" Quick, He's coming! " Demarian coughed up, bleeding out on the ground, " Go... I'll be fine... " Erica stared at him. She couldn't leave him behind. They've been through this all the way now all of a sudden he wants to sacrifice himself for her. Erica, tearing up, nodded in reply and ran like the wind. She glanced behind her, only to see Damarian get engulfed into the shadows drawing near. She, filled with fear, ran as fast as she could go.
The monster, covered in blood; eyes narrowed onto Erica; laughing maniacally; had been chasing them both for hours. She can still remember his crazed expression as he slaughtered everyone right in front of her eyes, out of "love". Erica sped down the corridor as the shadows slowly came into view from the corner of her eyes. She shook her head and ran faster. She was faced with a dead end. " H-How... this wasn't here before. Where's the door?! " She said frantically, looking for the door that linked their worlds. She stepped back, failing to find the way back home. The monster smiled fondly and pinned Erica to the wall, whispering into her ear, " Tag, You're It~ "
Ella is falling apart trying to live a "perfect" high school life. Then she meets Ren, who can see past her scars. Suddenly perfection isn't her only option.
*****
Ella Volkov is a gifted music student, but she's depressed and starting to crack under the pressure of high school. Her overbearing father won't even let her choose what instrument she plays. Then she finds herself alone at a party with Ren, her best friend's crush. She'd always thought he was rude, but after that night he's all Ella can think about. Now she's trapped. If Ella dates Ren, it will ruin her friendship with Jenny. But if she stays true to Jenny, she's losing the one person who can see past her scars. It's up to Ella to decide if she will forge her own path, or stay in the "perfect" box designed for her...
Content and/or Trigger Warning: depression, anxiety, self-harm, violence, sexual assault.
[[word count: 50,000-100,000 words]]