Authors Note: This chapter isn't the longest, but it will have things to come in the future in this so you won't have to pay attention hard to see what I mean. Please enjoy it!

Claudia was walking slower than usual. She wanted to see Alessa; it was Saturday so it was only chance to see her. She wanted to tell Alessa what had happened to her the other night. How she was used for the ritual, and how she felt now. Claudia knew why she was used, she was innocent. She hadn't viewed death before, she felt sympathy. She had enough sympathy to know that this girl had so much to live for, and her father ruined that, much like her did to her own life. Claudia walked up Alessa's porch and knocked on her door. Alessa answered. "Hi Claudia, how are you?" Alessa asked.

Claudia looked down. "Not great." She said.

"What happened?" Alessa asked letting her in.

Claudia looked around to see if Dahlia was around, but remembered she was at church with her father. "I was used in the ritual last night." Claudia said.

Alessa looked somewhat shocked and upset by this news. "What happened to you?" Alessa asked.

"They made me watch a girl get murdered and because I was innocent, I guess I stored her soul in my body until they pulled it out." Claudia explained feeling tears again.

"Oh Claudia!" Alessa hugged her with tears.

"The worst part is, the girls memories are with me now. I can feel her inside me. She had a big cake at her birthday, she had two cats, and best of all, she was loved." Claudia said to her best friend.

"I'm sorry." Alessa said.

"It's not your fault. My father ruined her life. Why would he do that! How can he do it so easily?" Claudia yelled as tears flooded her face.

Alessa hugged Claudia tighter. "I wish it would all go away." Claudia said referring to her pain.

"I know. I do too…" Alessa said to Claudia with a sad face.

They sat there with tears for a few more minutes. "We should both run away. Far away." Claudia said to her.

"We can't, I mean, I have my home here and you have Vincent." Alessa said.

"No, I don't really have Vincent…" Claudia looked sad.

"He's still your friend isn't he?" Alessa asked.

"That's all he'll ever be…" Claudia looked sad still.

"Well give him time, maybe he really likes you." Alessa smiled encouragingly.

"I don't think so but thanks for trying." Claudia shook her head.

"Well, I still have hope and besides, I can't see him with Lucy forever, she's not that wonderful with how she treats him." Alessa explained.

"How does she treat him?" Claudia asked.

"She's always arguing with him and wants him to do everything for her. She's not overly faithful either. She's always flirting with Ben Godric." Alessa said sounding annoyed with Lucy.

Claudia looked sad. "I should talk to him." Claudia said.

"No, don't, you'll just make it worse!" Alessa said.

"How?"

"Because Lucy will pull something on you." Alessa tried to tell her.

"She'll do what?" Claudia questioned.

"She'll tell him how you feel, believe me, she knows." Alessa said.

"Well, I'd still rather take my chances." Claudia said.

"I guess you should just do what's best for you." Alessa shrugged.

"Want to go for a short walk before Dahlia comes home?" Claudia asked.

Alessa smiled and nodded. They each left after Alessa put her shoes on.

Claudia said goodbye to Alessa after their day in town. They looked at all sorts of items but couldn't afford a single thing. They loved to look for things but they knew they could never have it. Claudia loved spending time with Alessa no matter what they were doing. They both just had so much fun together. Claudia walked inside her house. She had been working so hard on her schooling that she had everything except her math completed. She was saving that for Vincent. She packed up her completed work and began to walk to the school. She loved it when she completed subjects. It made her feel so happy. She felt so much more intelligent. She walked down the street under the big tree with all the leaves. She picked a faded yellow leaf. She looked at it and then put it down. She walked up to the office doors. She was glad it was Saturday because the office wouldn't hesitate to take her work; they'd be able to accept it fast. She set it on the desk and then left out the doors she entered. She walked with a small smile on her face, today had been such a good day. She walked down her street but suddenly stopped smiling. She saw Lucy and Vincent walking down the street too. She decided she wouldn't let this ruin her day. When Vincent got close enough to her she walked over to him. "So, are we going to work on Math again tonight?" Claudia asked.

"Yeah sure, what time?" Vincent asked.

"Um, whenever you feel like it." Claudia replied.

"What? I don't think so. You're my boyfriend; I don't want you hanging around her." Lucy smiled deviously at Claudia.

"Why so? Are you jealous or something?" Vincent asked as they walked on by.

Claudia smiled, she was going to see Vincent tonight and Lucy wouldn't be able to stop him. Claudia decided to go home and get her books ready. She walked inside her house. She ran up to her room and began sorting through her math work to see what she'd need to bring.

It turned seven and Claudia was sitting in her room after cooking a meal. Claudia heard her phone ring. "Hello?" She answered it.

"Hell, Claudia?" A male voice said softly.

"Yes."

"This is Vincent."

Claudia felt excitement in her stomach. "Oh, hi Vincent. What are you calling here for?" Claudia asked.

"I was wondering if you wanted to study at my house again." Vincent asked.

"Oh, of course, I'll be over in a bit." She said hanging up.

"Father, may I go work on school work?" Claudia asked already sensing he was going to let her go.

"Do what you want." He said not looking up from his bible.

Claudia walked out the door in her bare feet and headed over to Vincent's house.

Claudia walked to his door and knocked. Vincent opened the door and smiled at her. "Hey, come on inside." Vincent said opening the door all the way.

She smiled and walked in. His mom was reading a magazine at the table. "Hello Claudia." She smiled looking up.

"Hello." Claudia smiled.

"Wasn't Lucy suppose to be here tonight?" His mom asked.

"No, not while Claudia is here, they don't get along." Vincent explained.

"I can't blame her, Lucy is too bossy." His mom said.

Vincent went a little red but left the room with Claudia. Claudia and Vincent placed her books in his room and sat down. After about an hour of teacher Claudia her measurements unit Claudia had pulled out another unit. "So, what are you learning about now?" Vincent asked looking at the work over her shoulder.

"Uh, just Fractions." Claudia said.

Claudia looked at him over her shoulder and they both froze. His eyes were so beautiful and he appeared transfixed on hers. He looked at her lips, they were beautiful. He shook his head slightly and looked back down at the work. Claudia looked down and blushed. "Um… Try going by the formula your teacher wrote out." Vincent swallowed.

Claudia wrote out all the formulas and finally got it all done. "Thanks for the help Vincent." She smiled.

"Anytime, if you ever need me for anything I'll be here." He said.

She smiled. "Well, I better go home. My dad will be mad at me if I don't get back soon." Claudia said.

"Well, since Thursday is the first day of summer, would you like to get more help on the other units?" Vincent asked.

"Oh, yeah, just call me again." Claudia said not remembering it was so close to summer break.

Vincent walked her outside. "Oh no, its getting dark." Claudia commented.

"Are you scared to be out here alone?" Vincent asked.

"Yes, but don't worry, I'll be ok." Claudia tried to reassure him

"No, I should walk you home, I wouldn't be happy if someone tried to take you away." He decided.

He walked out the door with her and kept his head low as usual. "I can't wait for summer to begin. More alone time." Vincent said to her.

"I love to be alone; it gives me time to think." Claudia smiled.

"I hope that we can get all your work done soon. I really hope we end up in the same class again." Vincent said to her.

"Yeah, me too." Claudia agreed.

"Would you like to come over and spend the day with me Thursday?" Vincent asked.

"Oh, of course." Claudia tried to hold back excitement.

Claudia looked down. "But, what about Lucy?" She asked.

"If she has a problem with it then I'll talk to her." Vincent said.

"You know, she's not completely, faithful." Claudia explained.

"I know…" Vincent looked down.

"Then why are you still with her?" Claudia asked.

"I'm waiting for the right moment. Believe me, it will come." Vincent said.

Claudia didn't quite understand but shrugged. "Well, I'll talk to you later ok?" Vincent smiled with his braces showing.

"Ok, goodbye." She said shyly as she walked inside.

Claudia went to her room and prepared to go to sleep.

Fire, it was all over the room. She couldn't breath. She was huddled in the corner. She screamed. She looked down. She knew her door was locked. She looked out her window, the flames were dancing around the window, taunting her, making her wish she was free from the flames. She tried hitting the flames with her blanket. The flames wouldn't go away. She tried to run for the door and open it even if it was locked, but her hand became burnt. She screamed more at the pain. She needed help "Claudia!" She screamed.

Claudia was the only name that didn't make her angry; it was the only name she wished could save her. Her life was turning to ash. She could see hell, it was all around her. The fire burnt down her pictures on her walls, it burnt down her furniture. Her clothes were on fire now. The flames were burning her small body. She turned to see herself in the mirror. She grabbed her face. Alessa's face? She shrieked at the face in the mirror. Suddenly the flames reached her hair and then over took her face. "Wake up!" She screamed.

Claudia sat up and screamed so loud her father likely woke up. "NOOO!" She cried loudly.

"ALESSA!" Claudia cried loudly.