Two Months Later...Gemma's POV

I picked up the phone reluctantly, unsure of whether Simon could hear me from the living room. The TV was on pretty loud, but I was still cautious as I carefully dialed the first three numbers.

I hadn't called Ann in a long time, mostly because of my boyfriend. He didn't like it when I talked on the phone with anyone for any length of time. Two more quiet beeps as I continued pressing buttons, praying that she would pick up. If she didn't I might not be able to try again for a good while longer, which would only give Simon time to grow even more protective. I finished and held the receiver up to my ear, fingers crossed as the phone began to ring. A lapse in Simon's program filled me with dread as the apartment became quiet, making the rings in my ear seem ten times as loud.

I held my breath until the noise started up again and almost jumped when Ann's voice came through the phone. "Hello?"

I swallowed and quickly reached over to the bathroom door and made sure that it was totally shut. The fan was on high as well to mask the sound of my voice.

"Hi, Ann. It's Gemma." She paused for a second and I was almost afraid that she had hung up on me.

"Gemma?! Where've you been for the last five months?"

I shrugged before I remembered that she couldn't see me. "Around, I guess. How've you been?"

"Okay. That online dating site you signed me up for hasn't worked it's magic yet, though." I almost sighed as I felt the conversation drifting towards everything that went wrong in her life, but I held it in and said, "Don't worry, it just takes some time. You'll find someone."

"Yeah, sure I will." She sounded bitter. "Hey, how's Simon been for you?"

I cringed. "Not so great, lately."

"What do you mean?"

"Uh, nothing. Just some minor difficulties."

"Like.....?" She sounded genuinely curious and I was tempted to tell her what a monster he was. I wanted out for than ever, but that terrible fear held me back. What if I told her and she didn't do anything? I'd just seem like an ungrateful idiot if she didn't believe me, and if Simon found out it'd be hell.

"He's just been really stressed lately. We both are."

"Ahh. Well, maybe it's time for someone new, Gemma. To be honest, Simon's always creeped me out a little anyway." As soon as she said "someone new", a certain handsome face popped into my head and I worked furiously to dispell it. Kartik couldn't be an option. Simon was who I was with, whether I liked it or not, and I knew that I wasn't getting out of that anytime soon. Ann couldn't know that, and besides, she'd always been better at loading her troubles onto people that bearing their problems. I didn't say anything about Kartik for the rest of the half hour that we talked. I started to get paranoid about Simon hearing us from outside as the conversation waned.

"Ann, I have to go. I'll talk to you again soon, though. I promise."

"You'd better," she threatened. "It's been kind of lonely without you, you know. I haven't hurt myself since we last saw each other, though," she reassured me. "I'm almost off of the anti-depressants."

"That's good. Listen, I've really got to go now. I'll talk to you-"

I was interrupted by a thunderous banging that made me shoot up off of the closed toilet lid and flatten myself against the wall. The bathroom door shook frighteningly as it was attacked from the outside. My fingers quivered with the adrenaline ignited in my veins and my breath was suddenly ragged.

"Gemma!" Simon's yell was so loud that I wanted to put my hands over my ears. He was furious. "What the hell are you doing in there?"

I pushed the "end" button on the cordless phone and stumbled for an answer as my tongue suddenly felt heavy as lead. "I-I was just doing my make-up," I lied pathetically.

"Why? You're not going anywhere tonight." His voice was still a shout, accented by the extra kicks at the door that made it creak in it's hinges.

"Simon, I have work-"

"Did you hear me? I said you're not going anywhere, you idiot. Are you deaf or something?!" The doorknob turned around and around as he tried to open it and discovered that I'd locked it from the inside. "Gemma, why is this door locked?!"

I winced. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lock it."

"Come out here and talk to me face to face! And you're not going anywhere tonight, you hear me?" Tears gathered in my eyes at his words, and I was unable to stop them from spilling over. My voice broke painfully as I replied. "I'm coming out."

I tucked the phone into my waistband and made sure that my baggy sweater covered the lump before rushing over to the door and unlocking it. Tears streamed down my cheeks like fire and I didn't bother to wipe them away as I pulled the door open.

Simon stood in front of me, his ice blue eyes hating and cold. His face was nothing but anger, and his stance leaned forwards as if prepared to attack. He grabbed my arm forcefully and pulled me out of the doorway, holding me close to his face. His long fingers clinched around my elbow much too hard, making me cry out as he dug his nails into my flesh through the fabric of my sweatshirt. His thin lips were twisted into a scowl as he spoke loudly, spitting at my face.

"What's wrong with you, Gemma? I don't even know why I tolerate all of this stupidity." He jerked me forwards and whispered in my ear, "You're staying home tonight, Gemma." The threat in his voice was obvious and I found myself wishing that I was dead. He had all night to do what he wanted with me. He shoved me down, making my back hit the ground painfully as I was caught off guard. "Do you have anything to say about that?"

Fearful anger rose up in me and I recklessly spoke my mind, unaware of what I was really saying. "Simon, you have to let me go to work. You can't just keep me here."

He went from furious to absolutely flaming in a split second, and before I knew it his foot had sunk into my stomach, making me curl up on the carpet as I was winded. I cried out like a wounded animal as he kicked my shins repeatedly, forcing me against the wall until I couldn't defend myself. The pain was splintering as he moved on to my head, viciously kicking away at my skull. I held my arms protectively up to my face but he managed to get at my face once or twice, magnifying the pain as the ball of his foot tore apart my skin.

"You dumb," he started, delivering a blow to my back. "disgusting, whore." I cried shamelessly as he destroyed me, spreading the pain all over my body for what seemed like hours. Finally he clamped a hand onto my collarbone and dragged me up, bringing me up to his face. I tried to keep my eyes open as I knew that he wanted eye contact, but both of them were nearly swelled shut. "Simon," I creaked tearfully, "please..."

He ignored my begging and drew back a fist, driving it up into my stomach with unworldly strength. I couldn't make a sound as the air was purged from my body, but more tears found their way down my face, which was soaked already. He let go of me and I fell to the floor, moving into fetal position as I sobbed, ready for the next assault. I was surprised to hear his voice, sounding calm and firm. "Stay here. You know what'll happen if you do."

I squeezed my eyes shut. Die. Die. Die.

"Eh?"

He pressed a foot down on my ankle, putting enormous weight on it until I moaned, "Yes."

The pressure lifted and his footsteps travelled towards the bedroom, which was on the very end of the hallway. The door opened and closed, leaving me alone outside of the bathroom. Normally I would have been paralyzed with fear, but fear was what drove me to rise up onto hands and knees and slowly begin to crawl towards the kitchen. Every part of my body was burning unbearably, and my bones ached like they were going to snap every time I moved.

I knew what Simon was doing in the bedroom. He kept our biggest knives locked up under the bed, and I wasn't about to wait around until he came back with them and cut me up. My palms moved onto linoleum as I entered the kitchen, knowing exactly what I wanted. I wanted to get out, but first Simon was going to get hurt. I hated that I couldn't just do the sensible thing and run, but there was no way that was happening now.

I stood up slowly and silently, padding over to the island. I opened the top drawer slowly, looking over the dull butterknives that were kept in there. They would be no help, that I knew. I tried to be quiet in removing the drawer but it was useless; I noisily tore it out of the island and let it fall onto the floor with a deafening crash as all of the utensils fell like rain. I moved like lightning, shoving my arm into the empty space and ripping an object off of the top. Recklessly I pulled it out and removed the stray pieces of tape, feeling like I was in a dream as I switched the taser gun on and set it to the highest voltage. Thinking quick, I reached over to the wall and flicked the light switch, plunging myself into darkness. Simon's footsteps came from the hallway as he responded to the noise.

"Gemma! What the fuck are you thinking, you dumb bitch? Turn on the lights now, or when I find you I'll-"

He broke off as he reached the kitchen doorway. I could see his outline faintly in the dark as he surveyed the damage. "Gemma..."

I realized that he would spot me soon and ran forwards, brandishing the stun gun out in front of me. He barely had time to flinch before I pressed it against his neck, reeling back as it sparked, sending fifty-thousand volts of electricity through his body. Simon fell immediately, dropping like a sack in the doorway. His form twitched disturbingly in the darkness as I stood over him, afraid to turn on the lights and face his eyes. It was sweet joy to see him writhing helpless beneath me, and I carefully bent down and picked a fork up off of the floor.

Something wild controlled me as I stabbed it into his leg, barely able to register the sick feeling of it punching through his flesh. My ears were deaf to his cries as I shocked him again, keeping his long body totally immobilized. I wasn't Gemma. Gemma didn't like putting people through pain. But Simon wasn't a person.

I refrained from torturing Simon any longer and stepped over him, ignoring the fork the stuck out of his thigh. No regret could touch me now, not yet.

I went to the bedroom and got dressed in whatever I was going to wear to work today as if everything were normal. In truth, my whole being was consumed with pain and I knew that I may have just committed murder. I pulled on my red converse heels, tied them up messily, and left the bedroom, stepping over Simon's head as I walked to the door. He was trying to say something.

Run.

I ignored his garbled words as I made for the door, barely able to believe that this was happening.

Run, run, run.

The mantra continued in my head as I opened the door and stood silently, jumbled up inside until I couldn't think of anything but one word.

Run, run, run, run, run, run, run.

I ran.

Kartik's POV

Gemma was late. Really, really late.

There was only about ten minutes left of her shift, and Alicia was still stuck on the job. My friend's annoying coworker insisted on frequently leaning over to retrieve glasses from under the bar and staying in that same position for much too long. Presently she was reaching her arms out and pushing her breasts upwards at me with them as she hopelessly tried to seduce me.

Once she'd figured out that I wasn't going to stop coming to Red, Alicia had given in and started acting like this. All the time. I knew that Gemma had noticed it and we'd discussed it jokingly a few times, but it sort of embarrassed her and I didn't bring it up other than to shoot Alicia down the odd time.

She stood up and I let myself look everywhere but straight at her as she checked to see if I'd noticed this time. Instead of acknowledging her scowl I took another swig of my half-full Budweiser and rattled my fingers on the countertop impatiently. Alicia sashayed over with a little viciousness in her stance. "Gemma's not coming in tonight, you know."

I looked at her coldly, the way I do when I want people to feel insignificant and stupid, and tossed back another mouthful of beer. "I think I had that figured out on my own, thanks."

She pretended not to feel like a scolded child and rolled her eyes (her trademark) and headed off to serve more drinks, apparently having reminded herself of the time as she kept glancing at the little clock installed in the bar that you could only see if you were right up close to it. Now it was reading 3:52, and I was just about ready to leave. I might as well, if I was going to beat the rush. But I didn't move.

My beer drained away and I ordered another one, this time opting for a Guinness. I'd been cataloguing drinks lately, more specifically beers, and I still had a lot to go through. It had been pretty difficult to convince my friends that I wasn't an alcoholic.

At 3:56 I was tipping the last of the drink down my throat, feeling a little light-headed. That meant I'd had enough for the night. I usually had more when Gemma was around, since I kind of forget what was going on with my body when I got caught up with the night. But now that I had nothing to distract me I realized that I still had to drive home. Drive home, Kartik. Just drive home.

Once again I ignored my conscious and kept my ass on that stool. Gemma wasn't coming. I knew that. But I still couldn't make myself stand up and leave, however hard I tried. 3:57. The lights were shutting down all over the club, and people were trickling towards the exits, suddenly eager to leave before they were caught up in the wave of clubbers that was sure to come afterwards.

And then... bam. The employee's door slowly opened, hesitantly and shakily, to reveal the girl that I'd been waiting for all night. Relief surged through me like a drug at the sight of her, but as soon as the joyous rush came it was slapped away by a heavy realization that something was horribly wrong.

As Gemma stepped into the dying light of the club I reeled back in shock. Her face was a sickening mixture of dark colours and swollen flesh, scraped open across one cheek, and what other flesh I could see was nearly as bad. A strobe light flashed and glistened off of her tear-coated face, making my expression fade from disbelief to concern.

"Gemma.." My whisper couldn't have reached her, and something told me that if she had heard she wouldn't have answered anyway. Gemma started to limp forward painfully, grimacing with every numb movement as she moved around the bar. Alicia took one glance at her and shot through the door, no doubt caring more about the fact that she was free than the horrible state her coworker was in. It wouldn't have mattered anyway since the club was almost empty. I was the only one left to witness whatever had happened.

I was too paralyzed to help Gemma as she slowly managed to hoist herself up onto the stool beside me. Every movement made her wince, which tugged a nerve in me that made me want to shut my eyes. I inched my stool over until it was touching hers.

"Gemma, what-"

Gemma launched herself onto me, grabbing onto my body like a vice as she buried her head in my shoulder and wrapped her arms around my torso. Heart-breaking sobs began to rip out of her throat and her delicate body shook with tears that she hiccuped out into my shoulder. Haltingly I wriggled my arm our from between us and put it around her, too shocked to do anything else. A million questions were burning the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed them down and tightened my grip around her body until we were caught in a bear hug.

"Shhh..," I didn't know how I'd switched into comfort mode, but somehow it had happened and now I was totally focused on just making it better, as much for myself as for her. I made myself forget about the state she was in and the curiousity growing in my chest, followed by anger. Whoever had done this to her was sick and horrible and I was disgusted by the things that I wanted to do to them, but my own thoughts would have to wait.

Slowly Gemma's noises quieted, fading away to short bursts of crying. By the time she was totally silent the club was deserted, lights off everywhere but the bar. I held her to me like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Gemma, what happened?"

She raised her head to look at me, and I wanted to cry when I saw the suicide in her eyes.

"He- he-" She cut herself off with a sharp sob and continued in a tear-coated voice. "Oh, my God, Kartik. Help me." She was pleading now, and I could feel her soul unravelling next to mine. "Just help me, Kartik..."

Her words trailed off into sobs and I tucked her back into my chest, barely noticing that my front was soaking wet. I glanced at that same digital clock. 4:05. "Gemma, the club is closed," I told her softly.

She looked up at me again, guiltily. "I kn-know, I'm sorry."

"I think it's time to go."

She nodded and reluctantly let go of me so that I could go behind the bar and switch the lights off, leaving us in total darkness. I felt my way back to her and was immediately latched onto. "Kartik, you can't leave me here..."

Sadness welled up in me amoungst all of the confusion and I nodded even though she couldn't have seen me. Slowly, I took her arm and hooked it around my shoulder.

"Come on."