As soon as I opened up the door to my own sanctuary, I fell to the floor sobbing silently. Blood trickling down my leg. I kicked the door shut, and crawled my way into the bathroom. Gripping the counter, I pulled myself up to my feet. I gazed angrily at my reflection. My face was battered, and my clothes no longer of use. This time my hair was matted to my head with blood.

"No more…" I growled and punched the glass, watching it shatter. I could care less about the flesh screaming in protest as the glass embedded itself into my knuckles. As if on cue there was a knock on the door and a concerned voice asking if I was okay. Before I could respond, the door opened and in came Rinoa. She had a habit of doing those kinds of things. I felt the world begin to spin around me, as I fell to my knees. Rinoa right by my side.

"Oh, what happened? Are you all right? No…stupid question. Of course you aren't all right. What happened?" She held my head in her lap, and caressed my blood-crusted cheek.

"Nothing…I'm fine. I'm fine." I tried to sit up only to be forced back down.

"No you aren't. What's going on? What's with the bruises and torn clothes? Did he do this to you?" Rinoa pried, I shoved myself roughly away from her.

"I'm fine. He didn't do anything. I deserved it. So leave him out of this. Just leave before I screw up any more." I growled, oh why am I so mean to a friend that tries to be there for me? "…Rinoa…just leave before he hurts you too." My voice softened, "Please don't tell anyone. I…I don't want my child to not have a father."

"Awe, sweetie. How long has he been doing this to you?" I felt her diffident frail arms wrap themselves around my head, and pull me closer to her chest.

"He hasn't done anything to me!" I cried out, "I deserve it! It's my fault! He didn't rape me! He loves me! He wouldn't! He's gentle and sweet!" I took my frustration out on the floor, slamming a bloody fist into the tile.

"Stop that! You're scaring me!" Rinoa whimpered clutching my wrists to contain me. "You don't deserve to be hit! If you said no, he did rape you. It's not your fault. Please just…tell me, how long has this been going on?" Her voice strained with worry, and I couldn't deny her for much longer. I needed to be held. Tears rolled down my cheeks mingling with the blood.

"…Two weeks after we started dating…I do deserve Rinoa. I don't satisfy him…What kind of girlfriend am I?" My hand caressed my bruised stomach absentmindedly.

"What do you think you're doing, Rinoa?" A voice snarled a dark shadow looming in the doorway.

"Did you hit her?" Rinoa glanced up to the taller man, her eyes darkening.

"Rinoa…don't…I don't want you getting hurt. I don't want to put my baby through the stress…Just stop…"

"Shut up slut!" The man yelled vehemently, kicking aside the broken shards. His fist grabbed a handful of Rinoa's hair and yanked her roughly to her feet. My head fell to the ground with a thud, as I watched in horror as he hit Rinoa. "What did you think you were doing, telling her lies?" His cold stare directed to my beaten body.

"…I'm sorry…Please just leave her alone." I murmured as he carelessly threw her body into the main room like a rag doll. A yelp escaped her cracked lips as she crumpled into a shuddering pile of limbs.

"You know I love you." He growled and kneeled down next to my head, his glove hand grasping my throat in a vice like grip. I coughed violently and clawed at his hands. "You know you deserve this…"

"P…p…please…" I begged my voice growing weaker as my head began to spin.

"STOP THIS!" Rinoa's voice sounded farther and farther away. Suddenly a rush of sweet air filled my lungs, and I watched a flash of a body thrown into the porcelain tub. "Are you okay?" I felt a hand touch my head as I tried to nod. A red fire ball flew from her pale hands and towards the man in the tub. "You sick bastard." My eyes squinted up towards the figure hovering over my body, "Come on…let's get you out of here." Her arms looped under my armpits as she dragged me from the bathroom, a trail of my blood following. Her grip loosened as an unknown object was thrown from the bathroom and at her throat. I fell once more to the ground in a coughing fit, joined by Rinoa.

"Arrogant witch." A man stood in the bathroom doorway, his eyes glancing at us lying on the ground. He pounced on her like a cat, and began to tear at her clothes. "I'll teach you a lesson." I closed my eyes, tears streaming freely from beneath my eyelids. I heard a weak cry from Rinoa…I knew he was violating her every being. I heard his merciless comments begin to break her spirit with each cry that came from her. I could stand it no longer. Mustering up as much energy I had left, I blindly struck out and made contact with his jaw.

"Leave her out of this." I wheezed, opening my eyes to see him against the wall with a cracked lip. Rinoa scrambled backwards trying to find something to cover her naked body. I nodded to her sadly as I began a weak assault on the man. My arms grew weaker and weaker as my attack died down. I fell to the floor exhausted as the man leaned against the wall almost unaffected by the blows. My blood blinded my vision, and a shocking blow to my stomach threw me backwards. I wiped the blood from my eyes to see the figure trudge towards my friend in need.

"NO!" I heard her shout and a loud snap. The room fell deathly quiet. I don't know if I blacked out from exhaustion, blood loss, or the fact that my friend just had her neck broken…or maybe from everything. But either way I blacked out.

I awoke to find Dr. Kadowaki shining a light into my eye. "What…what happened?" I groaned and swatted her hand away.

"He…" She pointed to the man sitting in the chair with a scowl on his face, "brought you in here. He said Rinoa had attacked you, and tried to kill you. If it weren't for him, you'd be dead. He just got some burns and a few cuts; he's all right. You…you're badly bruised and we almost lost you."

"No…" I moaned a fresh batch of tears streaming down my face.

"Please…could you give us a minute?" I watched him rise from his seat, and escorted Dr. Kadowaki out. "You better not screw anything up…for the sake of my child that's growing inside of you." His face was suddenly inches from my face, his hands gripping my bruised wrists. "Or I'll kill your precious friends too."

"Please don't hurt them." My voice hoarse.

"Then you better cooperate from now on." He snarled, standing quickly to get Dr. Kadowaki. "I'm going to take her back to my dorm. Her room is a mess…and I can take good watch over her. Is that okay with you baby?" He glanced back to me, I just nodded slowly, unsure of myself.

"I'll go get people to clean up her room, and tell them what happened. Not a lot of people will be happy." Dr. Kadowaki sighed, and watched him scoop me up in his arms.

"Everything's fine now…" He murmured to me, as I disgustedly wrapped my arms around his neck in compliance. He kissed my bruised lips gently and returned his attention to Dr. Kadowaki.

"Get some rest…" She smiled sadly and stroked my hair, "I'll need you to come back so I can find out more." I felt him nod and carried me out the door. Students left and right ran to us, asking if we were okay.

"I'm…I'm fine." I stammered through clenched teeth. I glanced at my clothes…or lack there of. They weren't my clothes…it was one of his extra shirts. A little big on me…enough to cover the necessities. "I'm tired…" They nodded knowingly and allowed us to pass to head back to his dorm. He laid me down on his bed and glanced at my bandaged body.

"Dr. Kadowaki wants to talk to me…I'll be back." I flinched at the kindness in his voice, and shrank away as he kissed my forehead. He left me alone in his room, and I heard the soft click of the door to let me know he left. Sighing heavily I swung my aching legs over the side of the bed and sat up. I rose to my feet and leaned against the wall for a minute. I snatched a pen from his dresser and a few sheets of notebook paper. I hobbled like an old woman out of the dorm, and made my way to the elevator in the lobby. Everyone stared warily at me, and gave me my space. I put a finger to my lips.

"Don't tell him where I went…he'll be mad. I just need time to think." I lied and punched the button with my unscathed finger. The whirring of the metal doors brought me from my daze, and I trudged into the elevator. I let my thoughts engulf me as the elevator rose slowly. A ding and again the whirring of the metal doors opening brought me from my trance. I crookedly hobbled down the empty corridor and out to the balcony. I leaned against the wall and allowed myself to slide to the floor. "To who ever finds this…" I crumpled the paper up and threw it over the balcony. "I'm sorry…" I began and stared at the two words on the paper. I nodded approvingly and continued, "I'm sorry you had to find this note on uncomfortable circumstances. This may be my last chance to explain what really happened. My…boyfriend…my enemy…he's not what he seems to be. I really wish I don't have to do this…but this is for the sake of my baby…my growing child within me. I do not want my child to be raised by a murderer. An abusive lover. Rinoa didn't attack me…she tried to save me…Save me from him. He raped her of her innocence that she was saving for her boyfriend. Rinoa didn't do anything but care for me. I didn't leave him because I feared for Garden's safety. He threatened to kill everyone I ever cared about. All the bruises and cuts I have…had…Dr. Kadowaki can tell you the severity…all from him. So many more have healed over the passed few months…but you can still see the scars. The fading lines…but I know you'll never see them. You won't find my body out in the vast see Garden is traveling over. But…I've endured to much…and I refuse to give birth to a child that will only be beaten…scorned…even if he is detained…it doesn't matter. I wish…I wish I could tell someone personally…but he'll find out…and kill that person. Please…my word against his…A dead girl against him. A murdered woman crying thoughts against him. Please…believe me…This is my last chance." I signed the note and folded it in half. Taking my shoes off, I placed the note under them. I leaned against the railing, watching with sad eyes the ocean's waves lap lazily against the flying Garden. I heard footsteps behind me grow louder and quicker.

"I thought I told you to stay Selphie!" The voice growled, and I whipped around to face him. My back leaning against the banister now. I spread my arms out like a Siren about to play her song, and with smiling eyes, I laughed at him.

"I'm free." I put all my weight in my upper back as I inclined over the banister, I felt like a bird soaring over the clouds as I fell. His voice calling my name angrily…I glanced up to the sky ignoring the sound of the ocean rapidly approaching. I screwed my eyes shut, and plastered a smile on my face. "I'm free." I murmured as my back hit the water like it was concrete. My neck snapping on impact. I'm finally free.