"Ana?"

Ana seemed to be lost in the darkness that now surrounded her. She tried to pretend that she didn't hear.

"As long as I keep my eyes closed, theirs still a chance this was all a dream...I'll open them the second I hear Michael's voice." She thought to herself as she took deeper breaths.

A soft cool breeze ran by, and the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood up, she could smell the burning oil from the boat's engine, and the fresh sea water that seemed to spray little bits up into the air each time the wind picked up.

"Just keep your eyes closed...it never happened."

"Ana?"

She then felt fingertips brush against her shoulder and right away her eyes snapped open and she felt her insides jump.

Terry jumped back a little to from her flinch. He looked half surprised and worried once he caught sight of Ana's pale tried looking face.

"Sorry..." He mumbled and dropped her eyes.

Ana turned her head a little and saw that Kenneth was still driving the boat, his back was facing them and he looked like he hadn't moved in years.

Nicole was further down the boat, her small frame seemed to be curved into a tight ball towards the mass of floor cushions that laid near the galley of the boat.

Steve no less, must have screwed a million girls on those cushions and sipped pricey drinks as he cruised around the bay without a worry in his mind.

Ana then found herself remembering just hours ago...she could still see the smile of satisfaction once she blew that fucker's head away.

But then again...she promised she would.

"Steve...that no good son of a bitch Steve." She thought again and felt anger raising deep inside her broken heart.

"You okay?" Terry asked snapping her out of her thoughts again.

Ana looked around and saw that she couldn't see the dock anymore...no less the bay.

Everything was bright crystal clean ocean, it just seemed warm enough and the sky was all read starting to turn a brighter shade of powder blue, as the day worn on.

How long had it been?

Ana checked her watch and saw it was twelve.

It had been eight hours since Michael had died.

She shook inside trying to push that thought away...no, she couldn't believe he was gone...she wouldn't.

Terry seemed to step forward a little and Ana looked back at the foaming white water which bubbled behind the boat. The steady sound of the engine seemed to calm the sick twisting feeling inside her stomach.

"Ana?" Terry asked again with more concern in his voice.

"No...I'm not." She answered without taking her eyes off the water.

There was an awkward silence between the two as the boat moved forward. Terry bit his lip and looked around.

Ana didn't seem to care what he was doing, she leaned her weight into the metal rail she had been holding onto and watched the horizon.

Terry stuffed his hands into his pockets and tried his best to say something.

"Ana...I'm sorry about Michael."

Ana felt her heart get heavy and more tears had started to form in her eyes.

She raised the hand that wasn't holding onto the railing and brushed her hair out of her eyes, the same way Michael used to do.

"He's dead...what's their to be sorry about."

Terry didn't say anything

Ana then closed her eyes and lowered her head, she never thought a person could feel this much pain without dropping dead.

"Ana, I know how you guys felt about each other...he was a great guy..."

But Ana didn't wanna talk anymore, she didn't want any pity, she knew Terry meant well and watched to say something to lift her out of this never ending pain...but he couldn't.

Michael had been alive less then a few hours ago, back when hope was still in Ana's heart for the future...back when she thought she was going to spend the rest of her life with him.

She could remember all the times he laughed and the twinkle in his eyes whenever he talked to her...he was the perfect gentlemen and loved her as much as she loved him.

"Wanna know something funny?"

Terry raised his sad eyes and looked at her.

"Back when we all first arrived at Crossroads, we had to break one of the store windows to get in, remember that?"

Terry nodded, he remembered that day very well, everything about it seemed like it had just happened.

"Yeah..."

"Well, everyone else had shoes on but me...I had to leave my house right away."

Ana trailed off and made a soft laugh, an unhealthy laugh that made Terry worry even more.

"Well, Michael saw that and offered to carry me over the broken glass."

Terry could almost see it replay in his head, he could still remember the loud crashing noise that sent the others running for their guns, knowing that someone else was inside.

"Before I could answer he picked me up and just walked over the glass like it was nothing..."

Ana paused, almost as if she was trying to remember what happened again.

She gave a weak smile and then looked back at the water.

Terry was left there stunned, he had no idea what to say next.

He felt very sad for her just then, he knew what a good person Michael was and knew how much Ana cared for him...he didn't think he would be able to get through with life if the same thing happened to Nicole.

He then shut his eyes and could still see Michael locking eyes with him as he handed him the boat line, almost as if he was telling him to take care of Ana since he wouldn't be around anymore.

This wasn't right...he knew it.

Just then Nicole started to cry in her sleep, he turned and knew she must have been having another nightmare.

He looked over at her poor scared face and for the first time really didn't know if they had a chance to live.

Before walking towards Nicole he gave Ana one last glance and prayed that somehow God would send some kind of peace to numb her from his never ending nail biting pain.

As Terry walked over Ana knew it was safe to cry...she tried to keep the sound low enough that it would muffle under the sound of the running engine.

Hot sticky tears ran down her face and she used all her strength to keep her from falling.

He wasn't here...he was really dead.

She tried to remember him back when he was alive, happy and laughing...the Michael she wanted to stay with the rest of her life.

She could still feel his lips up against hers, she could still see his dark gray eyes, she could still hear his smooth deep voice as he touched her cheek and said...

"It's okay...everything will be all right."

She sighed though her tears and just wanted to go back to him, just lay down next to his body and put her arms around him and die in his arms...at least then she would die knowing she was with him...

She sucked in a harsh breath and then let go of the iron wire that she had been leaning on ever since the boat pushed away from the dock.

She felt warmth and then it dribbled down her wrist.

She looked over and saw that she had been holding the wire so tight...that it cut right through her skin and left a nasty gash.

But she couldn't feel the pain...she just looked at the blood again and remembered the same looking blood had been dripping off Michael's bite.