Informing You

Chapter Six: Old Scars, Future Hearts

She was frozen in place, completely taken aback by his sudden declaration of love, he was like a whole other Iggy. "Wh-what?" she stuttered. She noticed what was in his hand now, within a small jewelry box. A beautiful rosegold ring with diamonds adorning it.

"I love you, Anna." He repeated. "Will you be my Queen?" It seemed like all the sudden he was insanely close. His forehead was nearly touching hers, his right hand cupped her cheek as his left twirled her brunette hair through its thin pale fingers. She could see all the shades of green in his eyes as they sparkled brilliantly in the candlelight. He could see all the perfect imperfections which resided within her lovely brown eyes. He found himself intensely focusing on her sweet, soft, pink lips. All he wanted to do was kiss them; kiss her. But he awaited a reply to his question; the answer he longed for was near. How much longer must he wait?

Anna closed the gap between their lips, hers soft against his. It was gentle at first, unsure, but soon heated up as they continued. Their breathing became nothing but breathless huffs as he placed the ring on the table and sat in a chair, pulling her into his lap, their lips never leaving. His hands drifted from her hair to her sides, to the hem of her shirts, then upward - pausing at the feeling of bare skin for a short moment. Her hands wandered his sides and chest, finally finding their way into his shirt, eventually pulling it off. What had they gotten into? What were they doing? Both knew they should stop, but this felt so good. His hands worked their way around her waist, feeling each scar, each story he'd yet to hear. His lips wandered her neck, discovering her collarbone and working back up to her lips again. His hands had worked their way up and their lips parted for a short moment for him to remove her shirts. He ran his hands down to her thighs, she snaked hers around his neck as he stood. He carried her, their lips still crashing into each other, then them both crashing onto his bed.

He pinned her wrists down and kissed her, her lips, her neck, her collarbone; then back up to her lips again. She felt the weight of his bare chest pressing against her, a panic attack hit her like a load of bricks.

"Ar-Artie..." she gasped, "St-stop....pl-lease.....stop!"

"Mmmmnnnn..." he mumbled. She could feel his reply against her lips. "I don't want to." he either didn't notice the slight panic in her voice, or didn't care as he was swept along in the moment.

"Bu-but..." she gasped again, "I-I'm not...ready..."

He pulled away from her, a small, content smirk on his lips, his face the most relaxed she'd ever seen it. His expression soon changed, to one of annoyance, when he noticed the rose petals covering his entire bed. He swore he'd kill that bloody wanker for breaking into his house like this...but for now, Anna was more important.

"You didn't answer." he finally said, rolling off of her. "Will you marry me?"

"Well I didn't kiss you like that to say 'Nah, I'm good.'."

He laughed at that, "So, a yes then."

"Definite yes." she said, turning onto her side and smiling as she looked at him beside her. However, she still felt the pressure on her chest. The scars on her stomach throbbed. Her memories were returning.

Arthur's expression changed from one of content to one of panic as he noticed Anna's shaking. "What's wrong?" he asked worriedly, "Bloody heck, Anna, are you okay? Talk to me!"

She couldn't get out even a mumble, and she tried so hard to say something, anything, but she couldn't. Her throat had closed up, her heart was racing, she was hyperventilating! She reached out for something, anything, to ground her. She grabbed Arthur by the waist and pulled him into a bone crushing hug, pushing her head into his chest, trying to stop the memory from emerging. Trying to stop the flashback.

But it was no use, she blacked out. Arthur's heart leaped when he felt her arms loosen around him, he pulled away from her and hovered over her as he checked her breathing and pulse - labored. He picked her up bridal style, and carried her out to his car. He buckled her up and raced to the nearest hospital. He didn't know what was happening.

**flashback**

"N-no..." she said, backing against a wall. "I-I'm just a primary school kid! I don't...I don't have any money!"

The dirty looking man chuckled, "Oh, but it isn't money I want, dear."

She felt her throat close up, what was he going to do to her? She tried screaming, but she was too terrified to even make a peep escape her mouth.

"Not going to scream? Run for mummy? Ah, it's probably better that way, dear. Less I have to do." he pushed her harder against the wall, she grimaced at the smell of his rancid breath that screamed 'I'm that type of guy that brushes his teeth once every two decades'. "See, all you need to do, is let me do, what I want to do."

She looked at him, utter terror covering her features. Was he going to rape her? Her mother had warned her about walking through alleys like this, but she ignored the warnings and walked through here anyway. Now she wished she had never came this way; that she didn't even know of it.

"Oh, dear, I'm not going to rape you! Poor soul!" he giggled to himself, "I'm just going to cut you open with this," he snapped an assisted opening knife open with his right hand, "And see what you're made of!"

This man was a psychopath! Sick! She tried screaming again, finally regaining her voice, but he grabbed her neck and squeezed. Only a squeak escaped her as she felt her feet leave the ground.

"Bad girl, bad girl." he shook his head. "Shouldn't have done that, my dear."

She looked around frantically now, did no one else walk this alley? She tried kicking, slapping, punching. He was too strong. She felt the knife sink into her flesh, she felt the blade scrape between two ribs and she let out a muffled croak of pain. She couldn't breathe with his hand around her neck, yet alone scream.

"Stop squirming! It will only make things worse." he twisted the knife as he laughed. "Though I don't mind, of course." he pulled the knife from her torso and flicked the blood off. "You bleed beautifully." he said.

His grip loosened around her neck and she fell hard to the ground, by now, she was seeing blacks and purples and all sorts of colors. Like a rave she didn't really want to attend, but got forced to anyway. She could not make out anything anymore. She felt pain in her torso again, but it was dulled out: she was losing her consciousness. Before she passed out completely, she heard someone yelling, then quick footsteps and the sound of a knife opening. There were sounds of cutting and grunts from lunges, but soon there was only one blurry figure standing before her. A woman, maybe a girl, she could tell by the hair. She heard her cursing under her breath, and then her yell for 'an ambulance' she passed out moments later, after trying to place the odd accent.

**end of flashback**