Doe's POV:

The scene before me was one unfamiliar to my dreams.

For starters, I wasn't running, I wasn't pinned to the floor, and the overwhelming feeling of panic and dread hadn't consumed me.

Yet.

I was just standing here and could move to my own accord.

I kept my head down, just staring at my feet.

Despite all of this, something still didn't feel right, and part of me didn't want to face what I felt like I knew was already waiting for me.

That thought further confirmed itself when those same damned footsteps began to approach.

My head lifted, immediately spotting her as she approached, calm and collected as ever.

A different kind of instinctive fear spread through me. This time stemming from so many different sources than the last time this happened.

The same worries I've dealt with before... now with a whole lot more that had to do with Xander.

I tried to swallow it. I could actually move this time around, and I didn't want to use that to show fear.

Not while, for once, It felt like I had the upper hand... kind of.

I balled my fists, and brought my shoulders back, directly meeting her eye.

Her grin grew at the sight of it, the indolent picking at her nails ceasing as they sharpened into thoes claws I knew so well.

Against my will, I felt myself stagger at the sight.

Knowing how close I had once come to living that fate.

Or I guess... dying to it.

Her obnoxious, squealing laughter echoed through my head as she drew closer.

She stopped about two feet from me, looking me over from head to toe.

"Well, look at you," She mocked before circling me counter-clockwise with the same slow pace that she approached me with, "Things go your way for once and you feel like you own the world."

I stood my ground while she made her way around me, just turned my head to always have an eye on her.

Then I realized something.

All of these dreams I've had. Dreams just like this one with her being at the center of it, and not once have I said a word in any of them.

Not once had I ever spoken to her, even outside of this dream.

Even if I wanted to before, I don't know if the restraints my previous dreams put on me would have let that happen.

I never really had a reason to anyway, but this time...

Even if it was all just some fabrication in my head, I had to live it regardless.

Might as well do it my way.

"He's done with you." I grit, peering to my right as she passed my shoulder.

She nearly snorted through her sudden laughter.

"Oh come on now. You don't really believe that, do you?" The cynicism was as evident as ever in her voice, "You act like it's hard for me to pull him back to how I want him."

"He won't fall for it again," My words came out nearly guttural, "He's realized what you've been doing to him. He's done being your toy!"

She gave me barely any sign that she even heard my words, just continued on her route around me.

"If that were truly the case, then you wouldn't speak with so much hesitance."

I found myself drawing back, shocked by her words.

"You say these words with such power and yet you don't believe them. Who are you trying to convince here?"

A different laugh left her this one. A confident yet quiet one that caused a familiar dread to wash over me as if on command, leaving me momentarily frozen.

No. Don't let her win.

Don't fall for the manipulation she was so good at!

"Face it before you hurt yourself again," She began, "Before he fails you

"I trust him!" The words boomed from me, echoing through the space around me through a wave of anger I couldn't control.

Why was I reacting like this? Why was this getting such a rise out of me?

Why now?

"Do you?" Her words were still calm, which angered me even more.

"I-"

I wanted to. That at least I couldn't dispute.

Yet I couldn't come up with an answer I was satisfied with and would also be truthful.

I knew his words. I knew what he said was true...

Yet I felt stuck by her confidence, and by how easily hers sucked mine up like it was absolutely nothing to begin with.

No. No don't. Don't fall into her stupid little trap!

That's what she wants. Don't let her win when her defeat felt so close.

After a few seconds of my silence, she sighed.

"Such a pitiful little thing you are. Never learning after seeing the same thing repeat time after time."

"It's different this time." The words held the last remaining confidence I could muster.

Which tragically wasn't a whole lot.

"I suppose you'll see the truth eventually. But don't say that I didn't warn you." She grimaced, disappearing behind me.

I didn't have time to turn my head to the other side before she acted, both of her arms shooting under mine, locking me in place.

One hand pushed my head to face the sky by my jaw, the other causing the four sharp stings I could feel at the top of my neck.

No! Come on not this again!

I grabbed and tugged at her wrists but to no avail this time, leaving me left with nothing to do other than accept it yet again.

Brace myself in the way I'd done many times before.

At least it meant that the dream was ending and that at least I could be grateful for.

"I'll see you soon, pet." She whispered, the stinging growing more intense before each one tore itself down my skin.

I shot up the second I had control of my body, the feeling of my thundering heartbeat in my throat and head being the first thing I could register.

I took it and used it to ground myself as I always had to after dreams like those, telling myself that I was okay, and it was over.

That my neck didn't really just get sliced to bits.

You'd think after going through that as much as I did, that it would get easier, but I've yet to have that be the case with this.

I just sat there for a moment, holding myself as I steadily calmed down, taking in what I could in this dark room.

Using the familiar surrounding outside of this cage to my advantage.

Once I had eased myself enough, I brought my knees up to my chest, leaning forward and rubbing my hands against my eyes.

Why did that happen again?

Why now of all times did I have to have a dream like that?

My hands fell, wrapping around the underside of my thighs.

It wasn't really the contents of the dream that bugged me, it was more about just the dream itself.

Actually no, I don't think that was true either.

It was more about the fact of what the existence of those dreams reminded me of

That even if Xander tore away from her grip, she still had quite a good one on me.

I sighed, kicking away the blankets to let myself cool off.

Just like the many previous times, this has happened, I knew I wasn't falling asleep any time soon.

I debated the shower I sometimes would take, but decided against it.

I crawled out of the cage anyway,

If anything I should just wash this sweat off of my face.

I didn't check to see if I had woken up Xander, wanting to keep my 'ignorance is bliss' tactic.

If I didn't know that he was awake and could definitely sense my discomfort then I didn't have to worry about it.

I froze for the split second that I actually found myself arguing with that, quickly shaking it off and quietly stepping to the bathroom.

Reaching down to grab the handle, I nearly squealed when it turned on its own and the door began to open.

I jumped back just barely in time to not get hit, hearing a familiar gasp from the other side.

We both froze as we saw each other, as if we had both just been caught sneaking out at night or something.

That subtle green glow shone from his eyes as he looked me over.

"What the heck are you doing?!" I whisper-yelled, trying to hide the fact that he scared the crap out of me.

"I was uh," He paused as if embarrassed, "I was getting water."

"From the sink?" I questioned.

"Well yeah. We didn't have any lying around anywhere, and I wasn't gonna order water at three am and risk waking you up when they delivered it," He explained, his face falling to panic for a quick second, "Did I wake you up?"

I weirdly enough found myself smiling at the worry in his tone.

I shook my head.

"Nah, I just...," I paused this time, the swift and subtle argument from before returning.

Fighting between hiding it and just telling the truth.

I told him to stop with the lying so...

"I had a nightmare," the words came out casually, "So I was just coming in here to... calm down I guess, before going back to sleep."

"Oh," I could just barely make out the surprise on his face.

At my admittance to that? Probably.

Though it did feel oddly relieving to admit... Instead of just keeping it all to myself.

"Well, since we're both up, I can, uhm," He cleared his throat, "If you want, I can rub your back until you... get tired again."

My head tilted to the side, puzzled at the offer of an action I had never heard of before.

"Rub my what?" I questioned, wanting some further information before I made a decision.

"Your back. It feels good and usually helps soothe you back into relaxation. My mother would do it a lot since I was a skittish kid. It worked well back then and, well, ever since really." He explained.

My eyes narrowed as I thought this over.

I didn't get the appeal, but then again I've never experienced anything like that.

It didn't sound bad and if anything, I was a bit curious.

If it would calm me down as he said.

He's made for a good distraction in the past so...

"So just like... right here?" I asked.

He let out a soft laugh, stepping out of the doorway until he was at my side.

"No, not here. On the bed to get you comfy and tired again." He replied with a hint of reassurance.

I turned my head towards the bed, debating a bit more.

I guess that couldn't hurt...

"Okay."

"Wait really?!" He sounded completely baffled.

Apparently, he wasn't expecting me to agree.

"Sure why not," I spun so we were both facing the same direction, "You've made me curious."