Nina and Ian: Reclaiming

Chapter 3: I'll Stay

Dark. It was dark all around. Nina couldn't see, she couldn't feel anything. She reached out and felt her fingertips brush a soft fabric. She pulled at it, desperate to get a grip on anything. Somehow, she knew she was safe now as she clung to the warm fabric.

Suddenly, a soft light arose, slowly. It was a golden light, so pure and magnificent that one might only think it would blind a person. Yet Nina stared at the brilliant light. A soft breath against her hair caused her to look up at the warm silhouette that she was clinging to.

At first, the figure was blurry, like a smeared painting, then it came into focus. Nina gasped.

Ian.

His brilliant baby blue eyes held her gaze as he placed his warm, gentle hand on her cheek, caressing it with a softness that caused Nina to melt under his touch. The light seemed to be warm, but her skin was covered in goosebumps under Ian's touch.

She closed her eyes; soaking in the moment that seemed to be everlasting. Yet, the blissful moment was finite when Ian whispered,

"Elena,"

Nina's eyes shot open. She looked up at the heavenly Ian, and clung onto his shirt tightly.

"No, Ian. It's me, Nina." She urged. Ian seemed to ignore her comment as he whispered, "Elena, Elena..."

"No, Ian, I'm Nina, not Elena,"

"Elena, Elena,"

"Ian! It's ME! I'm not-"

"Elena, you're Elena."

For some reason unknown, Nina felt tears cloud her eyes as she tried to get Ian to see her. She shouted in his face "Nina! I'm Nina!" But her efforts seemed to go to waste.

Ian slowly looked more and more confused, and then when Nina started walking away, he yelled,

"I love you, Elena! Where are you going?!"

Nina's tears rolled down her cheeks; her chest aching with hurt and sorrow. "Why can't he see me? I'm not Elena! I'm me!" Nina thought with frustration.

The scenery shifted then as Nina was walking. The bright, golden sky disappeared, and darkness crept up on her.

Nina turned as she felt a cold wind pass her back and send chills up her spine. When she turned back, Ian was standing in front of her again, but she flinched at his deranged appearance.

His eyes spoke of anger, and his fingers were clinched tightly into fists.

"Ian, are you-"

A whip sounded throughout the bitter silence. A sound that rang in Nina's ears and shocked her very soul. Her cheek stung like a hot fire and her vision went blurry.

Ian had just struck her. Hit her.

Nina broke down in sobs and curled up on the floor and felt a pain she'd never known before. The worst part about the situation was that Ian stood above her and watched her cry. Just stood there. Emotionless, careless, a monster.

The tears came faster then, and she could no longer could feel his conscience. Nina's heart ached with pain and disbelief; her body shivering from the harshness of it all. Her chest heaving from the seemingly endless fits of sobs that echoed in the silent darkness.

Ian then bent down, and whispered in Nina's ear, "You're not Elena. You're not worth love..."

Not worth love.

Worth love..

Love-

Nina woke up with a start. Her throat hurt from screaming and crying and her arms thrashed around the air violently. A hand caught one of her arms and brought it back down and another hand soothed her back.