~Willow's POV~

I woke with a start from my bliss filled dream as something coiled around my neck. My eyes opened to darkness and took a moment to adjust as the grip on my neck suddenly tightened. When my eyes adjusted to the din I looked up in horror to find the frightening man who'd visited the night before. His naturally burnt crimson orbs were glowing a feral fuchsia with cat like vertical slits for pupils. I struggled against him as his grip on my throat suddenly cut off my oxygen supply.

"I'll make it quick." He said quietly.

I swatted at him helplessly with my left hand as my right slid under the pillow in search of some kind of weapon, anything to defend myself with. He was going to kill me! My hand met the hilt of a blade and I grasped it desperately and swung with all my might at my assailant. Though the blade was still sheathed it certainly caught him by surprise causing him to release his hold on me.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I scrambled out of bed and made a mad dash for the door. I had to find the angel of death! He'd help me. He was going to take care of me. The frightening man recovered from his sudden shock and tackled me to the floor before I could reach the door. I collided painfully against the hardwood floor and winced as his weight bore down on me. I tried in vain to get away; I kicked and flailed to no avail. He was too strong.

His hands encircled my neck once more. Tears welled in my eyes as I wished so desperately that I had a voice to call out to the angel of death. He tightened his grip cutting off my oxygen supply and the silent scream lodged in my throat. I spotted a giant candelabra stand not far from where we struggled on the floor and inched my hand toward it.

The man's glowing orbs flitted to my hand desperately reaching for yet another weapon to defend myself with. He growled at this and quick as lightning retrieved a silver knife from within his coat and plunged it through my hand pinning it to the floor. An inaudible cry escaped me as I was overcome with wave after wave of crippling agony.

Tears streamed freely down my pallid cheeks. And still my voice refused to be heard. No sound escaped me as I tried desperately to scream out in sheer agony. Nothing but silent screams and pleas, no one could hear me, no one would know I was in danger, and no one would care. The world wouldn't miss me when I was gone. I was nothing.

"WILLOW!" My heart skipped a beat as I heard the angel of death's voice echo from downstairs as the front door was flung open and the bells atop it clattered to the ground in the haste of the door being wrenched open.

I tried desperately to call out to him, but I had no voice. The man pinning me to the floor swore under his breath and retrieved another knife from within his coat. My heart raced in my chest. No! He wasn't going to make it in time.

I closed my eyes waiting for the final blow, waiting for an end to this torment. The bedroom door flew open in the next instant and I felt the weight of my attacker being lifted off of me. When I opened my eyes I gasped silently as I was met with a startling pair of glowing acidic green eyes. The angel of death was leaning over me looking worried.

"Willow!" He cupped my face in his hands and dragged my gaze to his. Relief washed through him as I gazed back at him, "Thank heavens, you're alive."

I blinked up at him blankly as his beautiful silver hair spilled around me. What happened? Where did my attacker go?

"I'm going to remove this." He said in a soothing voice as he reached for the blade embedded in my hand.

A wave of agony rippled through me as he touched the blade and I crumpled into a ball with a gasp of pain. I shook my head frantically. It would hurt less to let me lay here forever, still as stone.

"I have to take it out." He cooed and pushed back my raven tresses with a gentle hand. "It'll be alright."

I cried silently as he gripped the hilt of the blade and another wave of agony surged through me.

"On three." He said through gritted teeth as if this were hurting him too, "one, two -."

The pain was blinding. I opened my mouth to scream as the pain completely crippled me, but no sound came out. I folded into myself as more tears streamed freely.

His strong arms encircled me and he cradled me against him, rocking me in his arms like a child, "Sh. It's okay, little bird. I've got you." He cooed.

I cried silently against him as he rocked me in his arms.

"I'll never let anyone hurt you, ever again." He breathed as he placed a tender kiss to my temple. "I promise."

Video- "The Great Disappointment" By AFI