Wow! I really appreciate the response that i have gotten from this story! All of your reviews were lovely and I really hope to not disappoint! To be honest this story has been lying on my computer for several months and i wasnt quite sure what to do with it. I posted it, rather unceremoniously mind you, on my way to work the other day.

A little disclaimer, generally speaking i write a lot of angst, and that will never change. This story will deal with domestic/drug abuse and other themes that i hope, because of my personal experience i will approach tactfully, and an unapologetic lack of naivety. Gotta love life! Feedback like i said is always appreciated. I would love to find a way to incorporate Minky into this storyline, BUT i have to find a way to do it that would benefit the storyline versus my desire to just write for the characters :). Until then I'll dream. Hyperfitched, you are an amazing author and i almost simultaneously peed and shat myself when you reviewed. All of your feedback, reviews, alerts, and favs help me grow, and challenge myself as a writer. This entire story is outlined, and i've had written actually up until chapter 5... like i said its been just been sitting there haha. It is going to be 16 in length. Any suggestions, or things you would like to see more of/less of by all means- I am open.

I am in the process of reviewing and editing the chapters that I have written and bumping and barreling through the rest. Updates will probably only be every couple of weeks. Im not going to continue to bore you with constant authors notes, hence the length of this one (get it all out at once ;p ) although the reason that i posted this chapter so soon after the other was because i was so anxious to write one! Keep it simple. You guys are truly great.

xoxo

2 : Hollow

When I was a little girl I was a dreamer. My sister and I would make up an imaginary world of fairies, nymphs, princes trying to save the lost princess. The princess was always played by Katie of course. Somewhere in the course of our lives the fairies and nymphs disappeared, and Katie's prince never came to her rescue. Somewhere along the way life happened.

"Gotcha." I meld the final piece of paper mache into place and step back and survey my work. I smile to myself a bit. Despite all of the shit that's gone on in my life I've always had one outlet. This. Glancing back at the piece I hope that my professor would deem at least satisfactory, I head toward to the living room.

"You alright Ems?" Effy asks from the kitchen where she was preparing her most successful meal for us. Toast and jam. It's food, and Christ is this city expensive. Doesn't much matter since all of us happen to be nightmares in the kitchen.

"Yeah, I'm just a bit tired. Been on a lot of runs lately, and class has been a bitch." I stretch as I take at the bar looking down into the kitchen. I lay my head on my arm absolutely exhausted. I havent been sleeping well, blue eyes seem to haunt me as soon as the lights go out. Luckily the girl that cant sleep is in the city that never sleeps. I've found myself going on many a late night walk… I tell myself its to get her out of my head, but if I were honest somewhere in me hopes to find her on one of those walks.

In these fantasies she wouldn't come to me, I would go to her. But she would be there ready, waiting, sporting that crooked smirk. Her blue eyes would dance just as they had when me met, and from that moment on I would never see the hurt, or fear, or sorrow that I had seen when we parted ways.

"Trying to make one final masterpiece are we?" Effy winks coming around the table and handing me a mug. I wipe the plaster off of my hands onto my jeans.

"Something like that." I muse taking a long sip of my coffee.

"And she cant stop thinking about Naomi." Katie of course interjects as she enters the room. My pride wont be hurt by how well Katie tends to read my mind. I cannot give her that satisfaction. "You know, I cant help but think that I've seen her somewhere before. Like we may have met some time ago."

"You have?" I exclaim, overly excited- my hopeful, naïve, younger sister side coming out. Or maybe Katies arrogant, teasing, manipulative older sister side is coming out and she's just dangling shit over my head.

"I said maybe." She scoffs and rolls her eyes before continuing "You know how many bottle blondes are running around New York city?"

"Fuck off." I flick my middle finger at my sister.

"Gladly."

"But I'm serious though. I know that I've seen her somewhere but I can't quite put my finger on it." Katie, for a moment, looks serious.

"Well if you get out of Ef's snatch long enough to recall it please, do let me know." Effy smirks at me as I rise from the couch, hoisting my bag over my shoulder.

"Where the hell do you think you're going? You were supposed to go shopping with me this afternoon. I need an outfit for Friday!"

A whine from Katie Fitch is a whine like no other.

"I've got runs before class." I rise from the couch winking at Effy as I let the door slam behind me. The last thing that I have time to concern myself with are the shopping exploits of Katie Fitch. Id rather not spend my evening listening to her compare me to a fashion victim from what not to wear.

"Your style's shit anyway!" I hear Katie yell as I head down our cold stairwell.

:::

"What did you get up to while I was gone?"

I shudder as his hand slides against my cheek. So calloused and rough. It's been nearly three years. I'll never get used to those hands.

"No-nothing." I stutter.

I was never the type of girl to be reduced to a trembling mess. Well… I never thought that I would be. I never thought that I'd be in the states, and I would have never imagined that I would be married to one of the most detestable men to roam the earth.

"Sure" He slithers closer toward me on the bed "you must have done something while I was gone."

His lips touch the base of my jaw. I swallow deeply to suppress the bile rising in my throat. When his hand slips up my shirt I pierce my eyes together as tight as possible. Try to pretend it's Emily, but I cant. She would never feel like this. She would never make me feel like this. She could never feel so cold.

"I got some new books. Started looking at pamphlets for classes." I speak hoping to distract him. Prolong the inevitable so to speak. "Remember I told you I was looking to enroll in some classes at Uni."

He pushes off of me, and stares deeply into my eyes. I flinch under his fixed gaze. With his hands at his sides holding himself up I know he can't strike me. But in only a matter of seconds that could change. I must choose my words carefully. He twists my hair around his fingers, still, his eyes fixed on mine.

"I thought we talked about this."

He swings his arm dramatically toward the bookshelf of our loft at my prized collection of literature. Our flat is lavish. Too lavish for me. I hate every archway, every stainless steel appliance, every plate, cup and vase. It all came from a filthy place and tainted money.

"What do you need to take classes for? You sure as hell read enough."

There was nothing more threatening to a manipulative personality than intellect. Luckily this was a lesson that I had learned early in life. But that's another whole complicated story that doesn't go much differently than this one.

"I know." It takes all of my will power to raise my hand and let it fall on his chest. "It's just, I don't know. I don't have anything to do all day- I don't have any friends-"

"You don't need any." He cuts me off. Voice almost menacing. He wouldn't share me. That's never changed. And that's a big part of the reason that I ended up in the states. "Am I not enough for you Naomi?" He allows the tips of his fingers to trace my neck. He always has to remind me that everything could be over in a second, that my well being is literally in his hands.

"I'm not saying that."

"Do I not put a roof over your head, do I not give you everything that you want?" He speaks in a low growl. A growl that I've heard before, before I went to the hospital when I "accidentally" hit my head on the corner of the kitchen counter, or when I happened to "fall" down the stairs and brake my arm.

"You do. You have been good to me-" Lies. All lies. It makes me sick. At this point I make myself sick.

"Did you forget that I saved you from the street? You have no one else."

"Don't."

I have someone. I've always had someone. That's why I'm here. That's why I've put up with this. I have to protect the only family that I have left. Everyday that I wake up whether I'm bruised or bleeding I know that someone else's life continues because of me. And besides, this is only temporary. Sooner or later I'll find a way out… or maybe sooner or later I'll be found… if only some one knew to look.

"You were just a ragged little thing when I took you in. You're a woman now. You're a wife. You like being my wife, … don't you Naomi?"

I nod unable to conjure words. Again, I cower beneath his threatening gaze. There is no wrong or right answer. Just his answer. Who is he? My husband, Sam Redding. And he pushes drugs across three of the five Boroughs. The last I heard he controls most of the exports through Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.

"You love me right Nai? … you wouldn't turn your back on me would you?"

His breath smells of whiskey and cigarettes. His scruff scratches roughly against my cheek as he attempts to caress his cheek against my own. Blinking back tears I shake my head "no".

"Then tell me. Tell me you love me."

His eyes bore into mine possessively.

"I l- love you." More lies.

"Atta girl."

And finally as his cold rough hand slips his way up my thigh my tears escape. He is unfazed. I try to force my mind to some other place, but it is hard today. It gets harder everyday.

:

:

:

"OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!" I bang for the last time, out of breath from trekking up seven flights of freezing cold stairs and rapping on the door for longer than I would have cared to.

It takes several seconds until the locks on the door stop clicking and clattering due to the seemingly intricate system that they have rigged up.

"Oh Emily, wow!" She brushes her blonde bushy mane from her eyes as she backs away from the door and allows me in. Her eyes are big and wild. Despite the cold temperature outside, the apartment is warm and smells like cinnamon apples. I guess she's baking again. "I wasn't expecting you."

I step into the apartment. Glitter snowflake ornaments dangle from the ceiling casting a rainbow reflection on the windows that stretch floor to ceiling.

"Sorry." I speak non too apologetically, knowing that she is not actually bothered by my visit. "Sid around?"

"Oh! Of course!" She smiles. "SIDNEY!" She hollers before prancing back to the kitchen, gesturing for me to join.

A low thumping sound comes from the hall, and there emerges Sid.

"Fucking hell Cass!"

Sid is looking well, … like Sid. His beanie is on lop sided, he is only wearing one sock, pajama pants, and his shirt adorns the left overs of several meals. He squints although he's wearing his glasses. Perhaps out of annoyance. "I'm just trying to get her to sleep!"

Also, he holds a rather small, rather naked infant. The baby had drool down her chest, and despite the fact that she was also wearing a beanie, hers pink mind you, her smile and big blue eyes are quite reminiscent of her mother.

"Well hello Hazel." I coo at the baby.

"Take her." Sid urges as he forces the child in my arms and stumbles to the table slumping in his seat.

"He's like, the best dad ever." Cassie pushes a slice of apple pie across the table at him. He begins eating it with his hands. "You are you know. Wow," she beams "I'm glad I didn't get knocked up by that guy in Scotland, or the boy from the hospital, remember him?" She turns to Sid "Or that creepy guy on the bus, although he was absolutely magical."

I watch on curiously. "Mmm" Sid just nods along in agreement as he eats.

"No fork there Sid?" I ask joining him at the table.

"Oh we're not using any cutlery at the moment." Cassie explains as she places a slice of pie in front of me as well. "It's not natural you know. Putting that metal in your mouth and all… I can't believe people do that. Its just, wow!" She shakes her head as she seems to contemplate it for a minute.

Hazel, their eight month old daughter, babbles happily on my lap as she gnaws my fingers. She doesn't look at all as though she was on the brink of a nap. Maybe it was wishful thinking on Sids part?

Sid looks at me apologetically as I pick at the pie with my hand.

"I assume that you didn't come for the pie. Lack of cutlery and all." He glares at Cassie from the corner of his eyes. She doesn't notice as she's now busied herself with the dishes.

"No actually." I sigh not completely ready to get down to business. "I was hoping to get an ounce. I've got the cash, so I don't need it on credit or anything."

"Sorry Em." The two words that I hate hearing come from anyones mouth. "I'm out."

"Until when?" I bounce the fussing baby on my knee.

"For good." He sighs leaning back in his chair. "I've got a family now." He points to the baby and Cass lazily with a pie covered finger. Cassie appears at the table now with a joint between her fingers. She lights it up and passes it to me.

"I picked up from you last week!" I almost screech in disbelief. Ever since I've ever known Cass or Sid one of them has been selling. Cass used to supply Eff and Panda back in Bristol from what I heard until she fled to New York.

"I'm turning over a New leaf Ems. I got a proper job now."

"Yeah?"

"Yup, I'm delivering pizzas uptown. Good gig. Pays well." Cassie smiles at him with pride as he finishes off his pie.

"I see." I skeptically take the spliff and pass it to Sid.

"I've got a number though, a guy I used to pick up from. I know he'd probably help you out this once. Not really the type of guy you'd want to get mixed up with though."

"Honestly I just need some quick cash." Hazel looks up at me with wide blue eyes as she tugs my hair. She's quite a happy baby. "Doesn't have to be a long term thing. I just need some cash to cover books this last semester. Three more months and I'll have a degree."

"That's just so great!" Cassie beams as she takes the spliff from Sid. "Wow, isn't that great Sidney?"

"Yeah." Sid huffs with some semblance of a smile. "Anyhow, you still alright to sit for Weasel over there Friday night?" More often than not Sid will refer to the baby in such a fashion.

"Shit." I curse myself for forgetting "I really would, and you know that I'm usually all there but I have this project, and I've already rescheduled twice. I could ask my sister or Effy."

"No!" Sid says quickly. "I'll just cancel."

"Oh but I've been waiting months for this! Surely Effy and Katie wouldn't mind. Wow Sid, you're such a worry wart. And besides, you've known Effy all her life!" Cassie chimes in, her desire for a night out obviously outweighing her concern with leaving her child in the hands of Effy Stonem and Katie Fitch.

"Ive known Eff since she was a tot and Im not sure I've seen her so much glance at a child." Sid tries to exclaim but his mouth is so full of food it spews onto the table, and the cheek of poor Hazel caught in the cross fire. "not in a way that didn't completely creep me out at least."

"I'll see what I can get set up." I wink at Sid as I kiss the top of Hazels beanie.

:::

Giving the paper a second glance I check it against the address on the building. I don't know how I haven't noticed this place before. As long as I've been getting tattoos in this city and all. It's the only shop still open. Most days I don't make it out until late if at all.

Stepping inside the shop is eerily quiet. Elaborate art and intricate designs cover the deep red walls and a blue light glows behind the counter. Beckoning me. Red has always had that affect on me.

"How can I help you… Naomi." The voice is deep and raspy. A voice that I've heard before but cant quite place.

Ignoring the shivers shooting down my spine I turn to see someone is just inches away from my face. I know her. She allows me to take a second to place her.

"Effy?" I finally muster.

"Good work." She winks at me as she saunters back behind the counter. "What can I help you with Naomi?" The was she accentuates my name as she says it is odd. But I dismiss it. Emily did say that she is mental, right?

"I was thinking about getting a tattoo, but I'm not sure…" I let my voice drift off as I become fascinated with my shoes.

"Well," She gestures to the table. She taps her foot expectantly. Slowly. Rhythmically.

I sit on the table timidly as I watch Effy prepare the station. Half of me expects a big burly man, with a bald head covered in tattoos to appear and prepare to ink my skin. But as Effy pulls on her gloves she looks at me. Her eyes aren't asking a question. They're waiting for an answer.

"I was thinking something free hand."

She nods urging me to continue.

"A battle. Like-" I chew my lip nervously, "a battle of heaven and hell. Cherubs, and demons. That sort of thing"

She nods again.

"Where?" Her voice cracks eyeing me up and down before meeting my eyes.

Her blue eyes bore into my own. They intimidate me. Not like Sams's do. His beat me down, make me feel weak and helpless. Effy's eyes challenge me. They dare me.

"Here." I lift my shirt to where my bruise is near faded. Only up close with a keen eye could you see that anything had been there.

She allows her eyes to flick up to mine after she had taken in the spot for a second but doesn't ask any questions.

"Alright." She sighs rising from her stool. "We'll probably need more than one session but Ill get started. Lay back then." She urges me with a light hand on my shoulder. "Now these demons. Do you want like gargoyl-"

"No!" I say too quickly, although it seems I didn't startle the other girl. "Sorry- I just, I just want them to look more, I don't know, real I guess."

She nods as her brow furrows a bit.

"I can do that." She muses in a husky voice as she begins to sketch on my skin.

"And your reference?" I ask after a moment.

She pauses, and I can hear her sigh softly before continuing. Her wispy curls frame her face as she leans over my side but tilts her head to face me fully.

"My head."

I should get up and run. If anyone had told me three years ago that I was going to tattoo on me the demons from their head while I was on my back on their table I would have fled. Something however makes me trust this girl, … maybe I just want to trust somebody.

I nod.

"Okay." We sat in silence for awhile as she sketched a rough outline. And then the gun turned on. "Effy?" I ask the girl.

"Hmm?" She mumbles trying to keep her focus on the thin black lines she was etching into my skin.

"Do you, - I mean would you mind not telling Emily that I was here." She pauses, lets her eyes flick back to me again and then continues.

I didn't notice before but now that her arms are bare I see that she has tattoos going up from her wrists, that wrap around her collar bone, and end lord knows where. I generally am a good judge of character, but, for the life of me I cannot seem to figure this girl out. She lets out a low raspy laugh. It was as though her voice caught sandpaper as it was trying to escape her chest.

"Why not?" She asks with lips pursed together.

I let another long silence pass. The only sound to be heard are the cars rushing about outside. Finally I find the nerve to speak,

"Because I'm trouble."

Effy stands and busies herself mixing more ink before she returns to her stool. But instead of getting back to work she sits above me and stares out of the window. I let my eye follow the trail of her own but find nothing when they finally land. She seems to be contemplating something, seeing something I'm not. She turns back to me.

"We're all trouble Naomi." She exhales before switching her gun back on. "I'll do what you ask, but doesn't mean that you'll never see her again. It's a funny thing."

Effy allows her eyes to flicker to the window once more almost dreamily. A small smile casts across her face.

"What's a funny thing?" I ask trying to keep my calm whatever unease I felt with the girl.

"Fate."

She cocks a knowing smile at me and then presses the gun into my skin.