II: TATE

Not caring whether I woke anyone I ran through the corridors of the house towards the basement. I had been idly lounging in the garden when I heard Violet scream my name. The sound of her voice is such panic made my heart race with fear. I slammed off the walls as I whipped around each corner. I had left her alone and now she was in trouble.

I yanked open the basement door too hard and it smashed against the wall, shattering the glass in the panes. I thundered down the steps, frantically staring into the gloom for her, praying that she was alright. I would never forgive myself if something happened because I had been careless.

She lay on the floor of the basement. I felt my body go cold at the sight of her clothes ripped and her arms and neck covered in trails of blood. Her face was pale amongst the darkness of the shadows.

"Violet! Violet!" I shouted in terror as I ran over to her. She didn't move at the sound of my voice and I crashed to the ground next to her. I placed my hands on her cheeks and, despite my panic, gently turned her face towards me.

"Violet please wakeup," I begged. I felt a rage take over me as I saw the terrible gashes on her throat and a trickle of blood down her head from a wound on her hairline.

She didn't respond to my pleading. With one hand I reached for her wrist, outstretched and limp on the floor beside her. I was never very good at this but there was definitely a pulse. Although it wasn't very strong I felt a small amount of relief flood my mind.

With my hands shaking I brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

"Violet please," I pleaded with her, leaning in close and staring into her lifeless face. "Please wakeup. Don't leave me Violet." My voice shook with the tears I refused to let fall.

I rocked back on my heels, still holding her wrist tight in one hand. Angrily I shook my hair out of my eyes and looked wildly around the room. I didn't know what to do.

Suddenly a whispered voice spoke to me from the shadows, speaking words that I didn't understand. But something within me responded to the words and I felt my own mind slipping away from me.

"No no no," I cried as I felt the familiar sensation. I knew what it meant and I couldn't afford it now. I had to help Violet. Her life was in my control, like her fluttering pulse in the wrist I still clutched in my hand.

But it wouldn't stop. I could feel him unfolding inside of me, his mind opening and slowly creeping into mine. I was still looking through my eyes but I could feel myself lose control, cell by cell. With the few seconds I had I quickly leant in close to Violet again.

"Just stay with me Violet. Please. I will be back I promise. Just hang on."

There was no response. I couldn't even tell if she was breathing now. I quickly placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

My last bit of control left me and I sprang as far away from her as I could. The far too familiar wrenching pain began and I curled up into a little ball, waiting for it to end.

When it was over it wasn't me who stood up and coolly surveyed the room. I was trapped inside. I could see what he saw, I could hear what he heard but I could do nothing. I could see Violet, my Violet, lying nearby on the floor and I could feel the rip of pain inside as I looked at her lifeless body, but I couldn't do a thing to help her. He mocked the pain we both shared, scorning my 'pitiful feelings of love' as his feet carried us up the stairs and further away from her.