that wretched word leaves Niko's perfect lips, my eyes widen to the size of saucers, my ears flatten, my tail tucks between my legs, which tremble pathetically, and whimpers of utter fear and panic escape my lips. I attract unwanted attention from passers outside the Shop, and, pretty soon, a small crowd is forming around myself and Robyn, who is baring his canines and growling in warning at the goggling people.

A memory flashes through my mind again, and I go completely rigid, as my emotions just drain away like water down a drain, and I straighten up with my face blank. Robyn, knowing what is happening to me, gently pulls my frozen body into his arms, and holds me as my memory starts...

" Bird!" I watch six-year-old me squeal loudly from down the hall, running towards six-year-old Robyn, who spins as soon as little me lets out that yell, and catches me as I throw myself at him.

" Stop screaming Bubble... We're in School remember? The Head Mistress will get angry if she hears you screaming... Now come on... We need to get to class." Robyn, still so serious and smart for being only six, quickly quiets my crazy self down, as he locks hands with me, grabs my School Bag in his free hand with his own Bag, and begins leading me down the Corridor.

Present me follows after my carefree, happy self, but my steps falter, as little me stops as well, and gently releases Robyn's hand.

" I have to go to the Loo Bird... I will meet you in class." Little me says softly, now not as hyper as I was, as I press my lips against Robyn's chubby little cheek, and then skip off in the direction of the Loo.

I follow little me down the deserted Corridor, having to sprint slightly from how fast little me is going, but I thankfully come to a stop by the Loo, and follow little me inside. As soon as I enter, another boy appears from the stall just by the door, and he grabs my tail tightly in his hand... A Third Year.

He yanks little me back into a stall, which happen to be the Handicapped stall in the back, and, heartbeats later, three other Third Years enter as well. I appear in the corner of the stall not even a second later, and I watch as the Third Years beat the absolute Hell out of me... The one who had grabbed me tears my School Uniform to shreds, takes a pocket knife he had, had in his Blazer pocket, and slashes shallow cuts into my belly, chest, thighs, and arms... Making sure I don't actually bleed to death.

Little me sreams and screams, but two of the other boys pin me down by my arms, and hold their hands over my mouth to muffle my calls and pleads for help. After only half an hour of the torture and beatings, the boys finally stop... But not before spitting on me, and sending a final kick to my poor ribcage.

Little me lays on the floor of the Loo for the next few minutes... Fading in-and-out of consciousness, as my wounds slowly heal. All my cuts thankfully heal, although the deeper ones leave scars that are on my body to this day, but little me stays on the floor by the toilet... Unable to move.

The door to the Loo opens, and little me, along with present day me, jumps with utter terror. The Handicap stall door swings open, and a blur of white and black flash past so fast, it's difficult to make out who it is... But I soon see, and my heart fills with relief.

" Oh Goddess... Ravyn!" Robyn cries out, hugging little me to his chest, as I wince slightly, but hug him back.

" I promise... Nobody else will EVER touch you again."

I come back to reality with a gasp, my sight finally fading back to what it once was, and, as soon as I have focused in on what is around me, I am greeted by a group of wide-eyed people... Some of them have their camera phones out, and are video tapping my freakout like I'm some freak at a Zoo or a Circus.

" Swipe their memories... I'm taking them home." Niko snarls, inclining his head towards the video tapping humans, as he reaches to grab me, but I flinch away with a loud whimper of fear.

" You promised me Robyn! You promised you wouldn't let anyone ever touch me again!" I yell, clinging onto my said twin with a fierce need to be safe, as he freezes for a heartbeat at my words, and then pulls me up onto his back. He holds me under my knees, keeping me supported against his back, and pushes his way through the heated crowd of goggling gossip seekers.

" Protect me, protect me, protect me..." I chant over and over again into Robyn's ear, squeezing my eyes shut, as Robyn breaks into a dead sprint, putting all of his energy into getting me somewhere safe and away from the onlookers.

I open my eyes for a brief moment, my eyes streaming with tears, and notice that we had made it out into the Parking Lot. I squeeze my eyes shut tightly, the cold Autumn air whipping in my face, and cling tighter to my brother. He continues to pelt in a random direction, and finally, once he feels I'm far enough away and safe, does he stop. He pants heavily, his breath ragged and wheezy, as he carefully puts me down on my feet, and turns to face me.

" I-I remembered Robyn! That... That day in School... When th-those boys beat me u-u-up... And your... Your pro-promise." I sob out, tears cascading down my flushed cheeks, as I throw my arms around him again, and just sob into his neck... Letting all of my emotions out in one go.

" I made you that promise Ravyn... And I haven't forgotten." Robyn says gently, his voice shaky and on the verge of cracking, as he holds me in his arms, and just lets me sob out all of my emotions. His words give me a sense of comfort, and I slowly relax in his grasp. However, my sense of security and comfort disappears in an instant, as the sound of someone clearing their throat echoes behind me, and I feel Robyn tense up against me.

" You two are in SO much trouble... Come here... Now." I keep my grip on Robyn tight, not daring to release him for even a single heartbeat, as I place my cheek against his shoulder, facing away from his warm neck, and stare off into the trees... The Woods... How did we enter the Woods? We were in the Praking Lot and now? We are in the Woods... With two VERY pissed Vampires... I'm not getting out of this one...