She was twenty-one, a full-time student, and engaged. Dana Scully had a lot on her mind and failed to notice the man in front of her. When they collided, papers flew into the air and scattered on the ground. She was ashamed; felt stupid.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled trying to collect the papers.
"It's okay."
The voice was familiar.
"Edward Blake?"
"Yes?"
He pretended that it took him a moment to remember the voice.
"Dana Scully!"
Her smile to him was genuine and he gladly received it.
"How are you doing?"
She looked pleasantly surprised to see him. Quite different from their farewell two years ago.
"I'm good."
"Studying to be a doctor still?"
He asked questions that he knew the answers to.
"Yea."
Scully swiped away an errant piece of hair with her left hand. Edward saw the ring on her finger. He knew that she was engaged but secretly he hoped that it wasn't true.
"You're engaged."
Maybe she would tell him otherwise.
She blushed.
It was true.
She gave a slight nod with a creeping smile.
"Congratulations."
He tried not to choke on his own words.
"Who's the lucky man?"
He knew her answer. Randy Moss. Age twenty-three.
"Randy Moss."
He nodded his head politely, pretending to be interested but only wanting to be with her.
"Listen, Dana, it's really quite a coincidence that we've bumped into each other. Maybe you would like to go out sometime? Catch up?"
Scully blushed at his proposal but declined. She claimed that she was busy. The wedding was in a few weeks and there were still many things to do. Edward faked his understanding. Inside he was burning. They said their good-byes and he watched Scully walked away. When she was far enough, he followed in her footsteps, keeping his distance.
Edward was disappointed in their meeting. He had hoped that things would have turned out differently. In his dreams Dana had renounced her love for Randy and came to him with open arms. Edward chuckled. He hoped for too much but Dana was irresistible to him. He had to have her.
Edward laid low for the next few weeks. He stayed out of Scully's sight, still watching her, but careful not to be found. He had ran into Randy once before. He seemed nice, loving, perfect husband material, but Edward would not be satisfied until Dana was his.
It was mid-November when he made his move. He followed her home one day. An apartment building a few miles off campus. He watched her closely that day. She was uneasy; he noticed. Was it him? Could she feel him watching? He had been so careful. He needed to make his move. He decided. Today.
She lived on the second floor. A balcony with a view of trees. Perfect. He often hid among the trees and watched her. He knew that Randy wasn't perfect. She should be ready for change, grateful that he would save her.
Randy was out late that night. Drinking with friends maybe. He did that a lot. Edward hated how Randy didn't pay enough attention to Dana.
She sat alone in their apartment. She was sitting at the table, studying in the dim light. Edward walked up the stairs to the second floor and knocked on the apartment door. He heard rustling on the other side of the door and he smiled when she opened the door.
"Hey."
Scully was surprised to see Edward.
"What are you doing here?"
She brushed away a strand of hair and once again he saw the ring that irritated him so.
"I just wanted to see you."
"I'm busy right now."
"Please."
He tried to push her aside but Scully held her ground.
"Please Dana."
He grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her slowly back into the apartment.
"I need to talk to you."
Scully was speechless, not sure what to do in a situation like this. Randy was out. He wouldn't be back for a few hours. She was scared but tried her best to hide it.
"Eddie … I'm … you …"
"I love you."
Her breathing intensified. She closed her eyes. Maybe he would be gone when she opened them. Wrong. The horrible truth. Edward stood close to her – too close.
"Please go away."
"I can't do that."
Edward started to walk forward, further invading Scully's personal space. He closed the door behind him and pushed her down into a kitchen table chair.
"Look at me."
Scully tried harder to divert her eyes. Edward took her hands into his own, his fingers playing with her ring.
"Dana."
He sounded like a father scolding a child.
"What do you want?"
She was afraid. She hated the feeling.
"You."
He looked at her with intense eyes.
"But it's over."
Scully tired to fight back her tears.
"It never ended."
Edward used one hand and held Scully's face. Her lips were trembling.
"You don't need him."
Scully could feel Edward take the engagement ring off her finger.
"No."
"I'm doing you a favor."
"No."
Scully began to push Edward away. He easily overpowered her. She was weak. A different woman. He slipped the ring off her finger and placed it in his pocket.
"Eddie, please stop."
He towered her, looking at her like a small child. He was doing this for her. Everything was for her. Why didn't she understand? He cupped her face in his hands and leaned in for a kiss. Instinctively, Scully backed away. Edward missed completely.
Edward screamed in frustration. He let go of Scully's face and hit her – hard. She touched the right side of her face and felt blood in her mouth.
"Eddie …"
In an instant, Edward's demeanor changed. The anger was gone and he almost seemed sorry for what he had done.
"Dana, I …"
He moved to reach for her hand.
"I hate you."
The words stunned him. They would shock anyone who knew her.
"That's a lie. You love me."
Eddie backed away.
"I hate you."
She said the words with affirmation.
"Take it back!"
Eddie tugged at his hair in frustration. How could this be happening?
Scully stood up from her chair and spit out the blood in her mouth. She looked at Eddie in the eyes and saw that she had a chance. He was fazed out. She concentrated all of her strength for the attack. Scully ran towards Edward and flung her fists toward him. She managed to get a few hits in before Eddie regained his composure and caught her wrists in midair.
"You're MINE!"
He threw her back into the direction of the chair. Scully flew back and crashed into the wooden chair.
"I thought you loved me."
Edward was a mix of anger and disappointment. Tears streamed down his face but his eyes clearly conveyed anger.
"I did."
Scully tired to move but there was a stabbing pain on her left side.
Edward crouched down next to her and touched the blood on her face.
"I'm sorry."
She trembled from his touch.
The room fell silent. There was a rattling in the keyhole.
"Randy."
Scully was relieved. She was saved after all.
The door opened and Randy stepped in.
"Dana?"
Edward winced at his voice. He yanked Scully up from the floor and held her up.
"Randy!"
Randy followed the sound of Scully's voice, not ready to accept what he saw.
"Let her go."
Edward smirked. He noticed that Randy had reached for a kitchen knife but he was not afraid. He held something more valuable. Edward moved towards the balcony with Scully in tow. Randy followed closely, careful not to lose Dana from his sight. What he saw hurt him. She was beaten.
"Let her go."
Edward had stopped moving and stood firmly. Randy took a step forward and Edward's grip on Scully tightened.
"It's a risk Randy. Are you willing to take one for love?"
Randy charged towards Edward, fully aware that Scully was still in his grasp. Edward counted on this move and regretted what he did next. He stepped out of Randy's path and the same time loosened his grip on Scully. In one fluid motion he threw Scully through the glass doorthat separated the balcony from the apartment.
She felt the ground hit. Pieces of glass rained down upon her body. Scully could barely keep her eyes open, but she could see Edward suddenly overpowering Randy. He had caught him in a moment of weakness and made his move. The knife was now in Edward's hands.
"Dana!"
Randy's blood curdling scream ripped through the air. She saw his body fall in slow motion. The blood on his body and the pain on his face. There was a deadly silence was broken as the sound of sirens neared. A neighbor must have called the police. Scully felt herself slipping into the darkness that called. Edward slipped out of the apartment, promising that he would one day return for his prize.
But she would not let herself be overcome with pain. Slowly, she crawled towards Randy. She saw the fear on his face as she tried to be strong. The doctor in her tried to take over. Edward had left the knife in Randy's body and Scully knew that it would be best not to take it out. But what could she do. Randy was dying. The blood pooled around him.
There was little she could do. Her own injuries were serious but love had propelled her to act. Finally, Scully gave in and cried. Randy saw this.
"It'll be okay."
He croaked the words out. Cracked a smile. She laughed.
"I won't let you leave me."
Scully caressed his face and he wiped her tears.
"It'll be okay ..."
Randy said it this time with less conviction. He knew it and she knew it.
" ... but if it's okay ... I don't think ... make it."
Scully kissed his forehead.
"But I can't ..."
"You'll do just fine."
"But without you?"
"Yea."
Scully was now laying next to him. She could hear the paramedics running the hallway. She held Randy in her arms.
"But just stay a little longer ... for me."
Randy looked at her. He had never felt a love so strong before. Dana Scully was truly the one for him. He knew his life was slowly fading, but how could he refuse?
"Okay ... for you."
Together to lay on the floor and both faded into darkness.
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