Flora woke up the next morning and walked past her roommate Bloom who was still sound asleep and walked to the bathroom. Flora looked at herself in the mirror and it became clear that what happened to her in the flower shop was not a dream. She could feel the pain in her back and in between her legs. She started to silently sob over the sink and turned on the shower so that nobody would hear her sob. She shared a larger dorm room with four other girls apart from Bloom. There was Bloom, her immediate roommate. Next door to her was her best friend Layla and her roommate, Stella. In the third room over there was Tecna and Musa. Together they formed the Winx, a group that had been together since high school. Each of the girls had boyfriends that called themselves the Specialists. Helia was part of the Specialists and thinking of Helia only made Flora sob harder.

Flora and Helia had been friends since they were 11 years old and now at 21, they became inseparable and Flora was madly and deeply in love with him. All she wanted was for Helia to be her first kiss, the first man to see her naked, the man to make love to her first; now hope of that ever happening was gone gone. Flora looked at herself and threw up, she could never look at herself again. What he did to her was disgusting and she felt disgusting. She then remembered that this was not the end and it made her cry harder.

Flora stripped from the clothes that she wore the day before during the attack and stepped inside of the shower, letting the warm water run down her back. She turned up the heat and soon the water started to scald her skin but she could not feel a thing. She stood in the shower and cried more as she slid down to sit in the shower. She knew that he would come for again and that she would never be safe. He said that he had been following her and that she would never be able to escape him. She was his and there was nothing that she could do. He was a dark shadow looming over her and could strike at any moment. Flora then heard a knock and snapped her head up and looked at the door.

"Flora, are you in there? You have been showering for an hour now and there is condensation coming through the door." Flora could hear Bloom shout through the door.

"I didn't realize how long I had been in here. I will be right out." Flora replied as she stood up and turned off the water. She climbed out of the shower and found her towel and picked up her clothes before walking out of the bathroom.

"It is like a sauna in there. I am going to let it air out before going in there." Bloom chuckled as she fanned herself. "Your skin is really red. Didn't that hurt?" Bloom then asked as she looked at Flora's neck and shoulders.

"I was just really sore after work last night and the hot water felt good on my muscles." Flora lied through a smile. Flora then walked over to her closet and pulled out black jeans and a dark blue hoodie that were in the back of her closet. She never wore anything dark, but she was no longer the same. She slipped on the jeans and felt every bruise as she pulled them up. She then put on a bra and the hoodie and felt the stinging of the cuts on her body. She winced at the pain and breathed through the pain. Soon Bloom walked into the room and commented on Flora's appearance.

"That is a new look for you, Flora. Are you feeling okay?" Bloom asked grabbing her things for her shower.

"I am fine. Just not feeling 100%, must have had a bad cup of tea yesterday." Flora responded. Flora then walked out of the room and saw that the rest of the girls were up and getting ready for the day.

"Good morning, Flora." Tecna greeted Flora as she poured a cup of coffee. Musa and Stella sat on the small sofa in the middle of the room finishing up last minute readings for their classes. Layla was sitting at the small table in the room checking her emails and adjusting her calendar. Flora looked around and all she could see was the back room of the shop and Tecna took the form of the black haired man. Flora slowly started to back away. "Flora are you okay?" Tecna asked as she set down her cup. Flora blinked her eyes and saw everything as it was.

"Yeah, sorry just still a little tired from all the work last night." Flora replied as she walked over to Tecna to grab a cup of coffee. Flora took the coffee and chugged the contents of the mug while Tecna stared at her.

"Wow, thirsty? That was a fresh pot, it must have been hot." Tecna commented.

"Just in a rush. I have to stop by the greenhouse before class. I need to water the plants." Flora said as she grabbed her bag and ran out of the room.

Once she was out of the room she slid against the wall and sat in the hallway with her head in between her legs. She felt that she was going to pass out, that was until she saw a pink dahlia on the floor outside of the room door with a note attached to it with a black ribbon. Flora's eyes widened and her hands shook as she took the flower and opened the note.

My dearest Flora,

Last night was all that I dreamed it would be. You were amazing and I know that we will have an amazing future together. Don't forget about what I said. Meet me in the greenhouse tonight at 1 am or else bad things will happen. Wear that green dress with the white dots on it, I like that one. I cannot wait for tonight.

Love,

The Dahlia xoxo

Flora slowly stood up and shoved the flower and note into her pink backpack before walking down the hallway. He knows where she lives. Her walking soon turned into running as she looked around her and saw people moving out of the way. Anyone could be him and she felt as though all eyes were on her. She kept running until she reached her classroom. She couldn't go to the greenhouse, not now. She was early to class and decided to take a seat in the back corner and kept her eyes glued to the door. She needed to be vigilant.

A few minutes later, the door opened and Flora felt her heart beating out of her chest but as soon as she saw who it was, she felt a release. Walking into the room was her best friend for a decade, Helia.

"Oh hey, Flora. I missed you in the greenhouse. I was left to water the flytraps without you and you know that they do not like me. Where were you? You are looking a little dark today. Why are you all the way back here? You're usually front and center." Helia asked as he sat in a seat next to Flora.

"I am not feeling too great today and I am tired after work." Flora lied. She could not believe that she lied to Helia. She had never lied to him since knowing him. She then placed her hood over her head, she did not want Helia looking at her anymore. She did not want anyone looking at her, she just wanted to be invisible.

"Are you sure?" Helia asked sincerely as he placed a comforting hand on Flora's back causing Flora to jump back.

"Yes, I am fine. Just leave it alone." Flora sternly replied as she sunk further into her seat. Helia then turned around to face the front and pulled his phone out. He snuck looks at Flora and saw that her face was covered and facing the wall. Helia knew that there was something wrong and could not see the woman that he loved in that state. She always greeted him, class, and life with a smile. She was glowing and radiant as she walked into the room and always wore beautiful dresses that reflected the beauty that was inside of her. She put him in a trance everytime that he saw her and he only fell more in love with her when she talked to him. Today, all of that light had been extinguished and everything about Flora was dark and dim. Something was wrong, and he was going to get to the bottom of it but for now, he knew it was best to leave Flora alone.

Students started to file into the class and soon the class began. Flora did not move from the position that she was in the entirety of the class. She did not take notes and did not look at the professor as he talked. She was always so attentive and shot her hand up for every question but today she was the complete opposite.

"Flora, can you tell me the percentage of plant life that grows in the ocean?" the professor called on her. Flora looked up from her hoodie and quietly answered.

"85%" Flora replied.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't hear that. Could you repeat that for me?" the professor asked.

"85%" Flora stated louder this time and the professor nodded at Flora indicating that her answer was correct. Flora flashed a small smile to the professor and went back to her previous position. Helia looked back over at Flora and saw a small tear escape from her eye and run down her delicate cheek. He would do anything to wipe away that tear.

Soon the professor dismissed the class and called Flora to stay behind. "Do you want me to wait for you?" Helia asked Flora as she stood up from her seat.

"No." Flora curtly replied.

"Are you sure? I would like to walk you back to your room. You don't look too good." Helia asked again.

"Helia, I am fine!" Flora sternly replied as she glared yet not making eye contact with Helia.

"Okay, well I will see you at lunch." Helia softly said as he exited the classroom.

Flora walked up to the professor and stood in front of him with her head bowed not wanting him to see her.

"Flora, I noticed you were not present in today's class, is everything alright?" the professor asked.

"Yeah, I am okay. Just really not feeling too well today. I think it's just the changing weather." Flora responded through a forced smile.

"Alright, I just wanted to make sure and I hope that you feel better. I will see you on Thursday." the professor said. Flora then smiled and walked out of the classroom.

When Flora left the classroom, she saw that the hallway was empty except for another pink dahlia and another note attached with a black ribbon. Flora's breathing once again became heavy and she picked up the flower and opened the note.

My dearest Flora,

Now what are we going to do with that Helia? I think that he may become a problem and I think that you need to take care of him or else I will have to. I don't think that you will want me to do that. Also, I am so proud of you getting that question right in class today. Please try to perk up, you aren't nearly as beautiful when you are sad. Please, for me. I can't wait for our meeting in the greenhouse tonight. Meet me by the bench in the middle of the greenhouse.

Love,

The Dahlia xoxo

Flora started to hyperventilate thinking about what would happen to Helia. She knew that what she had to do would hurt him but she would rather be the one to do it. Not only would it hurt him but it would hurt her. She could not imagine her life without Helia in it. She loved him more than words could say but she had to protect him. Her attacker seemed to have his eyes on her no matter where she went. Like the flower and the note before, she shoved it in her pink backpack and ran straight to her room with tears flowing down her cheek. She could never escape. She could never be free.