HIM

He looks at her, his eyes gleaming with cruelty and austerity. He moves down the knife against her neck slowly peeling off the delicate skin causing crimson red to ooze off the ruptured area. His hands envelope her; stopping any kind of movement. Pain is all she can feel as the green locks brush against her cheeks and his warm breath kisses her neck. His hands begin to tighten as the knife starts to bury deep. Screaming, she writhes under him, trying to move away from his monstrous claws. But he does not let go.

'STOP!' An unearthly shriek escapes her.

'Don't move.' He replies imperturbably.

Tears roll down her cheeks as she tries to get away from the pain, the agony, the reality… him. Her azure eyes beg him to stop but he does not care, just seeing her like this is enough for him, enough satisfaction. Whimpering, she pleads again but the knife keeps digging in. The twinge causes her to let out a horrified moan. But he does not stop.

Her eyes burst open. Panting, she sits up and looks around. A bad dream.

He's not here.

He's not here.

Repeating the chant, she gets off of bed and goes for the kitchen and grabs a cup of water. The water seems cool against her lips, meandering down her throat. Putting down the cup she sighs. She needed to stop. Why did she hark back to the same events every day? Why couldn't she let go?

It had happened years ago and she was safe. But why didn't she feel like it? Why did she feel that he was still watching still waiting for her to leave the confines of this place? He was gone. Locked. Away from her as far as possible. She was safe.

Goosebumps line her skin and her hand makes way to the scar left by blade reminding her that all of it was real that she could not run away, that there was no place to hide.

She gulps. The memory of the dream is still fresh. His raspy voice still echoes through her head, haunting her.

He's not here.

He's not near, not anyway near me.

Brushing her thoughts away she goes to the TV lounge, flipping through different channels. Suddenly something catches her eye. A silhouette? Adrenaline rushes through her and she pushes herself out of the chair and guides herself to the next room.

'Hello?'

No answer.

Taking a few steps ahead she calls out again, 'Hello? Is anyone there?'

Still she is met with silence.

Gnawing on her lower lip she moves further inside the room. A tap.

'AHHH!' She turns around screaming and finds herself staring into a pair of golden orbs.

Gingka holds her delicately from her shoulders, 'Madoka, it's me… Calm down.'

Trying to steady her breathing she pants a little. Then she smiles when she looks at the redhead staring at her in sympathy still stroking her back.

'I t-thought someone broke in.'

'He's not going to hurt you anymore, Madoka.'

'I know.'

'You're safe.'

She nods and wraps herself in his arms, burying her head in his chest.

'Let's go inside.'

Blue eyes stare at her tears stained face, those brown locks and a smirk etches across his face.

'Safe? Think again Amano.'