'Good morning,' Devi said, as I walked into the kitchen.

'What's up?' I answered.

'Cooking some eggs. Do you want any?'

I was shocked. I couldn't remember the last time food had been cooked for me.

'Um… Yes, please. Thanks.'

I went and sat on an art stool, twiddling my thumbs apprehensively. Sierra was sitting at my feet, looking up at me.

Devi looked over, a confused look adorning her features.

'Hey, why are you so nervous? It's just eggs.'

'Johnny.'

She flinched, and realized what she had just brought up. 'Oh, fuck, I'm sorry, Kiera. I wasn't thinking.'

'It's okay. It's easy to forget.'

'Is it all right if I ask some things about Johnny?'

I paused. 'Yeah… Sure. It's fine.'

'Well, did he ever feed you? You're a fucking stick, if you haven't noticed.'

'Really?' I murmured. I looked down. Wow, I really was pretty skinny. 'Well… he didn't feed me unless he was feeling sorry about something, in a good mood, or bored. Most of the time I had to scavenge, but Nny never eats. So there wasn't really anything around. I got used to it after a while, I guess.'

'He really treated you like shit, didn't he?'

I muttered, 'N-no… It wasn't like that.'

She turned around, her mouth agape. 'Are you saying you actually liked being a slave to him?'

I stood up and snapped, 'I wasn't a slave! I was…'

She sighed. 'Stockholm's Syndrome, huh?'

'No! I'm not that stupid.' Am I?

'Well, you seem to care about Johnny an awful fuckin' lot, Kiera.'

Kiera's not my name… It's Blood. I was his Blood.

'Look, Nny and I were kind of like comrades. He didn't keep me; he actually let me out sometimes. No punishment, nothing.' Well, there was that one time I got wasted…

'Kiera, I think you need to see a psychologist. And a doctor, for the rape-kit.'

'I'd really prefer to not get into any more drama, Devi. I'll just deal with it. If I could deal with a year of Nny, I think I can deal with this.'

'What if you're pregnant?'

A pang of shock ripped through me. It wasn't like I hadn't thought of it. At Nny's, I frequently missed my periods anyways because of malnutrition.1 1: I looked this up.

'W-well… I have… I've thought of that. I'm just hoping to hell…'

'That you're lucky? Come on. You know that you need to check.'

'I know, Devi. I think you could understand my fear at least a little.'

'Look, Johnny tried to kill me once. I hid in my apartment for months because of that little shit. And now? Seeing what he's done to you? I know you wouldn't walk up and piss him off. He had absolutely no reason. I'm fuckin' terrified of him now, Kiera. I know what fear is. I understand.'

I stayed silent, digesting this information.

'But how can I raise a kid?' I rasped. 'I mean, an abortion's possible, but what about the kid? Never gets a chance at life. But I'd hate growing up, knowing that I was an accident.'

I buried my head in my hands. 'How the hell can I deal with this if I am pregnant?'

'Look, Kiera. You're free. You can do whatever you think is right with the kid if you're pregnant. Johnny won't come after you. He's not that stupid.'

…

Somewhere in the very same city…

Nny sneezed.

'Somebody must be talking about you,' Nailbunny said.

'Oh, come on, that's a Japanese fairytale.'2 2: It actually is.

Man, this city is fucking huge, Nny thought. I don't think I'll ever find her unless I knock door-to-door- wait a minute!

Her favourite places. What were they?

The coffee shop… She wouldn't dare come to her apartment; she's not that fucking stupid… Probably likes the book store for inspiration… She'll need art supplies, knowing her…

He walked along, trying to think of all the places she would be. It ranged from the park to an Italian restaurant. Blood was unpredictable like that; unbelievably aggravatingly so.

'What order do you think she'd go to those places in?'

'Hmm,' Nailbunny said. 'Well, she would probably want to get some things first before settling in. Then she would probably do more leisurely things, like going for walks.'

'Smart bunny,' Nny replied.

Since Blood's departure, the city had lost its glow. It was now merely shadows full of inner demons again.

No more contented moments, thinking, hey, when I get home, I have someone to talk to. No more little appreciations in the fog that Blood had taught him to see. No more laughs or cries of frustration- it was gone.

Nny was alone again. And he fucking hated it.

Alone.

Fuck, I hate that word, he thought, melting into the gloom of the city's alleyways once more.

Except, afterwards, he tripped over a hobo.

Life isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially in a day of the life of Johnny C.

…

When Devi and I arrived at the clinic, I was wound tighter than a lab rat on cocaine.

'Kiera, you'll be fine.'

I looked up. I desperately wanted to say, Kiera's not my name, it's Blood!

'Kiera, what a foolish name. So normal. So unwitting of the life you are living. Especially considering that you now bear a child!'

'I'm not pregnant!' I snarled. 'You fucking bitch!'

Luckily, the clinic was empty except for me, Devi, and the receptionist, who didn't look up from his work.

'…Are you okay?' Devi asked.

'You didn't hear that,' I replied.

'Idiot,' Zavé grumbled.

'Shut up!' I replied mentally. I was used to being alone, so talking to the voices wasn't a problem.

'We need to work together on this,' Kestrel interrupted.

'Oh, shut up, goody-goody!' Zavé snapped.

'Temper, temper.'

'I'm not the one trying to be a fucking teddy bear! I'm pretty sure our host is fine without your cuddly little mental hugs.'

'Maybe you should try to be nicer, too, Zavé.'

She went silent, fuming.

'The doctor will see you now,' the receptionist said in a bored voice.

Devi and I stood up, and we walked down into the doctor's room.

She looked up. Oh, thank God it's a girl, I thought. I had no idea what I'd do with a guy interrogating me.

'Oh, hello. So, what are you two here for?'

I opened my mouth to say, when Devi cut in on me. 'We're here for a rape kit, a pregnancy test, physical exam, mental exam, and possibly a few prescriptions.'

'Devi!' I hissed. 'I don't need half of that!'

'Shut up, Kiera,' she rasped.

I growled under my breath, and then looked up at the doctor. She was scribbling notes.

'So, what's your name?'

'Blood.' My eyes widened. 'Ach! No, sorry! It's Kiera. Kiera Artemus. Ignore that whole 'Blood' thing, um, it's just something, a nickname that I have-'

She cut me off. 'It's fine, m'dear. And who may you be?' she asked, looking at Devi.

'Devi.'

'Do you have a last name?'

'I'm not the one you're examining.'

'So, Kiera, why do you need a mental exam?'

'I don't. I'm fine. My friend,' I hissed, sending a look to Devi, 'told you I need one.'

'I'm not the one who's talking to myself, Kiera.'

'So, she has been talking to herself? How so, Devi?'

When she said Devi, the woman shot me a look that said, I'm not asking you.

'Well, when we were in the lobby, she looked really distracted, and then started swearing and told someone or something that it was a 'fucking bitch.''

'Is this true, Kiera?' the doctor asked.

'It was Noir,' I snarled. 'Fucking hate her.'

'Do you have a voice in your head?'

'Don't tell her!' Zavé snapped. 'She'll try to lock you up!'

My mouth agape, I tried to think of a possible answer.

'I'll take that as a yes,' she mumbled.

I couldn't exactly deny it, as I knew I had probably been talking to myself before, except Devi didn't mention it.

'Is there more than one?' she asked.

I shook my head. 'N-no.'

'Now, I have a little test for your mental exam. We'll be taking you into another room so that you don't feel pressured. Try to relax. If you want to take a break from the questions, you can come back later.'

I gulped, and nodded. 'O-okay then, I guess.'

Devi whispered, 'Sorry 'bout this, Kiera, but it's for your own good.'

…

In the room, there was a little couch and a desk, with a pen and sheaf of paper on it.

I sat down, looking at the questions.

Oh, my God, I thought. They were very juvenile and blunt.

'Do I like knives?' No, I thought. Being attacked on a daily basis for nearly a year tends to have that effect.

I growled under my breath, finishing the three-page quiz in merely a few irritated minutes.

'Pick up the knife, rend the skin, and bring the blood to fall in place of mourning tears. Watch the clouds block the sun on winter's day, as the snow begins to drop in place of warmth. Harm yourself. Kill yourself. There is no light left. You are forever alone, trapped within an ever-shrinking barrier of your mind.'

Noir babbled on and on, but I couldn't help but agree, some place in my mind. She wasn't being hostile or friendly, just stating fact.

I wasn't normal anymore. I never was, but at least a year prior to now, I could have had human contact without the back of my mind screaming, 'The scars! They'll see the scars!'

Suddenly, both Zavé and Kestrel hissed, 'Shut up, Noir.'

My hand began twitching furiously, and I tried to hold it down with my other arm, but it wouldn't move.

This sensation was familiar.

'No!' I tried to scream, but my control was relinquished.

'I'm in control again,' Noir murmured in amusement. So she was the one behind this!

'Yes, I am. I am not a voice, per say, but an entity. I am created by neither God nor Devil. I just.. exist.'

Who are you? Why are you inside of ME? I tried to ask.

'I am something of a virus. I was the 'Noir' thing, until she and I merged into something larger. I have no name, and was passed on to you by Johnny.'

What's going to happen to me?

'Nothing, really. Essentially, in exchange for your mind, I will make you untouchable. You will regain your body eventually, but, for now, I will be in control. I am rewiring some things in your head.'

Untouchable…?

'Like Johnny, you can do anything. You are unparalleled. As long as I am here, you can do anything. You could cause another event like 9-11, and nobody would be able to find you. Even if you stood in front of the carnage, shrieking with laughter and wearing flashing neon clothes, you would be unaffected.'

How long will this take? And why? I don't want you taking over my mind and making me crazy like Nny!

'Oh, but I can get rid of the voices. They'll be gone. Your mind will be yours, with a few… Exceptions.'

No! Get out of my head!'

'Not until the virus has infected you, my dear. You should count yourself lucky- you are able to do anything as soon as I am done.'

The thing that had taken over my body crossed the room, erasing some answers from the test to make it look as though I was fine.

Then, it picked up the papers and brought them down to the main office.

'I'm done,' it announced.

The doctor nodded, taking the sheets of paper from the thing that was controlling me and looking them over.

'Well, you don't seem to show any signs of mental illness… How about we check you for physical trauma?'

The thing nodded. 'Yes, Doctor.'

'We'll be in the other room, Devi. Do you need a magazine or anything?'

'No, I'll be fine.'

It and the doctor stepped into the next room, where it proceeded to strip down.

'So many scars… What's this?' the doctor gasped, pointing at my heavily-bandaged side and leg, where the stab wound and bullet hole were.

'Gang violence,' it replied. 'A friend and I were walking when we were jumped.'

'Did you get a look at them?'

'No, Doctor.'

The doctor then peeled the bandages off, looking at the wounds. 'These are well-taken care of,' she noted, impressed. 'You'll be fine. Where did all these scars come from?'

'An abusive relationship and self-harm. I have escaped both.'

'Some of these marks are very fresh.'

'I know. I cut off both a couple of weeks ago.'

'When did the rape happen?'

'A couple of days after.'

'Well, Kiera, we will have to do a vaginal swab to see if we can identify the man's DNA using his semen. If you were raped two weeks ago, it may have been long enough to determine whether or not a fetus is present, and whether or not you are producing the hormones.'
Yo! I snapped from my place in prison. I don't want anyone looking up my vagina, thanks!

We cannot raise suspicion, it countered back. Be quiet. This will be over with quickly. I could set you unconscious so that you don't remember it, if you'd prefer.

No thanks, I snarled. Let me out, you damn leech! I'll fucking kill you!

I'd like to see you try, it laughed mentally. And I am not named 'it,' as you prefer to call me. Try to think of a name. It'll help pass the time.

Then, it knocked me out as it lay on a table to have my genitals examined.

…

1: I looked this up.

2: It actually is.

3: This is where you guys come in.

YEP. Early update. I don't think I'll have another one ready for Sunday, but we can hope, since I'm on spring break.

Anyways, on the little three (if it's still visible) that cues you guys in on a little thing.

What is the name of our new bad guy? It's actually Sickness. Just saying. I just want to give it a really cool name. It can be male or female, I don't really care. GIVE ME IDEAS! I DEMAND THEM. (Zim voice)

-squishes air dramatically-

Crazychic111: Yeah, I actually only thought of that after your review. I was all like, 'Wait a second, what the hell would Devi do? She wouldn't be like all super-ninja, she'd shit a brick and run. O_o' Thank you for bringing that up. :D An WHEN Nny finds Blood, it'll be very… argumentative. If that makes sense. I think it does, knowing Blood.

Kawaii miku 13: HERE'S A SECRET: If this story doesn't equal awesomeness, I will meet a fate similar to Fillerbunny.
Except worse. (I don't know what happened to him.)

Ley the Homicidal Maniac: Oh, it probably won't. Don't worry, nobody dies. Well, someone I dislike in the story might, but nobody extremely essential. Like that random guy. I'm still thinking of a use for him. Bad or good, bad or good, bad or good.. So many possibilities.. On one hand, if he stayed good, it would be a love triangle for Blood (which I find to be WAYY too cliché and overbearing) and it would be a shocker. On the other hand, if he turned evil, there are many possibilities for Nny finding Blood being raped again!
God, I'm so mean to my characters..

TheBrokenChild: I'm not even going to say I'm confused anymore, I am now going to say 'Cupcakes. Your argument is now invalid.'

Seriously. Cupcakes. Your argument is now invalid.

God's love like a hurricane: Well, here's another couple thousand words for you to read and sit like WHAT HAPPENS? IS SHE PREGNANT? DOES SHE HAVE TO KILL THE LITTLE NONEXISTENT BUGGER?

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

My Invader Zim fic, Caught in the Middle, is now up. Go read it and review before I destroy your testicles… Or whatever you have.