Chapter 2: My Bloody Valentine

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

OC Disclaimer: In this chapter (and following), I use a minor (1 episode) character from the Ninja Storm series, in a way that is not necessarily supported by his (very brief) character development in the show. I acknowledge this, but also note that his short time on-screen does not *rule out* the characterization that I am using, and I needed someone to place in this role without the need to spend time introducing and developing a completely-original character. You have been warned.

The next time Tori opened her eyes, the early sun had not yet begun streaming through her window. She glanced at the clock, whose patient, clicking hands told her it was only 3:30. So why was she awake?

Because the phone was ringing.

Without knowing why, Tori felt a chill of fear shroud her heart. Her hand trembled as, holding her breath, she picked up the blue receiver and slowly brought it to her ear.

"H-hello?" she whispered into the phone.

"Tori," said a boy's voice. It took her a second to recognize that it was Dil. She slowly let her breath out.

"Dil?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" she groaned irritably.

"Yeah, yeah I know. Listen Tori, I need you to promise me something." There was an expectant silence.

"What's that?" she said cautiously, by this point totally confused.

Oh my love, please don't cry.

I'll wash my bloody hands and

We'll start a new life.

"Promise me you won't cry. Everything will be okay, and we can have a life together now."

"What?" Tori demanded. "What are you talking about?"

"I can wash all the blood off. We can start over." Tori felt the first tinges of fear creep up her spine.

I ripped out his throat,

And called you on the telephone to

Take off my disguise,

Just in time to hear you cry when you,

"Look, Tori, I called because I have to tell you something. I love you. I love you with all my heart. I want to be with you." Tori didn't know how to answer.

"Huh?"

"Tori, I've always loved you, but I couldn't show it. There was something in the way. But now it's gone, and I can let it all out. " Another long, uncomfortable silence while Tori searched for words.

"Tori?"

"Yeah?"

"I ripped his throat out. " Tori's heart stopped. A lump rose in her throat.

"Oh my God…." She whispered. "Who?" Silence, again, but shorter this time.

"Blake." Tori was unable to stop the piercing wail from bursting out of her.

"NO! NO, you're LYING! You have to be! Oh my God…." Tears poured down her face thick and fast. She was overcome by hiccups of grief, and couldn't even manage the breath to answer him as he pleaded with her to stop crying. No, no, It's not true!

You mourn the death of your bloody valentine

The night he died.

You mourn the death of your bloody valentine

One last time.

"Don't worry, Tori." That cursed voice again.

"DON'T WORRY? MY GOD, ARE YOU CRAZY? DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE?"

"Don't worry, Tori. You won't ever have to see him again. You won't ever have to see the blood. You won't ever have to see your bloody valentine again." Tori screamed again, wondering why no one was coming. Why hadn't Hunter called? Why hadn't someone called? Did no one else care? How could Hunter not know….? How could he not know his own brother was dead? His only brother? This was not possible

"You're lying," she suddenly accused Dil, hoping he would agree with her, hoping that he would laugh and say, that's right, it's only a prank. Blake is fine.

"No, Tor…" Dil said softly, gently, almost-consolingly.

"HOW COULD YOU?" Tori screamed, grasping hysterically at the tangle of sheets lying around her. "How could you be so SICK? Do you have any idea what you have done?"

Oh my love, please don't cry.

I'll wash my bloody hands and

We'll start a new life.

I don't know much at all,
I don't know wrong from right,
All I know is that I love you

Tonight.

"That doesn't matter, Tori. I don't know. I just know that I love you. That's all I know. That's all that matters." Tori's mouth hung open in disbelief at his words. How could I have been so wrong? She lamented. I thought I knew him, I thought he was an okay guy - but I didn't know him at all! She broke into fresh sobs as she realized that Blake was an even better guy. At least he used to be. He wasn't anyone anymore. Just a memory.

"Please stop crying, Tori," Dil coaxed her. "Don't worry about me. We can get away. I can wash the blood off, and you and me, we can go away and start a new life somewhere. I mean, I don't know where we're going or what we'll do, but I know that I love you, tonight and all nights…Isn't that enough?"

Tori's hand shook as she slammed the receiver down, then picked it up again and dialed 9-1-1. "I'm calling the police," she said to the empty room.

"Hello, Blue Bay Harbor Police Department."

"Umm…" Tori struggled to get the words out. "I just got a call from this guy I know, and he says he killed my boyfriend." She wasn't sure why she'd called Blake her boyfriend. I mean, he isn't really….I wanted him to be, and he wanted to be, but now he'll never be my boyfriend….A voice broke into her thoughts.

"Miss? Are you still there?"

"Yeah…"Tori said in a strangled voice."Yes, I'm here," she added, more firmly.

"Okay, what is your boyfriend's name and address?"

"Blake Bradley, 222 Greengrove Drive, Apartment 3C. He-he lives with his brother Hunter."

"Okay hon, and what is your name?"

"Tori Hanson, 69 Fairmount Terrace."

"Okay, we're sending a car out right now to check on your boyfriend, and I've asked a patrol car in the neighborhood to stop by your house."

"Alright…" Tori managed to whisper.

Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Tori peeked out through the small window beside the door and saw an officer holding his badge. She quickly opened the door.

"Miss Hanson?"

"Yes," she confirmed shakily.

"We're going to take you to your boyfriend's apartment now. The other patrol car has already arrived." Tori nodded, followed him out the front door, and climbed into the back of the car.

There was…

Police and flashing lights,

The rain came down so hard that night.

The first thing Tori saw when she arrived at the scene was flashing lights. Bright yellow and red and blue, shining brilliantly in a huge ring around the building where Blake and Hunter lived. She saw the crowds, residents of the building and neighboring buildings huddled in small groups, whispering together and staring unabashedly at the scene unfolding there. She saw rain, pouring down in droves and drenching the crowds, the cars, the police tape. As she climbed out of the car, she saw Dustin, Shane, and Cam on the other side of the scene, pushing their way through the crowds. So they've heard….Tori thought distantly, feeling like she was in another world.

But then she lifted her eyes and caught sight of a tragedy unfolding.

Hunter, being escorted from the building.

Hunter, weeping hysterically.

And Dil, being led out of the building, sporting handcuffs, being pushed by two officers through the crowd to a police car. He looked around, saw her, smiled at her.

Tori felt a wave of nausea sweeping over her. It was all she could do not to vomit, and she swayed dangerously on her feet. And then she saw them.

Two EMTs exiting the building, with a stretcher between them. There was an ambulance. But they were not rushing. They were taking their time.

On the stretcher was a body bag.

Scarcely aware of what she was doing, Tori felt a scream rip out of her lungs, felt herself tearing from the grasp of the officer who had brought her there, felt herself rushing across the lot to the stretcher and grabbing onto one of the EMTs.

"It's not him! It's not true! Please tell me it's not true!" she pleaded. The young man looked at her wordlessly, sadly.

"I'm sorry, miss," he said, and helped his partner bring the remnants of the man she loved over to the ambulance.

Tori felt dizzy. She could see her friends, tears in their eyes, making their way towards her, trying to be strong for her sake. She could see Hunter, standing with an empty look in his eyes, by the wall. But she was hardly aware of any of it.

But gradually she became aware of the voices around her, the gossip of Blake's neighbors, and the news reporters telling the story emotionlessly to waiting cameramen.

The headlines read "A Lover Died."

No tell-tale heart was left to find.

"Did you hear? Horrible thing. That murderer ripped him to pieces. Cut him down!"

"Poor kid, the cops couldn't even find his heart. The bastard ripped it right out of him "

"Tonight on Eyewitness News, a terrible tragedy in Blue Bay Harbor. Less than 2 hours ago, 19-year-old Blake Bradley was murdered by 18-year-old Dillan Mathers. Mathers apparently was jealous of his girlfriend, who received a phone confession from Mathers about 30 minutes ago."

"A Channel12 exclusive! Blake Bradley's girlfriend, who received a confession by his murderer over the phone! Miss Hanson, what did it feel like to hear the killer describe your boyfriend's murder?" Tori cried out, pushed the microphone away, and ran off into the crowd, with the words of the various news stations ringing in her ears: "Tonight on HarborNews, A Lover Died. Just 2 hours ago, 19-year-old Blake Bradley…."

When you,

You mourn the death of your bloody valentine

The night he died.

You mourn the death of your bloody valentine

One last time.

Oh my love, please don't cry.

I'll wash my bloody hands and

We'll start a new life.

I don't know much at all,
I don't know wrong from right,
All I know is that I love you

Tonight.

"Tori." She spun around to see Shane, Hunter, Dustin, and Cam standing there, tears in their eyes. Just looking at Hunter's face, she broke down into sobs again.

"Oh my God…" she flung her arms around Hunter, weeping uncontrollably. He hugged her back, trembling, sharing her sense of horror.

"Tori…" Shane broke in, gently laying a hand on her shoulder. She slowly let go of Hunter and turned to face him. "Tori, they're saying that the killer called and confessed to you…" She nodded tearfully.

"Yeah, he did….What happened? How…? How did he even know where to go!" She began crying again.

Tonight….

He dropped you off,

I followed him home.
Then I stood outside his bedroom window.

Hunter's voice was broken and hollow as he explained.

"The police told me everything. Dil told them. He didn't even care. He wasn't even ashamed!" Hunter said, almost at a whisper. "He was proud of killing my brother." He brought a hand to his eyes and quickly wiped his tears away. After he'd composed himself, he continued.

"Dil was hanging around at Storm Chargers when we came home today, waiting for you. He got on his bike and when…when you dropped us off, he followed you to our apartment…He…he said that he stood outside the bedroom window and waited until we went to bed, about midnight. I…I didn't hear a thing!" Hunter shouted, suddenly falling into broken sobs. Shane put a comforting arm around his shoulder.

"It…it's okay dude. I mean, you couldn't've known. None of us could have." Hunter shook his head, struggling to get under control. Cam sighed sadly and looked at Tori.

"Blake left the window open to let some air into the room after he went to bed. Dil cut through the screen, and…and…" Cam swallowed. "Dil said that he was standing over Blake with a knife when Blake woke up suddenly. Dil had the knife to his throat. Blake begged him to stop, tried to stop him, but Dil was too quick. He cut his throat, and…and then he ripped his heart out, Tori." A strangled sob escaped from Tori's throat.

"Oh God, no…"she moaned, bringing her hand to her mouth."God, no. This is all my fault!"

"Tori, no," Dustin said quickly. "It is not your fault. You loved Blake and he loved you too, and Dil's just screwed up dude, and just because he was jealous of you and Blake does not make this your fault."

Hunter, staring blankly ahead, spoke suddenly. "He was laughing."

"What?" Tori said, staring at him.

Standing over him,

He begged me, not to do

But I knew, had to do 'cause I'm

So in love with you.

"He was laughing. That bastard was LAUGHING. He said, 'I told that little punk, I said to him while he was bleeding all over the place and dying, I said, "Sorry bro, nothing personal….I just had to do it, is all. And now that you're gone, Tori is all mine." And I laughed in his face right when he died.' And then he LAUGHED. God, that sicko LAUGHED!" Tori fell to her knees.

"Oh my God, Blake…Oh my God…" Tori's eyes filled with tears as she looked at the ground. "This is not happening. This is NOT HAPPENING!" she screamed suddenly. Her friends looked at her wordlessly with tears in their own eyes. "It's NOT REAL!" she shrieked. She looked up at her friends in anguish, only to see their faces fading away. "What's happening?" she cried out as the scene grew more and more blurred, until suddenly it all faded into black.

Oh my love, please don't cry.

I'll wash my bloody hands and

We'll start a new life.

I don't know much at all,
I don't know wrong from right,
All I know is that I love you

Tonight.