Chapter One

I scrunched my face in confusion as cold droplets of water hit my face. Opening my right eye I was aware of nothing. Darkness surrounds me, but the ground beneath my back is solid. Soon my other eye follows its twin's reaction and peels itself open not believing what the other saw. But it gets the same view as its sibling.

Sitting up I clutch my head as a drum pounded behind my left eye. The rain was coming in heavy sheets soaking my clothes to my skin sending a chill down my spine. Knowing I had to get out of here, had to figure out what was happening, I groped my way to something solid. As my hand hits the surface of a wall I smile with relief, knowing now that I at least have a chance to get out of this oppressive darkness.

I scoot up as close as I can to the surface and shakily raise myself to my feet thanking whoever was listening that I could still walk. I didn't understand. Last thing I remembered was†nothing. I couldn't remember. It was there, hidden in the inner most depths of my mind, but I couldn't reach it. Shaking my head I slide my hands along the wall and start to walk. I could think about this more once I knew where I was.

A tiny pinprick of light hit me first. Gradually it got bigger as my feet began to speed up their decent towards the brightness. Upon reaching it though, it was only as big as my fist. Warmth radiated from it, and when I reached my hand out to touch it I have to jump back in shock. A burning sensation had hit me when I made contact. Squinting my eyes into small slits I took a closer look. Smoke protruded in a small thin line from the top making me realize that it was no more then a whole leading into a fireplace. That still meant that civilization was near though.

Looking up above me into the rain, the darkness reseeded. My eyes must not have been used to the blackness at first, but as time rolled on they opened up to let objects in. I could now see that I was standing in a small alleyway littered with old newspapers and rotting mice. The smell of death clung to the walls making my stomach roll in protest. To the right of the little hole was a door. High up on the wood was encrusted a small ornate jewel made of ruby. Fingers dancing lightly upon it I tracked my eyes down to the handle and stared. Silver with specks of gold shone back up at me in a hypnotic way.

Sometime later†I'm not sure how long†I stopped starring at the glorified door and place my hands on the baby knob to let myself in.

Firelight illuminated the room, flickering across the walls of the dingy little bar. The space smelled of sex and death. All around sat couples talking and drinking, women throwing them selves at the men, hanging onto their arm like a lifeline. Yet, this didn't disgust me. People sat in corners jerking each other off as they shared a passionate kiss or two, while others openly rode their what I could only assume was boyfriend, hard and fast. I just stared at them as they grunted there satisfaction through parted lips.

Cocking my head to the side I grasped my grumbling stomach, watching a man approach me from the other side of the room.

"Aren't you a pretty thing?" He openly leered at me. His blond greasy hair hung in his pale face, hooding gray eyes, his hands coming in contact with my hips. Pulling me flush against him he let me feel his definite arousal as he leaned down to lave at my neck. And I didn't even try to stop him.

I was numb. Everything in me felt like it was frozen. I knew what this mans intentions were and yet I didn't even try to push him off. I just stood there letting him have his way with me. It wasn't until a young man pulled him off of me that I was able to snap out of it. Realizing what could have just happened my eyes went wide with horror.

"Stay away from her Mike." The young boy growled.

"Why? She's just like all the others. Just some little blond bint coming in from out of the cold. She's fair game man." He drawled drunkenly. Whisky was now laced with the delicate skin of my neck where he had nipped and sucked at.

"I don't care. Leave her alone."

Mike just laughed at him and grabbed my wrist pulling me towards him. I tried my hardest to break free from his grip, but in the end it was the kid that pulled me away from his cold hands. "I'm not going to say it again." He bit out.

The blond just rolled his eyes but smiled as a scared looking brunette walked into the room. Immediately he strolled over to her pushing her up against the wall.

"Come on." Pulling me away from the site of the man ravaging the girls breasts, the boy lead me into a small secluded room in the back. My heart was racing at the thought of what was about to happen. Yes, he had saved me, but who was to say that he wasn't a monster himself? That when he pulled me away, it wasn't just for his own pleasure? "Sit down." He ordered, gesturing to a cot in the far corner.

Sighing when I didn't comply he lead me to it and forced me onto the hard mattress. I watched as he walked across the room rummaging through a closet by the door. A small candle stood by the cot, giving the room a soft glow. It smelled of must and beer in the cramped area, but the boy seemed very at home in his surroundings.

Finding what he wanted he came back towards me and kneeled down on the floor. "Take off your shirt."

I wanted to run; I wanted to scream in objection, tell him to get the hell away from me. But I didn't. Maybe it was the cold that kept me there, or maybe it was the fear. He just stared up at me though with his deep brown eyes.

Brushing some of his dark locks away from his face he sighed and reached to me. I must have flinched or something because he looked at me as his hands settled at the hem of my shirt.

"I'm not going to hurt you." He crooned as he slowly slid the material off and over my head. Tears pricked my eyes when I was bared to his gaze, my tiny black bra barley covering me. Looking down at the ground he drew a bottle out of a little box that he had brought over with him. Taking an old rag he generously poured the fluid from the bottle onto it. Adjusting himself so he was closer to me he dabbed the damp cloth at my side.

Hissing in pain I looked down and for the first time realized that I was a mass of cuts and bruises. Dried blood stained my pale once flawless skin. Snapping my head up I looked at the man before me.

Silently he tended to my wounds, not once running his hands in unwanted areas or looking at me like I was a piece of meat. Once the finale portion of tape was in place, and the cuts that marred my body was tended to, he stood up and moved away from me, putting the first aid kit back where it belonged.

Turning around he caught my gaze. "You can†If you want that is, lie down and rest. You look tired." I just starred at him dumbly not quite sure what to say. Opening and closing my mouth I tried to speak but the words just wouldn't come out. Instead I clutched my bloodied torn shirt to my body trying to save my dignity.

"Hey," In a moment he was by my side again. "Look, I know Mike didn't exactly give you a warm welcome or anything, but I'm not him. You're safe here. I won't let anything hurt you." Tilting his head he tried to catch my eye, but I scooted to the far side of the bed refusing to speak or look at him.

He just nodded once before he got up and handed me a blanket and a pillow. "I know it's not much. But it's really all I have."

Taking the items I looked around desperately wanting to offer him some sort of thanks for his kindness tonight. This world was strange to me and from what I've seen so far, I don't like it. But he†he never once did anything to make me believe that he would hurt me. If there were people like him still living in this world, then there had to be some sort of light left over. Opening my mouth to thank him I suddenly remembered that he was a complete stranger, that I didn't know him. He could be just as bad as that Mike guy out there. So before I could do anything else, I shut it, looking down at the blanket clutched in my hands.

"It's okay," his voice rose from the distance. "You don't have to say anything. I understand." Walking over to the bedside he blew out the candle. "Sleep tight." He whispered before he exited out the door, leaving me alone in the oppressing darkness.