So as promised here's the new story I've been working on. I'm crossing my fingers that you'll like it because it's something very different, dark and twisted. But then, that's how most of my stories are, lol.

Anyone who's read my work before will know I don't stick to usual portrayals of the characters or the traditional plot-lines. If you're looking for an E.L. James' styled typical Ana-Christian fan fiction, this story is not for you. It's not even set in the same world.

Based on your suggestions and reviews, Tarnished Minds is the chosen title. Essie, thank you for your suggestion. I'm aiming to write long chapters, keeping the word limit minimum 3,000 to max 4,000. Since the prologue and first chapter are shorter and both are from Ana's POV, I've decided to combine them into one chapter.

The story will be posted once in every two weeks. On the occasions of smaller chapters being posted, I'll update the next chapter within 48 to 72 hours. I'll try my best to stick to the schedule but life happens so I'll need you guys to be a little patient. I promise to make up by posting another chapter the same week (if I have it ready.)

I want to thank some of my old readers such as Twinder, AndAllTheSaintsAreMadeOfGold, CTHEWOODS, VampiresAddicted, FSOGFanFictionAdiction and many, many others who have been my loyal supporters. I missed you guys too. It's great to have you back. Please continue reading my work, it means a lot.

Happy Reading :)

DISCLAIMER: I own all the copyrights to the story except for the name of the characters. Those are owned by E.L. James.

SYNOPSIS - Once upon a time, in a small town, lived two beautifully lost monsters. They both hated each other until one day they came together under an unlikely alliance.

It happened after Ana was rescued from her kidnapper, just the summer before her senior year. Once freed, she was no longer the same person. Months of captivity had tarnished her mind. Only two things kept her sane - music and ruination.

Christian's demons saw the ones Ana carried. He identified her needs with his own. Together, they terrorized the town at night and sang their hearts out in the day, as a band everyone loved.

She is a psychopath. He is a sociopath. Can the world survive their love story?

PROLOGUE

ANASTASIA

"Damaged people are dangerous. They know how to make hell feel like home." ~ Josephine Hart

Bang bang.

I hear it, but I don't listen to it anymore. I feel them coming, but it doesn't matter anymore. My mind whispers to me that it's all going to be over soon but I don't react anymore.

I am nothing. I am everything. I am gone. I am never coming back again.

Bang bang bang!

That's the sound of a gunshot, I blink and slowly register. It vibrates through me. Yet it fails to bring me out of my daze. I can hear the chaos slowly erupting on the other side. The cries and the panic arising. Yet it fails to reach me. It all falls upon deaf ears.

A part of me wants to wonder. What happens next? Where would I go? Back to the place I used to call home? What about my education? Will I go back to the school or enter some GED program? More importantly, would my father be able to look me in the eye?

But that part is slowly drowning. And I don't do anything to save it. I want it to die for good. My mind has no place for such worries anymore. I am numb and I have to stay numb. This new side of me doesn't allow my rationality to live for long. I like this new me. It's less stressful. It's quiet inside my head with my conscience no longer existing to keep me in check.

The banging on the other side of the door continues to grow louder. The groans and rumbles of the men outside are audible now, along with their frustration over not being able to break through a damn door.

Stupid. Cowards! And they call themselves the protectors of the town?

Not that it matters anymore. They would be too late. Just like always. Just like they were too late to realize I had gone missing. Too late to figure out the secretive staircase that led to the hidden chambers of the basement in a house they had seemingly already searched.

The basement where I was held captive along with a dozen more kids of my age. Kids who went to the same high school as me. Kids who were living here in my town.

Why do I refer to this hell of a place as my town? Not because I reside here. There is nothing homely about this place. I call it mine because it is mine. It belongs to my father. He owns this town, being the Mayor.

Everyone respected him. And everyone hated me. At least in the beginning. For a while, I was their beloved princess when I played their game.

Not anymore.

I don't care about their games, their rules, and their fucking high standards. I've had enough. They weren't in my place four years ago, and they aren't in my place right now. They had no right to judge me back then and they have no fucking right to judge me now. The only difference is that back then I cared. Now, I don't. Not anymore.

They don't know the truth. They never see anything besides what they wanted to see. I knew it all. I have bloody lived it all. They would never see that side of my father. Never know what I know about him.

My father was a monster. The corrupt politician who sent his own child as a bait in the fire of the hell to capture Satan. So is he any better than the devil himself? Is my father any better than the beast who had us imprisoned here, doing heinous things to us?

I should want to debate all of this. Think it all through. After all, I would have a lot of time on my hands now. Not knowing what to do with it once I am free.

Physically free at least, mentally I am gone too far. But they can still free the shell I reside in. As soon as those sorry excuses of cops could break through the door anyway.

I sigh. My father really has an army of idiots.

But I guess that will work in my favor. How hard will it be to fool a bunch of idiots? I should be lying down now. They are close to breaking and entering the room.

A hysterical laugh bubbles up my throat. The cops are breaking and entering! What an irony.

No, shh. Stop it! I berate myself.

I have to be in the act now. I can't laugh. I'm the damsel in distress. The high school sweetheart. The precious gem who was stolen from her beloved, doting father.

And I would have never known otherwise had my kidnapper not found a tracking device inside my phone. At first, I thought it was to protect me, keep an eye on me. But it all had been a ruse.

It made sense now. Why my father had taken my phone the very next day when I had told him how unsafe I felt coming here for violin classes. Why my fears went unheard.

The door bursts open on the other side. Finally.

Kids are howling with relief and helplessness. Some are crying, fearing a new threat. Those are the smart kids, they shouldn't trust strangers just because they are in uniforms. They shouldn't even trust known faces in uniform either. They shouldn't trust known faces, period. I trusted my father. It was the stupidest thing I could do.

But what could have I done? I was just following everyone else's steps. I was taking a leap of faith listening to him just like every daughter does, blindly trusting her parent.

Only, he let me down. He proved that he was not only a shitty, money-hungry politician but also a shitty father. All because I let other people's belief guide me. Fuck society and fuck its rules and its beliefs! This is going to be the last time it fucks me over. Soon, it's gonna be my turn.

I look down at the beautiful red droplets on my hand, the fascinating wooden and steel structure held in my grip. I wonder why have I never seen such beauty before.

Because I was trying to live like them. Be like them.

That's right. They are obnoxiously blind and ignorant. Why was I trying to imitate them? This is so much better. This is liberating. I don't have to live in conformity like all of them anymore. I am free.

I had strings but now I'm free, there are no strings on me.

Watching the exquisite mess in my hand, I know it's my time to let it go. Time's up now. With a heavy heart, I loosen my grip and flush it thrice to make sure.

The moment it's gone and as if it took my breath with it, I collapse right at the door.

Not seconds later the annoying bunch of idiots comes to my oh-so-precious rescue.

Quick! She's in here.

I've got her. She has a pulse.

Call the ambulance, hurry! Call the mayor.

I let go, releasing the breath I have been holding. My eyes roll back and the darkness consumes me.

But I'm not scared of darkness. Not anymore. I embraced it a long time back. It's my ally now. My best friend. My only true friend.

It's my hell. It's my home.

Chapter 1

Anastasia

"Together they would watch everything that was so carefully planned collapse, and they would smile at the beauty of destruction." – Markus Zukas

I sense them. I don't have to turn around or look up to confirm it. I can feel them that strongly.

Eyes.

They follow me. Wherever I go, whatever I do.

Every step that I take, they are conscious of it. Nothing about me goes unnoticed today.

The hall turns deadly quiet as I pass by, silencing all the conversations. Leaving a wake of whispers behind me. I feel like a wave. A big, loud wave that drenches everything around as it comes, leaving the moist behind.

It's funny how I've wanted something like this so badly three years ago. I would've basked in the limelight and enjoyed taking in all their attention. In fact, I did exactly that for a while, a year and a half to be exact.

I earned their attention, soaked it all in. But I was never alone. I was popular and wanted for the kind of friends I had, for the power my father had. I was never popular for who I am. I had to change myself. Adapt to become like them to fit in and even then, it was never about just me.

Now, three years later, I am finally getting my freshmen year's wish. But hey, better late than never right?

Wrong.

Because guess what? I. Don't. Give. a. Fuck. Anymore.

Rolling my eyes, I continue walking to my destination as their eyes follow me. One would think by the way everyone is watching me that I'm some kind of a freak show. Or probably some criminal. Maybe someone who kidnapped all the kids in town and locked them up in a basement or something.

Hah! I mentally give myself a little shake. I really need to notch it down on my humor. Too soon, Ana. Too soon.

By the time I reach my locker to drop my books, it's starting to annoy me. Don't they have classes to go to? Or talk about upcoming parties and who's fucking whose girl? Or maybe even accidentally study for a while? Why am I suddenly so important?

Granted since this is my first day back since I was kidnapped and held captive for six months in a basement, that people would naturally be curious to see me. I'm probably the "trending" gossip right now, but I wasn't the only one. There were twelve more kids and they all were confided longer than I was. Some of them for more than a year. So, what's so special about me?

Maybe because you're the mayor's daughter. Or the fact that you're the only one to return to the school. Huh. I have been always good at answering my own questions. Makes me feel smart.

I take out a file and shut the locker only to see two girls looking at me expectedly. They must've have been waiting for a chance to talk to me all day. Although, only one of them looks confident. The other one is watching me nervously, just like everyone else. Like they're all waiting for something.

"Welcome back." The brave one nods at me. "How does it feel to have all the eyes on you? Suck it up while you can, girl. I'm afraid when others return, you'll have to share the fame."

"What the hell, Mia!" the nervous one, Leila Williams, hisses at her friend.

I look at Mia and deadpan, "I love it as much as a kidnapped victim of child pornography would."

Leila turns green but Mia just shakes her head. "Only you could make a joke out of it. Don't they encourage to say the word 'survivor' instead of victim these days?"

"Mia! Could you please be a little more insensitive?" Leila admonishes again, not noticing how we both are ignoring her.

"Anyway, what's with the quiet, angry look?" Mia asks me. "They are already naming you the Ice Princess."

"Huh. So that's what all these stares are about?"

"Yeah, well that and the fact that you are indeed a kidnapped victim of child pornography."

"Oh my god, Mia!" Leila gasps.

My reaction is to cock an eyebrow. "Don't you mean survivor?"

Mia laughs, "I missed you, girl! I'm glad you're back in this shithole." She stops abruptly, getting a thoughtful look. "But hey! I don't think this place is a shithole for you anymore, considering where you just came from."

"Mia!"

I laugh a little at that. I've always liked Mia Wallis. Not because her name starkly resembles a character from one of my all-time favorite movies but because of how she somehow always knew what to say to me. And she's been always kind to me. Even when others weren't. I used to like that. It was comforting to know I had a friend in her.

Not sure how I feel about it now. I don't really want her to see the real me. But she was there for me during my 'before' phase and still stayed my friend in the 'after' phase, even though I could tell she wasn't happy about the change.

Which is why I'm tolerating her at the moment, unlike Leila who is lecturing Mia that she cannot crack her usual dark-humored jokes around me anymore. Especially when I'm in such a "vulnerable state of mind". I'm tempted to bash her head open for that comment alone. The only thing stopping me is that I didn't want to see her state of mind splattered against my locker.

Instead, I look at them while they are busy bickering. The two girls are the polar opposites of each other. Mia is short and perky; a brunette with hazel eyes. And a dancer. Leila is your typical tall, skinny, blue-eyed blonde cheerleader.

Mia is kind to everyone, speaks out for herself and at times, for others too. Leila is a fake arrogant bitch, only nice to people she hates the most, always laughing at her friends behind their back and pathetically unbearable. Oh, and she is also one of my closest friends from the after-phase.

"Guys, I gotta go," I say, interrupting them.

"Where?" Leila scrunches her nose. My eyes turn deadly as I look at her. Why the fuck do I have to tell you?

But I force a smile like I've done a thousand times before. "I have a meeting with Ms. Bradley."

"Oh. We'll catch up with you later, then. It's good to have you back."

She steps forward to give me a courtesy hug like we used to but halts mid-action when she sees the murderous look in my eyes that I can't hide anymore. I notice Mia makes no move to touch me in any way. One more point to her.

"See you guys later." With that, I make my way to the guidance counselor's office.

Upon reaching there, just as I'm about to knock, the door opens and a hard muscular chest bumps into my face. My body immediately reacts at being touched. Without thinking I push at the chest, giving it a hard shove.

"Watch where you go!" I snarl at him, my face feels flushed.

One of his arms reaches out to grab the door frame to keep himself from falling while his other arm goes up in the air in defense, attempting to placate me. "Whoa, easy."

Recognizing the familiar voice, my vision comes in focus. I finally see who I really bumped into. Dark copper hair, olive skin, and grey eyes. A perfectly straight nose with a sharp symmetrical jawline. The six foot two inches tall, muscular yet lean body that intimidates majority of the boys at the school.

Christian Grey. The mysterious, scary boy. Oh, and my ex-bully.

Hatred and rage begin churning inside me as the memories come rushing in while I stand there, looking at the person who's third on my list of people-I-hate-the-most.

This is a bad first day of my senior year. A really, really bad first day. My old friend circle can't stop talking about me. Boys think they need to comfort me in their own nasty ways. Teachers announce my return in every single class and how proud they are of the first "survivor" coming back to the school. Everyone keeps staring at me, waiting for me to have a melt-down. And now this, facing my ex-bully.

Can't a said poorly-traumatized girl catch a break in her miserable life?

"Sorry. I-I didn't mean to- I wasn't looking," he fumbles with words, appearing to be shocked to see me. I don't bother with a reply, retreating back and giving him a blank look. He opens his mouth again but thankfully Ms. Bradley shows up behind him and notices me.

"Oh hi, Anastasia, come on in. I was just finishing up with Mr. Grey."

Grey, the greyhound mutt.

I snort, remembering my nickname for him. Of course, he notices and scowls like he knows what I'm thinking. Christian clears his throat, regaining his equilibrium.

"Thank you, Ms. Bradley. I'll be on my way." He says in his usual monotone and walks out.

Ms. Bradley smiles at me, inviting me in. Not sparing anytime, or caring to sit, I drop my student-progress file on her table as soon as we enter her cabin.

"I want to take the finals for the junior year," I tell her. "I don't want to be a charity case and I don't want to take school for granted just because I'm the mayor's daughter or because I was kidnapped."

She flinches at my casual use of the k-word. If only she knew I've been making jokes about it all day. Letting out a breath, I bite down on my tongue hard until I taste blood and voila! My eyes begin to water, giving the illusion of tears.

"Please, Ms. Bradley. I need to do something with my free time. I don't want to think about it." Just for a bonus, I throw in one more plea in a cracked whisper.

Her face fills with compassion. I see the moment she caves in. "Fine. I'll talk to the administration. Hopefully, we can fix a make-up schedule for you. In the meanwhile, I'll provide you with the syllabus and set up any extra classes you may need. But please remember, there is absolutely no pressure from the school. You can choose to refrain from giving finals anytime you want. No one will hold you accountable. Just take it easy, okay?"

"Thank you so much." I get up and leave quickly, thinking of Wolverine giving the Predator a prostate massage that has me gagging and covering up my mouth, hopefully making her think that I'm about to have a break-down and that's why I rushed out of her office.

What I said back there was true though. I didn't want the exams waived for me because of my father's position in this town. I never want to be indebted to him ever now that I know what he did. Plus, I do have too much of idle time on my hands now that I'm not taking any "music lessons".

After the classes end, I go back to my locker, pick up my bag and head for the exit. I want to get out of here as soon as possible. Today was a failed attempt to get back into society. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better. Or worse.

I put on my earbuds, bringing my hoodie over my head so that I can slip by unnoticed this time. There is a flurry of activities going on in the hallway, now that school is officially dispersed.

Friends are meeting up after class. Jocks and bimbos are huddled together laughing obnoxiously out loud at some ridiculous jokes or maybe some vulgar comments. Nerds are sitting at the edge of the corridor with books in their hands as they make notes. Next to them, a few art students are painting a mural on the wall. Looking at them, I see how ignorant they all are, living in their bubbles.

Well, at least no one is looking at me. I almost sigh in relief.

It is at that very moment that I see a guy skateboarding a short distance in the corridor. He is coming my way, I realize. An idea flashes in my mind.

Thinking of it, I allow myself to smile truly for the first time today. Then, I discreetly take out the unopened pop can from my bag, walking at a calculated pace. I let the can slip through my hands just as the skateboarder is about to pass by me and watch it go rolling.

The can gets stuck under the wheels of his skateboard. He stumbles, trying to regain his balance, but ultimately lands on one of the bimbos. His face planting right at her boobs. Nice.

The girl shrieks at him, pushing him away. Paul, a football player, who is standing next to them drags the Skateboard Guy off the girls and punches him in the face. He cries in pain as blood starts dripping down his nose immediately.

On the other hand, the skateboard goes crashing with the paints, causing them to spilled over the nerds and the books. The nerds go screaming at the art students. One of the geeks pushes a painter and smacks him.

Skateboard Guy's big brother shows up with his gang, shoving Paul into the wall. The football team attacks back. Soon, several others join in and a fight erupts. Freaks, geeks, jocks, goths. Girls are screaming, punches are being thrown, some are fighting by throwing paints on everyone's faces, others are spewing blood.

Teachers come in to try controlling the disaster. The rest of the school forms a crowd to watch the show, taking pictures and making videos. I'm surprised when I see Christian Grey standing in the front of the crowd, not taking part in the mess.

Instead, his eyes are narrowed at me when everyone else is so engrossed watching the fight. He watches me so intently. His face is tilted to the side, his brows furrowed. The look he is giving me makes me think he somehow knows this was my doing. I shake it off, raising my middle finger at him and continue walking.

Highway to Hell by AC/DC plays through my earbuds, complimenting the scenario as I make my way through the bloody fight. At last, I feel content and peaceful, relishing in the sounds of the little violent chaos happening behind me.

Coming back to the school was a mistake. Dad thought it would be a good idea to go back rather than lying in the bed and thinking about all of it. He wants me to feel the normality again.

As for me, I don't want to feel anything. All I want is to see everyone destroyed. Crumbled up. Just like me.

Today isn't so bad, after all. Just needed to add a little spice.

Please, please, please don't forget to comment. I really need to know your thoughts about this one as I'm trying something new. Also, I'll be uploading the second chapter from Christian's POV by the end of this week since some of you have already read till here from my co-writer's account. Trust me when I say you won't like Christian. He's veeeeerrrry different from the Christian Grey you are used to.

NOTE: As mentioned before, my co-writer and I have decided to shift this story and post it from my account. Tainted Psyche by KarynTheSnake will be discontinued on Fifty Shades FanFiction. My friend will be personally messaging all the followers of the story on her account to divert them here. Based on a reader's suggestion we'll be posting Tainted Psyche from KarynTheSnake's account under Twilight Fanfiction, just to experiment the reaction.

If there's any questions or confusions, feel free to ask me either under the reviews or PM me.

Love you all,

~Kaishi29 xoxo