STRANGER IN A NIGHTMARE

"Well," the stranger said still waiting for a reply, "you said his name so you must know him."

Amu opened her mouth but nothing would come out. As much as it was real that she knew Ikuto she didn't recognise that expression and that murderous intent within that picture. She wanted to say she didn't know him because he scared her.

The stranger's mobile suddenly buzzed distracting his attention. He picked it up, "Hey, IKUTO! Where are you? I've been holding your picture asking around like an idiot…what your over there, has it ended…I'll be right there…hang on dude. BE CAREFUL!"

The stranger pushed passed Amu who was pretty much in a daze. She leaned herself against the wall trying to calm down. She stared uncertainly at the direction the stranger had ran off to. If she went now, she can still catch up with him. "What should I do… Ikuto…" Amu constantly asked herself. Instinctively she began to run after that man. It wasn't her body, she knew it was her heart that was moving her. "Ikuto, Ikuto, Ikuto," Amu kept saying as she ran after that stranger. She only wanted to see Ikuto. He is her everything…the one who gave her the life she owns now. Amu watched as the stranger ran towards the river bank. She followed swiftly, not realising what she had run into or followed. A nightmare played before Amu's sight…

Her heart almost stopped, body trembling with utter fear; legs threatening to collapse at any moment as blood splashed across her face, dying the scene a sinful red. To her horror, Ikuto who she recognised straight away was standing in front of her - he was ripping at another mans skin to reveal flesh. His hands dripped blood and with the same cold and burning glare, she remembered seeing in her nightmare before when he tried to hurt her, Ikuto licked the blood. Amu clasped both hands over her mouth backing away but she must've stepped on something for there was a sharp splitting noise.

Ikuto who didn't notice her before along with the stranger she followed and a few more thugs looked towards her way. Amu was so frightened now that her body just failed to move and all she could do was tremble on the spot. She was still however staring at one person in particular - Ikuto who seemed unfazed and expressionless by her presence unlike the others.

"Hey little girl," one of them called suddenly, "did you come to play?"

"She'll be a nice treat once we finish those two…" another said.

Amu found she couldn't speak; with effort she took a few more steps back.

"I saw you just before I came here," the stranger pointed out who had asked her about Ikuto previously, "don't tell me you followed me here."

"You saw her before?" Ikuto repeated, "what's this about Kukai?"

"I asked her whether she saw you and showed her your picture," Kukai explained.

Ikuto gave Amu a glare. Was this really Ikuto? Amu asked herself, this violent and cruel person… is Ikuto…

"Hey," one of the thugs shouted, "let's get this over with. I quite like to play with that girl…"

Ikuto pushed Kukai behind him towards Amu, "take her away."

"What?" Kukai asked in disbelief, "did I hear you wrong?"

"No," Ikuto replied with a irritated voice, "that stupid bitch is too scared to move. Take her to the park and wait there with her for me. I'll be quick to finish them off."

Kukai bit his lips, firstly reluctant to follow Ikuto's instructions but seeing his angry face Kukai quickly ran towards Amu, grabbing her by her arm and started to physically drag her into a run towards the park. As she was dragged, Amu watched Ikuto beat the two thugs till she no longer saw anything. This wasn't real, she wanted so much to wake from this nightmare like the time before…this wasn't real, Amu cried in her mind. She began to unconsciously resist Kukai, whoever he was, trying to free herself from his grip. She bit his arm hard and made a run towards her house instead but he caught up with her quick. He covered her mouth and nose with his hands tightly, suffocating her considerably, till Amu had no strength to fight back. Holding Amu around the neck he continued to drag her towards the park.

"Please let this be a sweet dream…" Amu whispered, tears bursting from her eyes.

Kukai threw Amu onto the floor roughly, "stay there and wait," he demanded.

Amu closed her eyes, for the first time In her life , she really wanted to just fall asleep and wake up from this dream. There was no need for that guy to tell her not to move. She had no more energy left to run away.

"Ikuto," Kukai said loudly.

Her eyes still closed, she felt the presence of another person. Amu knew it had to be Ikuto's. His voice confirmed it, "Kukai, go home for the night. I've got personal business to sort out."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow," Kukai said as he left, "I have a feeling the others will be after you."

Amu faintly heard Kukai's footsteps as he left and then there were seconds of silence before a cold hand grabbed at her face.

"Open your eyes Amu," Ikuto said, "there's no point in denying reality."

Tears still streaming from her eyes, she looked at Ikuto; his cruel expression and madly burnt eyes. His cold hand was wet with blood and as he let go of her face she smelt it which made her feel nauseate.

He smirked, "so you really are a bad girl after all."

"G-go away…" Amu said weakly.

Ikuto grabbed Amu's neck, lifting her from the ground and then thrust her deep into the bushes in the park, where the area within it was covered rather well from outside view. In this hour, no one would even be in this park, they were perfectly alone. Vulnerably and pathetically crying on the floor, Amu watched Ikuto as he tore off his blood-drenched shirt. He had a rather well built body, broad shoulders but still delicately slim in shape. Amu looked away in embarrassment though that feeling didn't override her fear.

"I told you before didn't I?" Ikuto continued, "that was your last chance to choose. Curiosity and punishment or peace."

Sobbing Amu cried, "leave me alone. GO AWAY, go away… I beg you. Who are you? What are you? Leave me alone… go away…"

Ikuto grabbed Amu, forcing her to face him, pushing his body weight on top of her just like the other time. "Why are you so scared Amu?" he asked, "aren't you my daughter?"

Amu shook her head, her hands pushing at his chest to try and get him away from her but it wasn't working. The haunting truth was finally placed before her. She had to admit and accept reality, there was no other way… Everything wasn't a dream. That night when she was in his room, he was in the exact same position as he was now… he was doing the same thing to her. It wasn't a dream - it was real and it was happening again. It was horrifying, the reality which made her heart bleed and the pain was unbearable to Amu. Her heart ached so much, she couldn't accept this as reality. She didn't want to think of the three years she's spent with Ikuto was all a fake, his lovely smile, his warm laughter and his kind, caring feelings towards her. She didn't want to think that for the past three years he was pretending in front of her to be nice and helping, but in actuality or deep down he wanted to hurt her. Scary, scary, scary… it was too scary… why couldn't she just sleep now, why couldn't she dream now?

"Why are you doing this?" Amu asked, her voice unsteady.

Ikuto hissed into her ear which sent cold shivers to her bones, "I just have a sudden urge to hurt you. Because you look so innocent, so naïve… I want to drench you in blood and my filthiness. Is that a good enough answer for you Amu?"

"Why do you do this - to anyone?" Amu continued to ask.

Ikuto licked the side of her neck just like last time, nibbling down. He grabbed at her clothes and ripped them off her body; the wind cold upon her naked skin. He ran his hands over her slender shoulders, stroking her abdomen and twisting her silky pink hair. He leaned down, his face near her chest and sniffed, "you do smell nice Amu. No, you smell tempting."

Amu looked at him with a painful expression. "Don't touch me," she said clearly this time.

He laughed grabbing her face again. "Say it like you mean it then bitch."

Final, to Amu this was final… the person before her may be Ikuto but he isn't her Ikuto. She will resist. With a stern expression and a louder voice she said one more, "Don't touch me."

Ikuto let go of her face, reached behind his trousers and pulled out a small knife, stabbing it deep into the earth inches away from Amu's neck. "Well said," he smirked, "I'll offer you another choice Amu. Do you want me to fuck you or kill you?"

The knife was so close to Amu, it scared her for the second, breaking her nerves again. Her body started to tremble again. Maybe it really was useless for her to resist, she was too weak.

"If it makes it easier for you to choose then stop thinking of me as someone you know," Ikuto taunted, "I'm merely just a violent stranger in your nightmares."

That's right, Amu thought, the Ikuto before me is my stranger in my worst nightmare…

[POLL - VOTE: CLOSED]