Thanks for the awesome reviews. Seriously, who wants to kill Rufus right now? Enough with the ranting. Here's the next chapter.

Disclaimer: Is it really necessary?

True Love

Light. The opposite of darkness. Sadly for Jerome darkness was the only thing he knew. For one thing the light hurts in the morning. And the light wasn't the only thing that was hurting that morning. In fact that morning Jerome was in a lot of pain. Sitting up was a challenge. Pain shot through his body like an electric current. It hurt so much that he fell back into the darkness.

The second time he came around it must have been noon. Adjusting to the light, Jerome looked at his surroundings. He was truly trapped and Rufus was nowhere to be seen. His body was weak, he was hungry, and his throat begged for water. Pain was the only thing he was feeling. He shivered. The ground was cold and he felt sick. He wished he was having Trudy's delicious, warm, chicken soup. His stomach growled. How many days has he been out? What day is it? About his house mates? What about...? Mara! Is she okay? Is she safe? Did Rufus get her? Feeling scared wasn't something that Jerome hadn't felt in a long time. Tiredness came over him and fell back into the never-ending darkness.

The final time waking up hurt the most. His teeth hurt, his ears were ringing. His head was pounding; his body was in pain. To put it simply, he was in pain. His mouth and throat were dry. Everything around was blurry. Jerome tried to stand but fell back on some boxes. He wished to be outside. He wanted the sun to be shining on his face. He missed a lot of things. Well, except his family. They could rot in hell, like they left him rotting.

Jerome had never felt such pain. Not since he was left at Anubis House when his dad left him there at the age of 5. He still hate that git of a father. His heart hurt. Anubis felt like a distant memory. Being in the warehouse brought back horrid memories of his horrible childhood. Jerome shook the memories that he had locked away and put them back in a mental box with a key lock, combination lock, and a wall of fire.

The warehouse was old, dingy, and nasty. Boxes were scattered around on the floor and stacked high. It was painful just to stand up and every step he took was killing him. After taking just three steps he fell to the ground ad fell into darkness. He's been doing a lot of that lately.

"Ah!" Mara shouted. She had felt a loud pang in her heart. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Mara leaped out of bed, got dressed for school and ran down the stairs.

Downstairs, the Anubis residents were quiet. Patricia quietly talked to Joy. Amber looked at Alfie with concern (a rarity for her) and Alfie was sulking. Fabian looked like he was in the midst of thinking up a plan. Mick, her boyfriend, as eating away. Mara took her seat next to Mick and Joy. Then Nina walked in. She was usually sunshiny, but she had a face that was clearly in a distraught shape and her eyes showed was thinking a million things. She smiled sympathetically at Mara. After what Nina told her last night, she definitely understood her.

Breakfast was quiet all except Mick, who was munching loudly. Everyone stared.

"What?" he asked.

The Anubis kids shook their heads, got up and were ready for school. Mara just stood up and didn't even look at Mick. Mick noticed, stood up, and ran after Mara. What was up with his girlfriend? She was already out the door and walking at a fast and comfortable pace.

"Babes! Mara! Mars! Wait up!" Mick yelled at the girl. Mara didn't even look back instead she called towards Nina and Fabian.

"Nina, Fabian!" The two people in question turned around, stopped and allowed her to catch up with them. And for some reason, it felt right to Mara, that she wasn't around Mick. But yet she still couldn't get rid of that pang in her heart.

Mick's jaw dropped. Was he just-just re-re-rejected! By his own girlfriend, nonetheless.

"What's the matter, Mick? Just been rejected by your own girlfriend?" Patricia sneered.

"What's it to you, Williamson?" Mick snapped.

The goth pixie chuckled. "Nothing." She walked away with a silent Joy walking directly behind her, who slightly looked at Mick and turned away. This day was confusing beyond means for Mick. And with that in mind he walked to class.

"Ugh!" Jerome mumbled.

"Well, well. The zombie lives, for now," Rufus chuckled humorlessly. Jerome said nothing and just bit back a curse. He was ready to release a very colorful vocabulary on this freak.

"Here. Food. Eat fast, we'll be leaving shortly." Jerome looked at the food and then threw it across the room. Most people would've looked at him crazily and would've eaten the food. However, Jerome probably guessed that Rufus drugged the drink or something.

"Oh, I generously get your insolent self food, out of my own money and you refuse? Now is that any way to treat your host?" Rufus asked mockingly.

"How do I know you didn't poison the food or spike the drink? Huh?" Jerome countered.

"You don't."

"Well, then, now what, you plan to kill me?"

"No, that's later." Jerome's eyes widened. "Ha! That got your attention. Now let's go. We're wasting daylight."

"Where are we going?"

"Just follow. Don't... well the girl get's it. That's right. What was her name, Mara? It would be a shame to to see her lovely face killed, no?"

"You sick freak! Don't you dare touch her!" his pent up feelings of hatred and love were coming out.

"Oh, I won't, but one of my guys will. Do you know a guy named 'The Raven?' He will be glad to rid of her. So here's your choice, Jerome. Come with me or the girl dies. Your choice."

Jerome felt a loud and heavy pang hit his heart as the vision of a dead Mara came to his mind. Did he really love Mara that much to risk his life for her? No, reminded himself. Mara is the reason he's living now. Love was much stronger than he was, but if meant making sure Mara was safe, then maybe, just maybe this 'love' could help.

"I'll go, but Mara doesn't get hurt. Understand?"

"Oh, I understand, but the girl won't get hurt as long as you cooperate. Now, come Jerome, we things to do." Rufus took out a needle and stuck in Jerome's arm.

"Ah!" Jerome screamed.

"Let's go," Rufus snapped.

Jerome felt numb and weak. His knees wobbled, his vision blurry, and felt a cold hand grab him by the neck, throw him the back of the car. The last thing he saw and felt was the sun's warm rays and loud pang in his heart. Then everything turned to black. The things that people do love when it's true. And nothing stands in the way of true love and that's a fact.

Two chapters in one day? New record for me! Yay! So Mara is finally branching off from Mick and the Jara-ness comes rolling in. Raise your hand if you like, no love, that Jerome admits he loves Mara, for real. Oh, while I was doing the end I could imagine the dramatic music in the House of Anubis when a main character gets in trouble, like when Victor is around and almost finds the Sibuna gang or when Jerome (sorry) stole Alfie's puzzle piece in House of Pests/Betrayal.

Anyway, I want you to tell me how I did. Bad? Great? Or a fail? Tell me by... leaving a review!