Aaron (#3 The Dark Series) out NOW!

Go and check it out !!

23.

I walked through a darkened tunnel, my vision leaving me in an instant. I didn't know where I was going or why I kept walking, I was willing my feet to stop, they never did.

The tunnel was cold as I trudged in wet mud, my heart raced in my chest, seizing me and coiling me tightly.

I heard his voice before I could block him out. I heard his whisper, his growl, his haunting roar. He was everywhere in the darkness.

"You're mine now, Petal." I heard him almost as if he was beside me. "You've always been mine."

His words made the panic really set in. I quickened up my pace until I was sprinting, sprinting away from all of the sounds I could hear of him. I wanted him gone, I needed him gone.

Who was going to help me?

I ran and ran until I couldn't breathe.

Soon, I came to a stop. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I took in another figure before me. It was a woman, a woman who looked like me.

"Mum?" I said her name, my voice coming out as merely a whisper.

She didn't answer me as she turned. Her eyes darkened with anger and her fists clenched so tightly it hurt to look at.

"You're a liar." She whispered. "You're a liar!"

I woke up and tried to regain the oxygen in to my lungs. I spluttered and gasped as I panicked in my wake. I was disorientated, confused and utterly petrified.

Where was I?

My eyes adjusted to the dark and I realised I was on my own. I was in Nick's bed, my heart slowed down as I took in the safety net of his scent.

However, I was still scared and I tried to scream. I couldn't, the noise wouldn't leave my throat.

With that, I got up from my lying position, my legs shaking as I rounded the bed and made my way outside.

Please, Nick.

I heard their voices before I could see their presence. I walked until my eyes set on the two of them. I mentally relaxed as soon as I did so, he was no where in sight.

Nick paced up and down the living area as Glenn sat solemnly on the sofa. They looked haunted but anger was deep in their veins. My father was physically shaking, his eyes glazed over with something more bone chilling.

Before I could walk any further, Nick lost his temper and hit one of the vases off his coffee table, his knuckles now visibly bleeding and his face looking ready to kill.

Glenn shot up from his seat, murmured something I couldn't hear in to his ear and sat him back down.

"Nick." My voice was weak as I called out his name. As soon as I did so, his face snapped my way and his anger left him in a hurry.

He got off the sofa and made his way over to me. Once he got to me, he took me in to his arms with gentleness and ease. I couldn't help but cry.

"Baby." He breathed. He soothed me down until I was able to talk again. He made me feel safe in his arms, the worry gone even only for a little while.

Nick took my hand once he pulled away. He took it and pulled me along until we were both infront of my father. He looked to us for a few seconds.

"Dad." I said. I didn't know what to say. He knew everything now, or most things, and I was at lost for words. I was embarrassed of what had happened to me, angry with myself that I hadn't told him before he found out.

I just couldn't do it.

Suddenly, Glenn flew up from his seat on the sofa. His eyes were wild and his body physically shaking in anger. I had never seen him like this, I had never seen him so full of anger and hatred.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He roared. I stepped back in fright at the look on his face.

"I-I-"

"I've been stuck here thinking everything was fine and it wasn't!" He shouted. "You were miles away, Cathy, you were half way across the world!"

"I know and I'm sorry but-"

"Does your mother know about this?" He snapped. I wasn't used to seeing my father shout at me like a little girl.

"No." I whispered. Tears welled up in my vision and I felt so helpless and vulnerable. I understood why my father was so angry.

"This is a pisstake, Cathy!" He shouted again. "Why didn't you tell me?" I looked to him, his chest heaving as he breathed. I tried to speak but the words just wouldn't form. I didn't tell him because I was embarrassed, I didn't want him to worry. I didn't know the right words to say. "Answer me!" He roared.

"That's enough now, Glenn." Nick snapped. "You're taking it too far. Cathy's been through a lot, you should be supporting her."

I stood there in silence as Glenn's stare flickered on to Nick. His nose flared as he took him in.

"You knew about this." He said. "You knew all along. I am her father and I knew nothing." His voice was threatening as he took in Nick.

I couldn't stand this anymore. I couldn't stand the arguing, the fighting, the anger. I wanted this to stop and I wanted everything to be fine again, just like before. I didn't want my dad to be angry, especially not with Nick. I didn't want any of this.

"I know you're angry, Glenn-"

"Angry?" He let out. A tear slipped down his cheek as he looked to Nick as if he didn't have a clue. "Angry isn't the right word for this."

"Dad, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, it was just too hard. I could never find the right words. I never wanted to make you upset or angry, I just wanted you to be happy." I pleaded. He wouldn't understand it from my point of view.

"How could I ever be happy knowing this happened whilst you were away?" He snapped. "I gave your mother one job, one fucking job to look after you and she can't even do that." He shook his head. "I can't right now, Cathy. I can't."

He moved away from our two bodies and moved over to the front door.

"Dad, stay-" my words died down as he slammed the door shut behind him. I fell to the floor and cried as soon as I heard the door shut.

Nick stood still, but I could feel his eyes looking at me. Soon, he bent down.

"I've got to go." He said, his voice strained. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't you dare." I looked to him, anger flooding my every vein. "Don't you dare leave me, Nick." I warned.

"I have to." He said.

"You don't have to!" I shouted. "You can't leave me." I pleaded. Nick laid a kiss to my forehead and stood up again. I scrambled up after him. I held on to his arm tightly. "Don't go."

"I'll be ten minutes." He said, but the look in his eyes told me he'd be much longer. As anger hit me full force again, I released his arm as if it burnt me.

"Go then." I said. I turned my back on him, hoping he'd leave me to it. If he was going to go, I wanted him to. What was he even planning on doing? Why would he want to leave me now?

"Cathy-"

"Get out!" I screamed. Even though this was his home, he had to go. I was so angry I couldn't bare to look at him. After what happened this afternoon, I needed him, I needed him to stay but instead he was off else where.

Why would he want to leave me?

With a small sigh, Nick dropped his hands to his thighs loudly. He left the room a few seconds later and closed the door softly behind him.

I fell to the sofa and cried some more.

Now, I felt lonelier than before.

**********

I walked in to Nick's art studio, the small box room that held all of Nick's thoughts and feelings. I went up to the photo he had started to paint of me, the progress no where near finished yet.

I fingered the picture gently and sighed. I couldn't go home because I needed to give my father time to get over this. I hope he wouldn't stay angry for too long. I needed him and I knew he was upset, I would be too.

I sat down on the small plastic chair before a small table. I grabbed a piece of paper spare and laid it before me. I then decided to grab a pencil.

I had been tattooing way before I came back here. I was experienced enough to understand the concepts of everything to do with tattooing, my drawing having to be good.

I was no where as near as good as Nick, but I was good enough.

I started to sketch a cartoon drawing of Nick and I together. It was silly and it was cheesy but it made me feel a little better. I had to trust Nick in everything that he did, I loved him and I needed to let him do what he had to do.

I was angry he left me when I needed him so much but I trusted him enough to let him do his thing.

Still, I missed him.

He had been longer than ten minutes, almost being gone for two hours now.

A door bell suddenly rang out around the house. I jumped at the sound and laid my pencil down on my drawing.

I walked through the apartment and made my way to the front door. I peeped through the small hole in the door and confusion swept through me as I saw the girl Nick worked with. Alice I think her name was. She was the girl I was sure fancied the pants off my boyfriend.

What was she doing here?

I opened the door up straight away and she didn't look surprised at me being on the end of it. She smiled sweetly my way and decided to come in to the apartment without my saying.

"Uh..." I trailed off, not knowing what the hell she was doing.

She sat down on the sofa and made herself at home as if she lived here.

"What are you doing?" I asked. I had already had enough of this week and I wasn't in the mood for being nice and sugar coating things. What the hell was she doing here and why was she acting as if she lived here too?

"I've come to 'baby sit' you." She used her fingers to indicate the words. I looked to her, confusion still evident on my face and now obvious irritation.

"What for?" I asked. Alice shrugged.

"Nick phoned and I'm here." She smiled all smugly and I just wanted to slap it off her face. Why had Nick phoned her out of all people? And I didn't need babysitting!

Nick was going to have an earful off me.

"Do you know where he is?" I questioned. I stood standing as it gave me a feeling of power over tiny Alice.

"I don't know." She shrugged again. "But I heard someone in the background so I assume he was with somebody."

"What did the person sound like?" I asked. I knew I was asking too many questions but I just wanted to know where he has gone. He was in an obvious rush and I was stuck here, not knowing a thing.

"High pitched, annoying-"

"A girl?" My heart started beating. I trusted him, I had to. But Nick was Mr Playboy before me and he was used to obvious girl attention. He was in so much rush and I knew I was big baggage. What if he did have somebody else?

No, no, he couldn't have. He was just on his own and Alice was stirring things. I trusted him.

"Yes." She bluntly replied. God, I wanted to kick her out of here.

"I don't need you Alice." I was being honest. "I want you to leave." I was firm and I hoped she'd listen.

"Nick said-"

"Nick isn't here and Nick's my boyfriend." I snapped. "If I tell you to leave, you leave." I pointed to the door and stared her down. I was being petty but I had been through so much, I didn't need her here making it worse.

"But-"

"Leave!" I shouted. She looked to me before stomping out of the apartment.

Once the door slammed against its hinges, I flopped on to the sofa.

Was this day going to get any worse?

And who the hell is with Nick?