Chapter: 5... Darkness

2 days later, 19 September 2034, Project Z

NICOLE P.O.V.

I sit in class unable to focus on anything. Constantly getting distracted, every time I catch myself I'm staring out of the window. 'I hate Sam constantly flirting with Alice . . . Why is she always the center of attention...' I was boiling. Yes... I am jealous , the darkness has been stirring in my insides for the past two days, Sam has been basically following her like a lost pup. Always talking about her, always asking how she's doing ... I am starting to hate her ... I know that's wrong I know it's not her fault, but if it wasn't for her Sam would still be the same as when I got to know him. I feel the darkness stirring in my insides again, a dark boiling rage gnawing at me. 'WHY AM I NEVER GOOD ENOUGH!?' My hands are balls of fury and my blood a boiling mess of darkness. Sam turns and winks at me, I wink back smiling, but my smile is a fake hard line that portraits my hate and rage.

"Class is over." The dull looking teacher announced. I sighed as I packed up slinging my bag over my shoulder then heading over to where Sam stood talking to a group of girls. I rolled my eyes, coming to stand right next to him. Sam slung his arm over my shoulders. I grin. 'Take that girls, I'm still the first lady.'

We head out together and he starts walking me home. Midway I stop the darkness completely consuming me. "Why?" I hiss softly.

"Why what?" Sam asks, staring at me.

I glare at him. "Why are you always flirting with other girls!?" I shouted.

Sam glares at me. "Since when do you have a claim on me?"

I stare at him. "Then what the hell do you call this then!!??"

Sam hissed grabbing my arm pulling me closer. "You want to belong to me?"

I nod hesitantly. "Fine, come to the field tonight, I'll meet you there, don't let the others know where you are going." with that Sam left.

I wish I had the brains back then to realize that I need to do everything in my power to stay away from him, to not go anywhere near him. And yet despite my instincts screaming at me to stay away I still did not listen...

I wandered home thinking of all the ways I could sneak out unnoticed and at the same time wondering what I have gotten myself into. My heart was racing, whether it was out of fear or excitement I had no idea. On one hand I wished I'd kept my mouth shut, on the other hand I wish tonight would come so he could be mine and only mine.

I finally reached the house with Alice waiting for me at the gate, Jayden stuck to her side like he has been since that night we went to the cinemas. My blood almost instantly boiled seeing her, all this is her fault, all this that happened today and whatever he is planning to do to me is because of HER. I HATE HER! I greeted her and Jayden then headed into the house. Just as I started heading up the stairs Leo called me.

"Yes Leo?" I answered boredly.

"Are you ok? You've been looking really down for the past two days now." I smile my new found fake smile.

"I am fine Leo just really tired and school is killing me mentally."

Leo hesitated but eventually added. "You know, if you need to talk I am always here for you."

My heart ached. He's always been so kind and gentle, why couldn't he have been Sam? No, he would never have taken an interest, he is way too hung up on Alice, even now after she said yes to Jayden, he is still trying his luck, she always has to ruin everything doesn't she? The darkness stirs and boils in my blood once again.

"Yeah... Thanks." I cut my answer short and headed upstairs.

I fell onto my bed, the darkness stirring and boiling dangerously inside me. All I feel is hate and rage. Alice is the cause of all my problems, this is her fault. Maybe I should make her pay one night, turn her into a hideous hag so no one could love or look at. I grin at the thought of her being left alone and everyone running after me. Alice wanders into the room smiling.

"So how was school Nicole?" She purred at me.

"Fine, thanks." I replied simply trying my best to keep the conversation short.

"Anything interesting happen?" she pushed.

"No." I tried shutting her down again.

"Something wrong?" She asked again.

I snapped. "YOU ARE WHAT'S WRONG! WANT ME TO SPELL IT OUT? I DON'T WANT TO TALK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I got up and stormed out.

"Nicole..." Her voice faded behind me as I left the room.

"I am going to town now guys ... I'll be back later." I announced.

"I'll come too, we need a few things from town anyway." Leo announced grabbing his wallet.

I nod and wait for him to reach me before heading out of the door with Leo hot on my heels. "So where do you want to go?" Leo asked once we were outside.

"Nowhere really, just not here." I say silently. Leo nodded and we started walking.

Leo and I first went to the supermarket to buy groceries then sat at a small frozen yogurt stand.

"What flavour do you want Nicole?" Leo asked pointing to the array of yummy looking frozen yogurts.

"Melon and Kiwi please." I nearly jumped out of my skin, with pure excitement.

Leo laughed. "Two please."

I blushed. "Why are you laughing at me?"

Leo smiled brightly. "Because you chose what I had in mind."

I laughed and headed to one of the placings they had available, it was actually very cute. two white fold up chairs, a small but comfortable white table and a white and yellow umbrella, on the table was a small vase with two light yellow roses in it. Pretty nice for a stand. Leo joined holding our cups of frozen yogurt.

"One for you and one for me." He said placing down our cups in their prospective places.

"Thank you Leo." I chirped.

"Pleasure is all mine Milady Nicole!" Leo teased... To be honest I wish I had noticed the pair of lilac eyes spying on us. If I had noticed them things might have turned out completely different from what was about to unfold within the next few hours...

"So Leo, how did they find out you and Alaric were brothers?" I knew about Alaric and what happened between him and Alice, but I never really found out how they could find out they were related.

"Well, they took DNA, the cure didn't work on our brains the way they had hoped, due to the decay, but to everyone's surprise our DNA was still perfectly intact. So people started taking DNA samples from all the ones that were cured, which was great thinking by the people administering the cure, since they brought families back together, and despite the fact that we don't remember our families, it still gave us some sort of purpose, unfortunately when they finally found our parents, they were so decayed even the cure cold not bring them back." Leo didn't sound sad or upset at all, which was understandable since He doesn't remember them, but this not remembering the past and not feeling anything about it made me feel so sympathetic towards him, sure I do not know who my parents were, but I still miss them and wish I could get to know them, I am sure they'd have been amazing.

Leo patted my head. "Sleepy head, you there?"

I giggle and nod. "Yes, sorry, I just feel sorry for you, I know how it feels to grow up without a past."

Leo smiled. "Don't, It's ok. I am guessing if I could remember the past I'd have never met you and Alice."

I blush and start eating my frozen yogurt, well more like "starting to melt''-melted, frozen yogurt. Leo smiled and dug into his. I couldn't help staring at him, he was so kind and caring, I always felt safe when he was around. This man was able to make me laugh when all I could do was cry. This man I will never be able to have, was the one my heart yearned for the most. I placed my empty cut on the table.

"That was great!!" I purred happily.

Leo smiled and got up to throw away our cups. "Can I come with you?" I asked to take my cup.

Leo grinned and nodded. We walked over to the trashcan and threw away our cups.

"Uhm ... Leo ..." I took a deep breath, I need to know, and I need to know this before I go after Sam tonight.

"Yes, Nicole?" Leo smiled down at me, his piercing blue eyes burning holes into me.

"W-Well, uhm." I sighed ... "I-I ..." I looked up at him and without thinking pulled him down, locking my lips to his, kissing him with all the unspoken emotions I have been feeling towards him. Leo wrapped his arms around me, kissing me back. Once we slowly broke the kiss Leo stepped back blushing almost as hard as I was.

"NICOLE!!" I heard a roar from behind me.

"S-S-Sam." I squacked.

Leo glared at Sam stepping in between us. "What do you want Sam?" Leo's voice was harsh, harsh in a way I have never heard before.

Sam hissed his lilac eyes glowing in rage. "Step aside from my girl."

"Your girl? You've been screwing every girl within a 100 mile radius while you were together with her, How exactly is she your girl?" Leo's eyes turned a bright steel colour as his rage soared.

Sam laughed, o, no ... Don' t tell him. "Sam! No!." I begged, receiving nothing but a merciless grin.

"O, she's my girl alright, she already agreed to being mine. Earlier today actually." Leo froze. No, no, no, Sam, please stop.

"Sam Stop!" Tears stung my eyes threatening to spring free.

"That's right, she agreed to it and even said she'll come meet me later tonight. Sneak away to come see me and become mine." Leo looked hurt and it killed me. I tenderly reached out my hand to his, but he pulled away.

"Nicole ..." His voice nearly killed me. "Don't worry you can go... I was just waiting for Alice to forget about Jayden anyway."

"W-What?" I stuttered.

"You heard him sweetheart. You were just a replacement for Alice." Sam rubbed salt in my wounds.

I hissed. "Leo ..." I turned him around, his expression telling me exactly what I needed to know. "Fine." I walked passed him to Sam who wrapped his one arm around my shoulders again. Leo was motionless, and quite frankly I couldn't care less. 'I will get you back one day Alice. I'll get you for ruining everything.'

Sam led me away from there towards their huge field, by the time we got there the sun was already low, our surrounding silhouetted in black. Something made me feel uneasy, what it was I could not tell you, but something was off. Sam's eyes seemingly glowed in the dark, the smile he wore sending chills down my spine.

"Let's take this way rather." Sam's words seemed to slither over me making my skin crawl, but foolishly enough I joined him ... Into the forested area we go...

I carefully walked behind Sam making sure not to scrape myself or fall in anyway I could. It was then that all hell broke loose...

Sam grabbed my arm and shoved me to the ground, tying my hands together. Sam laughed when I tried to struggle loose, doing my best to fight back. "Come on sweetheart, this is what you asked for, to be mine, but first you need to be taught a lesson for going to other men behind my back." His tone dropped to a chilling, murderous tone.

I screamed, still doing my best to fight him off. Sam laughed louder. "Scream Nicole! Scream! Let me hear your terror, Scream for me!" Sam ripped my clothes from my body.

"Sam please! Please stop!" I cried loudly as he started dragging me to the nearest tree.

Sam ignored me as he tied me to the tree, singing what sounded like a lullaby.

"Little girl, little girl, how far till you break. Little girl, little girl how long till you fall. How long till darkness swallows your eyes. How far till your body goes limp. Little girl, little girl..."

'Leo... Please... Please save me.' Sam came closer to me stuffing a part of my ripped clothing into my mouth. 'Please!' I pleaded mentally. Sam grinned evilly as he started unzipping his pants. Tears streamed down my face. 'Please no ... Please ... LEO!' I shook my head, but to no avail... He raped me... Over and over again... An endless torture that lasted for what felt like hours...

"Nicole!" Leo's voice sounded in the distance. "Nicole! Where are you!?" He screamed.

Sam grinned. "Finally." He sunk his teeth into my neck. 'LEO! I'M HERE! I'M RIGHT HERE! PLEASE!'

"NICOLE!" Leo screamed as he finally found us. Sam stepped away grabbing his blade.

"So you finally came to join the party." Sam hissed.

My head was swimming and my eyes were darkening. "L..." The clothing stopped my words. I watched as Sam ran up to Leo with his blade, Leo moved clear, but somehow still got nicked in the arm. I blacked out...

"Nicole!" That's Leo's voice. "Nicole, please wake up!"

I slowly opened my eyes. "L-Leo..." I whispered softly.

Leo hugged me close to him stroking my hair. "I-I'm sorry Nicole." His voice broke.

I nuzzled into him. "L-Leo ..." It lightly started raining the pitter patter softly coo-ing me to rest.

"Nicole ... Please don't leave me, I'm sorry, I never meant it...." I sshhh'ed him before he could say something else. I smiled. "You came ..." Leo kissed me tenderly. "I'm so happy you came." Everything went pitch black ... 'I'm so cold.' ... "NICOLE!" ... 'Leo, I'm sorry.'...