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tác giả of 10 Stories

There's some art work for this fic here: .

Check that shizzle out! It is amazing Praise her please! :D

Now on with the fic...

"How many thêm times do I have to tell you, Naomi? Leave this on!" Emily calls from the kitchen.

"And how many thêm times do I have to tell bạn it's shit?" Naomi calls back from the living room, legs propped up on the table, flicking the channel over.

"I like it, Naoms." Emily appears at the door, leaning on the frame, pouting at the peroxide blonde. "Please, for me?"

"Oh, fuck sake." Naomi mutters, she knows she's going to cave. "Fine! But bạn better sit here and watch it then." Naomi pats the không gian on the sofa tiếp theo to her and looks at Emily expectantly. Emily walks over and sits in the space, leaning in to the comfort of Naomi's touch.

"Thanks, babe."

"I tình yêu you."

"I tình yêu you, too, Emily..."

It's a room, just an ordinary room, bạn don't know where it is hoặc how long you've been there but you're here. bạn look around, some cheap hotel, bed, draws, TV on a small desk, bathroom, nothing unusual. bạn press your hand against your forehead and try to remember like bạn do every time this happens, bạn can't though. It's not your fault, it's a medical condition. Ever since the incident bạn can't make new memories, you're not completely fucked though bạn still have your old ones, still know who bạn are, just can't remember the now. bạn shift all your weight and push up off the bed, take another glance around the room before going through things, bạn check the draws, nothing there, the wardrobe, just clothes, the bathroom; typical bathroom things. Nothing. "Fuck." bạn mutter and sigh.

bạn slowly walk over to the large mirror on the inside of the wardrobe door and through your hàng đầu, đầu trang over your head, standing in your bra, looking at your reflection. The black ink mares your sink, taints it permanently, your fingers gently run over your old ones, the ones bạn can tell have been there for a while because they're faded a bit. "Find him and kill him." bạn read aloud as your finger runs over the one over your chest. Your hand moves down and moves over the tiếp theo one. "John _ raped and killed my wife." And finally your hand trails down to the most gần đây one. "Don't trust anyone." You've obviously recently had a run in with someone that bạn can't trust but unfortunately can't remember it. bạn try to, but it's just not there. You're hand reaches into your bag that bạn carry on your back and bạn pull out some pictures, bạn flick through them. Hillside motel, must be where you're staying. Cook; don't know what to make of him. That's what's scribbled on the back of the picture of the boisterous boy. bạn flick to the tiếp theo one; Effy, she'll help bạn to her own end. Don't trust her too much. bạn try the other pouch on the bag and pull out a couple of pieces of paper, scan them and then drop the others when bạn find the newest one, bạn can tell from the ink, when bạn can't remember anything bạn learn to trust your own handwriting. "Meet Effy at Cassie's Cafe at 12?" bạn flick back to the card of her and reread it: she'll help bạn to her own end. Don't trust her too much.

bạn stop outside Cassie's cafe. It's a dingy little place on the corner of the scummier end of Bristol, bạn reach into your pocket and pull out the note again. Meet Effy at Cassie's Cafe at 12. bạn have to do this, have constant reminders of your objective otherwise bạn forget what you're doing, that's part of your condition. bạn pull out the các bức ảnh to remind yourself of her appearance again and then push open your car door, stepping out and fixing your camera strap over your shoulder. Nothing bạn need a picture of here.

bạn push open the door to the cafe and step inside, your eyes running over its occupants and picking out the face from the photo, she's at the back, facing away from bạn with a coffee in front of her. bạn hesitantly make your way over, you're always hesitant because bạn can't remember anyone hoặc anything, better an toàn, két an toàn than sorry. bạn slide into the ghế, chỗ ngồi across from her and put your camera down on the table. "...Effy...right?" bạn always get this moment of panic when bạn assume something because in reality bạn know nothing.

"Hello, Naomi." Her voice is cool and very unnerving but bạn don't let it phase you. She clearly knows you, that's good enough. "You're late."

"Takes me a while to adjust. I've told bạn about my condition, right?" bạn reply.

"Yes, bạn can't remember anything. bạn don't remember me?" She asks and bạn shake your head, no, she smiles. "Okay, well, that's shit."

"It is." A silence falls over the pair of bạn and Effy just sips at her coffee. Makes no effort to lift the silence. "I'm sorry...but...err...why am I meeting you?"

"You arranged it bạn tell me."

"Well, I..."

"Can't remember?"

bạn laugh. "Well, no."

"You're here because bạn asked me to find someone for you." Effy pushes a brown envelope towards bạn over the table, bạn reach out and grab it, pull it towards you, don't open it though, not here. bạn look up at her. "You've already paid me for it." She các câu trả lời before bạn can ask and bạn nod.

"Is this...?"

"The guy who killed her?" Your jaw clenches. "I don't know," She sparks up a fag. "Maybe it is, all I know is bạn asked me to find him. See bạn around, Naomi." And then she's gone and you're left sitting alone at a booth in Cassie's cafe. bạn scramble into your pocket and write in big letters on the envelope 'Must read; possibly HIM.'.

"Babe bạn call out? Babe what's wrong?"

When bạn get back to your room you've forgotten where you've come from, bạn scratch the back of your head as bạn sit down tiếp theo to the window on a creaky old chair. bạn go through your pockets and pull out the brown envelope, bạn don't know where it's come from but bạn recognise your nghề viết văn on the front of it; Must read; possibly HIM. You're hands tear the envelope open eagerly and bạn pull out the contents, an ammo magazine and a small bottle of liquid come out first, bạn place the brown envelope down on the bàn and pick up the mag, its for the gun bạn keep in your bag, bạn recognise the make label on the side and bạn always check your gun whenever bạn forget, not because bạn know bạn have it but to see what bạn do have. The tiếp theo is a small bottle of liquid, bạn don't know what it is, looks like water to bạn so bạn place it to the side and press your hand down on the envelope, smiling when bạn feel some paper inside, bạn reach inside and remove it, placing it on the bàn in front of bạn and scanning it with your eyes.

"John Davies." bạn read aloud as bạn look over the picture of a man with black hair and blue eyes. bạn pull your sleeve up to your elbow and look at the hình xăm bạn have there. Fact 1: Male.

"Check."

Fact 2: White.

"Check."

Fact 3: First name John.

"Check."

Fact 4: Access to Drugs.

bạn don't know that one. bạn only know that because Emily was drugged when it happened, that was in the report, bạn had a friend that got bạn it, well, that's what it says on hàng đầu, đầu trang of the report, bạn wrote it, so you'll never know. bạn shake your head and go back to the sheet. It has his address, age, licence plate number, height. Everything bạn need to know, bạn reach into the envelope one thêm time and find a scrap of paper at the bottom. bạn left these at mine the other night. Effy. bạn raise your eyebrows, bạn stayed at hers? bạn try not to think about that and go back to what bạn know. What bạn do know is that there is a guy, he might not be your guy, but bạn wanted him and he could be important. bạn reach for your pen and write on the back of the sheet; find him, he has something bạn need. And then bạn vòng tròn the address.

bạn don't know what you're doing when bạn pull up at the address on the back of the paper. You're eyes run over the paper and then bạn pull up your sleeves to look at the tattoos. bạn open the car door and walk up to the house, knocking briskly. bạn look over the red door and the glossy blue paint that coats the house and try to fit this guy into the image of John; it doesn't fit, but nothing ever fucking fits so bạn stand patiently and wait for the door to be answered. It doesn't have a creak like most doors have when it opens so bạn assume it must be new. The man from the bức ảnh sticks his head out. "John Davies?"

"Yeah? What can I do for you?" He pushes the door the rest of the way open and stands on the porch. bạn look him up and down. He's nothing special, not overly built but has some muscle on him and is reasonably tall, other than that he looks pretty normal to you.

"Can I come in?" bạn ask.

"Sure." He pushes open the door and lets bạn inside. There's a picture frame of him and his family as soon as bạn walk in the door, two kids and a wife, it doesn't fit. The house itself is neat and well groomed, bạn look hard to find something out of place hoặc a spec of dirt but nothing catches your eye. He takes bạn into the living room and gestures for bạn to sit down, bạn do in the red single chair opposite the 42 inch TV. He's well off. "So, what can I do for you, Miss..?"

"Campbell, Naomi Campbell."

He stifles a laugh. "Really?"

"Yeah, really."

"That's unfortunate."

"Trust me, I know."

"Anyway," He coughs into his hand. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Yeah..." There's never an easy way to approach this. "Do bạn know who I am?"

"No."

"So, we've never met before?"

He glances away from her nervously. "Not that I can...er...remember."

"Do bạn know someone called Emily Fitch?"

"Look, what's this all about?"

"Do bạn know her, yes hoặc no?"

"Yeah, I think so. Cute little redhead? Went to Roundview college with my sister?"

"Did bạn do it?" bạn can't be sure, so bạn just have to risk it.

"Do what?" He doesn't know hoặc he pretends he doesn't so there's only one way bạn can find out. bạn pull out your gun and point it at his chest.

"Whoa! What the fuck is going on?" He asks in panic.

"You knew Emily, yes?"

"Yeah."

"Did bạn know that Emily Fitch died last year?"

"What? No. I'm sorry. I didn't know her personally." He's calmer than he should e for someone with a gun pointed at him, but bạn know from experience, from before the incident that people can put on fronts, so your grip tightens.

"She was raped and killed in her home."

"I..."

"By a man named John. John Davies?"

"What? No, I couldn't...I wouldn't...I have a family. I never knew the girl." bạn walk over and press the gun against his temple.

"Did bạn fucking do it?" Your voice breaks as bạn press it against his head. His eyes di chuyển in to focus on the gun as much as he can. "Did you!"

"No!"

"Naomikins!" The doors open and a boisterous male is standing in the door way donning a neatly worn polo áo sơ mi and jeans. "What the fuck are bạn doing?"

"Who the fuck are you?" The gun moves to point at him. He knows you, he knows your name.

"Whoa, back off, blondie, just reach back there into your pockets and pull out those pictures of yours and take a look, then get back to me, yeah?" Your other hand hesitantly complies with what he says, snaking into your pocket and going through the pictures one bởi one until bạn find the one with his face on it. Cook; don't know what to make of him.

"Cook?"

"That's right, Naomikins."

"How do I know you?"

"Don't worry, blondie, I know about your condition. Now how about we all sit down and have a cuppa, yeah? This ain't your man. Hell this guys name ain't even John!"

"What? But I've got..." bạn pull out the envelope and Cook's already taking it from your hands and scanning it.

"Who the fuck gave bạn this?"

"Cook?" John calls.

"Shut the fuck up for a một giây mate. Who gave bạn this Naomi?" bạn have to go through your pockets for a while but bạn find and name and give it to Cook. "Fuck, man. Your sister gave her this? What have bạn done to piss her off, Tone?" He turns towards the black haired male.

"Your names Tony?" bạn ask and he nods. "Then why did bạn reply to John?"

"My sister."

"What about her?"

"I'm hiding from her."

"Oh." You'll need to write this down at some point.

"I have a condition, Tony, where I can't remember things after a while. I can remember everything before my 'accident', but not after, so can we make this short. Only so much I can write down." bạn tell him and motion with the note pad and pen in your hand for extra effect.

"Sure..." Tony trails off slowly, like he hasn't quite registered yet what she's said. His eyes finally stop on her. "My sister is trying to kill me."

"Why?" You're very blunt, always have been.

"Naomikins let the man tell the story!" Cook interrupts. bạn scowl at him.

"My sister is trying to kill me because she believes that I owe her money."

"For what?"

"Drugs." Of course, bạn think, because it's always about drugs and money. Well, that's what films tell bạn anyway. So, bạn write down drugs and money from Effy and then wait for more. "It was an incident, if happened a while back, this guy contacted us saying that he would send us twice the amount of booze we order from his company, sounds good, right?" bạn nod. "Too bad I'm too gullible for my own good, I like to see the good in everyone so I did just that but what I didn't know."

"Oh, and here's the corker." Cook slaps his arm chair excitedly, bạn glance at him and force the smile fighting its way to the surface back down. No time for smiles. bạn don't remember smiling recently. bạn know the feeling of your lips moving into the position and the sound of the laughter erupting from your throat but bạn don't have the emotion. The joy. It's just gone.

"That's one way to put it." Tony nods but he doesn't smile, doesn't share Cooks excitement. "You see the thing is that Effy had a new boyfriend at the time and I didn't know that because she'd never đã đưa ý kiến anything to me and she..."

"She did bạn over." bạn say with realisation and scribble that down quickly. bạn don't know if bạn can trust Effy at all now. What bạn wrote on the card was accurate but nowhere near this accurate.

"Yeah...she planned it all. Freddie was going to do me for five grand but I clocked on she left a message on my answer phone one ngày that was meant for him and after that I just pieced the rest of it together. I confronted her and she hit me with an ashtray, after that I've been running. But I've been doing some research as well and it gets worse. bạn see, Freddie's a heroin addict, a real bad one, abuses both methadone and the real stuff at the same time. He ordered a shit load of drugs and was going to pay the debt off with the money he was going to steal from me. I shut down the bar and have been moving around ever since."

"Fuck me. Is she still really looking for you?" bạn ask. bạn just realised that you've been with this manipulative chó cái, bitch earlier.

"She bumped into Cook and I five months cách đây and let's just say it wasn't pretty. If I didn't have Cook there to back me up at the time they'd have found a way to do whatever they want to do to me right then and there." Tony's looking down at his hand now and bạn feel sorry for the bloke. I'm sure he's done some shit stuff in his life as well but for right now all bạn know is his perspective so bạn write it all down and then tuck it into the back of your jean pocket.

"So, where the fuck do bạn come into this story?" bạn ask Cook and he laughs.

"Can't talk now, Naomikins, I have to go see some man about some drugs," He glances at Tony with a shrug. "Sorry, mate." Tony waves it off and stares off out the window. Effy's fucked his whole life over now. bạn can sympathise with Tony because he doesn't have a life now, sure he has this fake one but he doesn't really exist. bạn know that feeling, bạn feel it every time bạn wake up and try and figure out where the hell bạn are and how bạn got there. "Meet me here tonight at 8, alright? And whatever the fuck bạn do, don't bump hoặc whatever into miss I like to manipulative people because I'm a fucking cunt, alright?" bạn nod. "Good. See bạn then, bye Tone, mate. Booze tomorrow!" and the door slams shut. bạn glance at Tony who glances back at bạn awkwardly and then.

"Sorry, who are you?"

"I'm Tony, we've been talking for the last ten minutes."

"Sorry, just gotta read something..." bạn reach back into your pocket and go through some notes. It makes sense again.

"Is everything alright, Emily?" Naomi hands run over the empty không gian in the giường tiếp theo to her. There's a slight bang and she jumps, head turning towards it. The blonde's alert now, she's always been paranoid. Naomi shift so she's sitting up in the giường and then her feet touch the cold floor boards. She shiver, there's something in the air. She di chuyển towards the cupboard at the back end of the room and reach inside, her fingers wrapping around the wooden handle of her protection; a baseball bat. She heads toward the nguồn of the noise.

It's weird, sneaking around her own home. In the ngày it's a place for Emily and her to relax, unwind and just be together but at night the place becomes eerie. It's not especially big hoặc small, it's a kind of in-between place. Emily found it in some cheap newsagents going out of business, they let them have a discount but it was still a little bit out of their price range. Emily had promise she'd work thêm shifts if Naomi would let them get it. She'd caved well, because it's Emily and she loves her and, well, that's it really, that's what tình yêu does to a person. It had been hard for the first few months, hungrier than used to being, no little dips into pockets for stuff they didn't need but wanted to and no tv, for the first few months. Naomi had then hit the jackpot when she'd landed a promotion at work, protesting didn't really reap the benefits but when bạn hit that jackpot and someone notices bạn and bạn get picked up, that little extra cash goes a long way and that's where the good times had really started.

As Naomi crept down the hall, her hand running over the cream coloured walls she smiles. She always liked decorating with Emily, she made it fun.

"Pass me the brush, babe?" Naomi placed the roller on the floor and stood back up, wiping her brow. Always hurt her back, painting ceilings. She looked over to her redhead girl who had some paint sitting on the end of her button nose. Naomi laughed to herself. How does she get herself into these situations, she wondered. She stepped toward the redhead and placed her thumb in her mouth, sucking on it.

"What are bạn doing?" Emily asked, staring at her girlfriend confused.

"You've got some...Just let me..." Her suckled thumb rubbing the paint from Emily's nose.

"Thanks, mum."

"Hey, I was only trying to be nice, Ems."

"Painting's about getting messy, everything doesn't have to be so neat and organised, bạn know?" Emily flicked some paint toward Naomi, stripping it down her shirt.

"I like this shirt!" Naomi cried outraged.

"So, get another one?"

"At forty pound a go, Emily it's not that easy to get a new one because your redhead girlfriend has a fetish for throwing paint." She grumbled and walked over, picked up a brush and returned to the can, dipped it in and began to slide it up and down the wall. Covering its surface in a thick gloop of cream paint, she smoothed one một giây down and moved onto another. Emily pouted, trying to catch the blonde's attention. Naomi noticed but pretended not to, focused on the tường in front of her rather than the sexy redhead to her left. Emily placed her hands on Nan's hips, running them up her sides before pulling her into a hug, resting her head on the blonde's shoulder, pressing a Kiss to her cheek.

"I'm sorry." Silence.

"You will be." Naomi laughed and flicked some paint right down Emily's top. A gasp and Emily slaps her on the shoulder.

"You bitch! I thought bạn were angry at me!" Naomi winks and dodges away from the redhead. "Get back here!" Emily chases her. Picking up her own paint brush she starts to flick thêm paint towards the blonde. Naomi's laugh is infectious and Emily can't help herself, soon enough she's laughing along with the blonde, dodging paint and trying to catch Naomi out. Eventually, Emily fakes dodging one way and goes another, Naomi running straight into her arms. "Gotcha!" Emily's face is so proud, the fact she's outsmarted the blonde overtaking her face and breaking out in a broad smile. Naomi takes a hand full of paint and smears it down the redhead's cheek, laughing at Emily's change in facial expression when she does it. Emily takes some thêm and smears it across Naomi's forehead. "Karma." She states in her sweetest tone of voice and cocks her head at Naomi. Naomi smiles. She looks so cute like that. She loves her. So she kisses her. Emily smiles into the Kiss and kisses her back, let's Naomi push her up against the tường only to realise it's covered in paint. "Nai..."

"What?" Naomi grunts from the kiss.

"The walls paint is getting smudged. Can we take this to the floor?" Naomi doesn't say anything just pulls Emily back and pushes her down to the ground, climbing on hàng đầu, đầu trang of the redhead. Emily groans and tightens her grip in Naomi's hair, the paints gonna be a chó cái, bitch to get out later but she doesn't care because Naomi is pressing kisses down her collarbone and one of her hand is slowly trailing down to the place she really wants it to be. It's the messiest sex they've ever had, but one of the best.

Naomi's mind is filled with that memory all the time she's pressed up against the wall. A bang sounds out from the other end of the house, in the kitchen, but she doesn't have time to go check that because she can hear Emily crying in the bath room tiếp theo to her. Her eyes begin to water. Not Emily, what's happened? She can hear other people in the room with her as well moving around. Breathing becomes hard. She can't let anything happen to her. Her grip tightens on the bat, sweat on her palms she steps one step closer to the door. She wants to be there now. In the room but something is keeping her from doing so.

Slow and steady, the whimper gets louder to her, banging around in her head. Emily! And when she hears a cry, just the tiniest of sounds she kicks into over drive, pushing phía trước, chuyển tiếp so kicks open the door, instinct carrying her. There's one guy on hàng đầu, đầu trang of Emily holding her down as he takes her. Naomi's eyes fill with rage. "Get the fuck off her!" She screams. A head turns towards her and there's a chuckle. She charges forward, hitting the man square in the head with the bat. He falls to the floor in a sprawl. "Emily! Emily are bạn okay?" She's shaking the redhead's shoulders, hoping to get some form of life from here. There's a groan and she smiles happily, looks around for something to cover the redhead up with. A towel, the blonde reaches for it, placing it over Emily's exposed body when it's finally in her hands.

"It's okay, babe. It'll be fine. I'm here now, okay?" Cradling the redhead to her chest Naomi promises herself that she'll never let go of the redhead again. She doesn't hear the floor creak behind her before it's too late and she's shoved against the wall, her head smacking into the glass cabinet and cracking her skull. Her vision starts to fade and she blinks, looking up at her attacker. It's the man she hit, he'd recovered, bleeding heavily from his head but has recovered. He looks down at her. Black mask donning his face and cocks his head at her. If he had no mask she was sure he'd be smiling smugly at her. Panic rises in her once last time, hoping for a burst of adrenaline but nothing comes. She can't do anything, she's helpless. Her eyes drop down to the redhead who's starting to stir. Emily's eyes open and she looks at the blonde confused, and then she sees the blonde. "Naomi!" she mouths, can't speak. Mất tích her voice. Naomi tries to fight it, tries to stay awake but the blackness that is starting to surround her is getting even harder to fight off. The last thing she does before she succumbs is reach out her hand and grip Emily's, one last squeeze. Hope.

She coughs, hard and fast. She coughs again. There's something around her mouth. Her eyes are fuzzy and luminous lights are hanging above her head. What the fuck? She looks around, her vision starting to focus, breathing heavy. What the fuck? "Naomi? Naomi! She's waking up, doc!" She hears a male's voice.

"It's Cook, Naomi. I'm a mate of Emilio's from work."

"What are bạn doing here?" Naomi's voice is hoarse. Cook hands her some water and helps her drink it.

"I was coming round late, to drop some stuff off that Emilio left at work. Her bag and stuff. She just left it sitting on her desk. Probably got too busy with all that paper work."

"Probably..." Naomi muses. "Cook? That's your name, right?"

"Yes, Naomi?"

"Where's Emily?"

"Ah."

bạn don't know why, but that stuck. Not knowing Cook. bạn don't remember who he is, well, bạn do every time he reminds bạn of how, but bạn remember the fact that she died. bạn think it's because even though you've got short term memory loss, some part of bạn cares so much about Emily that it can overcome the part of your brain that tells bạn to forget. Well, that's what bạn like to think anyway. bạn read over your notes one thêm time. bạn only have a short amount of time when bạn do this to plan out what your tiếp theo step in your plan is. What Tony told bạn is of great importance, so bạn write on Effy's bức ảnh 'need to see her about what Tony said.'. Cook đã đưa ý kiến he'd meet bạn later so bạn write a note to yourself saying 'meet Cook later at Tony's'. Those are the tiếp theo two steps. bạn look back up to the house with Tony sitting inside and sigh. Fucking family. bạn put the key into the ignition and press down on the accelerator hard, bạn wish bạn could remember him...he seemed like a nice guy.

bạn wait for a call, bạn sit in your room and wait. Keep picking up the piece of paper bạn wrote on and just wait. The phone rings a couple of times and bạn pick it up hastily, it's only the motel manager checking in on you. He knows about your condition and he seems like a nice guy. Caring. Annoying as well though because all bạn need is this call and then bạn can get one step closer to figuring out this massive mess you've unintentionally gotten yourself involved in. Just as bạn start to ponder the components of the game, the phone rings, you're on your feet and answer hastily. "Hello?"

"Naomi?" a cool voice replies.

"Who is this?"

"Effy, don't bạn remember me?" It's slightly patronizing. It irritates bạn but bạn don't feel comfortable enough to voice that opinion.

"No."

"That's right, you've got a con-"

"—diton, yeah. bạn know that, well, at least I think bạn do. Why are bạn playing games?" The confusion evident in your voice.

"I'm not playing games."

"Then what are bạn doing?"

"I'm hoping one of these days you'll remember me." And it knocks bạn completely off balance. bạn wonder if bạn wrote anything down about Effy's uncanny ability to put people off edge anywhere, unlikely, bạn only write down the important things. "Can bạn come over?"

"Why?"

"I need to see you."

"About what?" bạn are holding her photograph in your hands. 'She'll help bạn to her own end. Don't trust her too much' even thêm prominent then even. bạn slowly shake the photo, hoping some sort of secret answer will come from it. It doesn't. bạn place it back down and wait for her reply, but she's been silent for a while.

"How'd it go?"

"Who is this?" bạn ask. bạn don't know who you're on the phone to.

"It's...Effy." She says confused. bạn reach down and pick up the picture again. Effy, 'dont' trust her too much'. It's hard, when bạn forget so quickly and have to remember so fast.

"Right, okay, what did bạn want?"

"How did it go with John Davies?"

John Davies? bạn tìm kiếm around the room. It doesn't take bạn long, bạn gather the necessary information you're looking for. "He wasn't the guy I was looking for." It's cryptic. bạn want to throw her off balance.

"Anything happen?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Just asking." bạn liar, bạn think. "You need to come see me."

"And why is that, Effy?" bạn can hear the patience running thin in your own voice now and Effy takes a breath in before replying.

"Because I think I might have found the guy."

"You've đã đưa ý kiến that before to me." bạn sigh.

"I know, but I think I've finally got him. It all fits!" She sounds genuine but bạn can't be sure. Have to listen to your own handwriting after all.

"And what make this one so special?" bạn take a breath in. "Because you've been sure of all of them before and none of them have been the right one. I've looked for so long and so hard and I know there comes a period of trial and error but I don't think I can take much more. I think I'll have to do it on my own..." bạn put the bait out there.

"No!..." She coughs. "I mean, no, let me help you. I'm sure this is him, I promise."

"Why are bạn so eager to help me?" bạn shoot back.

"Because I care." Off balance again. Fuck sake.

"Fuck it," bạn mutter. "Fine, I'll be round soon."

"Cool." She các câu trả lời and then she's gone. bạn write something down and then take a moment for yourself. bạn forget it all just like that, but bạn remember it later, bạn always remember it later.

When bạn knock, bạn don't know what to expect. "Come on." bạn don't even see Effy when she pulls the door ajar and walks back into the darkness, well, bạn think it's her. bạn just see a figure, no detail. bạn step inside hesitantly and close the door. Her house is fucking creepy. Paper with notes scribbled on them all hung up over the place, some mèo scattering around and the distinct smell of whiskey filling its entirety. bạn step on something and it crunches, bạn groan. These shoes look nice, bạn hope they weren't too much, bạn don't even look at what bạn stepped in, just walk on through towards Effy's direction.

"Effy?" bạn call out and take a step closer.

"In here." She calls from a room at the back. bạn hear her placing glasses on the side. "So, how'd it go with John Davies?" Time to stop playing games.

"You know how it went!" Her eyes bulged out and she turns towards you.

"What do bạn mean?"

"I already told you." This catches her off guard. She laughs at that, it's fake, she knows it and so do you. She's fumbling around with a cigarette packet in her hands. She pulls it out and lights it, taking a drag, glazing her eyes. She looks from side to side. "What's up with you?"

"Did bạn kill him?" Effy almost hisses it.

Your eyes bulge. "What?"

She advances on you. "Did bạn kill him?" It's louder but still harsh. Pressing bạn back into the cabinet.

"Get the fuck off me, psycho bitch!" bạn roar and push her away, reaching for your gun and holding it out at her. "Back the fuck off! I know okay, I know! I know that Tony's your brother. I know that bạn sent me there to clear his debt, well, fuck you, Effy! I'm not a hit man!"

"Yes, bạn are! You're a fuck up." It catches bạn off guard. bạn thought that because you'd pulled a gun and got the upper hand with the big reveal. "You stupid little bitch! Looking for các câu trả lời where there aren't any," She's in your face now. Mocking you. Your teeth grit in frustration and your eyes tear in horror. "You can't find the truth because there isn't any truth to be found. Your cunt of a wife got what she deserved and you'll get what bạn deserve as well! bạn are nothing. Pathetic, fucking retard!" bạn hit her with the gun, hard across the face and she looks back at bạn shocked.

"Shut up!" bạn shout. "Shut the fuck up! I want some các câu trả lời and I want them now! You're going to give them to me hoặc I'm going to make you!" bạn declare and advance on the wounded girl. bạn don't get the chance though because somebody hits bạn from behind and bạn feel that familiar darkness overtake you. Fuck sake, not again.

Effy rummages through your pockets. bạn don't know though, you're not awake. She picks up the các bức ảnh and takes a lighter from her pocket, burning all of them. She goes into your bag this time and pulls your camera from it. bạn give the camera to Freddie and make him take one of you, bạn write on it. 'She will help.' She slides it back into your pocket and turns to the tall male tiếp theo to her. "What bạn gonna do, Ef? She's onto us." Effy goes into her bag again and looks at the notes. She pulls out a few pages and burns them, too.

"Not anymore she's not."

"What bạn gonna do now?"

Effy picks up the last picture and smiles. It's a picture of Cook. She knows who he is. Of course she does. He's Naomi's lad dog, guardian Angel who keeps an eye out for her ever since the accident. "We're going to get rid of our problems. She'll do it this time. I'll make sure of it."

Freddie smiles. "Good."

"Naomi! Naomi! Wake up! Fucking hurry up and wake up!" bạn hear the voice of someone calling at you. bạn force your eyes open and look up. bạn don't recognise the brunette above you.

"Wha..who are you?" bạn mumble.

"It's Effy!" She rummages into your pocket and pulls out a picture, hands it towards you. bạn look it over, recognise the picture see the words and nod to yourself. bạn know who she is. bạn can trust her. bạn seem to be bound in ropes, bạn can feel it round your wrists. Effy takes a dao, con dao from the phòng bếp, nhà bếp counter and cuts them. "Quick, we have to get out of here! He'll come back!"

"Who!" bạn exclaim. She doesn't answer, just pulls bạn to your feet and pushes bạn towards the door. There's banging on the tường tiếp theo to bạn and your head snaps towards it. Fuck. She's right. He's here! But where's here ad who the fuck is he! Is he the one that killed Emily! Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! bạn and Effy are out the door and into the sunshine. She pulls bạn towards the car door and pushes bạn inside.

"He's coming! Drive!" She hands bạn the keys. bạn put them in and drive. Drive so fast that bạn leave marks on the ground and smoke in the air. "Keep going!"

"Where! Fucking where!" bạn cái tát, đánh đập, smack a hand against the steering wheel.

"Pull over here!" bạn do. Effy pushes her hair back and groans.

"What the fuck was that?" bạn are bound to forget soon, bạn think. bạn rummage through your bag and pulling out a pen and paper. Effy sits in silence. "Will bạn hurry the fuck up! Time isn't on my side bạn know."

"It was Cook."

"Who?"

"You've met him before. He was trying to kill you. Luckily I found you. He'd tied bạn up and put bạn in that house. A friend of mine and I tracked bạn down, they gave me the address and I came for you. He's the one who killed Emily. He admitted it to me and tried to stab me but I got the better of him and knocked him out. He was in the other room. Look." She holds out her arm with a Slash down the side of it. It's deep and bạn cringe, looks painful.

"He's...the one?"

"Yes!"

"He admitted it?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"I don't know. He told me. To rub it in probably. đã đưa ý kiến bạn found him somehow."

"No..." bạn pause. Your tim, trái tim is beating faster than ever. Adrenaline. bạn need this to be over and it's so close to it being over. Is this him? Really? It seems that way. Emily, he will pay. I promise. Effy looks at bạn expectantly. "Why did he do it?"

Effy sighs. "I don't know." Silence follows. Effy reaches over and grabs the paper and pen from your hands. She scribbles something down onto it and hands it back to you. 'James Cook. bạn can find him at this address. He'll be the one in the polo áo sơ mi and dirty hair.' The address is written underneath for you. bạn frown. How does Effy know all this?

"Aren't bạn worried that he's going to come after us? And why don't we just go back there? He's all knocked out. We could just go in and end it and that would be that." bạn point out the obvious.

"He was waking up when I left. He'll be gone bởi now. I know for a fact that he had to meet someone this evening, that's who I got the information off. His name is Tony, that address is his house. Now go, Naomi. Get him, before bạn forget." bạn scribble some thêm information down on the paper and then look back up at Effy. "Thank you." She smiles.

"No problem, Naomi." And then gets out of the car. bạn watch as a girl bạn don't know walks across the road and up the path. bạn can't help but think she looks mysterious.

bạn chew on the pen as bạn sit outside of the house. bạn don't think you've been here before. bạn don't know how bạn found this 'Cook' character before either. He doesn't fit some of the slots in your story but the way bạn woke up, well, from what you've gotten written down in front of bạn would suggest this is finally him. And that puts bạn on edge. Emily, bạn smile just thinking about her. She was wronged, fucking wronged! Murder like some little bug, a speck of nothing on the earth's surface and it makes the rage boil up in bạn so bad. bạn grip the gun in your palm and look at the house one thêm time. Fuck it. Time to just do something instead of sitting back! bạn push open the car door, slam it shut and walk up to the house, bạn knock and wait. "Alright, Naomikins!"

BANG.

He's down, Cook's on the floor with a look of horror on his face. He reaches down to his stomach and presses his shaking had against the wound, he pulls it back and looks at the blood. He looks back up at her. "Naomikins...why?" He gasps.

"What's going on in here?" Tony asks stepping in from the other room. bạn point the gun at him. Effy đã đưa ý kiến he'd be here.

"Back off."

"Naomi!" Tony's shocked. "What the fuck have bạn done? Cook, Cook, are bạn alright mate?" He bends down not caring about the gun and pulls Cook close to him trying to get a better look at the wound. "Oh, fuck! It's bad!" He runs out the room and goes to find something. bạn don't know why bạn haven't shot him yet. You're looking from the gun and back to Cook. bạn don't feel that rage anymore, bạn don't feel the satisfaction. Some part of bạn feels dread. That you've got the wrong man, that you've killed an innocent.

"You shouldn't have done it." bạn state, pointing the gun at Cook again.

"Done what, Naomikins? Be there for you? Look after you? Make sure bạn don't go off the rails?"

"What?" bạn throw the gun out in outrage. Confused, you're so fucking confused. Don't listen to him. He might be lying! "What are bạn talking about?"

"Whose got bạn twisted, blondie? Who's been telling bạn fucking lies?" He mutters. Laughs to himself meekly and crawls towards the bàn top. He opens the hàng đầu, đầu trang draw. bạn point the gun at him. "Don't worry I aint gonna hurt you. Take a look at this. I brought it round to show, ya. Something bạn needed to see. Should've shown bạn ages cách đây but didn't want bạn to think I didn't care. Cuz i do." He hands an envelope to you, it should've been completely white but droplets of blood had landed on it. It was smeared now, tainted. Your hand shakes as bạn take it, bạn recognise the hand nghề viết văn of the name, it's Emily's. It says 'James.'

Dear James,

I'm nghề viết văn bạn this out of caution. Over the last couple of weeks I haven't felt safe, not because of any immediate threat but because of a feeling. Yeah, I know, right? Typical Emily blowing things out of proportion. But someone's been following me I'm sure of it. I don't know who but I can feel them watching me all the time. I've gone to the police but they won't listen. I'm worried, James. I can trust you, I know bạn and you're an okay guy, so that's why I'm asking you. If anything happens to me, will bạn make sure that Naomi's alright? Make sure that she can cope. That she's not alone. She's never been one to be open about her feelings, just...even when she's being a complete bitch, just promise me bạn won't give up on her? She means so much to me.

Love,

Emily.

For the first time in a long time bạn feel a tear running down your cheek. bạn haven't cried in a long time. Not since, well, since bạn found out about Emily. Not since bạn promised that you'd avenge her. The gun shakes in your hand and bạn try to control it. "I'm sorry..." bạn whisper and Cook laughs.

"It's alright, Naomikins, we all make mistakes."

"Fuck." bạn drop to your knees and crawl towards him. bạn pull him to you. "You were only trying to help. bạn weren't him at all. Shit. Fuck sake, Ems." bạn laugh to yourself. Always has to play the guardian angel.

"Yeah, Fuck sake, Ems." Cook repeats and calls bạn close. "I know bạn don't remember me, Blondie, but I've been there, yeah? I know bạn and I know what you're doing. We've been over this a thousand times. I don't know if you're gonna find what you're looking for, but it is just what you're looking for, babe. Emily wouldn't want this, bạn know it, I know it. bạn can't di chuyển on because of this fucked up brain thing bạn got going on but, bạn gotta find peace. Gotta get some relief, blondie, cuz this shit's consuming you."

"Why aren't bạn thêm angry? I just fucking shot you!" bạn cry, tears cascading down your cheeks now. It feels good. Good to cry. Cook tugs bạn closer.

"You already know."

"What?"

"You already know who it is."

"What!" Confusion growing inside of you.

"I hid it from you...Emily wouldn't have...wanted...look...closer." He coughs up blood this time and then drops back against the floor, weezing as his body twitches. Naomi hand comes up to her mouth in shock. What the fuck? She reaches foward.

"Don't touch him!" Tony commands. Dropping to the floor, he presses two fingers against Cook's neck looking for a pulse. "He's...dead. Fucking dead." Tony mutters. He sits back on his knees and rubs his eyes. "Come on, Cook buddy, it was going so well. Why'd bạn have to go leave the party early? bạn always were king of the party." bạn hear him mutter under his breath. That's his way of grieving bạn guess. bạn don't know why but this guy that bạn can't even remember death has effected bạn a lot then bạn anticipated. Guilt it's a chó cái, bitch and it's stinging like hell right now. bạn pull bạn look at him in shock. "He's fucking dead! The police will be here soon and he wouldn't want bạn caught." bạn stay still. "You've done enough! Leave! Get the fuck out!" With his final roar bạn push yourself to your feet, grab then gun and run out of the door. bạn hope that you'll forget this fast. Forget killing a man. bạn can't stand it so far.

It's a graveyard, just an ordinary graveyard. You've been here many times before, well bạn think bạn have. Your notes say so. bạn look out at the hundreds of stones in front of bạn and none of them matter, none but one. Emily's. bạn are in front of Emily's grave. "I...I've never understood...didn't understand what people were supposed to be doing here...when they come to grave yards to talk to something that isn't there. I just know...oh fuck...I miss you, okay, Emily?" Your voice breaks. "I...miss your smile and bạn hair and your smell and I miss every fucking thing about you, alright? Sometimes it's hard, so fucking hard and all I want to do is be in your arms again in our bed, in our home! The place where we belong. It's not fair! It's not fair that bạn were taken from me. I needed you. I...still need you." bạn drop down and press your head against her gravestone, your tears dropping onto the stone beside it. "I'm broken. The person who I am now isn't the Naomi bạn love...and I'm...I'm scared bạn wouldn't tình yêu me like this. I killed someone innocent. Someone bạn asked to look after me if bạn ever...you know...and I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. My words feel empty. I feel so numb. I'm Mất tích without bạn Emily. Dead." Your tears overcome bạn and bạn just sit there for a few minutes, arms wrapped around a gravestone because it's the closet bạn can get to her. And bạn need it. "I have to end it though, I know it's not what bạn want, but I need an end game, okay? After all this it's a trang chủ for me, no one with my condition can truly live a normal life. I can't even get over bạn Emily, bạn are my one and only. I can't forget you, I wouldn't want to. I tình yêu you." bạn have to end it.

"She misses you, too, bạn know?" bạn hear from behind you.

"Katie?" bạn ask through your tear filled eyes.

"Yeah, it's me, bitch." She crouches down on the ground tiếp theo to bạn and puts down some flowers. "Hey, sis, how are bạn today? Keeping tidy, I see." She các bình luận about the condition of the grave. "I'm sorry, I haven't been around for her as much as you'd want me to be." bạn look at her. "It's was hard for me as well, yeah? I loved you, too, bạn silly muff muncher. I'll look after her now, though. I promise, I won't let her do anymore damage then she's already done." bạn smile. Katie can be less bitchlike sometimes.

"And what makes bạn think I want your protection?"

"Shhh! I'm talking here." Katie snaps playfully. "She loves you, I see that now. I'm sorry I doubted it. tình yêu you, Ems. See bạn soon." And with that Katie stands and offers her hand to you. "Coffee?" this is the first time you've spoken to Katie since the accident. She was unreasonable after blaming you. She's had time to cool off and bạn are happy. bạn pull out your pad and pen and scribble something down. "There's something I have to do first, but when it's finished," bạn grit your teeth. bạn are ending this. One way hoặc another. No more, no fucking more! "We'll put Emily to rest properly, yeah?"

"I'd like that."

"Me too." And then Katie's gone, after giving bạn a brief hug.

What you've scribbled? Hope.

It's just a motel room, an ordinary hotel room. bạn know you've been here before because of the key in your pocket. bạn step inside and look around. It's normal. Bed, tv on a small desk, draws and a bathroom, nothing unusual. bạn walk over to the giường and sit down on the edge. It's early morning, the sun is shining through the window. bạn look out and smile. You've forget the pain of last night, sure, it's down on paper but it's not the same. bạn don't feel the guilt as much now, because bạn can't remember and that helps. bạn stand in front of the mirror completely bare, looking yourself up and down, seeing yourself inside out. The phone rings and makes bạn jump, it's just the motel clerk checking on you. He seems like a nice guy. bạn hang up and look back at yourself. Your hình xăm mare your skin, bạn trace your fingers across the main one. The one bạn look at all the time, just to remind yourself, motivate yourself and keep bạn on edge. "John _ raped and killed my wife." bạn look at how faded it is, has it really been that long? bạn look at some others, ngẫu nhiên bits of information that have led bạn to this point. There's a very old one, one you've never really understood until now. It says "Look closer...lights off." bạn frown. A message from Cook? How'd he get it on her body? Have bạn known something before and forgotten it since then?

bạn sit around for a while trying to figure it out. Something to look closer at? bạn pull out all your notes and go through everything, every little detail but none of it makes sense. It annoys bạn because bạn like to think that you've become a person that looks over every detail, into every nook and cranny until bạn uncover everything, and bạn can't find one thing. One thing that could be so vitally important, but then again it might be nothing. Cook seemed nice enough, but could he have figured it out all before her? bạn tìm kiếm for a long time, don't look up to the clock just keeps going. It's annoying that bạn have to keep remembering everything before bạn can start looking again. And then bạn find something, in the most miraculous way, bạn feel anger rise up in bạn and it's your favourite emotion, it's one of power and true feeling, to feel the rage inside you, to bạn means bạn are still alive and kicking. bạn pick up the lamp on the bàn tiếp theo to you, it's creating minimal light in the room but bạn need it to read, but fuck it, bạn smash it against the wall. It darkens the corner of the room bạn are in, the rest is lit up bởi daylight but the back corner of it isn't. bạn sigh and run your hand through your hair, dropping your hand back down something catches bạn are, there's something on your hand, it's tinted green and covering your thumb. What the fuck? bạn walk over towards your giường side bàn to try and get a better look in the light but it disappears. bạn gasp. bạn di chuyển back over to the bàn and open one of the draw, pull out the envelope entitled 'Must read: might be HIM!' and tip the contents on the bàn top, bạn hold up the small bottom of clear liquid. bạn know what it is now. Invisible ink. Lights out. Your eyes bug. bạn grab and pen and scribble it down so bạn won't forget. bạn walk over to the curtains, pull them and push them into the windows blocking out as much light as possible. bạn di chuyển over back into the blackness and look around the room, for anything hoặc any sort of clue. It's the only hope you've got. Nothing, bạn sigh and sit down in the bàn chair, bạn were sure bạn were onto something. Then bạn see it, the familiar green tint, the tiniest speck of it sticking out from the corner of the massive picture of a thuyền on the motel wall. Above the bed. bạn smile. bạn stand up on the giường and lift the picture and drop it down. bạn look back in awe. No fucking way. Written on your tường in your own hand nghề viết văn is. "Effy knows who he is. Go find her. Watch out for Freddie, it took bạn fucking long enough."

bạn write it down, you've never written so fast in your life.

bạn kicked the door hard, the hinges snap under the force and the door bursts open. No time for games. bạn shoot Freddie in the chest three times as soon as he stands to stop you, he drops like a sack of shit and Effy screams in horror. bạn smile, point the gun at her and shoot her once in the leg. She drops, it's not over for her yet. Oh, no.

bạn grab her bởi her hair and pull her to the wall, bạn crouch down, putting pressure on her leg and holding her there with your other hand. She cries out in pain. "No thêm games, Effy! bạn tell me what I want to know and bạn tell me now!"

"I don't..."

"Don't bạn lie! I know bạn know who he is. Now, bạn tell me the whole story and bạn tell me now otherwise I'll shoot bạn in the other leg as well and leave bạn here." bạn press the gun hard against her other knee mũ lưỡi trai, cap and she whimpers. bạn know she's going to break before she does. "Well!" bạn ask forcefully pushing the gun harder.

"Alright! Okay! Okay! bạn win. I'll talk."

"Yeah, bạn will." bạn take joy in your victory, smirking at the squirming brunette. "Now, tell me."

"Okay, his...ah, watch it...sorry, his name is John Foster. He's a therapist."

"A therapist, why would he want Emily?"

"He likes to collect girls okay. He likes to manipulate them, he did it to me I was one of his patients. He tried to get me to run away with him, to be with him but I wouldn't have it. I thought that would be it after that, that he would leave me alone and I'd be fine and happy to be with Freddie. Oh fuck Freddie." Effy's eyes fall on the body of her boyfriend.

"Don't look at him," bạn slap her. "Look at me." She does, teary eyed and scared. bạn almost feel for the girl, almost.

"Okay," glancing at Freddie. "He..errr...he came back, hurt Freddie. Threatened to kill us both unless we did what he said, but then bạn and that Cook guy had to fucking catch on, didn't you? bạn had to go and wreck what we had going and he told us to make bạn forget, so we did. We blamed my brother, I didn't want to do that, but bạn haven't meet this guy, okay? He's controlling. He can make bạn do things and I had to...I just had to. When Cook found this all out he kept it from you, but bạn found something, a video clip of John Foster and bạn knew, bạn just knew and then bạn found proof. We burned it, burned all the information bạn had on him in some hope that you'd forget about it and bạn did, for 3 months, 3 months we got without him at our door and you've gone and fucked it again."

"Why Emily though?"

"Because she was seeing him."

"I knew she was seeing a therapist. She told me for family counselling. But why did he choose her?" bạn ask, angrily.

"Because she didn't have a family to go looking. He didn't count on you, though. She never mentioned that bạn were so...persistent." bạn almost growl at her for that.

"Where can I find him?"

"You don't want to."

"WHERE!" bạn cry and push the gun against her skull. She whimpers and tries to shift away. She nods and coughs.

"His address is in the draw of my giường side table. He'll be at work now so..."

"Good, that's the perfect time." bạn grab the gun and point it at her. She cries out and holds her hands in front of her face.

"Please, no! I don't want to die! Please!"

"You're pathetic." bạn spit and then hit her with the gun, knocking her out. Fucking bitch. She's lucky bạn don't kill her. Not after what she did to Emily. bạn walk into the other room and go into the draw, bạn find the card and write down the address. bạn write down as much information about what just happened as possible and then leave. Then bạn forget. Then bạn remember. Then bạn go after him.

"Ah, Miss Campbell, I've been expecting you." He says as he sits down across from you. He's everything bạn imagined to be behind that mask. A smug, sharp face that makes bạn instantly want to break his face. "I was wondering how long it was going to take bạn to find me." He knows why bạn are here, that makes this easier.

"Did I meet your expectations?"

"I thought you'd find me two weeks earlier than this but still, you're the only one. I don't know how bạn did it, especially with that...condition bạn have but bạn did it and I must say I'm impressed. I'm sure Emily would be as well." bạn grit your teeth. How dare he talk about her! He has no right! Your grip tightens on the gun in your pocket. He sees bạn movement and reads it. He opens a draw to his left and puts some files into it, quicker than bạn anticipate he pulls a silenced pistol out and shoots bạn twice in the chest. One hitting bạn just below the shoulder and the other hitting bạn just below your left breast. bạn gasp and a wheezing sound escapes your throat. He coughs politely walks around and pulls the gun from your pocket, throws it away into the corner and sits on the bàn in front of you. "Ah, what a situation you've gotten yourself into Miss Campbell, Can I call bạn Naomi?" He doesn't wait for a reply. "Naomi, look what you've done, you've confronted the man that killed and raped your wife and he's not only outsmarted bạn but killed bạn as well, I thought bạn were better than this?" He stands and places a hand on your shoulder, patting it. A single tear trickles down your cheek. You've failed her. "It was quite simple bạn see, Naomi. Everyone feels lust and I take what I want and your...girlfriend was a spectacular specimen, absolutely fascinating and after the một giây I saw her I knew I had to have her. I know you've met Effy before so this is how it went, I used Effy to get to know Jenna Fitch, she was easily convinced to book the family to see me here and once I'd spoken to Emily I had to have her even more, Emily spoke very highly, bạn know?" He steps closer to the window and looks out, smiling into the sun. "Even when I convinced her to do private sessions with me she wouldn't shut up about you, just keep going on and on about her perfect bạn two were for each other. It disgusted me. She was so blinded bởi bạn that she couldn't see me right in front of her, she wasn't as spectacular as I first thought." He turns to face you. "She was tainted. bởi you. So I took what I wanted. I got Effy to get me your address because Effy can get just about anything and I only had the family's address. I had to keep her in line though, she didn't want to do it at first but once I threatened that boyfriend of hers she did as she was told. So once I had that all I had to do was just simply, take what I wanted and I did just that, but I remember that night well and I remember what bạn did to me. I couldn't work for weeks after, that bat left a mark. You'll pay for that." He marches phía trước, chuyển tiếp and slams his fist into your face, hard. Twice. bạn gasp as bạn hit the floor. He kicks bạn in the chest and bạn cough and splutter.

"So weak. So weak all bạn women. So easy to manipulate. But you, bạn are one of a kind. I underestimated bạn and your male friend, Cook. He chased me away that night but I knew you'd come looking and bạn did." bạn gasp and look out towards the city. The towers are blurred in your view. bạn squeeze your eyes tight and try to focus. bạn look around for anything, for any hope. "And he found me, long before bạn did but I made sure he didn't tell you, held his life in the palm of my hands and he backed off, promised to keep bạn in check but he didn't and I had to make sure Effy made bạn forget, thêm than once. But she made a mistake, she made bạn kill him and in the cowards death he told bạn truth which he could not take back, which led bạn to my door. So I hope bạn are happy." bạn reach up and grade the glass object from the desk. Your hands slips all over it. "Because know bạn get to die like the whore of your girlfriend. Do bạn want to know what it felt like? To be in her? To have her writh underneath me? She was so happy about it. She loved every một giây of it and I'm going to do that to bạn too before bạn die. Because bạn fascinate me as well. How can something so weak just keep coming back?"

"You tell me." bạn rasp and slam the snow globe down into the back of his head. His head smashes phía trước, chuyển tiếp into the glass and bạn hit him again. And again and again and again until bạn can't see the shape of a head anymore. All bạn see is blood. bạn slum down over his dead body. He's finally fucking got what he deserves. They say revenge doesn't bring bạn relief, but bạn chest feels lighter, bạn don't know if that's because of the blood loss hoặc because it's finally over but when bạn slump back to look out over the setting sun. bạn smile. I'm coming Ems, I'm coming.

When the sun sets, your eyes close for the last time.

Naomi's eyes open for the first time in a long time and her pupil moves and Emily gasps. That's the first time in months that she's had any movement in that area. "Doctor, doctor!" the redhead cries excitedly. A curly haired man comes running over, out of breath and looking at the blonde anxiously.

"Yes, Emily, how can I help you? I'm very busy, bạn see. I've got lots of patients and Naomi's condition isn't one of my main priorities. When it comes to this sort of brain damage..."

"Doctor Jones, focus." The redhead's become use to him. He gets locked on but is a terrific doctor.

"Sorry and please call me JJ." He shakes his head and focuses. "What did bạn want Emily?"

"It's Naomi, Doctor. She opened her eyes! And her pupils are moving! Surely that's a good thing." JJ looks at for concerned for a second.

"I've told bạn before Emily, Naomi's condition isn't the sort of one she can recover from. She'll be like this most likely forever."

"Can't bạn just take a look?" The young doctor frowns but nods his head. Pulls out a tiny torch from inside his white áo khoác and walks over to the blonde laying in the hospital bed. He reaches down and shines the light into her eyes, Naomi's eye jumps towards the source. He gasps. He reaches over and does the same to the other eye, the same effect.

"This is most unlikely. Most peculiar. A rarity, I don't know how hoặc what could have caused this. I can only speculate that Naomi is somehow forcing herself better. I don't quite understand it."

"What does this mean, doctor?"

"I honestly, don't know Emily. I won't say for sure she'll get better because that is still very unlikely, she could be reacting to your presence hoặc her subconscious is struggling to deal with something. All I can say is bạn need to be there for her. To care for her. tình yêu her like she loves bạn and whatever happens, Naomi will be somewhat okay." Emily nods.

"Thank you, JJ."

"Let me know if anything else happens?" Emily nods. She sits back down on the giường tiếp theo to the redhead and takes the blondes hand. "Everything will be fine, Nai. I'll never leave you." She reaches down and presses a Kiss to the blonde's hand. A tear dropping down her check. "Because I know in there, in your head, your thinking about me, too, like I think about bạn everyday. So, what would bạn like today rau xà lách, salad hoặc jelly...? Jelly's quite nice..." She drags off. As she talks she drags her eyes over the giường tiếp theo to her, a brunette girl, she thinks her name is Effy is laying in the giường tiếp theo to her, she has a broken leg and her boyfriend, a tall bloke with dark hair is watching over her. He doesn't seem too friendly. She smiled at Tony as he handed her the jelly, he was a porter here, volunteered, he seemed to take a particular interest in Effy but Emily didn't know why, she didn't câu hỏi it. Tony liked to tell Emily that Naomi was dreaming and when that dream ended she'd finally wake up. Emily secretly hoped that was true. Katie came every Sunday with Emily, she'd help feed Naomi, dress her and bring her sister things that she thought would help her. Keep her sane while she looked after her girlfriend. Katie cried about Naomi too sometimes, but she'd never admit it to Emily. She had to put up a dront to her. Cook comes to visit Naomi with Emily sometimes too, he was the one to save them both from the hands of John Foster. He'd come into the house the same night, seen the broken window, come in and found John standing over a bloody Naomi in the bath room, he'd strangled the bloke to death then and there, Emily đã đưa ý kiến it was self defence and stuck bởi it. She'd gotten better after the attack, but the blow to Naomi's head was too much and she never recovered.

"So how is she today?" Cook asks sitting down tiếp theo to Emily and taking her hand. Emily's sniffs the tears back and shakes her head. He pulls her to his chest and strokes her hair soothingly. "She knows, okay? She knows."

"She knows." Emily says to herself reassuringly. "And even if she doesn't, I'll sit here and rot with her to tell her again, just one thêm time." She'll wait for her, she always will.