The . Dawn . Will . Come .

AUTHOR's NOTES

Wow, thanks for the reviews! This is a small community, so I wasn't expecting any for the first few chapters. I'm glad others are interested in this ship.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Spoilers will occur for those who forgo research or those who have not finished the game.

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Chapter 2

Friday: another pointless fucking day.

Sam sat in her usual spot down by the front of the classroom precisely in the fourth row and the fifth seat from the right aisle.

People often opted to skip the class, so she usually sat by herself except the two girls who gossiped the entire duration at the left side of the same row.

Class hadn't started, yet. She always came earlier than she needed to. She didn't know why. Josh always stressed the importance of being early for class to her. He never applied the logic to his own life.

Only three weeks in the semester, sociology was proving to be her favored discipline. She thought it was interesting to learn about the various theories and how the world existed in other great minds in history.

She hated the man, but Freud sure was an interesting character to learn about.

The seat to her right unfolded, and she glanced up seeing Mike. He nearly pranced into his seat from the row behind. "That was pointless. You could have walked the four fucking seats to sit down."

He shrugged. "Then no one would look at me." Sam though a pout sat on his lips, too.

"Mike…" she groaned.

He threw his bag on the seat next to him and looked back at her, "Sam…"

"Why are you sitting next to me?" she patiently fumed.

"Someone is sitting in mine," he said as he nonchalantly withdrew his notebook and pen from his bag. He didn't look at her.

When she glanced back, no one was there. "Seriously, Mike. What gives?"

He abruptly twisted in his seat and reached over with his injured hand, which now rested on her shoulder. "Sam, here's the deal. I can't stop thinking how unpleasant you look by yourself," he grinned broadly, "I figured I'd lighten up your life a bit by sitting next to you. You do have to consider what the poor professor thinks." He leaned in toward her and whispered, "He stares right at us when he's here."

She hit his arm lightly. Her mouth relaxed a bit and she found herself catching her laughter before it ignited, "Mike!" She pushed him away from her playfully, "You're so fucking full of shit!"

He scrunched his face a bit and raised his brow contentiously. He held up his hand and examined his inflicted finger. After she acknowledged the limb by irritably rolling her eyes, he reached over her and moved her closer to him.

His other hand reached for her chin and made sure her attention was fixed on him. She raised her brow, but said and did nothing. "I've seen my insides, and I can assure you I saw no shit." He smiled innocently.

A twitch disturbed her lips. "That's not funny," she said as seriously as she could.

He pinched the air and narrowly left a space between his thumb and index finger, "It's a little funny."

She shook her head, "Nope."

His eyes widened and he nodded furiously, "Yep."

"You're trying too hard, Mike. I don't think I'll ever laugh again," she said lightly.

He gasped and placed his hand on his chest over his heart, "That's a serious offense, Sam."

Sam's features fell, "Okay, now you're trying too hard."

He held up both hands, "Stopping."

Silence fell over them for a few minutes. The doors to the lecture hall opened and closed as students filed in. She glanced at him, "So, you're seriously going to sit here?"

He nodded, "Yep."

"Mike…"

The door opened again, and the professor emerged. Mike pushed a finger over his mouth, "Class is starting. I'm trying to learn!"

This time, she held her hands up in defeat, "Sorry for being a distraction."

She certainly was a distraction, he thought.

A welcomed one.

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Emily crossed her arms and tapped her toes against the tiled hallway outside the sociology classroom. "How fucking long is this class?" she impatiently asked. Her voice echoed in a small surrounding area.

The dark-haired girl paced across the expanse of the double doors quickly until she heard voices enclosing. "Finally," she seethed.

About thirty students emerged until she saw Mike with Sam. Emily worried about that girl, but she clearly wanted nothing to do with the fucking group anymore.

She didn't have to be her best friend just because Sam saved her life from the man standing in front of her with a questioning looking in his features. Mike appeared anxious for an obvious fucking reason. He was so God damned whipped.

Sam swallowed nervously and instantly became distant. She appeared bored. Odd for someone who used to be so fiercely friendly. Whatever. "Hey, Sam. I'm here to collect Mike, so you can go back to pretending I died again."

As Emily collected Mike's hand, Sam groaned, "Still the same."

Emily approached her with expressive interest, "What does that mean, Sam?"

"This is unreal," Sam retorted. She bobbed her head back and forth as if to demean Emily's preppy mannerisms. Emily scoffed, but Sam answered, "You're still a bitch."

Sam moved between Mike and Emily, and Mike peeled her hand away from his in order for Sam to pass.

Emily huffed and glanced over to Mike, who didn't even look at her. "Bye, Sam." His attention over her short frame was constant and deliberate. Emily would have smiled had she not been thoroughly pissed off.

"See ya, Mike," Sam said monotonously. (BUTTERFLY EFFECT)

Mike loved Sam. He had told Emily on multiple occasions. Although they dated and continued to casually fuck when they both needed a release, Emily considered him a close friend. She felt nothing special for Mike. Not anymore. Especially not after!

How could she when he held a fucking gun to her head?

"How cute!" she said sarcastically with a raised pitched. She even smiled, which quickly morphed back to a hard frown, "Now let's get back to me."

He swallowed, but didn't push her hand away, "Emily, this needs to stop."

Emily pulled him along, but threw a quick glance over her shoulder, "Eventually, but you're not with her yet."

"I don't want to give her the wrong impression, Em," Mike reluctantly said.

Emily choked on her laughter, "Stop being such a pussy, Mike." She turned around again, "You're killing my mood."

When they arrived to her dorm, she kicked out her roommate quite rudely and without a care. As the girl fled the room, Emily slammed the door and shoved him against the door. "You're still a man, Mike. Your cock relishes the blissful abyss of a cunt. Love was never on the table," she despicably said.

Mike knew she needed this more than he did. The student hadn't a clue why he kept up with this habit. Emily was the first girl that caught his interest. They were the same breed…at least, they used to be.

Both had a narcissistic shallowness. She was quicker to advertise her faults than he was, however. He thrived on his approachable image to everyone. That mask kept him in the center. That stage was comfortable for him because he controlled it.

So when she reached for him and whispered, "Mike. God, you're so fucking sexy. I want you. I need you now!" in a voice similar to Sam's, he snapped.

He took control and Emily faded away like she did the last time. And the times before that. The phantom in his arms didn't mind if he was a bit too rough. She craved the new, raw passion that festered within him.

The creature wasn't scared of him or the dark thoughts as he forced her out of her clothes. This phantom in his arms charged forth and commanded him, encouraged him, as he shoved her roughly down on the bed. He felt glorious when she took him in her mouth.

The ghost in his mind worshipped him because he controlled the phantom. It was his. He owned it. He hungered for it.

He pounded inside of this haunting, beautiful creature endlessly until his whole body shook violently: as if he fought against a demanding, hellish chill. (BUTTERFLY EFFECT UPDATE)

A wash of shame bathed him as he fell on top of reality: Emily. Her. His eyes felt heavy and tired. Eventually, the world began to shake through the glossy haze of his tears that spilled.

He was a wild animal.

He was an uncontrollable, unsteady monster. Just like the mindless, ravenous Wendigo.

He peeled himself from Emily, who scoffed at his tears. "This is who you are now, Mike. Accept it," she ordered impatiently.

He turned around and wiped the fucking tears away. He bent down and put his pants on. He felt a bitter rage swarm within him, and he heaved as he pointed to her, "You fucking shut up!" He exhaled deeply in a quick tempo. His eyes became murderous, "This ends now, Emily."

Emily was unfazed by his threats, "Of course it doesn't."

He leaned over her, an animal locked on his prey, "Don't. Push. Me."

"Do you think Sam can handle this psychologically fucked up monster?" Emily smugly uttered. Her eyes ignited, and she spat, "She won't look at you the same way she did a half hour ago. Psycho Josh fucked her up. She won't ever trust you when you're going to abandon her to your own brand of crazy, Mike." (BUTTERFLY EFFECT)

His hand whipped across her face, and he roared at her. She stared up at him as she rubbed a hand over the infliction with a despicable grin.

Mike realized that she wanted him like this. She was controlling him again. And he felt like a fool. He reached down to pick up his shirt and turned to grab his backpack. He faced the door, "We're completely done, Emily. This isn't me, and I'm done being used and manipulated by a deranged whore." (BUTTERFLY EFFECT UPDATE)

She laughed manically. "We're all fucked up, Mike. I'm just choosing to embrace it." Her voice lowed, "Why fight the inevitable. We're all going to end up like Josh."

He turned around, but he placed his hand on the doorknob. He pointed with the hand clutching his shirt at her, "You need help, Emily." He exhaled, "You need fucking help."

He opened the door despite being shirtless and slammed the door. His eyes threatened to spill over again, but he tried his best to harden his heart until he got back to his dorm. He wiped his face with his shirt, but he couldn't move. Not yet.

Someone cleared their throat, and he jumped a bit while his eyes moved to the noise. His whole body shut down with a profound fear, "Sam…"

She bit her lip, and took a deep breath. She stayed where she was, half tucked behind a sharp corner of the hallway and half peeking around it. She moved her head against the wall there. "Sally came to my dorm an asked me for a mutual class' textbook," she paused, but held his gaze. Eventually she continued, "She said she had been kicked out and forgot the textbook."

He swallowed, "Sally…is Emily's roommate." He didn't end with a question. He wasn't stupid.

"Yep," she admitted.

His body was sweaty and smelled like Emily. He suddenly felt dirty and drenched with guilt. He shook his head as he tried to form words. All he could say was her name. No other words escaped his lips. He held her gaze and fought desperately to hold back the tears threatening his big brown eyes.

Sam rushed to him and stretched her arms, but he held her back, "Fuck, Sam. I just had sex with Emily."

Sam swatted away his hand and held his gaze. "I can take a shower and privately gag, Mike. You need something, and this is the only thing I can do," the smaller student retorted softly. Her arms wrapped around him and she felt him drop his belongings to the floor. He wrapped his arms around her and nearly dropped to the floor as he sank into her.

He allowed himself to cry in her arms. Sam moved her hands so her right hand rested against the back of his neck and her left hand rubbed against his muscular back. Quickly, he withdrew himself from him and glanced around, "Sorry." He wiped at his eyes.

Sam only shook her head and stared at him. "No problem, Mike." He grabbed his things and started to walk around her, but she caught his wrist lightly, "Stay in my dorm, Mike. I'm all alone, and I thought it helped, but it doesn't." (BUTTERFLY EFFECT)

He snapped his head back. Those brown eyes wavered and blinked repeatedly. She swallowed and let go of his wrist. "It sucks being alone and left to your own demons," she clarified. "I-" she paused to swallow nervously, "I would appreciate the company, honestly."

He breathed deeply, but nodded, "I'd like that, too." (BUTTERFLY EFFECT UPDATE)

"Good. You had no choice in the matter," she lightly said with a genuine smile.

Her smile gave him strength in that moment. He looked around them, not quite sure where to look. She surely didn't want him oogling her. "I'll wash up in my dorm, and I'll bring over a few things."

"Perfect," she added awkwardly. Nervously, she clapped once and moved away from him. "I'll go wash Emily off of me now."

He winced, "Sorry."

She looked back and smiled softly, "It's not a problem. I'll see you in an hour or so."

He smiled back, and she rounded the corner out of his sight. Mike felt the corners of his mouth widen stupidly.

A door swung open, and Mike was knocked out of his reverie. The disturbance came from behind him. As he turned around, he saw Ashley with a frown on her face. It wasn't atypical by any means, but this frown spoke of trouble.

She would probably tell Chris. Not that Mike fucking cared in this unexpected moment.

To be polite, he nodded and waved as he turned around to move away from her. Ashley warned, "How can you do this, Mike? Wasn't Hannah enough?" (BUTTERFLY EFFECT)

Mike clenched his jaw and paused in his pursuit, but he opted to say nothing and walk away from her crazy ass instead. Before he was outside of earshot, though, he heard her say, "I won't let you hurt her, too."

He didn't have any more fight to argue with her, though. He needed to see Sam again.

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Butterfly Effects

Mike left with Emily, so he had sex with Emily.

Emily pushed Mike, so he hit her.

Sam asked Mike to stay in her dorm, and he accepted.

Ashley confronted Mike about Sam.

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Status Updates

SAM:

Mike: Highest
Jessica: Neutral
Matt: Low
Chris: Neutral
Emily: Lowest
Ashley: Lower

Mike:

Sam: Highest
Jessica: High
Matt: Neutral
Chris: Neutral
Emily: Lowest
Ashley: Lower

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AUTHOR's NOTES

Sorry if this chapter "triggers" anyone. I want to develop a few characters' psychology a bit. Other characters will appear, too. This just got too long for them to fit in. I'm exploring the aftermath before the said stranger appears.

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BREVIARY-ROSE