonde haired boy skiing on his bedside table, and there was another picture of baby Erik hoisted on a woman's hips, who Nicole assumed was his mother. Another man was standing behind them and he had one arm wrapped around the woman's waist. Erik looked so much like his father. It was a beautiful picture.

He had posters of Russian bands stuck on his wall and there were novels and textbooks piled on top of his study table. Nicole had read most of the books.

She quietly unlocked the door and exited his room. Erik was standing in the kitchen, making coffee. He didn't notice Nicole standing behind him. Her eyes scanned him and she watched him expertly make the coffee. He had changed into another plain white T-shirt and pants. Nicole coughed a little to make him aware of her presence.

Erik's head instantly whipped around and his eyes raked her body up and down, twice. Nicole stood there, rooted to the spot, and she blushed. Erik noticed the red in her cheeks and he turned around and smiled to himself, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

"Sit down on the sofa," he ordered gently.

Nicole obliged and sat down. Erik came over and sat down next to her with a tube of some ointment in his hand. It was a type of Russian medicine that Nicole had never seen before.

"What is this?" Nicole asked.

"It will help with the bruises. My mother used it to treat wounds and bruises when I was smaller and I hurt myself. It works magic, trust me," he replied gently.

Erik took some ointment on his finger and looked at Nicole for permission. She nodded her head and Erik gently massaged it onto her neck. Nicole winced when he slightly applied pressure to rub it in, but the ointment had a cooling effect and it numbed her neck and made the throbbing disappear. She closed her eyes and let the cooling sensation take over.

After Erik was done, he got up and handed her the mug of coffee. Nicole accepted it and looked at him gratefully, thanking him. She took a sip of the rich, brown liquid. It was delicious! The heat of the coffee warmed her from within and she stopped shivering. She sat on the sofa, crossed legged, and sipped the liquid slowly, trying to relax her tensed muscles. Erik sat beside her, watching her drink the coffee.

After she was done drinking, Erik decided to ask her his question again.

"Nikki? Will you tell me what happened now?"

Nicole put the mug down on the floor and replied softly, "Yes, I will. It's time".

She looked into Erik's blue-green eyes, took a leap of faith and a deep breath, and started telling him about the worst part of her life so far, the part that sent chills down her spine and haunted her dreams and gave her nightmares. The part that changed her life forever.