The Demons Within

Prologue

Mara

"I love you." I say, "But I have to go."

"No. No this can't be happening..." His voice is barely a broken whisper.

"I'm sorry. I have to go..." I murmur before giving him one last kiss and turning to walk away forever.

His hand reaches out to grab my wrist. "Please, don't leave- Not like this." His voice catches.

I pull away, freeing my wrist from his grasp. "Goodbye..." I say barely holding back my tears as I watch him fall apart right in front of my eyes.

This time I turn and walk away, down the dark alley knowing that's how dark my life will be from now on, without looking back or I might not be able to leave him. God how much I hate goodbyes... The terrified look in his eyes will stay with me till my grave, I know it's the truth. Seeing the always-confident Kagen fall apart like that truly hurts me, especially knowing that I was the cause of it. The stars start to shimmer into view. I was never good for him. All I brought into his life was pain and danger.

This is the right thing to do, no-matter how much it hurts both of us...

Kagen

I always knew Mara would leave me one day, I just didn't know that that day would be today. I know she did the right thing... All I'd brought into her life was misery. I knew, deep inside, that this love was always too good to be true. My mind flashes back to the time when I didn't know her, when she wasn't there to be my moon. A time when I had been so desperate for any kind of peace that I'd turned to drugs. I guess I'll have to go back to that without Mara to light up my dark, lonely nights. My saviour. That's what she was, my saviour.

The first time we met at the bar... My tears start flowing in earnest now. Oh Mara, why did it have to be like this?

I still love you with all my heart... I look up at the starry sky and say, "I will forever miss you Mara, and I will never forget you-" My voice cracks, "Never." And I know that this is and will be the truth for as long as I live.

Tears are streaming down my cheeks as I look up at the sky one more time, "To the stars that listen, and the dreams that are answered..." I murmur before turning away and walking down the alley. But when I'm almost home I know I won't be able to sleep so I walk back to the place where she left me and finally let myself breakdown.

I look up and say, "I love you Mara- And that will forever be the truth..." I break off as new tears start streaming down my face. I love her so much, and even though a small part of my brain tells me that this was for the best, I still refuse the idea. I know she will not miss me even nearly as much as I miss her, but I would not give up a single moment of our friendship and then our love. Not for the world.

'Somewhere between "Hello" and "Goodbye" there was love...'