Amber and I were growing closer. I was realizing she was a lot nicer than I thought. The eye contact was still weird for me and I still tried to avoid it; however, I was at least facing in her direction. I gave it a few days, but now I let her talk to me at school, maybe even looking foward to it sometimes. Of course, Chase still hated me with her entire fucking self, maybe more now. I didn't mind that; I still hated her with a burning passion too.

I had to admit that Amber was helping a lot in keeping myself in a better headspace. Though, I was noticing how she would be down too. With time, I was worrying about her. She was still playful, but there had to be a front she was putting up for me.

Somehow, her parents were always busy (thank fucking God) and rarely ever home. It was always "work-related," which feels really often, but I knew fuck all about politics. I had a weird feeling that it wasn't work. Anyway, because of that, Max, Steph, Mikey, and Dana kept helping with the house. Maybe even to the point I don't really work on it myself anymore. Was I annoyed? Fuck no.

"How are you feeling, Chloe?"

I returned to Earth, blinking a few times as I looked at Dana. Right, Amber isn't here right now. Dana was the only one who had the time to come over and help a little with the house. And by "help," it meant just sitting and talking in the living room. It was a random Wednesday, so there wasn't anything fucking interesting going on.

"Uh, yeah, I'm alright. Just thinking, that's all." I waved it off. Saying "alright" is a lie. I kept saying "I'm getting better" before but that's not what this is. "Thinking about... how Amber and I are now."

"And that means...?" She dragged out "means," like she wanted me to keep going.

"You know, I fucking hated her before." I leaned back onto the couch we were sitting on. "I would've punched her, but... I guess something was stopping me." I shrugged my shoulders, gazing at the ground as I kept thinking about it. I couldn't bring myself to even hate her a little bit. Knowing about her bruises and those suspicious phone calls with Chase, I was convinced that she was being treated a lot worse than I thought. I even think Amber had no power to begin with.

"I'm happy about that! Rachel's a little happier now because you guys are closer!"

I dunno why that bothered me. Dana was vague about Amber and whatever was going on with her. It pissed me off but, at the same time, I knew it was something I should ask Amber about.

"Can you at least tell me a little bit about what's up with Amber?" There was a hint of anger in my voice. It wasn't intentionally; It just couldn't be helped. I was still stuck in the dark, but I've jumped to millions of conclusions already in my head, I had to know something.

"I would love to Chloe, but... It's too serious." She sighed, crossing her legs as she cleared her throat. "It's a heavy thing Rachel carries; It's best to hear it from her. Just know that I would tell you if I could."

I could see in her face that she was truthful and genuinely sad that she couldn't tell me anything. I looked up at her and nodded, "Okay. Can't blame me for trying again."

"I understand where you're coming from! It's nice to see you worrying about her... Old-you wouldn't give a single shit about her still right now. You would've never asked that question." She said it like she was nostalgic about it. "What do you think of the new-you?"

"I... I dunno." I shrugged again, chuckling awkwardly as I rubbed the back of my neck. "I guess I'll say that I can't believe that... It was really me. Like, I acted like that. I thought like that. I hated her and there are times where those beliefs wants to come back. It's the fucking worse..."

"But it's not you, Chloe. She placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Not anymore." She gave me a reassuring smile.

I smiled back, but it fell again. "It was fucking Justin and Trevor who did that, I guess."

"Speaking of them... where... are they?" Dana tilted her head, worry and confusion on her face.

I was about to answer until I really thought about it. "It's like they fell off the face of the Earth or some shit."

"I mean, not like I care! I mean... I'm not too worried, actually." She scoffed, taking her hand off me.

"... Trevor really liked you, you know." I mentioned, nearly forgetting that "important" fact. It was important between the three of us to mess with him.

She paused, then she bitterly smiled and laughed, "I would've said no."

We laughed together, her leaning on me since she laughed harder. I would've won the bet against Justin.

But... they really disappeared. Where in the fuck did they go?

I was sitting in silence in the Amber guest room. Ringing in my ears, but I didn't mind it. For a couple days now (or longer, I wasn't sure), I began just sitting. I would sit and zone out, not remembering what I was thinking about or if I was thinking at all. I wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing. It was like I was in jail again, except not as miserable.

Though, not consistently.

I had my bad days, days where suicidal ideation was all I had on my mind. I didn't tell anyone. I avoided that conversation. I hated that I did hold it in, but I didn't have the courage for it. I spent nights crying myself to sleep with PTSD flashbacks I couldn't bring up. They happened while I was alone, when I couldn't move and felt like the whole world was on me. In a weird way, I was comfortable sitting here, doing nothing.

I was subconsciously reminding myself to live in the present, I think.

I didn't fucking know.

I heard voices.

My eyes shot to my door as my heart pounded and raced. The ringing somehow drowned itself out and I waited to hear something. I got up from bed, approaching my door. I think I'm a little paranoid right now... Maybe I made it up.

Still, with lack of self-control, I left my room, taking long steps going down the long hallway. It was dark outside. I thought it was cool to look at but, it wasn't comforting. Darkness was where I went when I lost myself. But, it was still fucking cool to look at.

"Yeah... offices have been call me left and right. It isn't over yet." That was Mayor Amber. He talked loud as hell.

"Right." That was Amber. "Dad, where's mom?"

"Don't you remember from our phone call? She decided to visit some family. She'll let us know when she'll be back."

"What? Mom is never vague like that."

"She wasn't sure this time!"

It fell silent. I clenched my jaw as I heard walking and heavy sighing, knowing that was her dad. I felt myself freeze up, while my mind was fully aware. It was racing, maybe faster than my heart. Fuck, I can barely breathe...

SMACK

It was loud. It echoed through the house. There was still silence. I stayed frozen, unsure of what to think or what to feel, but I just knew that I couldn't move. What the fuck happened? Did he slap her? Did she slap him? Did I missing something? What is happening in this family?

Muffled voices. With all my strength, I forced myself to hear at least one word. Come on, stupid brain... Pick up any-fucking-thing! This house is fucked and I need to know why!

"You will not talk back to me ever again, do you hear me?! This will not be tolerated in this house! I see you treating that hooligan with kindness! You are prohibited from interacting with her in this house! Do you understand?!"

I felt physically exhausted from getting those words. This motherfucker is power hungry! What the fuck happened in this "political bullshit" or whatever?! This place is fucking crazy! What is going on with Amber?! I was spiraling, two million thoughts a second, my breath stopping, my body trembling for movement.

Move. Move. Move. FUCKING MOVE.

"CHLOE!"

I shot up from bed. Bed, not where I was at all. I felt my forehead and neck going cold as I felt my sweat cool down. I caught my breath, coughing from how dry my throat was. Amber was sitting on the edge, those usually sly eyes now shaking in fear, as if she was wondering if I was ever gonna wake up.

"Shit," I fell back again. It was just a dream...

"I found you in the hallway." She fixed my bangs that were stuck to my forehead.

Wait... It wasn't a dream? No, it had to be! This place couldn't be as messed up as it was in my head!

I turned to her as I shot up, scanning her face and neck for anything suspicious. She was shocked, so much that she had to back up a little. She had strategically covered her neck with her hair and I didn't see a bruise or mark on her face. It could be makeup or... how much time has passed already?

"O-Oh, I thought I wasn't tired... Guess I just passed out over there." I looked away to force a chuckle, but I knew she wasn't buying it.

"Right... Then, are you going to be okay with going to Blackhell?" She had a playful tone in "Blackhell." She was acting pretty happy, but a part of me didn't wanna believe it was real.

"Yeah..." I nodded weakly. "Yeah..."

I was walking like a corpse... but, like an aware corpse. I was groggy and was dragging my feet, but at least I knew where I was. I was aware of Max, Steph, Mikey, and Dana. However, Amber had disappeared again.

"Why don't you just call Rachel by her first name already?" Steph crossed her arms across her chest as we walked together towards the dorms.

"Why? Uh, I dunno actually. It still feels like I'm calling her by her name, I guess. It still sounds like a first name, doesn't it?" Plus, that's like another level of closeness and I'm not there yet.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Steph smirked, snickering a little under her breath.

We heard a group of people behind us. I didn't think much of it at first until I saw Steph stop. I looked back and saw them.

Justin and Trevor.

They didn't look different. In fact, they still dressed like how they were at the party. I think. I tried to blink hard and fast, trying to get myself to believe, to believe, this wasn't happening. I took a couple steps back until Justin grabbed me by the collar.

I froze. I screamed in my head to move but I couldn't.

I was knocked to the ground, a sharp pain shooting through my cheek. No movement. I heard muffled yelling. Chanting. I was screaming in my own head to move but I was lost. It was only darkness to me.

More pain. More pain. More pain.

My face felt destroyed from taking so many hits. I felt every touch. I saw bright, neon lights. My ears were filled with only the sound of chanting. Of yelling. I heard one voice, screaming at the top of her lungs, but no words.

I felt my entire body being held down. My arm was forced down. My hand felt like it was being stepped down with all of their weight. One more yell.

SNAP

A/N: Review and shit.