A white cloth was roughly pressed against my mouth, muffling the scream that attempted to tumble from my mouth. The man's arms securely held me as I nearly tumbled backwards, my umbrella flying from my grip. Rain pelted down, covering me within a split second, matting my hair down. Locks stuck to my cheeks, fresh tears streaking down, mixing with the rain. My gold eyes were wide with fright as I shook my head, trying to break free. I could feel the haziness begin to take over my brain, time seeming to slow as I struggled. I finally managed to twist around, staring at my attacker face to face.

My heart nearly stopped at the sight of the masked man. The only thing I could see was the striking navy blue of his mask, standing out against the darkness of his clothes. Then, the black pits that were his eyes. Did he even have eyes? Possibly they were blacked out with the mask? No... it couldn't be... I then noticed the inky, tar like substance that was oozing down his rain splattered mask, causing it to bleed down in a fast rate. Brown hair was barely seen beneath his black hood, and I realized then... He was the man who I had seen earlier, leaning against the wall. The black hoodie, the dark jeans... Only now, I could really see his appearance. And in that moment, I knew I was about to die. The haziness continued to swell within my vision, taking over until I saw nothing but blackness. I then collapsed into the monster's arms.

My cries echoed throughout the yard, my nails tightly gripping the rough bark of the tree I was still leaning against. I must have fallen asleep out here... The sun was getting low in the sky, casting brilliant light along the pond. But I could barely focus on it now. I heard my name being called, along with the loud stomp of feet, frantically running towards me. I jumped, startled, only to see my mother and my little brother approach. Their faces were horror struck, fear casting throughout their eyes, and I knew why. They were used to my screaming and wailing throughout the night. But never have I been outside, let alone by myself.

My mother let out a sigh of relief, my brother's newly found, usual scowl coming into place once more. I snapped my eyes shut, letting my head fall back onto the trunk of the tree. It was never ending, was it? I had to face facts; I needed help. Bad. There is no way I could forget about the blue masked man on my own. And I just couldn't continue to allow it to burden my family as well. I turned, facing them once more as they both caught their breath, shakily standing up while supporting myself on the tree.

"I'm sorry... I fell asleep out here," I murmured, tears slightly gathering in my eyes. Above all, it was embarrassing and humiliating.

"It's alright, dear... But really, I don't want you anywhere alone... even back here. You scared me to death," she chuckled, without humor. "I nearly dropped all of the china."

"I was in the middle of GTA," my brother seethed, rolling his eyes before stomping back up into the house.

I frowned, my eyes dropping down to my feet. I heard my mother sigh before she spoke. "I know you believe that your brother hates you. But please know he doesn't... If he didn't care, he wouldn't have bolted out of his room as fast as he did," she noted, smiling a bit. "Once we get you settled in therapy, possibly some sleep medication, those dreams wont happen anymore. We can all get things back to normal, it'll just take some time."

I pursed my lips, starting forward back to the house. "But how long exactly is that going to take?" I asked, not looking back as I slumped through the yard.

In my opinion, simply talking to someone and reliving those old memories while I'm awake isn't going to help anything. And that sleep medication she mentioned would just make me nearly dead while asleep. I barely remembered what it was like to have a peaceful, happy dream. Even with the nightmares gone, they wouldn't come again. I could at the very least act for them. Try to reassure them that everything is perfectly fine. But I knew that it never would be.

Every time I walk down the street I'm going to be turning my head, watching to see if anyone was following. Every time I see someone standing against a wall, I'm going to question them as I walk by. Every time I see anything that possesses that horrible shade of navy blue, I'm going to nearly have a heart attack. Forever he will be in my life. Forever he will torment me.

"Ivy," I heard my mother call.

I turned, facing her, raising an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"I... I found a therapist for you. Your first session is tomorrow," she murmured, averting her eyes from mine.

Emotionless, I nodded, not offering anymore of a response. I turned once more, entering the new house. I ascended the stairs, still no expression pulling across my face. I was going to have to tell my story tomorrow. Relive it all. Or, even worse, go back multiple times to relive it in parts. I didn't know which was worse. My head hung as I walked to my room, hearing the loud gunshots and sirens that blared from my brothers TV as I passed his bedroom. Shaking my head, I entered my room, shutting the door behind me. I walked over to the window, staring out at the bleak world in front of me. The pond I had thought to be so beautiful, casting his reflection back at me. The tree that had allowed me to fall asleep against it; it's bark now caked beneath my nails due to the nightmare.

Perhaps the therapist was not a bad idea. Perhaps tomorrow I could begin to start my life over...

Sorry for the bleak, short chapter. I promise, the next chapter things will start up for real. And the main question everyone wants to know~When will EJ appear? Well, I guess you'll just have to see :)

Please review if you want more!