Nico's POV

I wish I could say that was the last time (I said that last time-It became a past time.) Luke came by. But then I'd be lying. I stopped counting how many times he stopped by to visit. It would always be a little after Ethan left and it would always be.when my heat was hitting me the worst. It would never help me.. It just added to my pain.

I don't know how long it's been since I've seen Will. Ethan hasn't told me anything yet. Is he not coming for me? Could he tell what Luke and I have been doing? I told him "No" all the other times. I told him to stop all those other times. But he wouldn't.

Luke showed up again. I rolled over immediately, despite the pain that washed over me repeatedly. I pulled the blanket over me in a weak attempt to protect myself. I had just gathered my strength enough to put my clothes back on. I didn't feel like having to go through that process again.

My voice didn't work anymore. My throat was sore from always crying for so long. I'm sure I could still speak if I wanted to. I just.. Don't want to. I didn't say anything as he walked up to me. Maybe if I pretend he isn't there-

"Oh come on now. Are you mad at me or something?"

Well the power of my imagination has failed me.

"Come on. I know it hurts. Let me help you again. You know it hurts my arms to have to hold you down all the time."

I hate him. I hate him, I hate him, I hate him, I hate him so much.

"Are you crying again? See, this is why I take time out of my life to help you. You're obviously hurting."

Just go away. Please just go away. I don't want this. I'm sick of this. I'm so sick of people treating me like I don't have a say over what happens to me. I'm so so sick of it.

"Alright fine. You always want to go the hard way," I felt hands grab me. No. No not again. Please god. No. No. No!

"GRAZIA IL FUCILE DA ME!" I cried, not even noticing I had spoken in Italian. I sat upright, swinging my arm and hitting him. "NON TOUCH ME!"

Luke stumbled back in shock and I jumped out of the bed. I've felt this before. The rush of adrenaline I felt while fleeing from Nathaniel. I ran out of the door, down the hallway. I wasn't even looking where I was going. I didn't know how this house looked like anyway.

I ran downstairs, ramming right into someone. All I saw was a bigger figure and someone saying "Woah, hey!" Before I pushed past them.

"NON TOUCH ME!" I screamed again, bursting into another run. "SCAPPA!"

I ended up running into a door. In my blind dash I threw the door open and ran outside. I ignored the stinging cold that hit me the moment I left the house. I ignored the burning flame that ate away at my insides. I ignored everything as I ran. I just wanted to get away. I just wanted to get away.

I don't know how long I ran for, but luckily my adrenaline rush hasn't died on me just yet. I knew I had made some progress when my body instinctively stopped as I reached a ledge. I breathed heavily, my lungs burning with a plead for air as I actually took time to look around. The river. I was at the river again. Holy shit, yes!

I panted before glancing behind me. I couldn't see or hear anything but every fiber of my being told me it was a horrible choice to stop here. I focused on the other side of the river before I jumped. And.. Fell.

I thrashed as the freezing water seeped into my clothing and weighed me down. I thrashed and grasped for anything solid. I managed to grab something, thankfully. As I broke the surface of the fast moving river, I realized I was clutching a rock. It was coated with ice but I somehow managed to grip it. I pulled myself up a little more, grasping at the dirt and grass that was just above it. My hand was numb from the cold as I pulled myself out of the river and onto the equally freezing earth.

I coughed and sputtered, my adrenaline flickering out just as I pulled myself to land. I let myself drop, laying sprawled at the side of the river. The water lashed at the sides, almost like it was trying to reach out and pull me back in.

I laid there, one arm under my head and the other doing its own thing near me.  I laid on my stomach, my body shaking violently as it finally decided to address the pain it was filled with. I just let myself lay there, my chest and throat aching as I breathing heavily and stared blankly at the lashing river and the darkened side of the forest I had just escaped from.

But I'm finally safe....