Floor 68.

XII. - Futuristic Past.

Time passed, day by day, as the city of Stonecrest Lake prepared itself to welcome Thanksgiving. October left the city, hurried by upcoming November and its drizzles.

The sunny warm weather disappeared, leaving the trees trembling at the wuthering winds. Stonecrest Lake City always had cold long frosted winters. The trees would soon be hiding behind an extremely white coat of snow.

Winter was a family season in Stonecrest Lake, everybody would gather around the meals, and only the brave dared wander out, after school or work. Coffee places were full of people, friends and family would meet and fill the coffee shops with laughs and warmness, in contrast to the cold harsh weather. It was a beautiful season, though.

Carolina glanced at her watch; it was almost 12 o'clock. Thirty five minutes to go and she'll have lunch. She looked at her right, spotting Elka Pitts paying attention at Mr. Edwards was saying. Carolina Swann continued to scan the brunette who wasn't aware of her eyes on her. Sighing in weariness, Carolina "Lina" Swann directed her blue gaze at the board, but she couldn't focus anymore. Elka and she used to date; their relationship lasted for two years, freshman and sophomore years. Despite the fact that Carolina wasn't one to confess, they were her best years. Elka and her shared a beautiful relationship, they loved doing everything together, they were happy. Until that foresaken night where Elka got so drunk during New Year's Eve and slept with someone. Elka was so drunk she couldn't remember who and Carolina was furious at the thought of her beloved girlfriend with another woman. That's why she was surprised when she discovered a candom in the room where the incident happened. She completely lost her temper then. She could have forgiven Elka, but not in this case; she slept with a man, and that was unforgivable. Carolina was a bombshell on the outside but she, like most girls, had many insecurities.

Her mind took her back, four years ago, remembering the only thing she wanted to erase from her memory, but couldn't. The thing about remembering is that you can't forget, no matter how hard you try, because one never forgets when thinking about forgetting.

When she was thirteen, Carolina had suffered an event that changed her whole life, she was young and in love with her boyfriend; the first and the last she would ever have. Nathaniel was charming, handsome and playful, more experienced as he was five years older. He was fluent with words and God, the way he looked at her made her feel so special and unique. Little did she know that behind his perfect smile and gentle ways, there was a beast ready to reveal its real face when time comes. She remembered how she begged him to understand, to stop, to remind himself of their love, but nothing she said worked; it was too late, he was determined to take what he wanted, at any cost. And he raped her, scarring her forever.

Lina never talked about that to anyone, she changed, drowning in depression and sorrow. She shunned every guy who come closer, she avoided men. It was even more difficult to get over what Nathaniel did to her as she saw him everyday, surrended by girls who didn't know how his true self was; dark, scary and sick. He tried to apologize but were there any glorious words to mend a broken heart? Were there any magical potions to repair a damaged soul? One day he showed at her door; crying and asking for her forgiveness. He was acting odd, all his confidence had disappeared and he swore he'd do anything to make it up to her, he was ready to turn himself in to police. Carolina told him she never wished to see him again and that he should leave her alone, if he really wanted her to recover from the damage he caused.

He graduated, top of his class, of course. And that was the last day she saw him. He had disappeared as if he never existed and she never wished to see him again. He was a part of a past she wanted to bury. Life went on and she met Candice. She made her discover a world that she never knew; a place where there was no pain, only voluptuous pleasure and exquisite satisfaction. To her misfortune, Candice wasn't so different than Nathaniel, she was disguised as a loving person to hide what she really wanted: an object to distract her. Lina refused to let go, she wondered what she had done wrong, why her love life was so miserable. Then, she met Elka, who easily fell for her, and, following her ex-girlfriend's example, Lina used Elka, took advantage of her, used the love she harbored her to her favor and then, when she satisfied her thirst for control, her desire for power, she threw her as one tosses a ticket.