"What was that?" Em said from the bed. As soon as we got in the door we had walked to the bed and just collapsed. I don't even know how to answer her. What was that?

I shook my head and shrugged. "I don't know. It just...I just...it reminded me of Nate and..." I trailed off my mind escaping through the locked gates I've tried so hard to keep closed.

"And Them. I know. Me too, but this time it...felt different."

"Yeah. I know what you mean but it's just, he would say that and..."

"I know hun. But this felt real. If it is true you know what it means right?" I nod slowly. "We can stop running. We can be teenagers. We can be ourselves."

"Don't get your hopes up. They could work for him." She gave me an 'you serious' look.

"I guess but I hope it's true. I don't think Alec would work for someone like him."

"I don't know just be careful." She nods and yawns. "So tomorrow. Our first day, are we wearing the clothes we got?"

"Why wouldn't we?"

"Well if our goal is to fly under the radar I'm not sure by wearing those that's going to happen but it's fine. So new clothes. I talked to the counselor, we are in all the same classes."

"Oh, thank god!"

"So earlier I found out that Cole and Blake and Tyler and Aaron and Simon...wow that's a lot of people. Anyway they all are going to our school so chances are Alec and Damien are too. Just be careful Em."

"I know. We don't want a repeat of last year. I know. I can't wait to see Alec again though." She squeals. "Anyway, what'd you think of Tyler?"

"Well that was interesting. Are we in a cult or something now? He was so cool though. I wish I had that confidence." Em laughed and yawned again. Man today was emotionally and physically draining. Between what happened with Em and the whole "mate" thing. It's a lot.

"Me too. They all seem cool though. Tyler is the ditz. Cole was nice as well. But what their reaction to what was it Jessica and Amanda?" I nod. "It was classic. Like they told her off!" I burst out laughing and she follows suit.

"God are they that desperate. Ugh! Chances are we are going to have classes with them." I roll my eyes.

"Yeah." Em yawns while talking.

"Well it's been one heck of a day. Why don't we try to get some sleep. Tomorrow's gonna be interesting." I stretch out and lay back against my pillow.

"Alright. Can't wait to see Alec and I know you'll deny it but you felt something with Damien too. It wasn't the same with Nate, I know you know I'm right."

I huff. When Nate said and did things like that it was repulsive. It's different with Damien. He's so sweet and caring. His eyes hold so much more that bates didn't. She's right, there's some unknown connection. I can't explain it. "Yeah, I know. But just be wary. Night em."

"G'night." I close my eyes and welcome the darkness.

****Dream****
*includes sensitive topics*

"Em, where are you?!" It's dark. I'm somewhere in the woods. "Em!!" I can't see anything. I can't feel anything. I'm numb and cold.

"You thought you could escape me!!" A scary voice shouted somewhere from the darkness. My knees trembled. I felt something brush against my face. "Angel, it wasn't very nice. What shall I do now? You need to be punished my Angel." I whimper. This isn't the first time this has happened. I'm not sure how it's possible. The person who kept Em and I captive, Nate. He did so many things to us and is able to connect to me? I'm not sure. He did somethings to me and now he is able to manifest in my dream. He makes this dream or vision and I'm in it, it's like he can enter my dream but it's not a dream. "What shall I do?"

"P-please..." I beg. My knees tremble and suddenly an unknown force pushes me down.

"What have I told you about begging? As cute as it is begging will not get you anywhere except..."

"I-in more trouble." I don't bother trying to move right now. Something kicks me over so now I'm laying on my back. I look around but still see nothing.

"Good, now what shall I do now?" I shut my eyes and try to wake up but my attempts are futile. I keep my eyes closed but whimper when I feel something scratch my cheek. "Answer me!"

"I-i don't know. Please..." I hope Em wakes up soon. She always can pull me out of these. I let another whimper out as I feel a cold hand slid under my shirt. "Noooo!!" Em hurry please. It doesn't stop though. It snakes around my waist and scratches from one hip bone to the other.

"You don't tell me what to do!!" The voice bellows. The hand lets up and I open my eyes. I look down and see three long scratches. I close my eyes tightly again. The hand inches up my torso. I'm shaking. Em please wake up. The hand pauses right underneath my bra. "Isn't this nice Angel. Just you and me." When his hand makes contact I scream. It isn't just with my upper half. He somehow is here. He's never done this before.

"Nooooo! Stop!!! Please!! Ahhhh!" I scream. I hope I can wake Em up or Damien or anyone. "Please!!! Emm!!! Stopppp..."

Nate laughs. "You think you can get away from me." I whimper when he hits me in the gut. "I was going to play nice but I can see your going to be difficult. I'll just have to take you my way." He laughs again. I feel something connect with my stomach. He does is it again and again and I whimper.

"Noo!!" I yell because his hand had touched a sensitive area.

"I said don't talk. Your not getting away that easy. This time I may not get what I want but trust that I will be back." I lay on the ground withering in pain. Not uttering a sound. "Good Angel." Something pats my head. I shy away from his touch.

"Angelica!! Come back..." I hear em yelling. Come on. Wake up!

"You aren't leaving here in one piece Angel. After what you just pulled." I whimper knowing what's coming. "I'm sorry, please forgive me Angel." His fist connects with my face. He punches me in the cheek and moves down to my stomach. "Now Angel. Remember this for next time. Now I must let you go, I will be back." He punches me one last time and I scream.

"NOOOOOO!" I sit up and look around. I flinch when I feel something touch my shoulder.

She tackles me in a hug. "A, you're okay. He's gone." I wince. My tears burn against my cheek. Man he did a number on me this time.

"For now," I cry. Em's embrace is like steel. I take a deep breath but it doesn't stop the shaking.

"God, Angelica your so cold." She nods to someone. Who's there? I want to ask but my teeth are chattering to hard for me to say anything. "Grab me a blanket." I hear feet moving and someone approaching. I feel the warmth radiating from the fuzzy material.

"Let me hold her..." a deep voice says.

"B-but..." Em was hesitant.

"Listen, just trust me. It'll work. I'm a wolf, our temperatures run higher, and I'm her mate. Just trust me." Is that Damien? I don't feel Em's arms around me but suddenly it's replace by this soothing heat. I snuggle closer and sigh. "Man she's cold." I hear Damien say with a whistle.

"I told you," Em laughs. I'm still shaking but not near as bad. I keep my eyes closed but decide to talk anyway.

"E-Em." My voice cracks. "What time is it?"

"Uh...4:10ish." I nod.

I open my eyes and look around. I see Em sitting on the bed with Alec besides her. I notice her tear stricken face and let a stray tear fall. I look away from them and I see Tyler standing by the bed. He looks nervous and worried. Blake and Cole are standing next to Tyler. I look to the door and see Simon and Aaron. I go to sit up but the arms tighten around me. "You're not going anywhere. You're still freezing." I turn and look at Damien.

"How loud did I scream? Jeez did I wake up the entire neighborhood."

Em reaches over and punches me. "It's not funny. You were screaming. I couldn't wake you up." My face softens.

"I'm sorry Em."

"Speaking of..." Damiens chest rumbled as he spoke. "Tyler go get a glass of water please. What exactly happened?" Tyler walked to our pathetic excuse of a kitchen.

"Uhh..." What on earth am I supposed to tell him? "Thanks." I mumble to Tyler who brought me a glass. I drank the whole thing in a matter of seconds. I didn't even know I was thirsty.

"Which one this time?" Em's voice held worry. I sighed.

"It wasn't." I guess the bruised cheek wasn't obvious. I lifted me shirt slowly, assessing the damage myself. She gasped.

"I-i didn't know. Are you ok?" Her hands flew over her mouth. The three gash lines were a bit deeper than I originally thought. My stomach was lightly bruised. Although there was a big foot print in the middle. I looked across the room where there was a mirror hanging. I touched the bruise on my cheek gently.

"I'm fine. Nothing happened." I hope I got the message across because realization dawned on her face.

"What was that about?" Alec asked noticing our side glances.

"N-nothing." Em stuttered. God that girl can't lie!

"I don't know what your talking about." I said looking him in the he dating him to say it again.

"Yes you do. What is going on Angelica?" It wasn't Alec this time it was Damien. Ugh! Can I lie? Should I lie?

"Alright fine. It was something but it was nothing really." I try to reassure him. "Now before any of you say anything. I'm sorry for waking you up. Now I know for a fact half of you have school tomorrow. We'll see you there. Go home and try to get some sleep. See you in class." I tried to wiggle out of Damiens grasp but it wasn't working. I huff in defeat. "Listen. We'll talk more about this late but right now I'm going to get ready for school."

"Fine. But we will talk about this later." He says firmly. I nod and smile at him.

"See you at school. Again sorry for waking you up."

"It's alright little one." Blake said giving me a small smile.

"You scared the Oreos out of me!" Tyler says frantically. "I heard you screaming. I went and woke up these logs," he said gesturing to the others. I gave him a confused look. "Werewolf hearing is sometimes a blessing and a curse." He says with a wink. I laugh but it doesn't sound like a laugh it sounds more like a dyeing goat. "Anyways, I'm so glad you okay." He hugs me and skips out of the room. "See you at lunch sweet cheeks!"

"Bye!" I say waving.

"If you ever need anything our doors open. Also, next time keep the screaming to a minimum."

"Dude..."

"Seriously!?" I hear multiple people say at the same time.

"Jeez I was just kidding. You didn't need to hit me." He playfully glared. Then smiled. "See I got her to smile." An alien noise escaped my lips, it seems to have resembled a laugh.
"You idiot!" I say to him. "Thank you." He nods. "Seriously guys. Good bye. We have to be at school soon."

They all leave but smile and say bye. Alec and Damien stay a while longer. "Are you ok?" He asks for the hundredth time.

"Yes. I'm fine. Now if you don't go over to your house this instant I'm not going to sit with you at lunch or tell you what it was all about." I threaten and he nods.

"Alright Love, See you in a little bit." I just shake my head and wave as he and Alec walks out the door.

After I hear the door click shut I let out a deep sigh. "Is it what I think?" I nod trying to suppress the memory.

"Yeah...but I don't want to talk right now. I want to take a shower."

"Alright. I'll feed Smokey and make us a little something to eat. Then we'll talk. Ok?"

"Sounds like a plan taco man." She laughs and shoes me off. "Be our in a jiffy." I head to our pathetic excuse of a shower. I have to be quick because our hot water doesn't last long and given the night I've had it's not going to be good.

After adjusting it to the perfect temperature I stand and let the water cascade down my back.  I let a few tears loose and take a breath before stepping out. It's going to be an eventful day that's for sure.