A/N:

Hi, again. So, I know the first two chapters are a little rough. I'm not the best at beginnings but I promise as I get further into the book it will hopefully you think it will get better and better. ALSO: I am posting one (maybe two) chapters today, even though it isn't Thursday, just to get it started. I think the more chapters there are, the more people are attracted. Well don't give up on me yet!

-Jules

Chapter Three: Falling in Hate

Sam POV

I flinched awake when a scream punctured my ears. I fell off the futon with a loud thump and lay on the floor, heart racing. I propped myself up on my elbows, rubbing my eyes tiredly. I heard gasping and crying and realized it was coming from Jesse.

"Jesse?" I whispered. The digital clock said it was nine in the morning, so at least we got a decent amount of sleep. I pushed myself up off the ground and made my way to the bed. I reached over and felt Jesse's heated wrist. I gently grabbed both her wrists to stop her from thrashing while I yelled out her name.

"Jesse. Jesse, wake up. Jess, c'mon." Jesse mumbled something incoherently. I didn't really understand how she was having nightmares if she didn't remember anything… Then Jesse flew awake, gasping, her blue eyes wide with fright, brown hair plastered to her face. She really looked helpless and I wasn't sure what to do. I saw her begin to panic at the sight of me, eyes widening more, breathing halted, fear clouding her vision- but eventually she realized the situation and ripped her wrists from my hands, fuming.

"Don't touch me." She hissed. I was taken aback at her coldness, surprised to her reaction. She recovered remarkably fast.

"Jess, you were having a nightmare, I just thought-"

"I'm fine." She spat angrily before leaping off the bed, ripping the door open so hard it hit the other wall with a house shaking bang, and sprinted off.

"Shit." I whispered to myself before taking off after her. When I left the bedroom, I noted to myself at how the lights were on (censored by motion?) all the time. There were no light switches. Wow, I get distracted easily. I shook my head and jogged into the living room to see Jesse whipping her head around, searching desperately for an exit. There were tears running down her cheeks but she wasn't making a sound. Well, if you didn't count her panicked breathing.

"Jess, calm down-" I tried to calm her down but she cut me off with a glare and a heavy slew of words.

"Look, pretty boy. Don't call me Jess, don't get close to me, and don't touch or talk to me. Got it?" Her eyes were wide and wild. She darted away from me and sprung to the window, reaching her fist back-

"No!" I shouted at her, jumping over the table and grabbing her wrist lightly. "Remember last time?" I gestured to her wounded hand and instead of calming down she let out a frustrated scream and began kicking, hitting, clawing, biting- the whole nine-yards. I grabbed both her wrists and pinned her against the wall. She continued to thrash and sob and screech, but I held on. Eventually she would tire out, then maybe she would be a little more reasonable. When she did go limp, I held up by her wrists as she slumped into me. I carried/dragged her over to the couch and set her down. I sat at the other end of the couch and watched her bury her head in her hands, mumbling to herself... or me.

"I can't do this. I can't be caged. I need to get out of here." I could barely hear her muttering, but I caught on.

"Jess," I decided to ignore her request. "we can't right now, okay? But I promise you, when we get even the tiniest glimpse of a way out of here, we'll be out and… well, out." Wow. I sure was reassuring. She sat there shaking for a minute before freezing, hands dragging down her panic-stricken face. The next thing I knew she was straddling me, wrapping her arms around my neck and burying her face into my shoulder. I froze, hands in the air while she clung to me. Is she bipolar or something?

"I really hate you." She whispered, her warm breath tickling my neck. I couldn't help but smile.

"I know." I relaxed and gently rubbed her back. She just needed some reassuring and she'd be back to her douche-self in no time. Eventually her quick breaths turned into soft snores. I laughed and noted to make fun of her later for snoring. I awkwardly picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, carefully placing her on the bed and scampering away. Things were… weird. I barely knew this girl and I already found myself already hugging her? Carrying her? Caring about her? What the heck.

I shuffled into the kitchen, stomach snarling in want of food. I stared longingly at the fridge, unsure of whether I should investigate. I sighed, it's just a fridge. I pulled it open and gasped. Food. So. Much. Food. I opened the freezer and saw a bunch of frozen meals. At least I didn't have to cook anything, I suck at cooking. I couldn't even make water. I pulled out a frozen microwaveable pizza and set it on the counter while I searched for plates. I opened the cupboard closest to me. It conveniently had a bunch of nice looking black and white plates. I pulled one out and prepared the pizza, popping it into the microwave to heat it up. I sat at the island on a stool, mindlessly shoving pizza into my mouth.

After wandering around and eventually finding a garbage can to dump out the extras, I found myself sprawled on the couch, my arm lying lazily across my stomach. I was tired. But there was no way I was going to sleep after Jess had her freak out. I wasn't going to risk her getting hurt again, no matter how much she pissed me off. I tapped my fingers to a random beat on my leg, staring at the fake window. I scooped up the remote and changed it to winter, but it was different this time. The trees were swaying, birds flew across the sky, snow slowly floated down. I sat up and stared dreamily. I wish I remembered times in the snow. There were woods that a deer, or doe, emerged from, snow dotting its black muzzle. I shot up and raced to the window, clutching the sill. The doe snorted and took off. My heart thumped in my chest. Animals. I picked at my brain for anything, just anything.

One thing was for sure, something in my past had to do with animals.

Was I a vet? Did I do something to an animal? Did I have one? I searched my brain for anything and came up with nothing. I growled in frustration and punched the pillow before standing up and ripping the blinds closed over the window. I hated, absolutely despised, not being able to remember something. I remembered everything, so why- and how- was my memory just gone? And why did it happen to Jesse too?

"God damnit." I spat.

You and your mate are progressing well. We would appreciate it if you would bond quicker, but please do whatever is necessary to create and solidify the relationship. We do what we can to make this as easy and painless as possible. Thank you.

I gaped at the ceiling before recomposing myself. I calmed my temper down and decided to try to get some answers.

"Why are we here? And why us?" I made sure not to list all my questions, just a couple at a time. A couple minutes later the voice responded.

We chose you because we found the both of you as compatible mates. You are here to form a relationship and create a bond with your partner.

Seriously? Was this thing stupid, or…?

"Yes, but why? Why do we have to do that?" Again, another couple minutes went by until it replied.

Classified. Please continue to cooperate and privileges will be given. Thank you, and enjoy the rest of your day.

Silence. I quietly fumed, pissed that the stupid voice was refusing to give me answers. I also did not like the fact that I was being told nothing, that I know nothing, and that I have no idea what is going on. But, maybe if I go along with it, maybe it- or they- will let us go. I slumped back onto the couch and pondered some things. If I did find a way out, would I risk bringing her too? Should I help Jesse? I mean, I barely know her. I was torn out of my ponderings when I saw an exhausted Jesse emerge from the doorway to the hallway. Her hair was all over the place, eyes squinted in that tired- I-just-woke-up-leave-me-the-hell-alone way. She rubbed her eyes and just stood there. Eventually her eyes opened completely and were narrowed on me.

"How long have you been awake?" She hissed. Jesus Christ, she must be bipolar.

"Uh, well since you passed out? About an hour or so." Her eyes narrowed a little more and her head tilted to the side.

"I passed out? You passed out first." She looked extremely confused.

"Well, yeah. That was last night. But when you woke up and-"

"I never woke up moron." She spat, her eyes were wide and untrusting with her eyebrows raised like that. I snorted. Did she not remember flipping her lid?

"Um, yeah you did. Remember? Freaking out? Crying? Passing out?" I examined her face as it twisted in confusion.

"Stop screwing with me!" She looked a little scared now. I shook my head and looked down.

"Do you not remember waking up and freaking out? I calmed you down and you hugged me and stuff. Then you kind of passed out and I put you back in bed." Her nose scrunched up in a cute way- uh, no. Not cute. Gross way. Anyway…

"Stop screwing with me. I don't let people screw with me." She threw me one last hateful look before stalking off to the chair in the corner, plopping down in it in disgust. She stared at her feet for a while- refusing to look at me.

"If you're hungry there's food in the fridge. I'm going to take a shower." I stood up and shuffled over to the hallway, feeling her staring rays of caution into my back. I shook it off and slid into the bathroom, closing and locking the door. I decided to look for clothes since I felt disgusting in these sweats. I opened the closet and there were tons of clothes. The top two racks were mine I was guessing- sweats, tees, socks, boxers, jeans, and shorts. The bottom two must be Jesse's- tees, sweats, jeans, socks, underwear, bras, tank tops, and shorts. Wow. I peeked at the size on the shirt and sweats I was wearing and compared it to the others. Just my size. Creepy. I decided to worry about that later.

I turned the shower on and undressed myself before sliding into the shower. The cold water poured off me but I barely felt it. All of this was just so weird. Just- I wish I knew what I was doing. And, you know, where and who I was.