Soundtrack: We Are Broken - Paramore

THE TOUCH OF THE DARKNESS

Drake was fuming with his old, destructive rage. Everything had escalated quite quickly at Coates over the past couple of days. Caine had woken and gone back to his old self - maybe not completely, but other then the lack of energy; he was back in action - making Diana turn into the same superior, snarky, sarcastic Diana she used to be. And as they had taken control of the school once again, Drake had been sent to the Power Plant, only to get his head ransacked by some freak.

To top it all, Drake had decided to be a "loyal teammate" by bringing the so-called moof with him back to the school, so that Caine himself could have a say in what to do with her. Unfortunately, Caine decided that they could have a great use of her, and despite the fact that Drake basically owned the stupid girl, Diana got to take care of her, pleasing neither of them.

But even with an angry Diana who now had to watch over the young girl, Drake had a feeling that Diana could amuse herself with the girl, manipulating her into entering his head once again. Great, just... great...

Drake could only be thankful that the dream he had been caught in was one of his basic old ones. One where he tortured Caine and Sam and Diana in the most horrid ways possible. Hopefully that would unintentionally put her on a leash.

She definitely wouldn't have felt as threatened by him if she had witnessed a dream where he was being taunted by that disturbingly dark power inside the mine shaft. Or even worse; a half naked, small girl who killed him in bed without him so much as fighting back.

Pathetic, that is what he was. He knew it deep down, and it was driving him mad. The memories of some supernatural power in a goddamn cave, and a girl was driving him mad!

Come to me...

He was sure as hell not coming to that nasty little monster! It didn't matter how great his whip hand was; he had no plans of having his brain stung by a thousand knives all over again, no matter how great of a weapon he would be given in return.

Unfortunately; Caines mysterious intentions to take charge once and for all, gave Drake the fierce dread that he might in fact have to return to their common mistreating tormentor.

Once again, Lana found herself up at Clifftop, leaned back in a comfortable armchair with a book in hand. After an abrupt run earlier in the morning, she had spent all afternoon reading and although she had over the past couple of weeks gotten used to the reading; she was tiering from only having her eyes sliding over a couple of symbols scribbled down on a piece of paper.

Quinn hadn't come over today. He said told her the day before that he was off to a early shift on picking cantaloupes, and in the afternoon he was going to something he referred to as the McClub. Apparently, Albert had started a club to cheer everyone up. Quinn had invited her, stating that being cheered up was something she needed, but she didn't want to be part of such a big crowd.

She had personally been invited by Albert herself, when she went for a run and bumped into an injured Orc. Albert had spoke to her about the future of all things. It was quite distinct, seeing a boy in his early teens seemingly having everything figured out. Lana couldn't help the temptation of helping him, even if she had some hidden intentions as her main fuel for doing so.

So today Albert invited her over to the club so they could discuss how to turn gold into a source of payment. She had been planning on going, the only problem was that the more time that passed; the more she regretted saying yes to going.

It would be a lot of people there. Loud music, dancing teenagers, pleasant faces. She wasn't sure if she'd handle it, especially if the Darkness gave her another breakdown... Maybe she should just ditch? Maybe she should just come right before the club closed, and speak with Albert when the place had quieted down and emptied out?

That surely seemed like the better version of it, but she had said she would be there. And knowing Albert, he was a busy man, and in close future he would become even busier. She didn't want to keep him up late, especially considering the fact that he was working so hard to establish and maintain a peaceful way of getting by in this dome.

Lana read another two chapters in the book until she heard the blasting beats of party music, which could only mean that the club was opened for the night. She sighed, reading out her page, before closing the book and getting up. Patrick looked up expectantly and Lana filled his bowl with dog food, trying to ignore her rumbling stomach at the sight of her dog eating the food energetically.

'I'll be back in a little while, boy,' Lana said, despite Patrick being too caught up with his food to even notice her departure. She sighed, and exited the hotel room door, closing it behind her. As soon as she left her room, she felt unsafe, and the knowledge of Patrick being separated from her on the other side of the door, surely didn't help her much.

She walked halfheartedly towards the elevator, taking it down towards the first floor where she exited the hotel, exposed to the world without either Quinn nor Patrick at her side to steady her. She inhaled heavily, not to mention quite dramatically despite the fact that she was truly terrified. There hadn't been a day when she walked around by herself other then the day she went to Coates and...

Her head shook from side to side as she tried to rid herself of the memories. Stop... She thought to herself. Don't think about it. Not know of all times.

Lana walked down the street, finding her way to the club quite easily. Over the past three months she had spent in the town - more precisely right outside of the town, anyways - she had at least gotten to know the streets slightly easier, making it possible for her to walk through the town without getting lost.

With every step she took, the music increased and she felt her muscles tense slightly at the sight of all the kids standing in a line outside of the previous McDonalds shop which had now turned into the so-called McClub. Albert was standing by the door, a huge smile plastered onto his face as the kids handed him what looked a lot like toilet paper and batteries before entering.

'What are you doing?' Lana asked, clearing her voice as she was within a seven feet distance of him and she was sure that he could hear her over the loud music.

'Hey Lana,' he greeted, the smile still there beside her accusing tone. 'Since that gold hasn't been turned in yet, I thought that they could pay in some other way, you know? Besides, people are waisting these resources like they are nothing but toys. I don't know about you, but I sure as hell would like something to wipe my ass with when going to the bathroom?'

Lana couldn't help but roll her eyes at the comment. She found it being quite unnecessary of him to be so straight forward, but at least she got the point.

'Well, the club is still open, so I'm not ready to speak business just yet,' Albert stated as he received another roll of toilet paper and sent another kid into the club. 'Just go in, and I'll be ready in just about half an hour or so!'

Hesitantly she nodded her head, before she realized that she obviously hadn't brought anything with her to the club, nonetheless something she could use to get herself in. Awkwardly she stared at her empty hands as if she expected them to be filled with batteries she could hand over to the young businessman.

'Oh, don't worry about it,' Albert replied to her unasked question as if he had just read her mind. That foolish grin of his was still striking his futures and she found his confident and cheerful attitude annoying in comparison with the circumstances. It reminded her of Caine which reminded her of - 'You're helping me with getting the economy started, it is only just fair that you get in for free!'

She tried to return a smile as she passed by him, entering the club. Passing through the door, she suddenly noticed how isolated she truly had been for the past months and how much she was standing out compared to the majority of the teenagers. The only other person among the crowd who did not seem to be enjoying herself must have been the freak she recalled as Dekka, who sat in a corner discreetly staring at one of the other people who were dancing.

Lana walked around, bouncing slightly on the tip of her toes as she did so, as she awkwardly attempted to dance. She didn't really get into it, but it felt better being here then to gloom at the wall in her room as she wished that her mind would be cleared of all horror. It was when her mind was completely occupied in thoughts that she bumped into a tall, solid figure and looked up only to greet a set of warm and welcoming eyes.

'Hey Quinn.' she greeted, trying to be as responsive as he always was when they were around each other. Lana always found it slightly uncomfortable; being around another boy, after what happened between her and - She once again shook her head frantically, trying to shut the memories out. Things were better this way... Easier. Everything she had gone through, it was over, as long as she shut it out of her mind.

Really sucky ending, I know, but I tried really hard to make it better and it just... didn't work, I guess?

Anyways, this is when Lana and Quinns encounter at McClub occurs. Since they've already gotten to know each other it is obviously a bit different, though I didn't think it would be big enough of a difference for me to write it into a fanfiction chapter myself. So if you don't remember the scene, you could just read through it in hunger, so that your mind is freshened up for the next chapter!

I just have to tell you guys that last week I made an Instagram account and I am so proud of myself for being "in the game" amongst all the other mainstream people at my school. I am called TheDendrologist, and I only take pics of trees, so if you are interested in that, then follow me! :D

And a huge thank you to Just Anny, WhipHand's Pet (x2) and Kyle 3698 for you reviews. They are much appreciated, so you are all free to comment yout opinion on the story/chapter and the chapters that are soon to come! :)