Manipulation (Sequel To Total Control)

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Mark's POV

I helped y/n off the ground, holding her close yo me so she wouldn't fall yo the ground again. She protested saying I was hurt but I didn't care, I just needed to make sure she was ok.
She wobbled against me and I lifted her up.
"Mark, put me down, you're hurt" she said.
"And you're weak. Don't be stubborn" I told her and carefully placed her on the couch.
"Don't move" I said and went to get a damp cloth to wipe the 'blood' from her hands. When Dark ripped the chain out of her hands, I thought it was blood. But it wasn't red, it was dark grey. I had so many questions, none of this made sense to me. What did Dark want with her?

But I told myself that the questions can wait, I need to take care of her.
I went back and sat down next to her. Taking her hands in mine and wiping them gently.
"What is this? " I muttered to myself but she heard and answered
"Blood, I guess"
I couldn't comprehend it, so I didn't try to. I wiped off her hands, expecting there to be huge cuts across her hands but there was nothing.
"What? " I whispered in disbelief.

"I think...it's what happens when I get like that, when I get like them"  she said softly.
She let out a sigh and said
"Gimme that" and took the cloth from me, folding it over to a piece that wasn't bloodied. She wiped my face and mouth where it was bloodied. I couldn't help but smile at her. But she had a look that was distant. Her hand dropped and she looked down.
"You need to leave me" she said saddened.
"What, no! Why would you say that? " I blurted out.
"Don't you see, he'll always come back for me. No matter how hard I try to move on, he'll always hunt me. You're not safe" she answered, not even looking at me.
"Which is why I need to be here with you, so I can help you to be safe"

She shook her head.
"No, he'll kill you"
"I don't care, I have to try "
"Please don't do this" she muttered softly.
"I promise, I'll try to keep you safe. Whatever it takes, I'll do it. I won-"
"Damion please! " she shouted cutting me off. As soon as the name left her lips she cupped her hands over her mouth.
"I-I'm sorry" she said with a strained voice.
"Mark, please. I don't want to lose you too" she added, her voice breaking a bit. I held her hands gently and told her softly
"I'm not leaving you to fend off against Dark all on your own. I won't let you"

She chuckled to herself and smiled at me.
"You remind me so much of him"
"Dark? " I asked, confused by the thought.
"No, Damion. You're a lot like him"

I felt like I had heard that name before, somewhere a while ago. But I don't know why.

"Who was he? " I asked. She didn't answer.
"You said that Dark will always come back for you. You make it sound like this isn't the first time this has happened"
"It's the second time actually" she said. She took a breath and averted her gaze from me. Fixing her gaze straight, not really looking at anything.
"I met Dark on my birthday, five years ago. He made my life absolute hell. Every night was a new hell, a new torture. I didn't know what he wanted from me at first, but after every night, I realized he got stronger" she paused and glanced at me.
"He was using you" I said. She nodded.
"For a year, he was with me. But the torture stopped around half way. He did still hurt me, but it was less. I still remember it all though, every cut, every burn. Everything" she hung her head.

"Those scars are from him" I said to myself. But again, I didn't realize I said it out loud. Her head perked up and she looked at me quizzically.
"How do you know about my scars? " she asked. I didn't want to have to tell her this but, I guess I had to.

"The day we fought, and you kicked me out" I said and she looked at me with full attention.

~~Flashback~~

I had decided on making y/n breakfast, to get on her good side. Or at least try to before we talk. But I felt like I should've taken a shower. I know where she keeps the towels and although I didn't have any clothes here, it's not like I was utterly dirty. I just felt like I needed it to calm my thoughts. And what y/n doesn't know won't hurt her, right?