I'll give you a penny if you VOTE AND COMMENT. BUT ONLY ONE PENNY... ok maybe two because I like you. :)

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My tired feet found their way down the dim lit hallway, to my familiar apartment door.

Wondering why my feet are tired? Well, I used the stairs to get up here…on the seventeenth floor with my twisted ankle. Plus I had to run around doing errands for David. Such as getting him food every hour, helping him with paper work, telling random people on the third and seventh floor David’s always watching. That last chore I had to do was mad creepy. He literary made me tell his workers he’s watching them, and to stop slacking.

It was a hectic day really.

I put my boring key into the door, and unlocked it. As I stepped in, I was surprised at the lack of boxes. A loud bang in the kitchen made my head snap over to see my Dad, who is playing with the Coffee Machine.

I closed the door behind me, and jiggled my keys loudly, “Don’t touch my baby!” I joked. But in my own little way I was completely serious. Without coffee I would be on the face down on the floor a sleep by twelve in the afternoon.

My Dad looked up and smiled, “Hey Pumpkin, just fixing this piece of junk. I tried to make coffee for myself and it didn’t seem to work.”

“I didn’t even know it broke! Thanks I’m glad you could come over and help,” I limped over to him in my high heels, to give him a big smooch on the cheek. “Where’s Mom?”

He unattached a part of the coffee maker, and broke it off. “Aha!” he took out a small object, and placed it on the counter. The light from the three o clock sun bounced off of it, creating a glare. “I didn’t know you liked silver skulls.”

I picked up the large ring and brought it to my face. The surprisingly heavy weight of it confirms it isn’t plastic, and it’s actual glass. It has a pretty nice sized detailed skull on the front. I moved it around in the light, and it seemed to change from black and then clear. This is one freaky mood ring. It mesmerized me so much I found myself slipping it onto my left thumb, and holding my hand out in front of me. It's a bit loose even on the biggest finger on my hand. “It must be Marcy’s, I’ve seen her wear a few skull things. I guess it fell into the Coffee machine...”

My dad shook his head, and laughed “Marcy,” he mumbled, completely understanding she would do something like that. One time she put her shoe in the microwave, to see if it was flammable. Who does that? “Oh and your mother is tidying up your room. We set up both yours and Marcy’s beds, and dressers.”

“Thanks! That took a load off of my shoulders. I had a tough day of work today.”

He smiled, and pulled me into a hug, “I’m so proud of my little girl. ”

I forced back tears, “I know Daddy.”

I moved the new piece of jewelry on my finger. She must have dropped it in the Coffee Machine. That’s the only explanation right? Even though I’m the one that has a million black t-shirts, jeans with holes in them, and converse; Marcy has to have the skull stuff. I know I would never buy a skull outfit. But the more I think about it, I don’t think she would buy a glass ring; she drops everything that can break and stays away from most objects that topple over.

How the hell did it--

The image of the hooded man popped into my brain. As I stared at the ring on my finger,I realized the size of it is made for a man. My eyes slid along the curves of the hand made skull, and I felt a hidden message behind it.

He’s coming to my house tonight.

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Ignoring the nervousness in my stomach, I continued to help my Mom set up my room.

Marcy showed up an hour ago, and fixed up her closet and her bed. She told me she had to meet up with friends and she would help with the rest tomorrow. I of course was all nice and said ‘That’s not a problem!’ when really I should have said ‘You know what biotch, then we shouldn’t be roommates!’

I’ve been having a lot of rebellious, angry thoughts like that lately. I snapped at David today and told him his Tattoo looks like something a Barbie doll would have. Don’t ask me why I said that, it just popped into my head and I blurted it out. That was about when he told me to go home and have a horrible Sunday. My only day off from the week is Sunday; which is tomorrow. I found myself so happy he didn’t fire me because I know he could have with that comment.

My Mom fished something out of the boxes scattered around my room, and held it to her face, “You still have this old thing?”

I looked up from making the bed and brushed my hair out of my face, “Mr. Wiggles!” I cheered, “I was looking all over from—“

The looks on my Mom’s face made me stop talking, “Honey, you need to get rid of Mr. Wiggles, or at least not sleep with him. You have a serious job now, and plus he kind of smells.”

My face dropped and I walked over to take the bear. I held the tan bear, with the old pink bow around his neck, and the numerous patches around his stomach. I pressed the hand, and no music came out of it. Tears threatened my eyes as I realized all the nightmares this little bear got me through. “Maybe you’re right,” I whispered, and left the room to throw him into the garbage can. My heart broke a little, when I noticed his face looking up at me.

The next hour was spent setting up my walk in closet. When we were looking at this house I was so happy Marcy and I got walk in closets. I’ve always needed the room for my t-shirts, and my entire pile of colorful converse—I mean heels. I put all my shirts and blouses up on the hangers, and my shoes below them on separating shelves we had bought.

While sorting through my graphic tees, I couldn’t help but laugh at some of them. One shirt says ‘I love you this much’ and a small heart is at the bottom. Another one says ‘Rock on’ and it’s a rock on top of a Turtle. The second one is my favorite shirt by the way.

My Mom and Dad came into the room, “Faith, your Father and I are going to go. It’s six o clock and we need to go to church in the morning,” she told me, and crossed her arms over her chest. “Have you heard from Marcy? Is she ok?”

I stopped organizing my shoes and stood up, “I don’t know she’s probably on a date.” We pulled into a group hug, and they both kissed my head. I kissed each of their cheeks, “really, thanks for helping. I really needed it.”

Mom smiled at me, and pinched my cheek, “My little baby! I can’t leave you.”

“Mom, go away,” I joked, and kicked her butt as she left the room.

My Dad winked, “Catch you later Kid.”

“Bye!” I yelled after them, and jumped onto my newly made bed.

I lay back and closed my eyes, finally being relaxed. When of course my mom ran back into my room all out of breath to say, “Oh, and brush your teeth every morning and night!”

“GO!” I screamed, with a bright smile on my face.

She scowled at me then broke into a laugh, “Fine!”

When my family finally left I got up to change into my pajamas. I tore off my blouse and skirt, and replaced it with baggy black pajama pants, and a black tank top. I hurried to the bed, fixed my pillows, and actually found myself getting comfortable. I sighed, “This is the—“

The front door of the house slammed open, meaning only one person is home. “Yo Faith!” Marcy shouted from the other room.

“Marcy?” I responded, and walked out of my bedroom towards the living room, “did you call the guy to fix the air condit—“I stopped, and starred at the two unfamiliar men in my living room. “Umm, this is awkward.”

One is taller and facing away from me, with dark brown hair. The other guy is also facing away from me, with light blond hair.

Marcy got up from the couch and ran to me. She pulled me into the hallway by the bedrooms, “Two guys, one’s mine other one is yours; both of them are in college, both super gorgeous.”

“So Brian’s here?” I asked curiously.

My heart started to accelerate, as she smiled. “He’s mine,” she said protectively, “you can have Nick.”

Great, he’s probably the ugly one.

“What’s Brian wearing?”

She scrunched her face, “Faith, are you alright?”

I blinked, and pretend coughed, “Sorry, I just wanted to know if he brought— if he brought a watch,” I corrected myself, before I said what I really wanted to say: I just wanted to know if he brought his scythe and hood. Yeah, not going to the nut house tonight.

“Not sure,” she dragged out, giving me a look like I’m crazy. Her brown eyes moved to the living room, “listen I’m going to use the bathroom and freshen up. Can you talk to them for a bit? You’re the one with the personality,” she commented, and winked, “you might like Henry he’s a keeper.”

. “Yeah, sure take your time.” So I can kick one of their phony asses.

She squealed, “This is going to be awesome! I ordered the pizza on the way.” I gave her a thumbs up, and she ran into the bathroom. I froze, and scratched my head. I quickly realized my hairs in a bun and took it out. She’ll be in there for a while. Freshening up to her means putting on more makeup, taking it all off, applying it once again, straightening her hair some more, and then changing her outfit.

I limped into the living room, and stopped next to the mystery guys. One has blond military cut hair, and the other one has short brown hair. The blond guy has bright blue eyes, like myself; and the brunette has light green eyes.

I waved and stood in front of them, “Hi, I’m Faith.”

Both of their attention completely locked on me. My heart started to flutter. I know one of them is the hooded man, my guess is the green eyed one. “I’m Nick,” the blond one said, eyeing my body.

“I’m Brian,” the brunet said alluringly, looking at my under his lashes. He leaned back on the couch, and stared at me.

He’s definitely the guy.

“Cool ring,” Nick complimented, motioning to my hand, “where did you get it?

“Ha-ha yeah that’s awesome is, that a Skull?” The brunette commented.

I sat on the recliner next to Nick, “Thanks, I found it. So Brian, you and Marcy have a thing?” I probed, leaning forward on my knee.

“Yup,” he said bluntly, looking out the window. There’s nothing really to see, just dark clouds and some apartment buildings.

This is getting more awkward by the minute. “So Faith, you going to college?” Nick asked, focusing his big blue eyes on me.

“No, I’m actually working at Devin & Son as a Secretary.”

Nicks eyes widened, “No way? That’s the most elite company in Chicago! How did you get a job there?”

Well I’m not really supposed to say… but this is a nice enough guy. “Oh um, I just happened to run into Devin Star and he offered me a—“

“—you met Devin Star?” Brian interrupted rudely, and leaned forward with interest, “My old girlfriend was obsessed with his whole family. Well, since he only has a son I guess the two of them.”

I frowned and stared at the ground. I never realized David and Devin were related, they look so different. “Yes, a lot of girls are obsessed with them,” I replied, with a nervous laugh, “so far they’re pretty nice and not stuck up like the magazines say.”

Brian pursed his lip, “I heard they scam people into trusting them with their loans, and then ruin their lives.”

“What?” I questioned in confusion. I never heard that…

“Yeah, and they both get death threats and shit all the time,” Nick added, “I heard someone tried to throw David Star off a building.”

Brian punched his arm, “Yeah I heard about that!”

I stared at the two in confusion. Which one of them is the hooded man? None of them are acting like him.

Marcy came into the room and thew her hands up. She’s wearing my exact outfit, but in bright pink. She threw her arms up, “Hay guys who wants to snuggle!”

I put my head in my hands. Oh my God she did not just say that.

“I wouldn’t mind that,” Brian mumbled, and shifted on the couch. I looked at him through my open hands.

He better keep his hands off my best—

The door bell rang, making all of our heads turn to the sound. “I got it!” Marcy cheered, and ran over to the door. My head stayed locked on the door, as he pulled it open to the pizza guy. I leaned back into the recliner, trying to take a deep breath. He’s not here Faith; he’s just trying to freak you out. That’s all that’s happening.

“I’m so hungry,” Nick commented, and patted his stomach. I laughed, trying to empty my mind from the hooded man.

“I’m so sorry! I don’t have enough I have some change in my wallet. Do you want to come in?“

My eyes widened, and I hoped off the recliner. “Marcy no!” I screamed, and sprinted to the door. My socks slid on the floor, and I almost slammed into the pizza guy.

He has a Vicky’s Pizza hat on, and their black polo shirt uniform on, and dark jeans. On his feet are beat up work boots. For a moment I just stared at his impressively wide chest, and then quickly snapped my gaze up to his face. “Stay outside I’ll get the money,” I barked at the guy.

He shrugged, “Ok,” he mumbled.

I narrowed my eyes at him, “Speak up, I can’t hear your voice.”

Marcy scowled at me, “What the hell Faith? Let the poor guy in!”

The Pizza guy chuckled, “It’s quite alright, I’ll just stay out—“

“—don’t listen to her, come on in!” Marcy interrupted, and pulled at his arm. I glared at the guy, trying to see under his hat. His face is conveniently hidden by a shadow. He’s also making a show of mumbling.

I stayed by the front door as he walked into the kitchen, and his head roamed around the room. His eyes stopped on the men on the couch, and they seemed to all look at each other weirdly. Marcy continued to bite her lip as her gaze locked on multiple aspects of his body and face. The Pizza guy set the food on the table, and looked down at Marcy.

I cleared my throat, “Earth to Marcy? Money?” I snapped, making her shake her head.

“Oh, right sorry. Can you get that Faith?” She said dreamily.

The Pizza guy leaned on the counter, as I walked past them, “So um, Marcy. You have a very nice house,” a familiar velvety voice complimented her.

I hurried to get the money, my heart pounding. This is not happening! My hand searched into Marcy’s purse trying to find the money. This is not good; this is not good at all. That guy has to be him! I stuck my head out of Marcy’s bedroom, and crept into the hallway. My head poked around the side of the wall, and I watched the ‘Pizza guy’ flirt with Marcy.

I huffed out a breath and hurried to them. If I’m going to get him out of here, I have to be nice. I put the money on the counter, “There you go!” I said sweetly, even batting my eyelashes.

His shadowed face turned to me, bringing massive chills down my back, “Thanks,” he mumbled, and counted the money. I swallowed, and he turned to my best friend, “five bucks short.”

Marcy grabbed my arm, “Be right back, please keep him here as long as possible,” she begged, and turned to the pizza guy with a sly smile, “we’ll continue that conversation some other time?”

“We sure will,” he replied coolly.

I crossed my arms over my chest as she left. “Get the hell out of my house.”

“What? Why I haven’t even been paid yet” the guy asked, his voice a bit higher than before. He took his hat off and brushed his curly blond hair back; which didn’t even show before. He has blue eyes like nick, but they almost exactly match mine.

“Knock it off,” I demanded.

He furrowed his eyebrows, “Knock what off?”

“You know what. You found a way into my house, now leave.”

He leaned in, focusing on my lips. “No,” he whispered, with a smile.

I knew it, it is him.

“Why are you doing this to me?” I asked, searching his fake face, “Who’s body is this?”

“The real pizza guy,” he replied quickly after, “poor guy got in a convenient car accident on the way here.”

“You mean you killed him?” I retorted.

The man stuck his tongue out, and tried to touch his nose. His blue eyes crossed, and I found myself completely distracted by it, until I realized his burning hot hand was on mine. I pulled away, and felt the breath come back into me. I put a hand to my chest, realizing I wasn’t breathing. “Sorry about that. I do get distracting, don’t I? By the way Marcy is facedown in her room asleep. You can thank me later for letting her live.”

“No, you’re just annoying.” I stepped back, to get a rough pull against another body.

“Back off,” Nick commanded, and said some other words I couldn’t understand after that.

The pizza guy put his hat back on, and his hair suddenly turned into a curly black. A dark outfit replaced his pizza uniform, and he seemed to grow taller. “What part of stay out of my way do you not understand, Max?”

“Max?” I repeated, and tilted my head up to the guy holding me. Grey eyes locked down mine, and a completely different face. His eyes remind me of the guy John I met before.

“Faith, we are here to—“

Strong hands pulled me away from him, and I hit the island counter with a thump, “—help?” the hooded man in front of me finished, “you can help, by letting me finish my damn job.”

“You know we can’t do that,” Brian interrupted, standing next to ‘Max.’ His brown hair is now lighter, and his green eyes are practically white.

“Wow, well isn’t this nice. You two going out now? I should have known,” The hooded man said sarcastically.

Brian took a step forward in anger, and Max held him back, “No brother. This is how he kills; he provokes.” Max tilted his head up, “we have come to warn you. The elders are angry.”

The dark figure in front of me let out a dramatic gasp, “Oh my, not the terrifying Elders!” he waved his hand in the air, and huge shadows started to dance along the walls. I cringed against the counter, and followed my instincts. My eyes shut tight. “Let’s just cut to the chase shall we? I’m more powerful than you, more intelligent, and I kick ass better than you. So the question is, which one of you wants to die first?”

No, nobody is going to die. “You’re a coward!” I blurted, and covered my mouth instantly.

The dark man in front of me slowly turned his head to me, “Excuse me?”

I stared up at him, and stood up on shaky legs, “You’re. A. Coward.” I repeated quietly, emphasizing each word.

Brian’s face became complete worry, “Faith stay out of—“

The lights completely went off, and I felt a rough hand grab at my neck. “Say that again,” a voice hissed in my face. The dull smell of cigarettes and mint filled my noses, “I find myself little deaf in one ear.”

“Faith don’t—“

“Leave!” I shouted at the Brian and Max, “I’ll distract him!”

The lights flashed on, and flickered. My eyes locked onto the shadowed face in front of me. He turned around still keeping his hand tightly on my throat. “NO!” the hooded man suddenly roared, “STAY AND FIGHT LIKE MEN!”

I glanced at the men in front of me, feeling tears threaten my eyes.“We must fight him,” Max told me, “it is out duty.”

Something told me they would lose. “No don’t—“

A shadowed hand went over my mouth, “Speak one more word, and I’ll slit your friends throat in her—shit!“ I bit his hand, and he pulled it away, “you little shit—“

I pulled his face to mine, until we were inches away. My lips thankfully met skin, and not bone. Something cold brushed against my lip as we continued to kiss, and felt the cloth of his hood brush against my cheek as well as stubble. I grabbed onto the back of his soft hooded head, and then quickly pulled his face to my shoulder holding him down. He tried to get up, and I wrapped my legs around him. “Go!” I told the two men behind him, gawking at us.

They disappeared without a trace, and a gush of wind hit my face. The hooded man tried to pry me off of him, and I held on for dear life. “Let go!” he growled, and then reached behind my back to pull my hair back roughly. I cried out, and unhooked my legs. I found myself pressed against the wall, wedged between his scolding hot skin. He pressed a large hand to my stomach, and a shot of pain ignited from it.

“Stop!” I screamed, grabbing onto his arm, “please… stop!”

Heat radiated off them, "Now I have to go find them!" he screamed, making my body shook from how scared I'm becoming.

"Good."

I felt him narrow in on my face, until his lips brushed my own. He laughed deep in his throat, sending shivers down my back, “You better pray and pray, and pray some more that you live another day, Faith Williams,” he sneered, against my cheek, “Because you just pissed off Death himself.”

The heated body in front of me disappeared, and I fell against the wall, my heart racing like a jack hammer.