CHAPTER 1

"Noelle?"

Noelle couldn't breathe. All she could do was stand frozen in fear, her hand clapped over her mouth.

"Come here, beautiful. Noelle?"

Noelle screwed her eyes shut and said a quick prayer.

"Noelle?"

There was an edge to the voice now. Tears silently ran down her face as she said goodbye.

No, Noelle thought. I can't give up this easily. I have to think!

"Noelle, if you don't fucking come here-- I know you're there Noelle!"

Noelle dropped to the ground and army crawled through the shadows. She stretched out her arm, hand still clamped over her mouth, reaching for the cell phone that had been knocked from her hands. She snatched it, then crawled away as quickly as she could while still remaining silent. She tried her hardest not to breathe as she sat back down in the corner and tapped a quick text to Ariana.

CALL 911 AND GET POLICE UP 2 MY ROOM. HRY!

"Noelle!"

"Oh my, God!"

He didn't look so angry anymore, his steps getting lighter as he inched his way toward her. His head was tilted and his eyes glistened with tears; a look of complete adoration reflected in them. "Noelle," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "You're so beautiful."

Noelle knew she didn't look beautiful. She was collapsed in the corner in an awkward heap, tears streaming down her face. She was shaking in fear, and her hand was still over her mouth. She wanted to remove it, but it felt like she was paralyzed.

His boots finally came to a stop in front of her, and he slowly knelt down until his eyes met Noelle's. She immediately looked at the ground to avoid his gaze.

"Noelle, look at me," he said, sounding like he was in agonizing pain that she didn't want to look in his eyes. She kept them focused on the chestnut hardwood floor of her room.

"Damn it, Noelle!" he shouted. Noelle looked up at him, startled, and once their eyes locked, she was frozen in fear and couldn't look away.

He reached out a gruff hand and brushed her smooth cheek. "Oh, Noelle. Noelle!"

Noelle finally found her voice. "Get away from me!" His expression of awe quickly turned to anger. While he was still from shock, Noelle kicked out her foot, not aiming for any part of him in particular, jumped up, and tried to run for the door. She had barely taken a step before she felt an arm being thrown around her waist and a hand smashed over her mouth again, pressing her lips against her teeth.

"Do not run away from me, Noelle."

She started to cry again. Never in her life had she felt so helpless.

He picked her up and carried her over to the bed. Noelle was sobbing now.

"Why are you doing this to me?" she screamed.

He leaned down until his lips were practically touching her face. His gruff voice echoed in her ear. "Because you. Belong. To me." He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a knife. She screamed, sure he was going to kill her.

Suddenly, a soft knock came at the door. "Noelle?" Noelle recognized Ariana's slight southern twang.

He looked at Noelle. He leaned down to her ear again. "Say anything and I'll kill her." He held the knife in front of Noelle's face to prove his point. The knocking came again. The tears came harder. Noelle wanted nothing more than to scream to Ariana, to warn her friend. "ARI! HE'S GONNA KILL YOU! RUN!"

"FUCK, NOELLE!" He screamed.

Noelle sobbed louder than before.

The door creaked open. "Noelle?" Ariana called out, alarm in her voice. She disappeared to look in the bathroom. He left Noelle on the bed and ran in the bathroom after Ariana.

"ARI!" Noelle screamed. But it was too late. Ariana's screams echoed off the walls. "NO!" Noelle screamed for the fiftieth time that night. "You BASTARD! My parents, now my best friend? Please, God, help me!"

He quietly crept back to the bed. "Now, my Noelle, where were we?"

Noelle's heart started to pound. Where had he gotten that rope? Noelle knew what was about to happen to her. She prayed that Ariana was still alive, and that someone had heard their screams and called the police.

He had begun to tie her wrists to either ends of the headboard. Noelle hated, and was terrified by, the feeling that she had no one to help her.

"Noelle," he breathed, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "You don't know how long I've waited for this moment."

He leaned down again and deeply kissed her, ignoring the fact that she was sobbing, not even remotely kissing back.

"Please, Noelle. We love each other."

"POLICE! Open up!"

"Please help me!" Noelle screamed.

"DAMNIT NOELLE!" he roared.

The door was knocked down and three policemen jumped in, guns drawn.

He put his hands behind his head.

A policeman came and untied Noelle.

The rest of the night passed by in a blur, but one moment Noelle remembered, and will always remember, clear as glass.

Just as the police were shoving him out of the door in handcuffs, he looked straight into her eyes and said, "I'll be back, Noelle. We'll always be together." The police shoved him through the door. She heard his voice echoing through the hall as she shouted, "No one can keep us apart!"

"I'll be back, Noelle."

She was still screaming when she woke up.

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AN- As you probably guessed, this is a flashback to one of Noelle's memories of the man she received the note from, which is now a recurring nightmare for her. Please review and tell me if I should keep writing this story! Thank you! Love, Lindsay :]