Hello all! I hope you are all still with me on this. With school being out and onto college, all I've really got going on right now is work. Unfortunately, I can't afford internet right now at home. So I will be writing there and then going to the local coffee shop to upload. I'd really like to get back to my chapter a week thing I had going on before.
In the meantime, I always love and appreciate everyone's reviews and comments!

Chapter 5

Assassin... Murderer... Monster...

He awoke with a start, sweat dripping down his forehead. His heart was racing, and he gasped for air, trying to rid himself of the darkness he felt suffocated by.

The dreams were back once more.

He felt trapped, and was sick to his stomach. He clenched it, trying not to hurl from the inner turmoil that was making him ill. And those haunting voices just wouldn't leave him alone.

Assassin... Murderer... Monster...

There they were again. A reminder of the everyday suffering he had to endure. And yes, it was all his fault.

He pushed the one blanket that he had away, standing up to get rid of the pressure that was coming down on him. He needed to walk it off. Badly. Because if he didn't...well, he wasn't going to consider that option.

Assassin... Murderer... Monster...

A need started to rise within him. One of anger; at the past situation..and at himself. He stumbled and leaned against the wall for support, wishing more than anything to escape from it all.

Why?

Assassin... Murderer... Monster...

He yelled in frustration, not caring who heard him. It had been a long damn week and somehow he knew that more were to follow. For him, it would have been so easy to give up..to overdose or simply just let his heart break once more, but he didn't. The answer? Simple. In a strange way he enjoyed who he had become. And after everything, it would not break him down now.

Assassin...Murderer... Monster...

So Graverobber pushed on-out into the familiar tunnels of bodies and dirt under the city, which only few knew how to navigate. The voices echoed behind him, taunting him, calling him, and reaching out to him...

It was times like these when Graverobber felt most comforted by the sounds of his voice. Yes, he may be crazy, but who was there to judge? He would forever be alone; no matter how many Scalpel Sluts begged for his company, they wouldn't fill the gaping hole in his chest.

"Where did my lover go?"

A question that haunted him, but memories that strangely soothed him. All except one.

The Dream.

"It's the past I must escape."

His pace quickened as he became more anxious to reach his destination..and to break free from all that haunted him.

"My burdens I can't erase."

Finally, fresh air. Or at least, not as suffocating. The cemetery beckoned him. Although he was used to his nightly routines in places quite similar to this one, there was something unique about this cemetery; he never searched for victims at this location to supply his Zydrate surplus. Why? He smiled sadly at the thought, searching for a grave that hid from all the rest.

"The girl that I might have saved."

Yes! This was the one. Graverobber fell to his knees, looking down in reminiscence. It had been a long time since he had last visited it, for he preferred to keep the dark past out of his mind. But right now, he felt as if there were no other options.

"Darling I need you now."

His hand caressed the marble stone, the name engraved staring back at him with cold eyes.

"Look what I've become."

He pulled back, realizing that his life was really quite a mess compared to how it used to be. His hand fingered one of the vials at his side. Yes, a mess of a life..but at least a simple one. He chuckled softly, knowing that the years had no doubt changed him.

And then, a soft sound to the left of him. He crouched, hands ready to spring into a fight-or push off into a run-if need be.

But it was not who he had expected.

Instead of a GENEcop with weaponry pointed this way, he spotted her.

His heart caught in his throat, remembering just the other night after the destruction of Geneco:

He watched as she escaped into the night, but he was curious..he wanted to know more. Plus, she could need help. After all, he couldn't just allow a girl go off on her own, could he? Never mind the fact that she just kicked all of the GENEcops butts right in front of his eyes with no one aiding her...

Well, screw it; he decided to follow. Stealthily-at least he thought. It wasn't long before she turned on him, and threw his body against the wall, a knife at his throat.

His hands went up in defense, watching her eyes with his-a look of amusement on his face.

"Give me one reason right now why I shouldn't just slit your throat without question."

"That darling, would be an unwise choice." In one quick move he grabbed her wrist, twisting it behind her back. The knife fell from her hand as her muscles locked.

"Who are you?" She breathed, a tone of anger on her lips. Graverobber had pushed her down to the filthy street, and she was now looking up at him, completely vulnerable to his grasp. But she didn't show any sign of fear or desperation. Her eyes were hard; her feelings completely closed. Except for one thing; curiosity. Just how had this mere man bested her so easily, with so much strength?

Graverobber didn't answer her question, not at first. For there was a lot to be said behind that question. Who he was, was indeed a mystery to most. "Does it matter?" He silently responded "I believe both you and I are on the same side, love. Impressive, what you did to Geneco. An act that I have dreamed about for years, you accomplished in just one night." Their gaze did not falter, and he knew from the reaction to his words that in some way she was attracted to him-her eyes had released something behind them for just one second. He smiled and gently let go of her, holding out a hand.

She ignored the help, standing up slowly on her own. Still, their eyes did not look away from each other.

"Names Graves." He pulled back his hand, flicking it on the knob of one of his blue vials. An old habit of his.

Her head slowly nodded, accepting his attempt at an apology but not returning the favor. "Your name?" He inquired.

She chuckled. "Yeah, right. That type of information is not handed out for free." Irritation sparked in her eyes, and he knew it was because he was stronger than her, that in some way she had been at the mercy of a man whom she knew nothing about. Still, Graverobber was amazed at her ability to hold her own so well.

"Well then, Shady-Woman-of-the-Night, why would someone like you be attacking a former company who may have saved your life? Perhaps someone didn't pay their dues?" He raised an eyebrow, curious as to what she was really up to.

She scoffed, eyes burning with more anger than before. "What makes you think I've had surgery before? Just because everyone else in the world has, doesn't mean I'm one of them." She stepped closer to Graves, attempting to be threatening, but still keeping her distance. She was now closer to the alleyway, where light was flooding in from the main streets. It was here when he noticed just how beautiful she was...and also the scars that lined her face.

They were quite light, and not noticeable at first sight. But there they were, plain for him to see, where the two crossed over her right eye, which was of slightly different color than the other. They were both green, but the right was of slight opaqueness, as if it had been damaged in whatever accident that caused the scars.

She watched him scrutinize her, and no self conscious came from it. Her eyes narrowed, and mouth opened as if she was about to say something, but suddenly sirens came from behind him. As her eyes looked up to the sound, Graverobber turned around to meet it. Several more GENEcop vehicles were arriving from the scene, obviously scanning the streets for the attacker, issuing out an immediate curfew for the whole city.

It was interesting really, how much chaos she had created. Graves wanted to thank her for finally turning up some excitement in the town, since nothing much had happened since the Opera Incident a year and a half ago.

Indeed...he would have liked to thank her, if she hadn't disappeared when he turned around once more, leaving him alone yet again in the dark.