There was a weird rapping sound against what I first thought was wood until I opened my eyes. I was in the dark. It was cold and moist. I walked a few paces and slipped.

I felt a pang on my side. I struck it against a sharp stone and it pierced me on my side. Blood ran through my thin, torn shirt to my filthy trousers. I struggled up and limped forehead, trying to escape something.

A bellow broke from the belly of the cave and I became like the stalagmites. The sound grew more concentrated. It was coming toward me whatever was making that noise. I was so petrified I could not move; I waited helplessly for the creature to come toward me.

A big black thing swooped down at me from the roof and I screamed still unable to move. I was shoved aside. Then I regained control of myself. I was trying to get away from my assailant. I was on my back my legs splayed and sweat and blood dribbling down my contused body.

There were ethereal, feline hazel eyes glowing above me. I could not make out any other features of the creature above me. I moved my hand it was held down by a cold hand. So, the creature was actually a human. I tried my other hand but it too was forced down.

A snarl escaped the man's mouth ;at least the hands felt too leathery to belong to any woman. It was this or death. I was at his mercy in the dark away from civilisation.

I kicked him and his hands flew off me. I pushed him aside. I ran, gasping, blood leaking from my wounds but I ran because my life depended on it.

A ravenous growl was released behind me. I turned and saw a willowy man with a gaunt face and baggy eyes and canines protruding from his mouth that gashed his chin. His eyes were wild and he looked at me like a slab of meat.

It wasn't about lust but hunger. He wanted to eat me! He scuttled to me, crawling like an insect. I ran as if the zombie apocalypse had come.

I jolted up from my bed. I stared at my clock. It flashed brightly: two a.m.

I got up feeling hungry. Demetri had cooked for me despite me insisting he not bother. I had lost my appetite after the police had dismissed my report.

So, Aro would just get away with what he did? I was a foreigner but that didn't justify such lawlessness!

But something was off. They looked pale after I mentioned his name. Who was he?

A rich, young man who acted as if he owned the world but how had he got rich? What were they hiding?

Why was I having such weird dreams nowadays? I remember before Marcus and I dated I dreamt of this black woman being held by Demetri and Felix before Aro, in their dining hall, I had once visited.

Then after we started going out, I had some horrible dream when I slept over at his house that I couldn't remember. Now this dream of a monstrous man in a cave! What was happening to me?

I lamented over this when my cell rang. I walked quickly to my bedroom to answer it. I rolled my eyes as I answered.

"Demetri, hey what is it? This better be important if you are calling me at this hour."

A soft, sad voice answered instead of the staccato voice I expected.

"Kayla."

I squeezed my phone and swallowed. But I said nothing.

"How are you my dear?"
"I'm fine. No, thanks to you."
"How were your examinations?"

"Fair."
He ignored my biting tone and brash remarks.
"Why did you call?" I cut to the chase.

I missed his gentile manners, his sleepovers, his witty banter but I felt betrayed.

"Oh. Do you wish not to talk to me? It has been two weeks since we last conversed. Have you not missed me as much as I have missed you?"

"I don't know. What did you say to your brother?"

Maybe I got him wrong last time. What if he wanted to confront his brother to reform instead of taking it to the police? Maybe that had happened; I would not have to worry about my case not being taken by the authorities.

"About what?" he said off-handedly.

"About you know HIM ATTTACKING ME? DID YOU FORGET?"
I was so, so mad. He didn't care.

"There's nothing I can really do." He admitted. "Even if I do something it will only harm you in the end."

"Then don't bother then, clearly you never wanted to help."

"Forget that...I..."
I interjected.

"Are we done? I'm tired."
"Good night then, Kayla."

I huffed and ended the call. I chucked the phone on the bedside table.

He had some nerve pretending he did no wrong. And what weirdo calls someone at two a.m.?

And like an idiot I started crying. I would not let this rule me. I picked up my novel Coraline.

The hours went by as I stared at the book not really reading it. Sometimes staring at the ceiling.

Alejandro scratched his black hair with green highlights. He stood sheepishly by the doorframe smiling woefully at me. He held out his hand with some sort of blank paper.

"Yes?" I wiped away my tears frantically.
"I have a paper due for my literature class tomorrow and I need a little help."

I put down my book.
"Please help me."

I smiled and said I would help of course. He was so ecstatic. He pulled me into the lounge and I followed like a sheep. He was one of my only housemates to return from their family homes.

We sat on our ratty leather couches, an off-colour green, and began working. He was writing a comparative essay on the work of Shakespeare and Stephen King.

It was good, surprisingly. He compared both successes and their literary style. I was a flavourful piece. At the end of two hours I had underlined and circled errors in red ink. I placed my own sticky notes over the draft with definitions on them or English rules.

He looked at his bedraggled script, overwhelmed.
"Just do this, and you'll ace this. I liked your essay."

He grinned.

"Graci," he kissed me on both cheeks for the first time and I felt my face burn. He returned to his respective room to rewrite his work.

It was 9 a.m.
I sat down on the couch and laid my feet on the glass coffee table.

What a day...it was only one p.m.

I had not slept since two a.m., wondering about Marcus and I's relationship. And I had done all my chores: cleaning the lounge, kitchen and my room. Id done my laundry and even ironed it.

I started sorting out books to sell from my private collection, and books to return to the local library. I could finish my book: It.

But I still thought of Marcus.

I can't believe I am thinking of that fool after everything. Love was an illness that drove us into madness. I threw the cushion at the wall and groaned. Maybe I really should finish, It.

The doorbell rang. Alejandro yelled: "Makayla, can you get that?"

Since it was on my way I got up and I walked to the front door. I peeped through the peephole and I saw a youthful face framed by perfect brown hair. I exhaled and violently pulled the door inwards. Renata froze.

"Now, you're here too?" I said sarcastically.

She frowned.
"We're friends, aren't we?"
I scoffed.

"That's rich coming from you!"
She in no small words had told me I was a bitch and that I had no right being with Marcus.

"But I'm right. Marcus isn't good for you. He's dangerous and not that different from Aro and Caius. He's quiet but he has his hidden cruelties."

I rolled my eyes.
"Since, you're obviously not here to champion my relationship. What you here for?"

Not a courteousy call.
She cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry. I was a little rude and I've missed you. I never had a friend before. All I had was Master Aro to keep company but you showed me that there was more to my life than work."

I squinted and she lowered her clay eyes and demurely gazed at her little sandalled feet.
"A little?"

"Ok, I was very rude and Benjamin said I was being a bit of a bitch. Demetri said so too."
"Demetri called you a bitch?"

"No, but I'm sure he thought it."
I shrugged.

"You know you haven't explained why you are here."
I gestured for her to come in. She shook her head.

"It's about Marcus."

The castle was full of people this time, scuttling around as I passed; they glared or stared in wonderment. I dawdled to Marcus' room, with Renata gliding beside me.

"So, why am I here again?"
"Marcus is acting strange and I need you to speak to him."

That was the reason I was back in this accursed place; I was following my lover. Marcus may have hurt me but what kind of person would I be if I didn't help him. So, I followed my unstable lesbian friend to my boyfriend's home.

She stopped at his ornate door decorated with elephants.
"This is where I stop."

I looked at the door suspiciously suddenly remembering the darker moments we had in his room. But the kiss he shared with me crept in nullifying the bad memories.

"Go in."

My head span and I fell on my knees.
"Oh my gosh! Makayla!"

My sight went black then I saw Aro standing in front of me dressed in blood! He had a dead child at his feet. Renata looked on in pity for the dead child.

A brunet twelve-year-old boy played leap frog over a woman whose eyes stared at the ceiling glazed. A brunette girl, the same age, with cherubic features and bright ruby red eyes smiled at me. And I fell down and felt my world shake.

"Makayla, Makayla. Wake up!" said a panicked, musical voice.

I sat up ;the blackness clearing. I was in Marcus' arms and Renata and Benjamin were in the hall staring at us.

"I'm ok. I'm awake."
"My goodness. Do not scare me. I thought...I thought..." he said brokenly.

I had never seen Marcus so afraid. I touched his face.
"Look at me."

His eyes were moist. He put his face near my neck and both my friends flinched. He smooched my neck. He breathed in my scent.

"I thought I was losing you too. Have you eaten? Are you dehydrated?"

"Yes. No, I am fine. I think I am tired."

I had left my house at two p.m. and arrived with a taxi at seven p.m. I had no appetite but I knew what I had experienced was something new, something off. Was I stressed?

"Benjamin, call the physician this minute. And Renata get her something to eat."

"Hello? I said I was fine."
I tried to get up but I felt dizzy. I laid my face on his chest. His cool body was soothing.

"Let me get you on the bed."
I closed my eyes.