"Delilah! Get your ass up or you'll be late to your classes!" my mother had that stern but loving way of yelling at me that only moms could do.

"Mmmm," I groaned. My face was smooshed by my pillow, drool trailing from my mouth and absorbed into the fabric of the pillowcase.

"UGH," in one motion I sat up from my bed and rubbed my eyes for a solid two to three minutes, I was hoping I might be able to make them feel more awake or possibly stop the burning. Rubbing my hand under my pillows, I looked for the cool metal rectangle that was my phone. I felt it brush my fingertips and pulled it into my hands, clicking the home button to look at the time. 9:01. FUCK. My first class of the day started in 30 minutes and I had only fallen asleep about two hours ago. Although this wasn't exactly my fault, last night had been particularly... excruiciating.

Even for someone with my gift.

Grabbing the water bottle on my nightstand I chugged the rest of it's contents and felt my organs celebrate as they experience the first bit of hydration for the day.

"DELILAH!" my mother screamed banging on the door even more aggresively than she had before.

"I'M UP MOM!" I screamed back and heard her huff as she headed down the stairs.

That women IS terrifying.

And with some of the things I've seen... that's saying a lot.

I throw my legs lazily over the edge of my bed and sit for a moment, stretching and letting out a monstorous yawn. My joints popping a cracking as a true sign of being in my top physical form. Finally, I found the motivation to move ,and live, so I stood up and headed to my dresser.  Unfortunately I was now face to face with a mirror above my dresser and the harsh reality of my own face. The bags under my eyes were ungodly and my wavy redish brown hair looked like it was styled by Albert Eistein himself. 

Jesus.

 Reaching for my concealer, hoping it may be able to save me, I dab it under my eyes to try and hide my tiredness. Throwing on some mascare quickly, and toss my hair up in a messy bun because it can't be saved otherwise. I slide into a pair of jeans that I had probably already worn at least one. I grab the first t-shirt within arms reach and out it on, which is suprisingly clean, before throwing on my socks and converse. Collecting all my essentials for the day I throw them in my messenger bag, decorated with an assortment of pins and stickers, I grab my computer and head for the door.

Stopping with the doorknob in my hand I realize I had forgetten my gloves. It wasn't like I made much physical contact with humans throughout the day, but I'd prefer to avoid it all together. Throwing around my blankets wildly I find my gloves and sprint out of my room, nearly sliping in the process.

Running down the stairs I head to the kitchen and grab one of pancakes my Mom has made, dipping it in syrup and shoving it in my mouth. 

My mother watched me with dissaproving eyes, "You look horrible Lilah."

I swallow the pancake with a gulp and laugh sarcastically, "Gee thanks Mom." My face twists in dicomfort as I feel the unchewed pancake descend my esophogas.

She laughs a little but then her emerald eyes cloud over with sadness, "You need to get more sleep sweetheart."

I try to chase down the slow moving pancake with a glass of orange juice, and luckily it helps a little. "If only it were that simple," my eyes meet hers for a moment before she looks away. Turning back to the stove she resumes making breakfast, sadbess radiating from her. The expression on her face was so familiar, it was almost a permanent fixture when she lookedd at me. I walk over to her and kiss her on the cheek, giving her a half hug before heading for the door.

"Have a good day sweetheart," she yells from the stove.

"Thanks mom!" I grab my skateboard and open the door simultaneously, jogging down the brick pathway to our front gate. Trying to avoid my little brother and the loser club that are typically polluting the yard by this hour, I place my skateboard on the sidewalk and search for my headphones and my gloves in my bag. I slip on my gloves and begin to work headphones out of the tangled ball I found them in at the bottom of my bag.

"You look like crap Lilah," I hear my brothers voice say. Followed by a chorus of chuckles from his minions.

"Gee thanks Aiden," I roll my eyes as I focus on untangling my headphones.

He takes a few steps towards me and lowers his voice so his friends won't hear, "Was it your... imaginary friends again?"

I laugh and stare at him for a minute before walking over to him. He's almost a complete twin for my mother, and you know, she makes one good looking guy. I ruffle his red brown hair, "Something like that kiddo." I’ve finally untangled my headphones to the point where I can us them, putting one foot on my skateboard and starting my morning playlist I kick and I'm off. "Have a good day Aiden. Don't do drugs!" I yell down the street pointing an accusing finger at him and his friends.

I watch as they all roll their eyes and give me that "She's a weirdo" look I've gotten so used to.

Taking a look at my phone to check the time, I am slapped hard with reality. 9:25. SHIT. There is only one way I wouldn’t be monumentally late for class. There's a shortcut through a back alleyway that I've tried to avoid almost all my life, and for good reason. But it would get me to class in ten minutes instead of my usual twenty.

Fuck it.

I take the turn towards the alleyway and there is no going back, I can already feel the temperature drop and tingle the familiar tingle on my spine. I feel regret almost immediately.

It was going to take me a lot longer than twenty minutes to get down this alleyway,

Just don't look at them Lilah. Don't let them know you can see. Maybe then it won’t happen. 

My kicks become more frequent, and my anxiety is in full force, this alley is making my skin crawl. 

"ENOUGH!" I hear a booming voice say in front of me. "I... have heard enough."

I try not to look but I can see him in my peripheral vision. It's a man, looking to be from the twenties, his hair is slicked back, and he is dressed rather nicely. I keep going, my eyes glued to the pavement in front of me. I turn up my music to drowned them out but I can still hear their voices in my head.

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"Please just give me some more time Boss. Just another week or so. I'll get all the money I swear Boss," I could hear the tears in his voice. The urgency in his tone, he was absolutely terrified.

"I have given you a month!" the voice echoed throughout my skull. "I have been... more than generous with you," I hear the flick of a lighter. "And you... have failed me."

The black smoke begins to form in front of me and I can feel it starting to happen.

No! Please! Not right now! Just let me get to class!

The familiar feeling of falling begins and everything around me turns to nothingness. I feel myself being pulled from reality, into this fragment from another time, into a moment that is not mine.

I feel myself land on my feet, the familiar wave of nausea washing over me. I open my eyes and try to take in my surrondings, and I am overcome with fear. My heartbeat is thudding in my ears and tears are flowing down my face. I try to move but there are two men holding me in place, and there is no hope of breaking free from their hold. Looking around my eyes stops on a lean, nervous, man in  front of me. I feel butterflies in my stomach and my heart flutters like a baby bird. This, is the man I love. He looks back at me, dark circles under his eyes, baby blues that are overcast with hopelessness.

He looks away from me, "I'll do anything boss." I see the tears begin to form in his eyes as he looks back towards me. He is dressed nicely but his clothes are dirty and worn, like he had been through one hell of a night... or a few days. His face is kind and he has a bit of scruff on his young but tired face. His slicked back blonde hair is hidden underneath a black fedora, and his face is pale. 

I hear a dark laugh from the man to the right of me. The big man in expensive clothes takes a few steps towards my beloved, putting his cigar up to his lips and removing it before speaking. He places a hand on his shoulder, "You and I both know what must be done. Payment... is due.” He looks towards me, a greedy smile on his smug face. Taking slow steps towards me, he doesn’t stop until he is inches from my face. I watch as his eyes scan me, and he licks his lips as he runs his fingers along the top on my blouse. "Mmmm," he says before ripping my blouse and exposing my undergarments. He traces a finger along my breasts and looks at them hungrily. “My my you are something special aren’t you?” he looks into my eyes. I instantly look away and wimper, closing them tightly. 

"I won't let you get away with this!" I hear from behind him. His voice is shakey and desperate, I can hear the tears in it. The utter sadness. 

He laughs as he tugs at my bra playfully in an attempt to release my breasts, I wimper again and try to shake free but it is futile. There is the sound of a gun cocking and he stops in his tracks. Placing his hand under my chin he says, "Guess you'll have to wait doll." He turns on his heal to look at the man behind him. "Now now, lets not do something we might regret," he says calmly as he takes a drag from his cigar.

My boyfriend... or whatever he is has now completely lost his shit. He is sweating and the gun pointed at the scary man in front of me is shaking. "Let her go!" he demands. His voice seems stern and stronger than it was before, but his demeanor is calling his bluff.

He chuckles darkly, taking slow steps towards him. "Are you going to shoot me Georgie?" he says in a mocking tone.

In a split second the gun is fired and the big man grabs his arm, he is overpowered quickly as he begins to bend his arm. I see the agony in his eyes, as his arm is broken and all hope is lost. He looks up at me and my heart shatters into a million tiny pieces.

The worst part about these is I feel everything.

Physical and emotional.

It drains the life out of me.

I watch as tears stream down his handsome face, "I'm so sorry Ruth."

I watch as the gun in his hand is turned to his head and the big man pulls the trigger.

I watch as his brain is skattered behind painting the wall and the pavement of the alleyway.

I watched as the light left his beautiful bab y blue eyes.

I watch as my hopes and dreams and my entire world desolves into nothing.

"No!" I scream in agony and collapse onto the pavement. "Please god no!" My arms are being held above me as I sob uncontrollably, hyperventalating as his lifeless body falls to the ground. "You're a monster!” I scream at the man standing over his corpse. "The Devil comes for men like you! You will pay!"

Turning to look at me, there is a smile on his face, and a true malicious gleam in his hazel eyes. He makes his way back towards me, still casually smoking his cigar, he squats down in front of me and looks into my eyes. "I am the Devil sweetheart," he grazed my cheek with the same hand that pulled the trigger.. I cringe away from him instinctively but he just smiles at my defiance.  He looks to the men holding me, nodding his head towards the wall.

I feel myself being lifted and there is no energy left in me to even attempt to fight back.

There is no reason to fight back.

I feel as I am pressed against the hard brick wall, and I watch as the big man makes his way towards me slowly unzipping his pants. Please," I beg as I sob quietly. "Please don't do this."

He laughs, "Oh I think we are both going to enjoy this."

I don't want to see this! Please! Please I don't want to be here anymore! Please wake up Lilah!

I focus all my concentration on getting out of this Aperture. I don't want to see anymore and I certainly don't want to feel what's about to happen. The black smoke begins to form around the man in front of me as he closes the gap between us and spreads my legs. I take one last look into his eyes, and I know that in this moment this poor women was face to face with pure evil.

The familiar feeling of being propelled sends me back into reality and I find myself on the cold pavement. Exactly where I had just watched that man die. My knee is sore, looking down to investigate I see that I have ruined my jeans and I'm bleeding. I make a sad attempt to fight the urge to vomit, but I begin to retch. My breathing is heavy and I am sweating profusely, so I focus my attention on steadying it. Trying to sit up, I realize that I've also scrapped my palm pretty badly, and unfortunately destroyed my glove.

This is exactly why I never go this way.

Grabbing my phone from my sweatshirt pocket to look at the time I try to compose myself.

9:40. Shit. If I hadn't gone this way I would have been almost there by now. 

It's at this time I notice the figure at the end of the alley starring at me.

Fuck! Not more of them!

My head jerks in it's direction quickly. It's a man. He looks to be in his mid to late forties, he has glasses and his hair is styled and slicked back. He is dressed nicely, and there's a steaming starbucks cup in his left hand, and a wild expression on his face.

I clear my throat, "...hello?" 

He takes a few steps towards me, "Where were you just now?"

I raise an eyebrow at him,"Excuse me?"

There's no way he knows... right?

He smiles to himself and shakes his head, "Where... did you just go?"

I push myself up from the ground with the uninjured hand, I feel a twinge of pain in my scrapped knee as I get back on my feet. "Well I was on my skateboard a moment ago-" I turn to look at it behind me.

"No!" he nearly yells.

I turn and give him a what the fuck look before taking a step back.

He puts a hand out, "I'm sorry I just... you're a Seer aren't you?" I can see the excitemnet buring in his brown eyes, and what looked like hope.

No fucking way. No fucking way he knows. Who IS this guy?

I turn around and pick up my skateboard before answering him, "I'm sorry... who are you?"

He smiles at me, a genuine smile that travels from his mouth all the way up to his eyes. The wrinkles around them become more prominent and he takes another step towards me. "Let me help you," he says.

"Help me?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Yes! It is hard to do this alone. It's good to be with... likeminded individuals when no one else understands... don't you think?" he was almost giddy at this point.

"Uhhhh..." I sat there with my mouth open unable to respond.

What.The. Fuck.

"Where are you headed?" he asked.

"To class-"

"Where do you go?"

"Hollow Grove Uni-"

"Great!" he jerks his hands in excitment spilling some of his coffee. "I am a professor there. I will excuse you for the day."

"Wait what-"

He started to walk out of alley and head towards the busy road, " Come on! Let's grab coffee!" He tossed his into a nearby trashcan.

I laugh a little at the energy of this very strange man, "I should really get to class."

He takes a few step toward me and looks me deep into my eyes, "Let me help you.... please."

I look over him. He is... strange but he seems harmless. And he's the only human I've ever met who knew anything about my... gift, and just by looking at me at that. I didn't particularly want to go to class and he said he was a professor...

I inhaled deeply, "Okay."

"Fantastic!" he grabbed my arms and shook me violently. "This is absolutely wonderful!"

I watched as he turned on his heal and head towards the busy street again, a smile on his face. His aura beaming with energy and positivity. 

"Weird guy...." I say to myself but I can’t help but smile.