It was supposed to be better now, at least that's what Ben had been telling himself for the past one month. He finally had Samantha back in his life so he should be happy, right? In a way he was but it just wasn't the same.

Of course he didn't expect her to be jumping on her feet with joy and laughing at his every joke but he never anticipated that her recovery would be this slow. No one did. Even her therapist told us she wasn't making much progress. She had even diagnosed her with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and mild Stockholm Syndrome.

Ben had never been more worried about the girl he loved. She had been exempted from college for a year so she could spend time recuperating at home with her parents and she was subjected to therapy twice a week which was recommended immediately after her medical check ups.

If he had the chance Ben would have spent every waking moment by her side but however much Ben wanted to take a gap year and spend it with her, he knew he couldn't. His parents would have killed him. So he drove down every weekend and stayed at the Greenbergs every chance he could. Apparently the only time she ever slept peacefully was when he visited.

The rest of the days she would wake up screaming and crying in hysterical fits. She had also become extremely anti social, barely talking to anyone besides her parents and Ben. But sometimes she would look at Ben like he was a stranger or a figment of her imagination. That ghostly look in her eyes was enough to give even Ben nightmares.

Another thing he was slowly getting used to was the fact that she had become scared of his touch. It was habitual for him to comfort her by putting his hand on hers or his arm over her shoulder but she constantly flinched when he did so and in the beginning that hurt like hell.

It infuriated him that that psycho Jerry had affected her so much. He couldn't even begin to comprehend what she must've gone through locked away in his house. The thought itself made him want to kill that freak. He'd never hated someone so much before. He deserved to die but instead he was lying on a hospital bed in a coma. Ben could not see the justice in that.

He also noticed the way Samantha had perked up slightly when the inspector told them he was still alive but in a coma. Apparently when he shot himself he was shaking so badly he had missed all the vital structures. All he had gotten was a deep graze along his cheek and head which wasn't enough to kill him but the impact had injured him badly. No one knew if he was going to wake up.

Right now he was on the road, on his way to the Greenbergs house. It was finally the weekend and he couldn't wait to spend it with Samantha. He didn't care if she needed time, he would give her all the time in the world if she wanted it but he hoped she would get better soon. He needed her to get better soon.

Ben parked in their driveway and practically ran to her house, eager to see her after five days. Her mum was at home and the house smelled of freshly baked cookies. Ben felt the saliva pooling in his mouth.

"Hey Mrs Greenberg!," he skipped towards the kitchen and hugged Samantha's mother lightly. "I brought some bagels from the cafe you like."

"Thank you dear," she gushed taking the bag from him. "I absolutely love these."

She looked so much better now than she did a month ago. Her face finally looked happy but her eye bags were a clear indication of the sleepless nights the Greenbergs had been having due to Samantha's fits.

"How is she?" Ben asked the question that had been on his mind since he left her five days ago.

"She's doing better actually. Last night she slept soundly, no screaming, no crying. I think we're slowly getting her back,"Mrs Greenberg said hopefully.

Ben honestly hoped she was right. "Where is she? Is she upstairs?"

"She's at therapy right now, but she should be back soon. Why don't you wait in the living room and here have some cookies."

"Didn't she have therapy just yesterday?" Ben asked confused, as far as he knew she had therapy twice a week and that too was a struggle for her.

"She requested for an appointment today and tomorrow."

"Wow, okay she must be making some progress then."

***

"BANG" She savored the way the recoil felt as it ricocheted through her forearm. "BANG" Another burst of euphoria spread through her body. The feeling was inexplicable and no amount of therapy could compare to this.

You will always be a victim to them. "BANG"

I hate him so much it hurts but I never wanted him to die. "BANG"

He made me his victim and then he abandoned me. I hate him, I hate him! "BANG"

I promised I would help him. He didn't believe in me. "BANG"

How could he leave me here to suffer alone. He should be suffering with me. "BANG"

Wake up Jerry. Wake up! You're the only one who knows what I went through. You're the only one I can talk to. I hate you God I miss hating you."BANG! BANG! BANG!"

She clicked again and then realized the cartridge needed to be refilled but she didn't have enough cash on her at the moment. Never mind she had "therapy" tomorrow as well. She placed the gun in its compartment and pulled on the lever next to her. The target she had been shooting scooted closer and she smiled. This was only her second visit and she had more shots on target than she did yesterday. She was getting good at this.

She wiped the sweat of her forehead and tied up her hair again, it was really hot in here. Once she was out, she handed her safety goggles and vest to the guy at the door and exited the building. She then crossed the road and waited outside her therapists office. Her dad should be reaching any moment to pick her up.

Her father didn't agree with her using the shooting range facilities. She remembered when she first noticed it and brought it up he flat out refused.

"Violence cannot subdue violence," he stated pointing at her head but she couldn't have disagreed more. Yesterday when she lied to him that she would be finishing late and then snuck off to the shooting range was the first time she had been able to sleep so peacefully.

Stretching her arms out before her, she smiled to herself. Now that was satisfying not the million pointless questions her therapist had been asking her. She had been diagnosed with PTSD and Stockholm Syndrome but to Samantha they were all just words. Terms to categorize her, terms to understand her but no one did and she doubted they ever would.

No words could explain what she had gone through and how she was feeling. The thoughts that ran through her head every single day. Or the fact that every single stranger would turn into Jerry if she looked at them for more than a few seconds. Or the painful realization that as much as she hated Jerry she found herself wanting to see him, to visit him in the hospital he was in. She wanted to see his face.

Her father pulled up in front of her and she hopped in.

"How was therapy today?" he asked, his eyes fixed on the road. Their relationship had become estranged after he learned that she had been raped. He felt guilty and whenever he looked at her he felt like he had failed as a father. Her mother had tried to reason with him but he had said all he needed was time and ever since she came back, he never let her go anywhere alone.

"It was great. I think I'm really making progress."

"That's good, you'll be going tomorrow too right?"

"Definitely."

When they reached home Samantha noticed Ben's car was parked in the driveway. She felt happy and sad at the same time. She loved the fact that he was so devoted to her but she didn't believe she deserved him. She was damaged goods and sooner or later he would realize that.

When she walked in she saw him sitting on the couch reading the newspaper, he looked up and his eyes visibly brightened. "Sammy!"

Usually she would expect a big bear hug from him but she knew he was wary when it came to touching her these days. She had tried but her skin felt too dirty for his touch. Nevertheless she loved his company and her heart swelled with happiness every time he visited. She hoped he would be content with that because for now it was all she could give.

She would try to get used to her new reality, she had everything she had always wanted. Ben, her parents, freedom but somehow her heart felt heavy. How long was this going to go on? Granted it had only been a month but still she should be making some progress, shouldn't she?

As usual her thoughts drifted back to him, the person who had made her this way, the only person who could touch her because he was just as tainted. She wondered what he was dreaming of in his deep slumber. She wouldn't be surprised if his dreams were of her.

***

I could hear seagulls crying from afar. I never thought the sound would be so soothing. The beach was devoid of people aside from us, the water a clear blue. Tilting my head towards the sky, I squinted my eyes at the sun setting and the magnificent view before me.

My small body rocked back and forth on the sand as I buried my hands until I could no longer see them.

"Jerry look there's a starfish over there," my mother's voice echoed beside me. "It's so beautiful."

I smiled and looked up at her. She was sitting next to me and staring at the bright blue sea before us. Her hair was flying in the direction of the wind as she smiled down at me. The sight was absolutely picturesque.

"Go on, take a closer look at it," she urged.

I hesitated not really wanting to leave her side.

"Don't be scared Jerry, it wont bite."

That wasn't the reason I was afraid but I stood up anyway wanting to impress her. I always wanted to impress her. I walked over to the starfish and bent down to look at it. It was bright orange with small spiky projections all over it. It was mesmerizing to look out.

"Mum, should I put it back in the ocean?" I called out but there was no reply. A surge of panic ran through me and I stood immediately. I suddenly felt larger, the distance from my head to the ground much further. I looked at my hands, they were grown man's hands.

"Jerry, what are you doing? Come over here and play with me," a voice giggled from behind me.

At hearing a voice I turned around and my pulse slowed down, my heart starting beating normally again. No more panic. My smile widened as I took a step towards her. She looked at me teasingly as she took a step backwards urging me to follow.

She was wearing a long white dress that moved in synchronicity with the wind, a stark contrast to her long dark tresses. Her beauty was unparalleled, those icy blue eyes of hers taunting me, teasing me, pulling me to her.

"What are you staring at?" she smirked and then she bent down and flicked some water on me. Her laugh was infectious as she attempted to run away but I grabbed her just in time. I held her against me as she buried her head in my chest.

"I love you Samantha," I closed my eyes and whispered into her hair.

"I know," she replied wrapping her arms tightly around me.

In that moment I was happy, so so happy but then I felt her slip away from my grasp. I opened my eyes to see complete darkness, no Samantha, nothing. I heard a faint beeping sound that came from no where in particular, the sound became louder and louder by the second. What the hell was that?

The darkness put me on edge because I couldn't see anything and then suddenly all I saw was blinding white light. It hurt at first, my eyes were not used to it but then they slowly adapted and refocused and I saw that I was lying in a hospital room.

I looked around but I didn't see her. All I saw were nurses shouting and spewing words about how I had woken up and a doctor rushing in. I suddenly felt giddy headed and fell back against the pillow. The only word playing in my head.

"Samantha."

A/N Okay guys this is officially the end. Now you know how everyone's coping and whether Jerry's alive or not. I'm guessing the Jerry fans must be pretty happy right now.

Let me know what you think okay? Thanksss and if you like what you've read please vote/comment/share.

In the mean time I've already started writing another story about a girl who's being taunted by a supernatural creature and everyone thinks she's crazy including herself. You'll only find out if she really is when you read on. It's called Insanity Bites and I've just started so check it out when you have the time k.

So I guess it's bye for now. Thanks for all the support everyone, lots of love from my side!