I stood frozen in fear as the yellow eyes looked back at my body. Slowly, I began to shiver at the cold dampness and his longing stare.

"I'm sorry" I whispered into the silent air. I felt him move towards me, even though I couldn't see him through the darkness. I held my breath as his growls grew closer. They were almost unintentional, it's as if they came from within him, without him trying.

I gasped as I felt his hand wrap against my throat, slamming me against the wall. It didn't feel as rough as before. I squeezed my eyes shut, scared to see the angriness unfold on his face.

"I told you" he said. I tried my best to nod under his grip, letting him know that I understood. I opened my eyes slowly, still struggling to breathe, but not due to his grip around my throat. I felt him remove his hand from my neck, as I slid against the wall, my legs too shaky to hold me up. I felt him pick me up, once again on his shoulder I was flung.

I heard the water sloshing around from under his heavy footsteps. He kept walking for what felt like forever but I couldn't see where we were going due to the pitch darkness, but Penny seemed to know his way. He did live here after all.

"Where are we going?" I asked him as he continued to stride through the darkness. My head was beginning to hurt due to all the blood rushing to the top of it.

Suddenly, the tunnels began to illuminate with moonlight. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as they grey lighter and lighter. I felt Penny finally put me down and it was then I realized we were at the entrance of the tunnel, exactly where I was heading to in the first place.

I felt Penny nudge me forward as I looked into the dimly lit woods. I turned around to look at him, confused.

"Go" he said as he pushed me again softly. I stood in hesitance and doubt. I was scared to leave, to leave him. He seemed upset, not angry, but almost sad. It felt like he was setting a wild animal free, back to where it belonged.

"Penny" I whispered as I felt my eyes swell up with sadness.

"Go home" he said back with a gentle voice, raspy tone and all. I shook my head trying to fight against his words. I felt guilty leaving, even though I was trying to escape about 20 minutes ago, it felt different when he was the one setting me free.

"Go" he said, a little more aggressive this time. I looked at him silently, not moving.

"You're too stubborn for your own good" he said as he gave me a glare. My heart ached at the familiar words. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, to be enveloped with his circus scents and feel the soft silk of his suit against my skin, the same way it did those passionate nights, not long ago.

We were strangers now.

That's exactly how it felt.

I slowly turned around, stepping out of the tunnel and into the pale moonlight. I looked back at him, for reassurance. I was hoping he'd change his mind, to growl at me to come back like he always did.

Anything. Anything at all.

But he never did and so I continued to walk into the cold night. I was almost out of the tunnels view, when I stopped dead in my tracks. Regret washing throughout my body, like a wave at the beach, the small grains of sand being my doubt. I turned around sharply, preparing to run back.

I stood silent when I realized Penny was gone. He had gone back into the huge tunnels, and there was no way I would be able to find him without getting lost again. With a heavy heart, I turned around and continued to walk into the dark and lonely town. It held so many memories and even in the silence of the night, I felt those memories echo. They sounded loud, almost taunting me.

I sat down on the old bus stop bench, looking towards the dark Neibolt house. I felt attached to it, like a piece of my heart and soul was left there. In there with Penny.

I saw car lights come from the distance, making their way towards me. I knew it was Rebeca, and I hadn't come up with a lie on where I had disappeared these couple of days after the shooting.

I saw her car pull up, the dark navy color blending into the night. She put the window down, reaching over her seat to look at me properly.

"Get in, its cold" she said as I heard the car doors unlock. I quickly made my way into the car, my skin ice and even with the heater on full blast in the car, it wasn't the heat I wanted. I needed to feel Penny's warmth around me, within me. It was the only warmth I wanted, the one I needed. I needed him. He needed me. Stubborn.

"I'm so glad you're okay" Rebeca said cutting through the thick silence. I gave her a weak smile, turning my head towards the window once again. I looked at the Neibolt house as we past it, feeling my soul be torn apart. I could've sworn, deep into the spider webbed darkness of the house, I saw a tall silhouette looking right at me.

I knew it was looking at me, I felt it.

"I can't believe your doing this" Rebeca said as she pulled into the gravel driveway of the motel. I looked at her, blankly.

"I need time to be alone" I said giving her stern eyes. I had told Rebeca I preferred to stay in the local motel, just wanted to be left alone. My excuse? The shooting but that wasn't why. Something else was causing me pain, something that also held my love.

I was able to get into my apartment and grab anything I needed. The police officers made sure to clean up the mess in my apartment and I knew really soon I'd be interrogated, but for now, I just wanted to be alone for the night.

"I'll be fine" I said reassuring Rebeca as I stood outside of her car, luggage in hand. She gave me a hesitant look before nodding once. I gave her a warm smile before I turned around and made my way into the lobby. I heard Rebeca's car pull off, leaving me alone once again, with the exception of the old sleepy lady who was managing the front desk.

"Room for one" I said as I took out my wallet, preparing to pay. She gave me a warm smile as she handed me my room number.

"You stay free" she said catching me off guard. I looked at her with wide and confused eyes.

"Victims stay free" she said as she placed her wrinkled hand onto my cold one that laid on top of the counter, credit card in hand. Oh I was definitely going to be getting interrogated by the police now.

I slid my hand from under hers, uncomfortable with the situation. I gave her a tight smile before handing her my card once again.

"It's fine, I'm not a victim" I said.

"I'm a survivor"

I walked down the dark and old hallway after I forced the poor old lady to run my card. I was getting aggravated and snappy, something I soon regretted. It wasn't her fault, it was no ones fault. No one was to blame for my heart ache.

The motel looked like something from an 80's music video. The vintage feel to it was rather soothing if not eerie. I unlocked my room door, entering the small 4 walls. I put my luggage down neatly, preparing to settle in.

"Home sweet home" I joked as I took off my shoes, preparing to go to bed but I then decided to take a quick shower. I had been in those tunnels after all. I let the warm water soothe me, letting the stress slip down the drain.

I stepped out into the chilly air, reminding myself to turn the heater on as soon as possible. The white towel was wrapped tightly around me as I brushed my hair.

After changing into comfortable clothing, I slipped into the thin bedsheets. The heater wasn't working and I knew I'd be freezing all night. I was thankful I was as tired as I was, or else I don't know how I would've been able to sleep in such cold conditions. I let my eyes shut close, letting my body relax.

I don't know how long I had been asleep, but I felt myself get jolted awake. My eyes adjusted to the darkness fairly quickly and I gasped at the sight in front of me.

Penny laid on top of me, gently. I felt his soft gloved hand caress my face. He was looking intently at my face, not realizing I had woken up yet. The moment his blue eyes locked onto mine, I felt electricity shoot from within us. I tried my best not to choke on my breath and tears as I tried to speak.

"I missed you" I whimpered as my body began to grow warm under his. He looked deep into my eyes, his hand laying completely still on my face, cupping my cheek gently. It was like he was in shock at my reaction.

"You came back" I croaked as I felt tears sting my eyes, emotional.

He looked at me silently and I prepared myself at the fact that he would probably get up and leave, like he always did. But the next words that slipped from his red lips would forever sting me with the heat of a fever. A loving fever.

"You'll always belong to me" he said softly into the darkness.