I AM BACK! Hey guys, how you doin'? I want to start by apologizing right away for going all MIA on you for a whole year and a half!

The first year of college was... intense. Lots of drama and stuff happened, lol. Writing was literally the last thing on my mind while adulting. Also, another reason I stopped writing was that my story, THE BROOKE, didn't make it to the publishing. It was rejected by a few agents and I was really disheartened. The plot for THE CINDER just vanished in my head.

I'm so sorry for leaving you all hanging like that. I personally hate it myself when the stories remain unfinished and that's what I did to you. I really, really am sorry. But you guys have been awesome. I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. To anyone who read my stories, followed or favorited it and supported me - YOU GUYS ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD & I LOVE YOU ALL!

That being said, I'm going to try my best this year to finish THE CINDER. It's going to take some time to get the story back. Meanwhile, I have a surprise for you! My friend and I have been co-writing this story that we would like to convert into fanfiction and love to share it with you. But mind you, my readers, this is not the kind of fanfic you're used to. It's another psychological thriller, another dark romance but it's waaayyyy more fucked-up than THE BROOKE and THE CINDER. But I really want to see what kind of reactions this story gets.

Currently, it has been published earlier this week from my friend's fanfiction account and although we've received some pretty good reviews and follows, we haven't received the response we were expecting. So we've been thinking of shifting and publishing it from my account soon enough, like within a day or two. What do you guys think?

Here's a little snippet and the synopsis for you to get a look into it:-

SYNOPSIS - Once upon a time, in a small town, lived two beautifully lost monsters. They both hated each other until one day they came together under an unlikely alliance. As a team, they terrorize the town at night and sing their hearts out in the day. She is a psychopath. He is a sociopath. Can the world survive their love story?

"Welcome back." The brave one nods at me. "How does it feel to have all the eyes on you? Suck it up while you can, girl. I'm afraid when others return, you'll have to share the fame."

"What the hell, Mia!" the nervous one, Leila Williams, berates at her friend.

I look at Mia and deadpan, "I love it as much as a kidnapped victim would."

Leila turns green but Mia just shakes her head. "Only you could make a joke out of it. Don't they encourage to say the word 'survivor' instead of victim these days?"

"Mia! Could you please be a little more insensitive?" Leila admonishes again, not noticing how we both are ignoring her.

"Anyway, what's with the quiet, angry look?" Mia asks me. "They are already naming you the Ice Princess."

"Huh. So that's what all these stares are about?"

"Yeah, well that and the fact that you are indeed a kidnapped victim who made it out."

"Oh my god, Mia!" Leila hisses.

I raise an eyebrow, "Don't you mean survivor?"

Mia laughs, "I missed you, girl! I'm glad you're back in this shithole." She stops abruptly, getting a thoughtful look. "But hey! I don't think this place is a shithole for you anymore, considering where you just came from."

"MIA!"

I laugh a little at that. I've always liked Mia Wallis. Not because her name starkly resembles with a character from one of my favorite movies but because of how she somehow always knew what to say to me. And she's been always kind to me. Even when others weren't. I used to like that. It was comforting to know I had a friend in her.

Not sure how I feel about it now. I don't really want her to see the real me. But she was there for me during my 'before' phase and still stayed my friend in the 'after' phase, even though I could tell she wasn't happy about the change.

Which is why I'm tolerating her at the moment, unlike Leila who is lecturing Mia that she cannot crack her usual dark-humored jokes around me anymore. Especially when I'm in such a "vulnerable state of mind". I'm tempted to bash her head open for that comment alone. The only thing stopping me is that I didn't want to see her state of mind splattered against my locker.

Instead, I look at them while they are busy bickering. The two girls are the polar opposites of each other. Mia is short and perky; a brunette with hazel eyes. And a dancer. Leila is your typical tall, skinny, blue-eyed blonde cheerleader.

Mia is kind to everyone, speaks out for herself and at times, for others too. Leila is a fake arrogant bitch, only nice to people she hates the most, always laughing at her friends behind their back and pathetically unbearable. Oh, and she is also one of my closest friends from the after-phase.

"Guys, I gotta go," I say, interrupting them.

"Where?" Leila scrunches her nose. My eyes turn deadly as I look at her. Why the fuck do I have to tell you?

But I force a smile like I've done a thousand times before. "I have a meeting with Ms. Bradley."

"Oh. We'll catch up with you later, then. It's good to have you back."

She steps forward to give me a courtesy hug like we used to but halts mid-action when she sees the murderous look in my eyes that I can't hide anymore. I notice Mia makes no move to touch me in any way. One more point to her.

"See you guys later." With that, I make my way to the guidance counselor's office.

Upon reaching there, just as I'm about to knock, the door opens and a hard muscular chest bumps into my face. My body immediately reacts at being touched. Without thinking I push at the chest, giving it a hard shove.

"Watch where you go!" I snarl at him, my face feels flushed.

One of his arms reaches out to grab the door frame to keep himself from falling while his other arm goes up in the air in defense, attempting to placate me. "Whoa, easy."

Recognizing the familiar voice, my vision comes in focus. I finally see who I really bumped into. Dark copper hair, olive skin, and grey eyes. A slightly crooked nose with a sharp symmetrical jawline. The six foot two inches tall, muscular yet lean body that intimidates majority of the boys at our high school.

Christian Grey. The mysterious, scary boy. Oh, and my ex-bully.

Hatred and rage begin churning inside me as the memories come rushing in while I stand there, looking at the person who's third on my list of people-I-hate-the-most.

I hope you enjoyed that. If you want to read more of it, please let us know so that I can share more of it with you. Also, which one do you think is the better title for this fanfic. "Tarnished Minds" or "Tainted Psyche"?

Right now it's posted under the name Tainted Psyche by KaryntheSnake, if you want to take a look at the first two chapters. Depending upon your reviews and reaction within 48 hours, I'll decide whether to shift the story or not. If you have any suggestions or advice, please don't hesitate to comment.

Love you all

~Kaishi xoxo