Darcy's P.O.V

I was home alone, Dan and Phil had going to the BBC and this time I was sure they weren't lying. I didn't have much to do whilst there and I actually wanted to get some painting done. I sat in front of my easel which I had previously set up. My equipment was ready, sorted neatly beside me and it was only a matter of seconds before the picture I had printed off of Dan at the park was pinned on the wall in front of me. I had another on my lap to see the fine details.

First I sketched out the drawing to scale, sitting back to check my progress every few minutes. When I got to Dan, I made sure to get his perfect dimples. They were one of the many things I adored about him. His features just added to his beauty and that was partly why I loved him so much. I couldn't hold back a huge grin as I had finished his sketch. I stood back and realised it was ready to start painting. Deciding to start with the sky and background of the picture, I collected the right colours and squeezed small dollops onto my pallet. I took my favourite brush and was quick to create the greyish colour. I quickly leant over the canvas started my first stoke.

I continued, doing the entire sky before starting the trees and the pond behind Dan. The water had taken a long time to get correct and I was proud of my result. I notices some of the trees were slightly orangey and it only took seconds for me so splodge some red, yellow and black on the pellet I held. As I squeezed the red paint tube, my body jolted slightly. What just happened? I brushed it off, probably just a chill or something.

I only then did I notice that I had poured WAY too much red on the pallet, it was oozing into the black. Suddenly an image of red flashed in my head. I gasped and held the now red covered brush tightly in my fist. My heartbeat was increasing rapidly and it wasn't long before another image flashed in my head. I tried to fight them off, my fisted palms becoming sweaty and white. I found myself staring into space as tears started forming in my widened eyes. My breathing hitched as I began to shake. I kept seeing Flashbacks of the red covered walls from my time in the concrete room in my head. It was like a collage of nightmares flooding through my mind. I staring whimpering, my hand subconsciously meeting the canvas, a giant splodge of red growing on the unpainted sketch of Dan. It was like I was reliving all the torture and pain from those four years in a matter of minutes. Memories of the kidnapper hurting me made me scream. I was in agony.

I dropped the brush to the ground, and started pulling at my hair, now fully screaming. I was sobbing and gasping each time a different memory made its way into my mind. My gaze was changed as I fell off my chair, my shaking becoming more violent as I stared at nothing in particular. I was trying to push the thoughts away but they crowded my head, making it throb painfully. My hands were pulling at my hair tighter by the second, anything to take away the mental pain I was experiencing. ANYTHING! My screams became louder as more memories bashed at my mind. I was losing the battle of fighting them off. I was losing control of myself. They were taking over me.

I tried thinking of anything else. Dan and our walk in the park or Phil or anything that would stop my sudden mental attack but the horrifying thoughts just became more and more vivid. I could hardly cope anymore, it was too much for my weak brain to handle. I was being forced by myself to remember every punch, ever kick, every slap. I was being forced by myself to look at every inch of abuse I received. And at that moment, I wanted nothing more to die. I just wanted it to end. I wanted to kill myself so I started scratching up and down my arms with my hand. I even tried strangling myself but my arms were shaking too much for it to be affective. The agony I was going through in my head was clearly overpowering the physical pain I was inflicting on myself. It wasn't working and eventually I gave up, resorting to grabbing my head and squeezing it in attempt to get rid of my traumatic past. It wasn't working.

Dan's P.O.V

Phil had gone to the market on the way back from the BBC. He was after some takeaways but I knew he would leave with a kinder egg too. Typical Phil habit. I had left the elevator, making my way over to the front doors. I had my earphones in, muse blasting in my ears. I was humming along till I had opened the front door. I stopped in my tracks. Frozen. Darcy was shaking on the ground, screaming and sobbing so loud it hurt my ears. She was holding her head tight in her hands which were red. I noticed the canvas but nothing mattered more at that moment than what was happening to Darcy. I sprinted over to her, the front door still wide open and my phone dropped somewhere on the carpet. I fell beside Darcy and she screamed. Her eyes were wide open, teary and obviously full of pain.

"Darcy! DARCY PLEASE! LISTEN TOO ME!!!!" I would have called an ambulance but my head was too clouded and I wasn't prepared to leave Darcy. She was shaking and gasping, sobbing and screaming, but my presence didn't make any difference. I wrapped my arms around her and screamed louder than before.

"Darcy I love you! STAY WITH ME! LISTEN TO ME! Come on, COME ON! Don't go, listen to my voice!" My heartbeat grew faster as I watched her actions continue, at most getting worse.

"Darcy please, don't leave me! Come on!" But there was no response at all. My vision was become clouded now too but I tried ignoring it as much as I could.

"No... Please! WHAT DID SHE DO TO DESERVE THIS?" I screamed up at God.

"Darcy, wake up! LISTEN TO ME! STAY WTH ME!" But nothing changed. Suddenly I heard a scream from behind me but I didn't bother turning around. I was too scared to look away from Darcy. I next heard Phil's footsteps and then he was on the other side of Darcy. He was crying just as hard as I was.

"D-D-Darcy" He whimpered, placing his hand on her arm.

I didn't know what to do, I couldn't imagine what would happen if this was the end. Darcy deserved a full life. A happy life. It couldn't end now! I instantly met my lips with her forehead, quickly in case she moved her head dramatically.

"Dan" She whispered before her shaking stopped and her arms became limp. Her eyes shut and for a moment I panicked before I noticed her pulse and let out a long sigh. Phil looked up at me shocked.

"W-what happened?" I shook my head. We desperately needed to call Dr Hodgson. I got up off the floor hesitantly and Phil must have read my mind because he chucked me his phone. I searched through his contacts before I found the doctor's number and I quickly called him.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

"Hello?" I frantically explained everything.

"It's Dan, Darcy's friend'. SHE JUST HAD A MAJOR SPAZM THINGS AND SHE WAS SHAKING AND CRYING AND SCREAMING AND NOW SHE IS ASLEEP BUT I DON'T KNOW WHJAT TO DO IS SHE OKAY? DO WE NEED AN AMBULANC-" The doctor cut me off.

"Calm down Dan. She had most likely had a panic attack which is expected for patients like her with traumatic pasts or experiences. There is no need for an ambulance if it has ended, she should be fine now. But you need to stay calm okay?" I was totally relieved and Phil noticed because his worried expression turned into calm.

"Yes, thank you" And with that I hung up.

"He said it's fine if she has stopped and is conscious. We have to take her to bed" Phil nodded and stood up. I bent down and picked Darcy up in my arms, being careful not to wake her. I carried her skilfully into my bedroom knowing my bed would be more comfortable that hers. Also, my scent may help her stay calm. With help from Phil, I placed her under my covers and made sure her head was in a comfortable position.

"Her hands are covered in paint, I'll get a cloth and wipe them." Phil nodded stayed with Darcy as I hurried into the kitchen. I filled a bowl with warm water and on my way back, grabbed a cloth from the towel cupboard. Once back in the room, Phil left, but not before kissing Darcy on the forehead. After all, she is basically his sister.

I brought my butt chair over to my bed and sat on it, balancing the bowl on my lap. I watched the slow rise and fall in Darcy's chest. She looked so peaceful compared to just minutes ago when she was screaming in agony. I stopped myself from crying again, because I knew it was possible. To keep positive thoughts in my head, I swished the cloth in the warm water and then leaned over to Darcy. First I dabbed her head which was sweaty and slightly red from where her hands hand been. I also brushed her hair out of her face, making her as comfortable as possible. I once again placed the cloth in the water and moved to her hands which were red from paint. I noticed she was painting before the attack happened and the canvas was a giant mess of red and black. I sighed and held one of her hands lightly, dabbing it and rubbing to get all the paint off. I noticed it was all over her sleeves too so I carefully pulled them up. But suddenly I found myself in just as much shock as I was in when I found Darcy moments ago. Scars lined her arms from elbow to wrist. All different shapes and sizes. Some were deep and others small. Some were fading and others more recent.

"Oh my god..." Was all I could manage to say. I yelped as I quickly pulled the other sleeve up, only to see the same thing. It took me a while to realise. It was my fault. Darcy wouldn't have been able to do this whilst captive, it was because of me. It was because of my yelling and screaming. It was because of my temper and anger before we became friends. Darcy Thompson cut, because of me. I started sobbing.

"IT'S ALL MY FAULT!" I screamed, forgetting Darcy was asleep. I accidentally pushed the bowl of my lap, the water flooding across my floor.

"Dan, what the hell?" Phil yell/whispered as he entered the room. He ran over to me and stared at me sternly.

"What is your fault? "He asked, noticing I was crying. I sobbed loudly and turned back to Darcy, pointing at her wrists.

"Oh Darcy..." Phil said, his chin trembling slightly. I suddenly burst into tears again, leaning my head on Phil's side.

"Shhh, it's okay Dan. It's not your fault. You're just not thinking clearly, you need some rest. I'll watch Darcy, you just go and sleep in my bedroom" I hiccupped. Phil was such a good friend. He hugged me and shooed me away. I left the room, not able to look at Darcy any longer. It hurt too much. Why had I been such a dick? I opened Phil's door and flopped onto his bed. He was right, I did need some rest. I had stayed up late last night thinking about my growing feelings for Darcy. I loved her and now I knew there was NO WAY she would ever love me back.