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Sera awoke to the sound of rain pounding against her windows. Glancing at the clock beside the bed, she saw that it was barely two in the morning. Looking around, she spotted Tom lying beside her. She climbed off the bed making sure not to wake him. Tiptoeing, she made her way to the bathroom and locked the door behind her. Switching on the light, she regretted it. Her eyes burned, but soon adjusted to the brightness. Gazing into the mirror, she saw someone else standing in her reflection. A broken heart. Tear streaked cheeks, running mascara, smeared lipstick, and messy hair. Sera grabbed the towel that hung on the bar by the sink and turned the faucet on. She let it run until it was steaming hot and then shut it off. Pressing the towel to her face, she wiped all remains of pain off her face. When she finished, tossing the towel aside, she stared at her reflection. The nasty bruise from a few days back had turned to a wretched yellowish hue. Her face was terribly pale, she looked as if she were a cancer patient. Picking up the brush that sat on the toilet tank, she brushed her hair quickly so that it looked half normal. Placing the brush back on the toilet, she spotted it. The metal glinted at her eyes with affection. Sera closed her eyes briefly shaking her head. 'Don't do it.' She whispered. But she couldn't bring her mind to change the actions her body took on its own. Clutching the razor tightly in her fist, she ran it across her arm until it drew blood. It released her. She smiled with pleasure, letting the razor fall into the sink. She grabbed for the towel, found it, and wrapped it around the gash on the back of her arm. As the bleeding stopped, Sera opened her eyes. Reality hit her once again. Cutting only paused reality.....it didn't put an end to it. Wiping the sink clean and washing the razor, she put a bandage over the now seemingly small wound. Shutting the light off, she exited into the darkness of her room. She heard silence except for the distant thunderclap overhead. Climbing into bed, she got closer to Tom, pressing her body against his. He stirred in his sleep and finally his eyes flew open. He glanced around, looking confused as to where he was, but then he looked over at Sera. She forced a weak smile. Too weak. Tom rolled on his side to face her, and stared into her vibrant blue eyes. 'What time is it?" He asked sleepily. "around two." She whispered. His hand outstretched and landed in her hair. He smoothed it aside slowly and then cupped the back of her head in his hands, urging her towards him. He kissed her softly at first but then gradually it became deeper. Sera wrapped her arms around him and he pushed her back, climbing on top of her. Another deadly kiss after another. His hands creeping about her body as if dirty weapons waiting to invade her. Sera ran her fingers up his spine making him shiver, tiny gasps escaping his lips breathlessly. She yanked his shirt off and kissed his smooth, hairless chest. 'I love you." He whispered in her ear. Sera closed her eyes as he removed her undergarments. She felt her hand reach for his belt, unbuckling the clasp and pulling them off in a frenzy. He pressed her against the bed and she felt him enter her. So slow, but so good. Her nails raked the soft flesh of his back until it began to bleed. Crying out in ecstasy, they both collapsed on the bed, breathing heavily and clinging to each other's warm body. She never wanted to let go, ever. Tom already began to drift back into sleep as she pulled the sheets over their naked bodies. Rolling over, she felt his arm encircle her waist and pull her so close to him, that they felt as one. And slowly as Sera fell asleep, the last thing that flashed in her mind, was a face. Victor Jameson's face.

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