Beth gazed out on the city. There were so many people out there. Some were good, some were bad. Some were strong, some were weak. One always overcame the other. In most moments like these, she would wonder why people killed. What was it about killing that appealed to so many people? Why did they like causing others pain?

But today, she was a block of cold stone. She was locked in the recollection of the most powerful and disturbing connection she had ever experienced. Her joy, what represented to her all she had ever wanted in her life, was about to be annihilated by pain. Joy would be extinguished with regret and sorrow, and it would never be the same again.

And she was helpless by ignorance. She didn't know who he was, name-wise any way. She knew the real him, what made him who he was. But she was tied, she didn't know where he was or how to help him. The struggle between what was right and what was wrong was being fought within her. Even if she did, did she have the right to tell him what she knew? To change what was to happen?

The sleeping city, with the millions of different lives, was still under the pale moon's light. Sighing, Beth pressed her head against the windowpane and tried to push away her worry for him. He was everything to her, and the one time he needed her, she didn't know how she could possibly help him.

"Can't you show me who you are? Where you are? Anything about you?" she whispered. Faith for someone who witnessed the evil in the world was nearly impossible, and for the first time she could remember, Beth found herself begging for help.

"Tell me who he is. Lead me to him. Don't let this joy be murdered," she begged, desperate tears trickling slowly down her face, catching on the pane of glass, leaving a trail of water droplets as they fell to the window sill.

These thoughts were violently pushed away in a stroke of heat and pain. Her knees buckled with the force coming over her, and she fell into the chair just behind her. She gripped the arms of the chair as an unbearable pain overwhelmed her. She could feel the worn fabric covering the battered chair beneath her fingers, rough with age. The feeling of the fabric slowly faded from under her fingertips as the connection became stronger, taking over her until she wasn't anymore.

Too late. Please God, don't let me be too late. Please God. Air burning lungs. Gasping for breath. Desperately running, racing, speeding. Why didn't I see this coming? Why didn't I know this would happen?

The rush of adrenaline pushed aside the burning physical pain. Breathing easier, gasping less. Running on solid legs that would turn to jelly when the mind started to think, any thought would shatter the blank state it was in.

A door. A door was in front. Hard and solid, it was opened, and the worst nightmare was realised. Red. Red was everywhere. Blood. The smell. Rank, over-welming musk was rich with fear, which only added to the terror.

Knees collapsing. Reaching out to touch the body. It was real. This is really happening. I can't believe this is happening. Blood was everywhere. There's so much blood. Oh God, I don't know what to do. Why can't I help him? Tell me what to do!

Green eyes opened, begging for help, entreating. The pain was obvious, the suffering only just begun. Fear. He looks so afraid. Helpless to do anything but grasp the clammy, pale hand, and stare into the pleading eyes.

The pleading eyes. God, please tell me what to do. Tell me how to help him. Yelling, voice screaming…sirens wailing. Flashing lights. Pleading eyes. Pain, blood everywhere. Overwhelming all senses. Pain. Blood. Pleading eyes.

With a gasp, Beth was pushed back into herself. Her fragile state of consciousness was weakened by the fragmenting thoughts remaining. The blood, ruby droplets glistening everywhere around them. The pain which hung like smog in the room. The eyes. Terrorised, pleading, green eyes.

The veil of the connection still shrouding her mind, Beth summoned as much strength as she could, and forced her shaking legs to walk over to the bed. Reaching the tattered piece of furniture, her legs gave out, and she fell down. Attempting to fight off sleep that her exhaustion was eager to succumb to, a startling memory flashed into her mind. The pleading green eyes. Her eyelids became unbearably heavy and she slipped into a dreamless sleep.