He glides silently through the trees , not a sound to be heard . No footprints left behind to mar the path . He comes up to the house , opens a door that no longer remains , and goes inside . She said she 'd be here , made him promise he would wait . And so he would . He 'd never let her down before , he would not start now . As he sits in the dark , he reminisces . Remembering the day he met her . They met at church . She came out from services . He was mowing the lawn She was an angel without wings and she stole his heart before her eyes met his . Within 6 hours he was courting her . Within six weeks he had bought a ring And then came morning . As he stood on her father 's doorstep , his love screaming and crying in the background . Her father gave him back the ring He waited until 3 am , and quietly tapped one knuckle lightly on her window . He saw her shadow as she slipped out of bed , the moonlight causing her white cotton nightgown to softly glow . She tiptoed to the window , parted the sheer curtains , pressing her hand against the glass and mouthed He breathed heavily on the glass , and trailing his fingertip through the fog . Wrote PACK and she smiled and nodded , and mouthed " when . " He breathed again , and wrote 3 AM TOMORROW and melted away , blowing a kiss as he became yet another shadow Reality came with an unexpected boon . A letter from HER and his heart began to beat again and he could breath . . She begged him to meet her at the old rundown shack on the back quarter of her grandmother 's land . As the sun dips beneath the horizon , the sky ablaze with colour , his anticipation grew . He strained his ear for any sound , his eyes peering out into the shadows . But it is silent , no movement to be seen , not even the songs of the nightbirds to keep him company . Her father stood in the trees , her cousins and uncles at his side and not a one was unarmed . He stopped short , his heels slipping slightly in the dewy leaves . Against his throat , the double barrels of the shotgun rested " I told you she was too good for you , but you just don 't listen . " He opened his mouth , and it was suddenly filled with the taste of metal and guessed it wasn 't his turn to speak . " I don 't think I can buy you off or convince you to leave . but she 'll think you did . " He tried to step back and collided with a wall of bodies . He was surrounded . The barrels were removed from his mouth and he abruptly flew as the butt of the weapon smashed against his cheek . He heard a wolf 's cry in the distance , and trembled , fear overtaking him at last . He knew this would not end well . He glanced up , seeing a shadow cross his vision . The moonlight blocked as the men begin to pummel him . Unable to do more than whisper her name . The lone wolf 's voice the only accompaniment to the grunts of the men surrounding him . She glides to the doorway , her hand resting on the splintered wood . She sees his guitar laying forgotten in the corner and rushes to pick it up , holding it close as though it were him , and weeps . From inside , a rattle , and she turns it over , feeling her ring tumble into her hand Smiling , she places the ring upon her finger , and wipes the tears from her cheeks . She steps outside into the darkness , walks like a ghost to the drivers side of his pickup and finds the key still in the ignition . She can almost imagine it retains the heat from his hand . She places the guitar beside her on the seat , and turns the key . The engine roaring as the truck drives towards where her family awaits their destiny The paper the next day told tale of a horrible accident . One of the more prominent families in town nearly wiped out . The only surviving member , a three week old girl . I feel as if these words describe not only my heart but my soul as well . Can a soul be shattered ? I feel as if there is nothing left to wake up for in the morning , nothing left to care about , nothing left to live for . It has all passed me by and I was looking the other way . My mind is wandering , aimless , unsure . Lost in a morass of fear , doubt , pain . My focus is gone , my thoughts scattered to the four winds , hidden from myself . Before I had hearts , hands , souls to help me find my way back . Now , now I am alone . I know who I am , who I am supposed to be , what my purpose is . I have found though that I do not care . It began several months ago . I am only now free of that place , that man , the drugs , and the fear . Well perhaps not the fear . If I were free of the fear I would not be constantly glancing over my shoulder , would I ? I would not have a need to have every light in the house turned on , only turning them off in the light of day . When my sisters see my electric bill they will not be pleased with me . Oh dear god , my sisters . I 'm going to have to tell my sisters . Of course , it would have been nice if even one had noticed that I was not attending our usual Sunday dinners . Noticed and then come to see if they could locate me . I know I have missed a dinner or two in the past but I have never missed without letting someone know . Normally I would have contacted someone . My other sisters have missed previously , without a call , or a text . I 've always made a point of swinging by to see if everything was alright … . No , this is his fault . His alone . Not theirs . They would not have known where to look for me , and had one come along perhaps he would have kept her as well . Or killed her . No I can 't think about that . I must remember that everyone else is alright . I could not bring myself to speak with any of them tonight , I needed to come home , shower . Did you know that showering in an empty house can be terrifying ? The silence is oppressive . However do not turn on the radio or television before you shower . The silence is preferable to the sounds that cover up footsteps , breathing , doors opening … . Stop ! I went by our family home before I came here . I silently peered through the living room window , and in doing so determined it was Sunday . The wine was open , popcorn made , they were watching a movie . It 's one we 've all watched several times in the past . I was surprised to see my brothers as well . They seldom join us and I will admit that I wanted to go inside , crawl into the lap of one of our boys , and stay there . Of course I could not let them see me like that . Stolen clothes , covered in blood ( not all of it mine , he felt pain before he died ) , my hair full of dirt , my skin covered in cuts , bruises , needle tracks … . Thank God I have seven days until Sunday . My family is a little … unusual . We are none of us family by blood , simply by choice . We found each other gradually over the years . We know that we will most likely find more as time passes , it is the nature of our bond . We have had siblings leave , their paths veering away from ours . We have also suggested , rather firmly I might add , that a sibling or two is no longer welcome in the family home . I cannot help but wonder if my recent actions will cause my departure to be desired . We each have a virtue that we identify with strongly . My gift has been eloquence , the capability to speak and be heard , to bring the truth to light without causing offense . I have been told that although I was not born with a silver spoon , I was blessed with a silver tongue . My family knows that a portion of my gift is the ability to broadcast my desired outcome , the positive emotions that I wish to be felt by the others involved . I have recently found out that I am also capable of permitting my fear , my anger , and my hate to be felt by others as well . How I wish I had never been taught that lesson . I don 't actually know how it began , one moment I was home , the next I was not . The day had begun like most any other . My phone ringing . It was , of course , one of my sisters . Raven needed my help . Her primary talent is Justice but she sometimes let it over take her . She 'd gotten herself into a little bit of a pickle and needed me to talk to the group and smooth things over . Not a huge issue . So I told her I would have a quick shower , then head on to meet up with her . I never made it . I was in the shower , I heard a thump and I called out . I thought one of my sisters was over . I saw a shadow on the curtain . And then nothingness . When I awoke all I could feel was heat , surrounding me , entrapping me . No escape . I couldn 't move , my eyes opened in panic to see nothing , darkness . I couldn 't help myself and I began to twist , whimper , cry . Suddenly I was able to move , the heat dissipating , and I felt a light touch on my arm . " Shhhhh … relax my sweet . Everything is fine , you 're safe . " A soft , masculine voice , unfortunately not a familiar voice . " Where am I ? Why can 't I see ? " I wanted to shout with every fiber of my being , but that never gets anyone anywhere . I felt myself broadcast a little of my fear , just a small amount . I didn 't know if it would work , I 'd never tried fear before . Concern but never fear . But then again , what had I ever truly been afraid of ? " No my sweet , none of that . " I felt a sharp prick in my arm and that was the end of that . Every time I woke he was there . If I tried to broadcast my emotions , another needle . If I screamed , another needle . If I cried , or carried on in any fashion , again the needle . As time passed I began to wake more quietly . I felt around my space using what senses I had available . As touch and sight were out of the equation I had to listen , keep myself calm and pay attention when he entered the room . Jes saw a light on and decided to stop . She said she thought I was out of town . Wanted to know where I went for six months without telling anyone . Six months . She also gave me shit for disappearing on our sister . She had to go help Raven , though she said there was a bad taste left behind that nothing could fix . I told her to stop ranting at me that I 'd explain on Sunday what happened so I only have to do so once . The light was behind me so she couldn 't see the bruises . Anyway , after a time ( I 'm not sure how long ) I realized that when it was really quiet , I could hear other voices . The only one that seemed able to tell when I was broadcasting was the man in charge of me , so to speak . I began to send out gentle waves of concern . I could sense a woman in the room to my left , and a man in the one to my right . I knew without trying though that he wasn 't going to be around much longer . I could feel he was letting go . I tried to send him courage , strength , hope . All I received in return was despair . The next time I woke , I sensed nothing . He was gone . The next day I made contact , of a sort , with the woman . I could tell when she was medicated , when she was simply sleeping , and when she was awake . Sleeping meant nightmares . Fear . Awake meant terror . I could only help for short periods of time . Her fear , her terror , increased my own . So I had to keep my contact with her to a minimum . I believed that instead of becoming despondent like that man had , that she was losing her mind . There were times I heard her screaming , but the laughing was the worst . Neither lasted long though , and then I could sense she 'd been drugged again . My captor was away more . I had more time between his visits . More time awake . I 'd begun to notice that my body was in pain . The only times I knew anyone was in the room was when he would come in and the world would disappear with the prick in my arm . I started to wonder what was happening when I was unaware . I 'm not certain how long it took but I must have built up a resistance to the drug . He didn 't know as I tried to be silent when I woke . I could hear him in the room sometimes , writing on occasion , sounds I didn 't recognize other times . I would stay silent , contained , hidden . I would wait , sometimes half an hour , sometimes longer before I 'd try to send out calm , hope , to the lady in the next room . If I didn 't wait long enough he would come back and I 'd get another needle . I finally woke very early one day . I could feel his hands on my body . He was touching me , everywhere . Pinching , squeezing , slapping . No wonder I hurt every day . After that nearly every time I woke he was touching me in some manner . I did my best to remain calm , quiet , let him think I was still out . I didn 't always succeed . Then one day I felt the needle when he came in , but I didn 't go completely under . I could hear him talking to another man . I couldn 't track the words though , the drug made that nearly impossible . I couldn 't move either but I was aware . And then I wished I wasn 't . They took turns using my body . Not just the two , but several men . Different touches , different voices , different men all using my body for their enjoyment . Now I knew why I was bound , blindfolded , why I was being held against my will . My terror overwhelmed me , and that was all I knew for a while . Next time I woke I awoke screaming . He spoke to me and I did not stop , I think it was a few days before I woke again . He changed my drug , I was solidly out again . This time when I woke I planned . I needed to get out . I 'd been waiting , hoping that one of my sisters would arrive , tell me that I was in the hospital , tell me what had happened . They would never have left me in a place like this though . So now I knew , I had to get out on my own . But how ? My hands and feet were firmly strapped to the bed . I wondered about the lady in the other room . Was she trapped as I was ? Were they doing to her what they were doing to me ? Then a couple of days ago , while it was still quiet all around me , I woke suddenly . In the silence I could hear her tears . Her fears filled the room with screaming , though there was no sound to be heard . Her pain , her sense of loss , her anguish surrounded me , drowning me in her . I began to speak . Softly , gently , low . If there was anyone walking past none but she could hear . And she heard . If only she had not heard . My words fueled her , commanded her . My words drove her . Her actions were my thoughts . My pain , my sorrow , my hatred . Her body was free , mine was not . My mind , my voice were all I had . She became my avatar . My puppet . My saviour . Their death . She had been unresponsive for days . They no longer bothered to bind her to the bed . When her controller entered the room , she used my anger , my hatred , my out and out uncontrollable rage as her fuel . I whispered thoughts of death , mayhem , blood and she made them real . When he was dead I still did not release her from me . She killed the man in the hall , tore him limb from limb . After she released me from my bindings I stumbled to the door , leaning against it I looked out and watched his life merge with the water he had been washing the floor with . I did not mourn him though . If he was not one of the men that raped us , then he left us to them . God damn it , who 's here now ? I need to finish this . I need to get it out . But the doorbell is ringing . I 'll be back . I need to be more careful . Devine stopped in , noticed all the lights on , and started to walk around turning them off . I had to lie , I told her I was looking for a mouse . That I thought I 'd seen one and didn 't want to turn off the lights until I found it . She turned to look at me , she looked concerned and I thought I hadn 't done a good enough job with the cover - up but then she shivered and said she hoped I was wrong but maybe I could borrow a cat . I 'm going to have to stop leaving the lights on all the time . It 's attracting too much attention . Tomorrow I 'm going to get a lock for my bedroom door . Maybe I 'll be able to sleep . With my room at the back of the house my sisters shouldn 't notice these lights on all night . I still don 't know her name . I guess I never will now . They killed her , they killed her as if they had plunged the knife into her body themselves . But he wasn 't there yet . They 'd called him so he was on his way . But he wasn 't there yet and none of the others seemed to feel my broadcast as an outside thing . We 'd gotten part way down the hall . We were opening doors , trying to release anyone else we found . We only found two others that could walk . There were others but they weren 't going anywhere . One man had his legs broken , and they didn 't set them properly . He told me he 'd tried to escape and that was his punishment . He asked me to kill him . I told him I couldn 't . I should have then , I did later but not by choice . She 'd picked up the mop , and broken off the handle . As I was untying another lady she turned and put it through some guy 's throat . He came running into the room , yelling at us . She didn 't like the yelling . I tried to rein in my emotions a little , the other lady was becoming violent as well and I realized I was still affecting them . I should have let it be though . We found a man near the end of the hall , he could walk but there was something about him that made me nervous . We let him free anyway and he joined us . We went around a corner and into a large open space , there was a kitchen area on the other side of the room and I could see knives from where I was standing . I thought it was odd that there was no one around but I took it as a blessing and we went across the room . We each collected a couple of knives . The new lady didn 't want to but I told her to grab a couple anyway . I said she didn 't have to use them but it would keep her from looking like easy prey . As we slipped into the next hallway , I noticed all the doors were open , no one to rescue , nowhere for anyone to be hiding . I started to calm down . I could see the doors leading to the outside world just a few meters away . As I calmed down so too did my companions , but I didn 't see it . I was walking in front with the first woman . I really wish I 'd asked her name . As my emotions settled , my broadcast ebbed . I thought we were all there for the same thing . I thought we were all being used in the same manner . I have to admit I was confused when behind me I heard a gurgle . As we turned around we saw that the man we had rescued had cut the other woman 's throat . He was smiling . He was covered in her blood , and he was smiling as he moved towards us . I froze . And because I froze so did the lady I started all of this with . Because she froze , he plunged a knife into her stomach . He did it almost as an afterthought . He was walking towards us , his eyes holding my own , he was nearly past her , she had stopped sooner than I did . Then his hand moved almost lazily to the side and I heard the sound of the knife plunging into her . His smile grew as he pulled it back out , his hand covered in gore as he sliced to the side . He made it two more steps towards me , a couple more and he would be close enough to kill me too , and still I stood . My fear had paralyzed me , he was nearly to me when he stopped with a look of confusion on his face . He should have made certain she was dead , or at least down for the count . Her pain woke her from my fear . Her kitchen knives were in his back . One in the middle , one looked to be in his kidney . As he fell her eyes locked on mine . I caught her before she hit the ground , I held her as she bled out , I cried as the light left her eyes , and I could no longer feel her presence . I 'm not certain how long I sat on the floor with her in my arms . Her blood pooled around me on the floor , his blood mingled with hers but I could not make myself move further away . I hear the doorbell but I need to finish this now . Whoever it is can come back later . It 's taken me two days to get this far , and I have yet to sleep . Maybe when I finish I will . I heard voices coming towards me . One man was talking on a cell phone , telling someone that we were free , that the others were dead , I was the only one remaining . I waited until he was off the phone , until he and the other men were closer , and then I sent them my rage . Their targets ? Each other . I sent my rage , my hatred , and my fear to all of them . The one with the phone suddenly turned to the man beside him and the phone went through his mouth . That was the only one to die quickly . As he turned to another , he turned his back to one and he suddenly lost a part of his spine . He collapsed and I watched him die . It took a while . The one holding the spine suddenly had a chair smash over his head . I lost track of what was happening for a little while as the remaining 5 men made each other bleed . When it was down to one , I put her gently on the floor , took up my knives and walked towards him . I sent him wave upon wave of trust , love , desire . By the time I was close to him he was rather randy . I let him watch as I cut it off . Then one of my knives went through his eye into his brain , he was dead before his scream fully materialized . I went and sat back with the lady , pulled her back onto my lap , and told her that they had paid for what they did to us and that I was going to take a short rest before I went home . I believe I passed out for a while . The next thing I remember is looking up and seeing the man that was my controller . I 'd never seen him before but I recognized his voice when he spoke . He tried to take her away from me . I screamed , loud . He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a needle . I know it was to calm me down but after everything I had just been through I was not going back into that room . No one would touch me again . This man would not get near enough ever again . As he came closer I gathered my strength , and flung her at him . It knocked him over , the needle went flying . By the time he got out from under her , the needle was in my hand , and then in his arm . He was out in moments . Had I left then I could have told my family what happened . They would have helped me deal with the repercussions , with the stress , and the fear . I would have spent the last two days with my sisters helping me to pack while my brothers went looking for a new place for me , something with enough security to please them . But I didn 't . I should have but I stayed . I took him to one of the empty rooms that we had passed , I didn 't think there would be enough time to put him through even half of what we went through but I wanted him to feel fear . So I put the cuffs on him , and a blindfold . The door closed , locked , just in case . In another drawer I found a gag , I didn 't want him to be able to distract me , to make me change my mind . I didn 't want to hear him beg . And then I waited for him to wake . It must have been a low dosage as he woke no more than an hour later , I think . I 'm afraid my sense of time has escaped me somewhat . He jerked awake , his screams muffled by the gag , his muscles straining against the cuffs . I spoke quietly to him . He had to stop screaming if he was to hear my words . He did for a moment , and then he realized what I was saying . The screams began again . As he thrashed , and pulled I slid a knife under his pants leg . He felt the cool metal and stopped moving . I think he was afraid that I might cut him . Up one leg at a time , at the top I allowed the blade to touch his manhood , gently but enough to make him scream in fear . As I cut his shirt off I turned the blade over and left a thin slice along his pectoral muscles , very lightly , it was barely there . But it made him shriek and I was beginning to enjoy his muffled sounds . That should have told me it was time to leave but I didn 't want to . After I disrobed him I began to broadcast my fear to him . He was already afraid and I made him terrified . I whispered softly to him , telling him what I wanted him to do , what I wanted him to feel . I told him what she had felt , what she had done , and I whispered that he would do so much more . I took control of his feelings , subtlety playing no role . I told him a story about what had been done to she and I from our perspectives . I told him a tale about how he was going to make it up to us . I could feel his resistance , his desire to break free from my control , and I laughed . And then I amplified it all twice again as much . I shattered him , and then … . then I released him from the bonds . I instructed him to harm himself . And he did as he was bid . He cut himself , so deeply that I could see bone , and sinew . He sliced his own legs so deeply that the muscles we no longer attached , he could not have stood , walked , run … nothing , and I was pleased . But still it wasn 't enough , and I was lost to my own madness . I took the knife back , and tied him back to the bed . I 'd been preventing him from feeling the pain so far . The pain would have given him strength to break my control and I could not allow that . As soon as he was bound tightly , I released my control including the pain suppression . He roared and then passed out . Somehow some sanity broke through . I could not leave him as he was , but I no longer desired to torture him . I picked up the knife and I slit his throat . Within moments I was bathed in his blood , and yet I stood there . I watched until there was no chance of life remaining . And still I felt unsafe . I lost what control I had regained and the next thing I recall his head was no longer attached to his body . His legs weren 't even in the same room . I left his hands bound as I pulled on a lab coat I found in a closet at the back of the room . I didn 't even try to wash up . Suddenly the fear was overwhelming me again . Any moment someone was going to walk through the door and I was never going to leave this place . I tried to school myself , control it . I couldn 't leave things as they were . Eventually someone would show up even if it wasn 't right now . If they didn 't call the cops , and I was fairly certain they wouldn 't , this would continue . They 'd do this to someone else . Some part of me knew that there were others still tied to their beds but they were dead already , even if they were still breathing . I couldn 't rescue them , and by the time I could get help I was positive that the people running this place would have killed them rather than move them . This was my rationalization . And so I went back to the kitchen , I went through the cupboards and I found alcohol . I poured some out down the hallway I had been in . I poured the rest down the hallway I would leave by , and over that man 's body . Then I went back and lit all the candles I could find . I put them by the trails of booze , by the oven . I sure hoped this was going to work , it did in the movies . I kept one candle with me and I went back to the kitchen to turn on the gas stove . I wasn 't sure candles would set it off but I was fairly sure that a fire would . As I got to the doorway leading to freedom I lit my candle , left the flame up on the lighter I 'd found , and tossed them both down the hall towards the booze . I peered out the door carefully . It was dark enough outside that I felt I could slip into the shadows unobserved . When I was a little a couple of blocks away I heard an explosion , I could see flames in the distance . What do you know , it worked . I still don 't know how I made it to the family home . Or even why I went that way at all . My place would have been closer , there would have been no risk of a family member spotting me had I just gone home . And well , here I am . Somehow I made it home from there . I am dreading Sunday . For the first time ever I am afraid to go to my family . I could lie to them . I could make up a story , something easy , light . Something with no blood , no pain , no death . I could . But I love them . I made a promise long ago , no lies . Not within the family . They all know what I can do , although they don 't know what I am capable of . They will though . It won 't be long and I will be alone , adrift , shunned . There 's the doorbell again . It 's being held down , that means it 's Jes and she won 't leave until she gets her way . I 'll go talk to her and then I 'm going to try to sleep . I close the book , check my makeup to be certain she won 't be able to tell anything , and go answer the door . It 's not just Jes , it 's Raven as well . She 's hoping I can help her out and this time she 's taking me with her . It doesn 't matter that I 'm exhausted , I 'll go and do my thing for my sister . I only hope I can control my emotions . I can 't exactly be broadcasting fear every time someone comes near me , touches me , invades my space … . crap . Jes comes back down the hall from the washroom and I tease her about falling in . She laughs and tells me it 's time I changed the lock on that door , that it tries to keep her in every single time . I tell her not to worry about that door , that I 'm going to start looking for a new place tomorrow . That this place is too big for just me . My sisters , the loves that they are , offer to help and as we head out we discuss what I 'm looking for in a new place . Raven insists that this time I get a place with a pool . As we get into the car we 're laughing , it very nearly drowns out the screaming in my head . Light in my eyes . Bright , obscene , enraging . I preferred the shadows , the darkness , the total absence of light that I had been living in . But no , they had to drag me out . Kicking , screaming , begging to be let free . Now I am here . Stuck . Tied to a chair , the light shining on me , on my eyes , into my soul . She will be free , she will be whole again , she will cease her unwanted behaviour . They want to make me who I was . Once , long ago , I was her . They loved her . But she was only a part of me . Slowly we became one , when they weren 't looking . We became me . There were once several of us . The different faces for different situations , different people . Not separate personalities per se , more like separate masks . They miss the mask they knew . They don 't seem to realize that behind it was always me . She was the first mask . The first one I created . The first one I had to be to fit in , to keep them unaware . It worked for so long that I forgot myself . I was her . I was hidden even from myself . For years I was other . Other masks over the one that was her . They hid even her from the outside world , from the ones that would hurt her . And then he came . He stripped away all the other masks , washed away all the other paint . All that remained was her , and me . He did not know about me . He thought that she was all there was . He wanted someone that wasn 't her though . He wanted more of me . He didn 't know what he was asking for . He thought that he was adding to her , he was stripping more and more away . He wanted a woman to do his bidding . He gained a woman that knew how to anticipate his needs , his wants , his every desire . He wanted a woman that would not question his orders , his requests , his decisions . He did not see that he gained a woman that saw everything , I had no need to question , I knew I was going to make him pay . I tried to simply let him go . I grew tired of being hurt and so I gave it one last try to just let him walk away . It hurt so much to watch him walk away but I knew that all that remained between me and the rest of the world was the smallest part of my mask . I tried to rebuild her , I truly did . I needed her . She was all that kept me safe from the world . She was all that kept the world safe from me . I did all I could to build her back up . But he kept trying to come back into my life . Every time he tried to strip more away . He kept taking what was rebuilt . And with every bit he took , he took a little more . My only way to survive was to take what was left of her and merge her in with myself . I didn 't know what would happen . I blocked every access to me that I knew still remained . I ran . I hid . I tried to no longer exist as far as he would know . But still he found me . He used a path I forgot existed , one I could not close . He found me in the morning , and through the day he reminded me that I was his . He told me that I had no one else . He told me no one else would even notice if I was no longer around . He told me that I had no choice , that I was still , and would always be , his . Did you know that when the only good remaining in you is under attack that the rest of you will defend it ? I tried to bolster my light , I made my calls . Again I was without support . No one that would understand was there . The only one I could find I could not confide in , he would kill for me . I would die for him . And so I did the only thing I could . I took the remainder of my light , I let my darkness engulf it , surround it , absorb it . I saw her in my eyes , the new me , the fully integrated me . I watched as the light withdrew , hid . I watched as the crimson grew , became vibrant , filled my eyes , my heart . I would guard the light , save it for those that deserved it . Within a few days I did as I was requested , I went to see him . I allowed him to touch me . I permitted his kiss . I welcomed his taste . When he was no longer watchful , when he allowed his walls to rest , when his cock was buried deep inside of me , I made him pay . I gently stroked his cheek , a move he was accustomed to from me . As my thumbs slid down I adjusted my course and pressed them deep into his eyes . As I did , I locked my legs around his thighs , he could not back away , he could not pull out , his cock was deep inside of me and I felt it harden with the pain before the rest of his body reacted . When he could not see , as he opened his mouth to scream , I pulled my daggers from beneath the pillows . One was stabbed through his throat , blood sprayed over my hot , sweaty body . The other slid between our bodies and removed what connected us . I released my legs , he flew backwards , I felt his cock slip from my pussy , the blood pouring over my legs . I stepped over to him , I removed my dagger from his throat , more blood , I was coated in it . I stood and watched him as he died . The last words he heard was my nearly silent goodbye . I suppose I would have gotten away with it had I thought before I left . A naked , blood coated woman tends to attract attention after all . They decided that his harassment of me had caused me to snap . So now I am here . Sitting in the light as they discuss what they think should be done . I know what I have to do to gain my freedom . I will build her back up . She will return , in a fashion . She will be simply a mask again though . The portions of her that they search for , that they believe count , the light is no longer . No one will see it again . But the mask , the mask will return . He doesn 't see it . He doesn 't know that I do . He believes that everything he can see is all that is there . I can see it following him , every morning , every afternoon , I see it curling up in the chair beside our bed at night . It goes everywhere he goes . It crossed over me tonight , it was cold , freezing , evil . I don 't know what to do . He 's losing weight , grumpy all the time now , doesn 't want to even share the same bed anymore . It knows I can see it and it 's trying to take him from me . I kissed his cheek when I was going out earlier and he flinched . This has to stop . I need to stop it . I came home from work and found him with another woman . Thing is I can see the blackness over taking him . I told her to get dressed and get out of my house . I watched as the darkness backed off , the look in his eyes changed . He cried , he said there 's something wrong . He said he 'd never cheat on me , he doesn 't know why he did . We went to the doctor last week , got the test results back today . It turns out he has a brain tumour . They 're operating next month . But I don 't think the darkness is the tumour , I think it 's the cause of it . This thing following him around is evil , it scares me . I think when they do the surgery my love is going to die and this thing will take his place . Well that was entertaining … . not . I tried to talk to a priest about what I see . He told me the stress of my husband 's condition is causing hallucinations . I showed him my diary , proof that I 've been seeing this for a while . He told me that some people are empathic enough to sense things like this and that I have a very rare gift … . stupid man . Will try someone else tomorrow . Came home from work , he was already home . The house was clean , the table was set , dinner was nearly ready . He told me to go up and change into something nice , tonight was date night . He told me he took the next couple of weeks off of work . He wants to spend time with me before his surgery . I don 't see the darkness tonight . This almost scares me more . I went into work today and asked for the next two weeks off . He asked me if I 'd like to go on a second honeymoon . I think he is afraid this surgery is going to kill him . I 'm hoping the dark beast will stay away . Maybe if we leave before it returns it won 't be able to find him . It seems odd that it should disappear so close to surgery but I will count my blessings where I can find them . Two days in the sun , two nights full of fun . Dear god I 've missed this . He booked me for a massage this morning while he sleeps a little . When I woke earlier than normal he was watching me sleep . He said he didn 't want to miss a moment with me . I 'm a little worried , maybe he really doesn 't think he 'll make it through . The doctor said that there is an 85 % chance that he 'll come out of this and be fine . I need to help him believe he 'll survive , positive thinking is important . He wanted to go to church this morning , we haven 't gone in years . Now I know he must be scared . He wanted to speak with the priest after the sermon . The way the priest was looking at him has me concerned . I was glad to leave , I could see the strain on his face , and the incense was giving me a headache . On the way to get lunch afterwards he told me that he wants to go back at least once more before we leave . As odd as it is , I can 't say no . Four days now , every morning when I wake he 's watching me . I know I thought it was sweet , but now it 's getting creepy . I have a scratch down my arm this morning and I have no idea where it came from . I don 't think I got it during sex but I suppose I must have . I also can feel a bruise on my lower back . Were we really that energetic last night ? I should hurry up , he 's waiting for me . We 're off on a day tour today . I always wanted to see the ruins here . I don 't think I 've felt this loved in months . Well that was just weird as hell . We were walking through one of the old temples and the tour guide kept watching us . The entire time the security guard stood well back from our group but he stayed with us . There were other groups there , why was he following ours ? When we got to the shop the clerk and security there took over watching us , as if we looked like hardened criminals or something . I 've never been so happy to get back to a hotel . Ok that was just odd , this entire week is getting stranger and stranger . I went in to have a shower , forgot my shampoo and went back out to get it . He was digging through my suitcase . He said he heard me swear and went to see what I might have forgotten , except my shampoo was on the bed , and I didn 't swear . He went through my suitcase again . I have no idea what he 's looking for . Whatever it is he didn 't find it . He seems to be calmer now though , as if a weight has left him . Well whatever it was , when we were heading back from dinner we stopped at a lovely little shop and he bought me a new dress , shoes , even jewelry . We 're going to go through all of our savings before we head home at this rate . But I can 't deny him right now . Another day of playing tourist , so much fun ! Today was a cruise . From the water it 's obvious that the cliffs are massive . The tour guide pointed out the church we went to the other day . It 's the oldest on the island and on the highest point . We could barely see the top of the steeple . According to the tour the only way onto the island other than plane is the one harbour that we left from . It was absolutely beautiful . More bruises , more scratches , pain . I know I couldn 't have gotten them last night . He 's never been more gentle than he was last night . I 'm getting scared . I had a long soak in the tub this morning . Then we went for breakfast and spent the day in the pool . Ok well he spent the day in the pool . I stayed resting on a lounge chair , I didn 't want anyone to see the bruises on my back . We leave in three days and , as much as there 's been some weird shit happening , I don 't want to go home . We haven 't been this happy in so long . He wants to go to the church today . I 'm not really feeling like I want to go though . Maybe I can talk him into going tomorrow instead . I 'm just not feeling great . Oh my god what an amazing day . I told him I wasn 't feeling well so we spent the day curled up together in our room , and we had dinner at a very high class place . I told him I didn 't bring anything to wear to a place like that and he bought me another dress , heels , jewelry … I have never felt so spoiled . He says he has a surprise for me today . He said we 'll be doing some walking so to dress comfortably . I tried and tried to get a hint or two but he just says I 'll find out , and smiles at me with such love . I can 't wait to see what he has in store for us . " According to a local priest the man involved was dying from a brain tumour . He had spoken to the priest previously and requested assistance . He believed his wife had a demon attached to her and after a couple of days of careful observation the priest concurred . They came in earlier in the day and when they began the ritual to free her she broke free and went tearing out the back of the church . The husband went after her and in the struggle that occurred they fell over the cliff . " I can hear you , you know . Hovering just out of sight . Trying so very hard to be quiet , unseen , hidden . I know you watch me , that you listen to every word I say , that you breathe the very air I exhale . What I don 't know is why , or who you are ? You 've always been there , always , as far back as I can remember you always have been . Do you come out when I sleep ? Are you there ? The doctors told me you 're not real . That it 's my imagination . That 's what I get for telling anyone about you . This room is … . uncomfortable . Stupid people , I was in bed , asleep . I had written in my diary before bed , about that awful man . But it 's not as if I 'm the one that killed him ! As if I could do something like that ! They gave me a shot , for my own safety … . Are you there ? How ? How am I supposed to have attacked that doctor ? I was stuck here ! In this fracking room ! The door was locked for fucks sake ! But the orderlies saw me they said . Wait I hear people coming … . What the hell ? No ! Get away from me ! It wasn 't me ! Please ! Someone help me ! It wasn 't me ! Please ! Are you there ? I don 't think I 've seen anyone in a couple of days . I 'm hungry , and very thirsty . I heard screaming , and something else , but I don 't know how long ago that was … . I hid when I heard it . As well as I could anyway , I sat down in the corner by the door . I didn 't think whatever was making that other noise would see me there . There 's still someone , or something , out there but my door is locked and I think whoever ( whatever ) it is doesn 't have the key . Oh please won 't someone help me … . Are you there ? I hear the key turning in the lock . Please let it be help … . but what if it 's not ? Oh dear god I 'm scared . This jacket holds me tight and I can 't defend myself . Please , are you real ? I can 't feel you with me with these drugs inside my head . I 'm alone , and I 'm scared . The door is going to open and I don 't know who 's outside . I need you to protect me , oh please … Are you there ? The video camera showed me inside of my room the entire time , wrapped up in a straitjacket . The ones in the hallways showed me there as well , killing all those people . Now they believe me , that it wasn 't me . I moved often enough and she was wearing real clothes , not the stupid hospital gowns . They saw my terror as I heard the screams . Damn meds should be out of my system completely in a day or two . I have to know … Are you there ? I can hear you again . Hovering just out of sight . Trying so very hard to be quiet , unseen , hidden . I know you watch me , that you listen to every word I say , that you breathe the very air I exhale . The thing is now I know why , now I know who you are . You 've always been there , always , as far back as I can remember you always have been . Thank you so much for protecting me . Are you there ? As I walk into the living room I find her . I call out so that the others know . She 's wrapped in a blanket , laying in front of the gas fireplace . She looks as if she 's sleeping . She must have thought it would keep her warm enough . I guess she forgot that the power being out meant it wouldn 't light . I 'd offered time and time again to turn on the pilot for her but she always said next time . It took me three days to get through the snow to her place . I turn off the fireplace , thankful we could smell the gas when we came in . The open windows make the house even colder , but I guess it doesn 't matter anymore . My sister growls , low , softly under her breath . My monster prefers the tears , the begging , the moment when prey realizes that they have no chance of escape , of release . But , she does not mind the screaming . It is after all only the slightest of sounds in our song . Like the bass , the screaming must be there to make it worth dancing to . Time to bring in the melody . My sister and I , we harmonize well together . Years of practice before I hid my Duchess away . Her Maiden has tried several times to bring her back to play , the song was lonely with only one voice . Her Scythe sounds lovely but seems to enjoy when my daggers join in . We glance at each other and I turn back to our prey . Scythe dances along his spine , I knew there was a reason she wanted the open back chair . My daggers make snowflake patterns on his chest and down his arms . When I peek at his back I can see the bone , but she 's not severed anything yet . She smiles as the snowflakes fall from his skin . He 's stopped screaming , he seems to be in shock . I hear Keeper coming towards us , he bends down in front of prey and tilts his head . He looks up at the ceiling to the hook my sister placed there recently . We understand . Our prey seems elated . We are unwrapping him from the chair . Does he think he is going free ? Such a hopeful little toy he is . I hear the doorbell . Hmmm … I unwrap my skirt and grab a robe from the wall . I can feel my Keeper watching me . Whether it 's because I 'm now half naked or he 's waiting to see what I do I 'm not certain . Perhaps both . My sister continues to adjust our prey as I head up the stairs . I hear Keeper behind me , will he be help or hindrance ? As I get to the door Keeper pulls me aside . He opens the door and speaks with the men on the step . Yes he 'd seen prey , last night actually . I 'd called him . I was afraid . There was someone in the tree outside of my room . I slip quietly away as he speaks with them . Upstairs , into the shower . It is only 6am or thereabouts so they won 't be surprised if I was still in bed when they arrived . I come down the stairs , drying my hair with a towel , calling out " Who was it hun ? " Stopping short when I see the men in the doorway ; I clutch my robe more tightly around me . " Oh ! " I blush as the officers look at me . One looks longer than he should , Keeper sees . Perhaps my next toy ? The officer in charge notices too , damn not my next toy . He sends him out to look at the tree , Keeper has made it sound as if I was terrified when the guy hung out at my door for twenty minutes before finally giving up and leaving . The officer in charge says he 'd like to ask me a few questions , but he 'll wait until I get dressed . I head around the corner and quietly down into the basement . I let my sister know that we have police upstairs and she smiles . As I go back up the stairs she takes him through the doorway . I 'll have to meet her there later . Once I am dressed I head back down to the living room . I apologize for the delay but the officer says it 's fine . He asks me some questions , I answer them truthfully . I 'm nearly positive the man had been there before . No he 'd never come to the door previously . I blush when I tell him that I was … playing over the phone with my guy . He asks me when did the guy leave ? I tell him I 'm not certain , I didn 't actually see him leave . The officer thanks me for my time and heads out . They see where he jumped out of the tree , but as the ground is dry there is no way to tell which way he went when he left . After the police leave I change , and then Keeper and I head back downstairs . He looks surprised to see that my Maiden and prey are missing . Seriously , did he think we would take that chance ? We may be a little crazy but we sure as hell aren 't stupid . He looks at my low growl , he realizes that Duchess is already back out and there is no prey in sight . I lick my lip as I watch him walk quickly to the door . He opens it and steps back , away from my monster . I hear my sister 's Scythe singing as I stalk through the trees , my daggers pulling me in her direction . But I hear another sound as well , a low singing , not entirely pleasant to my ears . I enter the clearing , my prey is hung from a tree ? I tilt my head to look at him as a machete suddenly swings towards my head . I block it with a dagger , my other at his throat in an instant . My Maiden growls a warning , I step back away from this masked invader . Oh , this must be her new playmate . He reaches towards me and she growls again . His hand drops , at least he learns quickly . I see our brother over by the tree , he is watching our interactions with amusement . I wish to be annoyed but that smile … fuck . Keeper enters the clearing and Maiden growls another warning . This man introduces himself , Marcus . Keeper drops to his knees before brother ; calls him Dark King . Curious . I walk over and kiss my brother 's cheek , Keeper watching me . He watches as Maiden does as well . He seems uncertain as to why we take such liberties . He is more confused when our brother returns the gesture , and lets me hug him tight . I hear a whimper , oh prey is still alive ? I had thought my sister had taken care of him but it seems she waited for me . Oh how I love her . I circle him slowly , seeing what she and Marcus have done in my absence . There is not much flesh left but my sister seems to have left his … rod for my amusement . Or perhaps Marcus and brother did not wish to see . I slowly touch it , Keeper looks away . Does it bother him that I am touching it or does he not wish to see what I might do ? * shrugs * Oh well , I refocus my attention and within moments , even with all the pain he is in , he is hard , sticking out from his body , begging for my continued touch . I take a step back and nod to my sister . Scythe falls . Prey screams . Before he dies I kiss him softly . His eyes barely focus but he sees me . I smile . He sees my daggers last as I collect my sister 's trophies .