He places his hand on her back, pulling her to him. Making a gasp to leave her lips.

"Stop playing games with me my little Phoenix."

He whispers near her ear, picking her up effortlessly. Moving his other hand to place it on her thighs and making her lock her legs on his waist.

"Or I won't be able to stop my beasts from savouring you."

His words made a wetness to pool between her legs,and she holds onto his shirt material tightly.
Closing her eyes.

He walks up the private beach to open the back door of the beach house, entering their room.

While she stays still. Clinging onto him with her grip on him tight.

Laying her on the bed, he looks at her. And she immediate closes her legs. The action not going unnoticed by him.

"Is my little Phoenix horny?"

He teases, to only have her blush. Lowering her gaze ,she looks at the light making him move closer to her.
Getting on top of her.

"Hmmm stop teasing me Ethan. You know already that I want you."

He smirks, moving his fingers down to her waist, playing with the waistband of her jeans.
She closes her eyes, clenching the bed sheets tightly.

When next she knows, he removes them, making her heart to thud.

Her widened eyes staring at him.

"Wait here."

Was all he said as he turns around and switches off the lights.
She clenches the covers, anticipating.....was he going to do it?

When he goes to the washroom and Vivian feels her heart beat rapidly.
What...what was he planning to do?

Lost in thoughts, she didn't realise when he came back.

Untill she felt fingers trail up her skin.
He again get's on top of her, looking down at her shocked face. Caressing her cheek with his thumb.

"Ready my little Phoenix."

She gulps ,barely nodding. While he starts kissing her jawline, leaving featherly kisses.

"Hmmmmm"

Tilting her face, he whispers near her ear. Making goosebumps to appear on her skin.

"Words Vivian. I want you to repeat what you said earlier."

"I....I...."

She stutters, feeling her skin burning wherever he touched her. His fingers moving lower.

"Speak"

He says, biting her earlobe and the words come out, clear. A tear leaving her eyes.

"Fuc* me. I want you to take me."

As soon as the words leave her lips,she lifts her hand. Ready to stop him and push him away.

When instead.

She feels his lips curving in a smile and his fingers stop.
His next words making her mind go numb and her hand to retreat.

"If you would have said this in your senses my little Phoenix."

"I would have fuc* ed you in every corner of this room with you begging me to continue."

"But right now..."

Her body drops from the ecstasy, to look at him in shock. Her widened green orbs, setting on his dark ones.

"I can't take advantage of you."

Vivian stills...not able to believe this. Yes, she was drunk but not to the extent of loosing her senses.

She was testing Ethan.....to see if he still only lusted over her body...to be only proved wrong today.

He has passed the test and she had failed.

Making a small smile to come on her lips...and she felt happy after a very long time.

You have changed Ethan...you have changed for good.

Before she could say something, she feels something coming up in her throat and she almost gags.

"Sh**! Sh**! No Vivian! Hold on!"

He screams , pulling her up in his arms and rushing towards the toilet. She holds the sink and gags out. The alcohol getting rejected by her system.

She thought he will leave after it, disgusted of the smell. When instead he stands behind her, holding her waist with one hand and placing his palms on her forehead.

Supporting her as her head dips down ,with every thrust out of her throat.

"Shh it's fine. It's gonna be fine."

He whispers to only have Vivian push him in between. Telling him to go and not see her in this state, but he refuses.

His grip on her waist tightening.

She vomits out everything, sweat running down her forehead and neck. Her hand holding the counter tightly as her legs literally shake.
While he held her, her back on his chest.

Not saying anything, letting her calm down. While holding her.

"You...you should go out Ethan... it's gross. I...I am fine now."

She says looking back, to only have him ignore her

"Shh just relax. It's fine."

"Come. Let's clean up."

He says, placing his hand under the tap and filling it with water. She gargles from it spitting out.

Once done, he moves his wet palm on her face. Relaxing her instantly.

She felt better. The strength in her legs returning.

She hears a tap running and her attention is diverted to it.... looking back to see the bath tub getting filled with hot water.
So this is what he came for in the bathroom earlier.

"You...you already knew I would need it?"

She asks motioning to the hot water bath and he nods. Looking back into her eyes.

"I have been through this. Countless times. So you can call me experienced."

He picks her up, taking her to the bath tub.

"But you rarely drink alcohol."

He sighs first checking the water temperature with his hand and then placing her down in the lukewarm water, gently.

"I did Vivian. You wouldn't have recognised me during my depression phase. I barely survived it."

She doesn't say anything after it, knowing it was a sensitive topic.
He has fought his own battles.

He gets up, seeing her relax in the waters.

Stepping back from her and rubbing his neck awkwardly.

"I guess you can manage from here. I will go and make something to drink for you."

She looks down at the water, nodding. While he turns around to leave

"Call me if you need something. Okay."

He says, when he was near the threshold and she nods. Closing the door, he is gone.
And Vivian can't help lean her head back on the tub and relax.

Care.

The word always felt so foreign, untill today. She has almost forgotten how it feels to be taken care of by someone else.

How she wished she could give him something in return.

How she wished she knew the full truth.

How she wished she could remember ,what happened that night.

Looking at her pruney fingers in the water...an idea strikes her and she clenches her fists.

Taking a deep breath.

Can I do it?

Will it work?

I have to try.

I have to let go my fears.

The truth. Only it has the power to relieve them of this pain .And now she was determined to find it.

And that's when she tightly held the counter of the tub, and took a deep breath.

Her eyes determined and the alcohol in her system, giving her the courage to do it.

"I am sorry Ethan. But I have to do it to find the truth that has hurted us so much."

And with this,she lowers herself in the waters. Letting the water to engulf her , her hair floating in it.

The feeling of being underwater, filling her chest with heaviness and she feels panic strikes her inside.

But she doesn't come out, gripping the bathtub tightly and that's when another vision hits her, making bubbles to escape her lips.

.......

Flashback

My body free falls from the cliff, the cold winds piercing past my skin. The clothes I wore torn....with blood soaking them. A sharp pain in my jaw and thigh traceable.

But I don't seem much bothered by them....my eyes set on the cold water below which were approaching me with every second.

The distance between my death and me , decreasing.

I should be anxious, scared, afraid, instead I was in acceptance.

I was willing to die.

The reason unknown to me.

Closing my eyes,I wait for the big thrust and it happens. My body hits the water, numbing my senses.

The silence under water scary, as my body submerges. I thrash my hands, trying to swim but I couldn't.

My attempts futile as the pressure under water, keeps pulling me down. Sucking me lower, pulling me to my death.

I open my eyes,to see darkness. My vision hazy ,with bubbles everywhere. Thrashing my hands, I try moving my legs. Hoping for a miracle... wishing to swim out of this darkness and follow the light.

My lungs protest as a heaviness settles in my chest...I move my legs, kicking , thrashing to only feel a sharp pain in my leg....with now the water around me getting red in the colour of my blood.

A second felt like an hour and slowly slowly the air I kept in my lungs was leaking in forms of small bubbles leaving my lips.

And that's when I knew, it was my end.

I was going to die.

Leaving all the struggle, I let my body drown. My stretched hand, wishing to chase light, getting drowned in darkness.
Numbness makes me still and I was finally going to find peace.

When through my hazy vision I saw a figure approaching me. A hand holding my wrist and pulling me up.

I thrashed, trying to free my grip.

Knowing we both may die in this,but my savior was resistent. Pulling me up regardless.

We reach the surface and I gulp huge amounts of water....to only have a hand wrapped around my waist steadying me.

Coughing I literally scream at my saviour, her brown eyes looked at me in concern.

"I....I asked you to leave.....why....why haven't you left!"

"..why...did...you save me Soph....they will kill you......"

I say gulping water,as she tries to soothe me.

"Shh hold onto me .. it's fine.....we both will escape this....."

She assured and that's when we hear huge splashes in the distance and fear enters my insides.

"Fuc*! They are still following us!"

Soph says, looking behind me. While holding my waist, Pulling me to the shore.

"Come Vivian...we have to leave! Come!"

I moved my head in a no ....she can't save both of us together. I will be a burden for her.

"No...no...you go... leave me and go Soph!!"

Her grip on my waist tightens instead,as she starts swimming. Trying to pull me along.

"...I... can''t breathe Sophie! I ..can't...you need to leave me!"

"No.........hold onto me...come on..Viv......"

"Sh**!"

She again curses as we see the men approaching us, swimming behind us. My heart thudding in my chest and my head throbbing...they were fast ..they will reach us first...Soph can live if she leaves me.

"Soph.... please....leave me... please..."

I plead her, to only have her swim harder. Determined to keep us safe.

"..I am sorry for hurting you Vivian.... forgive me if possible....."

And that's when a person catches to us.... holding onto Soph's leg.
A scream leaves her lips...as blood colours the water red around us...but she doesn't let me go... holding onto me tightly.

No...no ..

"You bastar*!!"

She screams kicking the person , to only have his grip on her loosen. She breathes heavily, continuing to push us and we were almost near the beach.

We hear the police sirens approaching and hope rises in my chest...maybe we can escape this.

We were almost at the shore,when the person Soph kicked screamed from behind.

"You bitc*! You are dead now!"

"We...we can do this Soph..harder...."

We were almost there, when she slowly whispers to me.Breathing heavily next to me...tired and drained.

"Tell Ethan Vivian.... tell.... him I am sorry for taking you away from him."
.
.
.

"Tell him....his Soph couldn't love him..."

I look at her moving my head in a no and that's when she sadly smiles, pushing me with so much force that I stumble forward.

Away from her.

My body sinking down to only feel wet soil under my hands...the water shallow...and I gulp the salty water... thrashing...I managed to place my knees on the shore and lift myself up.

The water barely reaching my shoulders... and I spit out the water...coughing.

Happiness filling my insides......we were here....I see the policeman coming down ...the police sirens echoing.

"We are safe Soph.......we made it."

I exclaim looking behind...to find nothing. My heart sinking in my chest.

"Soph! Soph!"

I cry out looking around to see nothing.The water surface in serenity.
Holding my breath I go down again to only find the colour of blood surround me.

Nothing.

Coming up, I breathe heavily.
There was soo much.... blood...how...how can they vanish like this.

And that's when I saw something bubbling....a few feet away from me.... bubbles escaping from the surface of water.... hope rising in my chest.

"Soph! Soph!!!!"

I scream, trying to go back to the waters. To save her. When the policeman approach me, holding me , stopping me from going back. Pulling me back

"Help .... please....help!....Soph....she is there....!!!!!!!!"

"Ma'am please calm down. You are fine now. You are safe now!"

They say pulling me back while
I move my head in a no... screaming at them.

"No! Soph ..Soph is there save her! Save her ! Please!!

They don't listen to me. The water looking calm...like no one was there....when I knew Soph was there...inside... fighting... struggling to breathe.

"Sophieeeeeeee ! Sophieeeeeee!"

I yell but no one bothers me.
Pulling me away from the waters, I see darkness covering my vision.

My dropping eyes fixed at the waters.... hoping to see her.

But nothing...there was nothing.

"Where are you Sophie?"

Being my last thought as
I hear the policeman holding me ,say something on the walkey talkey.
My vision going dark after that.

"We have restrained the suspect. I repeat."

"We have restrained the suspect."

........

I am pulled out of the water, by someone's hand below my neck. And I cough, throwing out the water.

"Fuc*! Vivian! Are you crazy!"

My tired eyes met Ethan's pertained ones, and I breathe heavily.
He pulls me out, placing me in his lap and tightly huddled me to his chest.

"Ethan....Ethan...."

"Shh shh you are fine now. I am here. You scared me Vivian...."

I hold onto his wrist, pulling myself up to look at him.

"I ..Ethan...I saw.....I ........"

"Not now Vivian. Calm down. What the hell were you thinking pulling out a stunt like that!"

He says, caressing my cheek as I whispers slowly looking into his eyes.

"Ethan...I remember....I..."

His hand stills as he looks at me with widened eyes.
When I gulps before continuing.

"I didn't kill her Ethan."
.
.
.

"There was someone else who tried to kill us that night........"