1We got back into town around 8:30. As we drove up to my house I was filled with a sense of dread. It reached a crescendo when I saw that my Mom’s car wasn’t in the driveway.

“So...can I come in?” He asked as He opened my car door for me.

“Once again. Do I really have a choice?”

He laughed at that and followed me up to my room.

.../\...

I fell back onto my bed as He took in my bedroom. He paused at the collage of photographs and magazine clip outs that decorated my eastern wall, particularly colorful around the window.

He looked it over for a long minute before asking me about the people in the pictures in a low voice that I didn’t know how to interpret.

I explained about cousins, friends, aunts, uncles, me at all ages, my parents, people I’d met and wanted to remember.

His face grew darker and darker as I explained. I froze as He grabbed a pair of scissors.

“I am the only person you need.” He told me, His expression black.

He began to slash away at my pictures, mutilating faces and scenes.

“No! Stop!” I screamed and tried to grab the scissors out of his hands. He literally threw me back on the bed. I cried out as my head connected with the wall.

Instantly he was by my side, stroking my hair, kissing my forehead.

“Shh...shh...there’s no reason to be upset. I’m here. I’ll always be here.” Always...

Dear God, please no...

.../\...

I excused myself to take a shower and He told me to take my time.

I left Him there listening to the CD He’d made me.

Showering felt good. It was almost as though I could wash Him off of me if I stayed there long enough.

Almost.

.../\...

About ten minutes after I’d gotten into the shower I heard the bathroom door open.

For some reason I can’t explain I thought it was my Mother.

I was wrong.

He stepped into the shower with me, completely naked.

He cupped one hand over my breast and trailed another one down along my stomach, down to the brown curls between my legs.

I try not to think about what happened next. But I’ll tell you this. First times are painful enough without a sadist being the one administering it.

.../\...

When he was finally finished with me He just left me there. I could hear Him get dressed and later I heard the front door slam. Only then did I allow myself to cry.

…/\...

The next day at school He wasn’t at my locker. I relaxed a bit, thinking that maybe He’d ditched, just like before all this happened to me.

At lunch I realized that Matt was missing too. I became worried.

Who knew what He would do.

…/\...

Two days later Matt’s body was found floating in the pond near his house.

Everyone assumed he’d gone skinny dipping and drowned, he was naked and there were no marks to suggest foul play.

At autopsy revealed needle marks, several jammed into his arm.

The whispers started around the school about drugs and dealers, and hallucinations. I was the only one who didn’t buy into it. Whatever was put in him that night…it wasn’t there by choice.

…/\...

The next day He was leaning against my locker, watching the crowd pass by. There was a new aura around him, stronger, darker. People definitely noticed.

“How have you been? I haven’t seen you in days.”

“I’m angry. Why did you do it?” I hissed that last part. I knew what He would do if people paid any more attention.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“What? You had someone else do your dirty work? I didn’t expect that from someone like you.”

“Someone like me?” He was smirking, “Darling, you don’t know anything about me. Not a fucking clue.” He laughed manically. Everyone hurried away, glancing over their shoulders.

Everyone except for Dan Martin. Football player.

“Alex you sure as hell get on my nerves.” I think He just found His next victim, by the way He looked him over. This wouldn’t be pretty.

“Martin, you sure as hell don’t want to get involved.” He practically growled it.

“I’ve seen what you do to this chick. I think you should drop her and move out.”

“What I do to her? What I DO to her? No…I think you should ask yourself what the rest of you freaks do to her.”

“The only freak I see here is you.”

“Hey…Hey…don’t fight…” I jumped in, trying to stop the tension. Trying to keep Dan Martin off of what I’m sure was a growing hit list.

He looked at me. Dan looked at me.

“I’ll see you at lunch.” He stalked off.

“You alright?” Dan looked me over carefully.

“Why did you do it?” I asked softly.

“Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? You used to be this cheerful, pretty little thing. Now you walk around half dead with shadows under your eyes and messy hair.”

“Thanks for the concern…but I think the one you’re going to have to worry about now is yourself. Do me a favor and stay out of dark alleys.”

He laughed, like I was joking, then he walked me to class.

…/\...

I was desperate enough to get away from Him that I got on the bus. Looking out the back window, I saw that he was following in his car. Who knows what waited for me when I got home.

…./\...

Sorry that it’s short but I had to hurry.