standard disclaimer I do not own Sailor Moon never did, never will thank you!

Author's Note: I would like to thank inn0c3nt ang3l, ffgirlmoonie, Snick3rDooDl3,

Chikyuuhime, and Megan Consoer, for your reviews. Inn0c3nt ang3l I'm

sorry if you didn't enjoy the story but unfortunately the topic of the story is

something very real that does happen, but luckily this is just a story. If

anyone has any thoughts they would like to share please let me know as

always please read, review, and enjoy! Thank you Mars Light.

After Dark

Chapter 8

The next day after school Ami ran down the streets till she came to the Tsukino's door step. She rang the doorbell not sure what kind of welcome she should expect. A moment later Mrs. Tsukino opened the door with a smile on her face as she told her "hello Ami what brings you here"

Ami smiled at Mrs. Tsukino as she told her "hello Mrs. Tsukino I hope you don't mind me stopping by, but I know Serena has been out of school for awhile so I brought some of her work so she doesn't fall behind"

Mrs. Tsukino smiled at Ami as she told her "that was very thoughtful of you Ami, thank you"

Ami smiled at Mrs. Tsukino as she asked her "I was also hoping maybe I could see Serena. How is she feeling?"

Ami saw the dramatic change in Mrs. Tsukino's attitude as she told her "I don't know if Serena is up to visitors Ami"

Ami new she was just shut out as she started to walk away solemnly when she heard Mrs. Tsukino tell her "I could ask her maybe she might say yes, but only for a few minutes Serena still needs her rest"

Ami turned back and smiled at Mrs. Tsukino as she told her "that would be wonderful"

Mrs. Tsukino invited Ami inside as she told her "I'll go speak with Serena and ask her if she's up to a visitor. Just wait here I'll be back in a moment"

Ami nodded her head as she told her "thank you" as Mrs. Tsukino started to walk upstairs.

Ilene Tsukino walked up to her daughter's room as she knocked on her door then walked in to find the room pitch black in the middle of the afternoon. She called out for her daughter "Serena are you in here" which she received a muffled yes in response.

Ilene tried to reach for the lamp on Serena dresser, to see it was no longer there as she asked her daughter "Serena what happened to the light"

At first she didn't get a response, but then Serena told her "I prefer the dark, things seem different, better some how when you can't see them"

Ilene walked her way into Serena's room as she pulled up the blinds letting some light in the room as she saw Serena lying on the floor dressed in all black. Ilene walked over to her daughter to help her off the floor when she noticed the blood that was dripping off of Serena's hand. She looked to her daughter and asked her "how did this happen"

Serena turned away from her mother as she walked over and pulled down the blinds and told her mother "I like the dark"

Ilene walked over grabbing her daughters hand she told her "this is serious Serena you might need stitches"

Serena looked down at the blood that was coming out of her palm as she told her "no I like it, it feels real"

Ilene couldn't believe what she was hearing, she turned to her daughter and asked "Serena did you do this to yourself"

Serena became angry as she turned to her mother telling her "you don't know what it feels like, you could never know"

Ilene looked desperately to her daughter as she told her "then why don't you tell me Serena please"

Serena looked to her mother then turned away quickly saying "no" as she ran out into the hall as her mother followed her telling her "Serena this isn't over yet"

Serena turned back to her mother telling her "no mother that is exactly what it is over. I don't want your help I just want to be left alone"

Ilene walked over as she grabbed Serena's hand yelling "leave you alone so you can continue to punish yourself, never'

Serena grabbed her hand away as she told her mother "you see, I knew it, you wouldn't understand, this isn't about me punishing myself"

Ilene walked up to her as she asked "then what is it about"

Serena turned to her mother as she told her "feeling" then turned around and walked down stairs as she came face to face with Ami.

Ami had heard the argument Serena and her mother were having upstairs; not totally sure what it was all about, but knowing it was very serious. She turned to see Serena come walking down the stairs as she walked to her friend and put a smile on her face she told her "hello Serena"

Serena was in shock to see Ami standing there as she looked upstairs to her mother who stood by the banister with a solemn look on her face as Serena turned back to her friend she told her "what are you doing here Ami"

Ami looked to her friend as she told her "I came to see you Serena, we're all very worried about you and I wanted to see how you were"

Serena figured out it must have been her mother who let Ami in as she plastered a fake smile on her face she told Ami "I'm doing alright thank you for thinking of me, but as you can see I'm fine so you can be on your way"

Ami was surprised at how her friend was pushing her away as she asked "Serena will you be back at school soon"

Serena tried her best to avoid the question as she told her quickly "yeah soon"

Ami stopped quickly seeing how Serena was trying to push her out the door she asked her "what's going on, why? Are you avoiding us? What are you hiding?"

Serena just laughed as she told her "I'm not hiding anything, I'm just very tired and would like to get some rest if you don't mind"

Ami took a deep breath as she told her "very well, but you might want to get that hand checked out and Serena I…uh I mean you…you should give Darien a call"

Serena just laughed as she told her "thank you I'll consider that, take care Ami thank you for stopping by" as she showed Ami the door and closed it behind her as she heard her mother come down the stairs she turned to her saying "you could have given me some warning, telling me she was here"

Her mother just shook her head telling her "I could have, but I think it was about time you face someone and the way you just treated that girl was very rude Serena. She's your friend"

Serena walked past her mother as she told her "then when I'm ready to see my friends, I'll let you know"

As Serena walked past her Ilene told her "Monday be ready Monday"

Serena looked back at her mother as she asked "What?"

Ilene smiled at her daughter as she told her "your starting back at school on Monday. Now grab your coat were going to the doctors to get your hand checked out"

Serena looked back at her mother with a blank less stare knowing her mother spoke the truth as she felt a sudden fit of nausea knowing she would have to return to school on Monday with all those people around her.

End chapter 8

Author's Note: I hope everyone enjoyed Chapter 8. Please stay tuned for Chapter 9 Serena's first day back. As always please read, review, and enjoy! Thank you Mars Light.