Chapter 3

Wake me up inside

Call my name

And save me from the dark

It was about 3:00 that morning before Gohan and Videl pulled into the parking lot of the rundown three-story apartment complex that Videl lived in.  Gohan pulled into an empty parking space, put the car in park and turned off the ignition.  Gohan looked down at a sleeping Videl, who was resting her head on Gohan's shoulder.  Gohan smiled.  He didn't want to wake her, but he knew he had to.  Gohan bent his head down so it was inches from Videl's ear.  "Videl wake up, you're home."  Gohan whispered.

            Videl stirred slightly and Gohan watched as Videl's eyes fluttered open.  Videl opened her eyes to the sight of Gohan's face.  Videl smiled.  For some odd reason Videl wished she could wake up to see that face every morning.  Videl smiled again, but her thoughts were abruptly halted as she heard the driver's car door open and then close hard.  Videl looked to see Gohan get out of the car, walk over to her side of the cart and open the door on her side.  As Gohan opened the car door he extended his hand to Videl.  Gohan smiled down at Videl, who looked questioningly up at him.  "Come on, it's alright."  Gohan said in a caring voice just like a parent would speak to a frightened child.

            Videl slowly extended her hand out to Gohan's awaiting one.  She hesitantly took Gohan's had.  Videl had been afraid to trust anyone for over two years and she was even wearier now after tonight.  However when Videl took Gohan's hand she felt a sort of safety and protection that Gohan's hand could only seem to hold.  Gohan took hold of Videl's hand and helped her out of the car.  Videl held on to Gohan's hand as if it were her only lifeline as she led the way to the front door of her bottom floor apartment.  When they arrived Videl took her key out of her pocket and inserted it into the keyhole of the slightly rusted door handle.  Videl turned the lay and then pushing the door open.  Videl would have taken the key out lock and turned the doorknob, but the knob was broken and the only way to open the door was to turn the key and then shove the door open.  Videl walked into the small space that she called her kitchen, Gohan following behind her.  Videl though her on the table and then looked over at the clock on the wall.  "Damn it's already after 3:00.  There's no way I'm going to get any shut eye tonight."  Videl said then sighing.

            Gohan, who had been quietly standing near the front door, now spoke.  "Um, Videl, I don't know if you want these, but here's your car keys."

            Videl turned to face Gohan.  "Oh thanks. I'm sorry I've been a little funky tonight, but with everything that has happened, but I suppose it's to be expected huh."  Videl said as she than began walking away from Gohan and heading to the living room.

            Gohan followed her into the living room.  Videl went to the small closet that dwelled at the beginning of the hallway.  There she pulled out a mostly flattened pillow and what looked to Gohan to be a carefully hand stitched blanket.  Videl closed the closet door and tossed the blanket to Gohan.  Videl then took the pillow and began fluffing it.  The once pancake pillow now was nice and full as if it had been brought back to life.  Videl then put the pillow on the end of the couch.  She then took the blanket from Gohan and unfolded it.  "I know this isn't much of a bed, but the couch is more comfortable than it looks.  Be careful with this blanket too."  Videl said.

            "Why so protective of the blanket?"  Gohan asked curiously.

            "Because it belonged to my mother.  That's why."  Videl said as she began to leave the room.

            As Videl left the room she heard a voice call her name.  "What Gohan?"

            "Videl, I know this might sound like a stupid question, but are you going to be alright?"  Gohan asked.

            Videl didn't answer for a while, but when she did her words said what she had been thinking.  "Yeah, I'll be alright.  I just thought I could take care of myself earlier.  I guess I was wrong."

            Videl then looked down at the floor, as if sad about something, but before Gohan could anything Videl left the room quickly and walked down the hall to her room.  Gohan sighed after the door closed.  He thin took off his jacket and shirt, laying them across the back of the couch.  He then took his shoes and sock off before lying down on the couch.  Gohan put his hand behind his head and stared up at the dark ceiling.  Before falling asleep he called out, "goodnight Videl."

            Gohan waited for several minutes, waiting for an answer, but none came.  Gohan sighed again, turning on his side and bring the blanket to his chin.  Gohan lay there awhile longer, sleep finally claiming him.  However just before his eyes closed he heard a faint, "goodnight Gohan."

            That night Videl dreamed it had been so long since she had dreamed that she thought that she had forgotten how to dream.  That night Videl dreamed of something she never thought she'd dream about.  That night she dreamed of a person.  However that person was a tall black shadow.  The shadow seemed to be calling her name, but Videl wasn't sure if she would follow that darkness or stay where she was.  The endless calling got to her thought and Videl couldn't help but follow.  The shadow led her down a narrow path.  At the end of the path Videl could see a tunnel of light.  "Videl."  The shadow called in a ghostly voice as it stepped into the light.

            "Who are you?"  Videl asked as she continued to step slowly towards the light at the end.  "You will come to know soon enough."  The shadow answered.

            "Why are you here?"  Videl asked.

            "To save you."  The shadow replied, "Come give me your hand."

            "Save me from what?"  Videl asked.

            "The darkness."

            Videl hesitated, but cautiously took the shadow's hand.  The shadow then pulled her into the light and placed its shadowy lips upon hers

            Videl's eyes shot open.  She sat up straight and looked over at the old alarm clock with the broken snooze button.  "Ugh, 5:31.  Great only two hours of sleep and I start dreaming all of a sudden."  Videl groaned as she got out of bed and felt her way across the room to the light switch.

            When Videl reached the switch she flipped it, illuminating the room in a dim light.  Videl sighed and opened her door walking across the dark hall to the bathroom.  Videl closed the door and turned on the light in the bathroom.  Videl then turned on the cold-water clear water spitted and sputtered before coming out of the faucet.  Videl splashed some on her face and then reached the thin towel and dried her face.  Videl turned off the light and headed back to her room.  She started crossing the hall, but then she heard a noise coming from the living room.  Videl became curious yet cautious as she ventured down the darkened hall.  When Videl reached the living room she flipped on the hallway switch.  The light from the hallway came into the living room, lighting it slightly.  Videl saw Gohan on the couch.  At the sight of him there Videl mentally slapped herself.  She had forgotten that Gohan was staying the night.  The noise coming from the room was nothing more than Gohan snoring.  Videl smiled turned off the light.  It was now 5:38.

            Gohan dreamed that night.  Gohan dreamed may times, almost every night, but he couldn't seem to remember his dreams in much detail.  However this time he was bound to always remember the dream he had that night.

            Gohan appeared in an endless white room.  The room seemed to have no walls, floors or ceilings for that matter.  Gohan wasn't sure if he was upside down or right side up.  He started walking, not sure where his destination was.  Suddenly a dark vortex appeared out of nowhere.  Out of the black vortex came a shining figure that appeared to be in shape of that of a woman.  Gohan, who was surprised was abler to regain some composure and looked at the shining amongst the black vortex.  The figure reached out its hand and spoke in a ghost like voice.  "Please, help me."

            Gohan raised an eyebrow.  "Help you with what?"

            The shining figure looked back at the swallowing blackness behind it and then turned back at Gohan.  "Please, save me."

            The vortex then sucked the figure into its darkness.  Gohan could hear a shrill scream.  Then all was silent as the vortex closed, leaving a confused Gohan in its wake.

            Gohan woke up and moved his eyes back and forth, making sure he was still in the same room he had fallen asleep in.  He then looked at his wrist where his watch was.  Gohan pressed a button that made the watch's surface light up.  Gohan sighed.  "5:41, great I've only been asleep a couple of hours, and I have classes tomorrow."

            Gohan sat up, kicking the blanket off of him.  He rubbed his eyes before getting up and heading for the bathroom to splash some cold water on his face.  Gohan then remembered that he didn't know where the bathroom was and he did not wish to wake up Videl to ask her where it was unless it was and absolute emergency.  Gohan instead went to the kitchen where he saw the kitchen sink.  Gohan walked dup to the rusted old sink and turned the cold-water handle.  Water came gushing out.  Gohan put his hands under the faucet only to quickly pull them back for hot water had startled him.  Gohan turned off the cold-water tap.  He then looked at the hot water tap.  Gohan turned that on and put his hand under the faucet once more.  Cold water formed a puddle in his cupped hands, Gohan splashed the cold water from the hot tap on his face.  Gohan dried his face with a paper towel and went back to bed.  However before Gohan could settle back down he heard a faint sound coming from Videl's room.  Gohan stopped moving and listened again.  There her heard it again.  It must have been Videl.  Gohan walked down the hall and knocked quietly on the door.  "Videl is are you alright?"  Gohan asked barely above a whisper.

            No answer came so Gohan figured she was asleep and he was hearing things.  Gohan was about to leave when he heard the noise again only this time it was much more violent sounding.  Gohan knocked on the door again.  "Videl is everything alright."

            Again no answer came.  This time Gohan didn't leave for he had a distinct feeling that something was no right.  Gohan tried the doorknob only to find it locked.  Gohan pounded on the door.  "Videl what's wrong?  Come on open up!"  Gohan shouted.

            Without waiting for a response g9ohan made a fist and punched through the door.  His splintered hand felt for the knob on the other side.  When he found it Gohan unlocked the door from the inside and then pushed the door open.  The sight that caught his eyes immediately angered him beyond anything.  There stood Videl and Antonio behind her, him holding a long sharp knife around her neck.  "Don't even think about taking one more step, or she'll be speaking through a second mouth."  Antonio said as he held the knife painfully close to Videl's neck.

            Gohan looked at Antonio with a deadly stare.  "I'm warning you, let Videl go now."  Gohan said as he tried desperately to not let anger and the protect Videl take over him.

            Antonio laughed evilly.  "Pathetic fool, what do you think you can do to save her?"

            Gohan couldn't hold it back any longer.  The feelings he felt at that moment became too much for him to handle.  Gohan became blinded by his emotions as the ground below them began to shake.  Gohan balled his hands into fist, his eyes turned to greenish-blue and his hair rose as it turned from black to blonde.  Thunder could be heard from outside, just as well as lightening could be seen.  Gohan finished his transformation, being able to take control of himself once more.  Antonio, once confident and unemotional was unsure of what was happening and felt fear grip him as he held the knife tighter to Videl's neck.  Gohan lifted his head and looked with cod turquoise eyes at both a frightened Antonio and Videl.  "Pathetic fool huh?  You're the pathetic one for even thinking that you could get away with this. You should have listened to me when I told you not to ever come near Videl again or that you would regret it.  Well now you're going to pay for it."  Gohan said almost as if the voice wasn't his, but that of another persons.

            Antonio was somehow able to muster the strength to swallow his fear and represent to Gohan his former composition, which was that of cool and calm.  Antonio griped the hilt of the knife with white knuckles as he forced the blade against Videl's skin.  The blade's sharp edge now indenting itself dangerously into its intended victim.  "Look boy, I'm serious, you take one more step and it's the end of your precious little jewel."

            Gohan froze right where he was.  How to get Videl away from Antonio so that he could grind him into a giant bloody pulp?  Gohan concentrated on the knife.  Videl's skin finally gave under the pressure of the sharp blade.  Videl felt the edge beginning to slowly pierce her skin.  Gohan saw a small trickle of blood come from the blade.  That was enough.  Gohan was once again overcome by anger as he ran forward with blinding speed.  Antonio didn't even notice that Gohan had run behind him.  "Time to die you bastard!"  Came a cold voice, from behind Antonio.

            Antonio slowly turned his head, for fear had once again taken over him.  Antonio's suddenly yelled in pain as a pale skinned hand came seemingly out of thin air and squeezed the hand that was holding the knife.  The knife dropped to the floor as another blood curdling yell filled the room, which was followed by the sound of crushing bone.  Antonio yelled once more as he felt his hand become smashed as Gohan's hand continued to put tremendous pressure upon it.  Gohan squeezed until he could feel that every bone in Antonio's hand was either broken or completely crushed to dust.  Gohan released Antonio and then pushed him hard to the floor.  Antonio began to cry in pain as he cradled his completely ruined right hand with his slightly damaged left one, which Gohan had injured at the bar.  Gohan kicked Antonio as hard as could without actually killing him.  Gohan wanted to make Antonio pay for what he had done to Videl.  Antonio grunted in pain as he flew from where Gohan had kicked him to the hallway wall, leaving a deep indention in the wall's surface.  Gohan walked over to Antonio, knelt down on one knee and grabbed Antonio roughly by the neck as he raised his free hand into the air to form a fist.  "Now you will pay for what you have done.  You will pay with your life."

            Gohan's hold on Antonio's neck tightened as his fist began to descend upon Antonio's face.  However before Gohan could end the life of the person writhed beneath him Gohan felt a strong grip hold itself upon his forearm.  Gohan looked back, his teeth gritted from anger at the person who dared interrupt the task laid before him.  At the sight of that person Gohan's anger immediately disappeared.  "Gohan please, don't do it."  Videl pleaded.

            "But he's harmed you twice.  That I can not let happen to you again or anyone else."  Gohan said.

            "Gohan please.  It's not worth it don't lower yourself to his level by taking his life.  Then you would just be repeating what he has already done."

            "But-"

            "Gohan, please.  Besides there are far more worse things than death."  Videl said.

            She was right and Gohan knew it.  Any man knew what she had just said was true whether they had experienced it or not.  Gohan undid his fist and let go of Antonio's neck.  Videl helped Gohan up as they both heard Antonio cough.  Gohan looked down at Videl.  He tilted her head slightly to examine the place on her neck where the blade had been.  All that he could see was a knick, which had already clotted.  "Videl I'm sorry.  I promise that will never happen again."

            However Gohan's words were ignored as he felt a hand begin to fiddle with a lock of his blonde hair, almost as if examining it.  Videl, who had first been horrified at the strange transformation Gohan had preformed, now was intrigued and curious by it.  Videl looked up at Gohan's eyes as she continued to fiddle with Gohan's lock of hair.  "Videl, did you here what I said?"  Gohan asked.

            Videl shook her head slightly as she came out of her dream world at the sound of her name.  "Yeah, sorry."  Videl said as she removed her hand from Gohan's hair.

            Gohan smiled.  "Videl you have to leave this place.  It's not safe for you here any longer.  I don't want you to get hurt again."  Gohan said in a concerned tone.

            Videl looked up at Gohan then looked away.  "Gohan I know and I wish I could, but I can't.  I have no where else I can go."

            "But don't you have any family?  A boyfriend? Someone-"

            "Don't ever mention those words again."  Videl interrupted in a cold tone.

            Gohan gave Videl a confused look.  He wanted to protest, but did not for the look she was giving him was one that could kill.  "Well at least come stay with me… wait, I got it!"  Gohan said excitedly.

            "What?"  Videl asked.

            "You could stay with my mom and brother.  I've needed to pay them a visit and I could bring you.  I'll tell my mom that you are a friend of mine and that you just need a place to say for a little while."  Gohan replied.

            Videl gave Gohan a worried look.  "Gohan I appreciate it, but I really don't want to intrude."

            "Don't worry about it.  Mom always welcome's with open arms."

            Videl thought about Gohan's proposal.  There was no way that he would let her get out of this.  However it had been over two years since she had any contact with the world and she had grown accustomed to it being that way.  Now that Gohan was in a way forcing her to live among others again was something that Videl wasn't sure she could do.  "What about your dad, will he agree to it?"  Videl asked.

            Gohan, who had been all excited and smiling, now wore a frown upon his face and a sad look in his eyes.  "My father is dead, he has been for a long time."

            Videl gave Gohan an apologetic look.  "I'm sorry."  Videl said as she touched Gohan's arm.

            Gohan flinched at her gentle touch as he tried to hold back the oncoming tears.

            "Pack your things.  I'll be her at 8:00 a.m. to pick you up.  it's a long drive.  Want to be there at a decent time."  Gohan said.

            Gohan then turned and walked out of the room, picking Antonio up by the back of his as he dragged him across the floor.  Videl walked at fast to catch up to Gohan, who was almost at the door.  "Gohan wait."  Videl said as she held Gohan's shoulder and turned him around to face her.

            Gohan looked down at her, frowning.  "Where are you taking him?"  Videl asked.

            Gohan looked down at Antonio.  "Thought I'd drag him over to the police on my way home."  Gohan said.

            "How are you going to get home?"  Videl asked.

            "I'll drop this bastard off then I'll go back to the bar and get my car and drive home.  I should be there in about an hour."  Gohan said as he turned to leave.

            He was again held back.  Videl tuned Gohan back around again and looked up into his eyes.  "Before you go I just wanted to say, thanks.  Thanks for everything. I don't know how I can repay you, but somehow I will."  Videl said.

            Gohan looked down at Videl, as he finally was able to muster a smile.  "Don't worry about it.  Later."  Gohan said he opened the door and left.  Videl watched as Gohan left.  She then closed the door, went back to her room, and packed what little she had.  She got dressed and gathered what money she had.  She went down to the apartment complex's main office and paid most of the money shad had to the manager for rent.  Videl then went and sat on a bench and waited there for Gohan.  He arrived as he said he would at 8:00 a.m.  Videl put her suitcase in the backseat and got in the front seat.  Gohan put the car in drive and away they went.  As they left the city limits of Satan City Videl felt a huge weight being lifted from her.  Even though she was leaving once again from the life she had lead she felt that this life she was about to begin would be for the better.  She felt prepared for the hardships ahead or so she thought.  However little did Videl know that even though life for her had ended in the darkness physically, she would still have to come out of the darkness mentally.  She would have to come out of the darkness and allow herself to be saved by Gohan.  To be loved by Gohan.

Bid my blood to run

Before I come undone

Save me from the nothing I've become

- Evanescence