3. THE ATTACK

"There you are!" The familiar voice called out. Zoie smiled softly as she placed her hand into his large palm causing her to relax immediately. Pulling her into his arms, Cronos hugged her tightly. "How I've missed you!"

Zoie smiled. "You've saw me every single day for the past year."

"I miss you even when we are together, my love." Cronos whispered in Zoie's ear. The sound of the piano played as they began their daily routine of slow dancing. Leaning on his chest, Zoie took a deep breath of relief.

"You're someone created in my head yet you bring me much peace." She whispered. "I wish you were real."

Cronos concentrating on the words that left the woman's mouth leaving his at a loss for words. He had always knew that Zoie thought of him as something created in her head but he had never heard her say the actual words. Cronos put a halt to their dancing causing Zoie to look up at him in confusion. He disliked the fact that she didn't see him as something real.

"I am real, my love. I always have been and I always will be!" He replied.

Zoie furrowed her eyebrows. "You can't be real if you only appear in my dreams, sir!"

Smiling, Cronos responded to the girl. "Just because it is a dream, doesn't mean it isn't real."

"So are you saying that you exist?" Zoie asked.

Freezing, Cronos observed the beauty in his arms. She stared up at him with full hopeful eyes knowing that he had said too much. Sooner or later, she would have to find out the truth and there was no point in going back now. Leaning down and placing a soft kiss on her nose, Cronos smiled.

"Yes."

Watching the man in shock, many questions went through Zoie's mind. She wanted to know more. She was confused about the entire thing but fed up with the secrecy as well.

"If you really exist then why do you only appear in my dreams?" She asked.

"It is the safest and only way we can be with one another." Cronos answered. "Everything takes time but it's all coming along. Soon, we will be together."

"You can't say things like this and expect me to let it go, sir." Zoie muttered. "When will this happen?"

Cronos smiled. "I won't tell you a thing until I know for sure you're ready. I will not notify you on what you should be ready for. When the time is right, we will both know."

"What?"

"Regardless, whatever path you shall take - I will respect that and I shall love you nevertheless." Cronos finished. Instead of answering her questions, he only left Zoie more confused. Looking up at the man, Zoie stared into his piercing blue eyes.

"Who are you?" She whispered.

"I'm afraid our time is up, my love." Cronos announced. "I will miss you dearly but we shall meet again."

Waking up the next day, Zoie felt the same as always. Leaving her bedroom, she walked downstairs ignoring the four passed out pathetic friends of Sabrina's in the living room. Entering the kitchen, Zoie groaned in disgust at the sight of the mess that was left in the area from Sabrina's company.

"This is absolutely ridiculous." Zoie whispered.

"The only thing ridiculous is that outfit." Zoie heard from behind her. She turned around to see Crystal standing there.

"I don't feel like cleaning up this mess. Could you guys just please fix it before you leave?" She asked. Zoie ignored the voice in the back of her head that kept telling her to grab the girl by her neck and snap it.

Crystal scoffed as Chanel and Oscar entered the kitchen. Ignoring the conversation between the trio, Zoie grabbed herself a water bottle from the fridge. Closing the door, she jumped at the sight of Sabrina standing behind the door of the fridge with a huge smile on her face.

"Zoie?" She sung.

"Sabrina?" Zoie called back.

"Tonight is the big party that Kim is throwing!" She started.

"What does this have to do with me?"

"I know we are supposed to have our little movie night but this is the last party that she's throwing because she's moving and no one throws parties like Kim so I was wondering if I could do a little rain check to attend the party?" She begged.

"Why are you begging the freak?" Chanel asked loudly. "You're a grown woman!"

"Sure." Zoie mumbled as she shook her head wanting to do nothing more but get away from all of them. Sabrina smiled before pulling her into a tight hug.

"Are you sure?" Sabrina asked. Deep down, Sabrina didn't care. She was determined to go to the party but she wanted her friend to at least be kind enough to ask her friend if she could go.

"Yes. Have fun!" Zoie responded causing Sabrina to squeal in excitement.

Sabrina gave Zoie one last smile before looking at the book that sat on the counter. Since she had met Zoie, she always knew that the girl was beyond wise. Zoie dropped out of school during her senior year of high school yet still studied. Sabrina was always fascinating with how smart her roommate was.

"Why won't you go to school? You're a fucking genius, Zoie! You've taught yourself so much with no help at all. Why not go to college?" Sabrina asked.

Zoie scoffed. "College costs money and I barely have that."

"We can tell." Chanel said causing them all to laugh. Sabrina flicked them off before looking back towards Zoie.

"I'm going to kill her one day!" Zoie said before she could even stop herself. She covered her mouth quickly knowing that they had all heard her loud and clear.

"I'd like to see you try!" Chanel called out.

"I'm going to get dressed over at Crystal's. I'm out of eyeshadow and the ones I ordered still haven't came so I'm just gonna borrow some of her makeup." Sabrina announced.

"I'm not going there to see you girls do what girls usually do." Oscar said as he sat on the counter.

Chanel smacked his shoulder. "It won't even take long!"

"You said that last time and we were three hours late." Oscar shot back. "I'll chill here and you guys just come back and scoop me up."

"Whatever."

Ross laughed as he picked up his keys. "I sadly have to go because we all came in my car."

"He was smart enough to bring clothes." Crystal said with a giggle.

"He showered this morning too." Sabrina revealed. "He pissed me off asking for a towel at seven in the morning!"

"Just hurry up!" He yelled. They laughed at him loudly and continued to tease him. Zoie took it as her cue to leave. Grabbing the bottle of water, Zoie snuck out of the kitchen and sat down in the living room.

Zoie sat up a few hours later as the light from the television shined. She knew that it was nighttime as the lightness from earlier had been replaced with darkness. Looking around, Zoie saw no sign of Oscar. Turning back towards the television, Zoie grabbed the remote and turned the volume up as she read the headline across the screen.

"Princess Leigh has returned to Runne!" Zoie read out loud.

"King William of Runne has announced that Princess Leigh has returned! The Runne Kingdom will be celebrating the Princess' arrival. Princess Leigh of Runne had been living in the United States with Jane Moore in Monroe, New York under the name of Journee! Jane Moore told NBC that she had no clue her daughter was a mutant as she never showcased any powers. Princess Leigh was adopted by Jane at an early age!" The news reporter revealed.

"Wow." Zoie whispered to herself.

"This isn't the first time something like this has happened. Two years ago, Carter Miller was escorted into Zims, New York after living in New York for years! Carter's arrival in Zims brought worldwide attention which resulted into a huge attack in the city leaving Zims in ruin. This leaves one unanswered question, are there more mutants living amongst us?" Zoie grabbed the remote and turned it off quickly as she sat there taking in the report. She wasn't sure how many more mutants were illegally living amongst humans but she knew one thing for sure...

She was.

"I'll be gone in the next hour." Zoie heard a familiar voice from behind her. Turning around, she saw Oscar standing in the doorway of the kitchen. "The party doesn't start until nine."

"Ok."

"I'm just telling you because I know you thought I'd be gone by now." He replied.

"Ok." Zoie said once again. Standing up, she walked out of the living room and into her room and began grabbing the dirty clothes that sat in the basket in the corner of her room to occupy herself with something. Zoie listened closely as Oscar slowly pushed the door to her bedroom open.

He cleared his throat. "Listen Zoie, I just want to apologize for being a huge asshole towards you."

"It's fine."

He shook his head. "It's not. We've said disrespectful things to you and it isn't right. I cannot apologize on the behalf of everyone else but I will apologize for the harm that I caused you."

"I appreciate that." I replied.

He nodded as Zoie went back to doing what I was doing. He licked his lips at the sight of Zoie bending over as she was busy organizing the clothes. Zoie could still feel him standing in the doorway with his eyes on her.

"You're beautiful." Oscar announced.

"Ok."

Before Zoie could make another move, she turned around and gasped at the sight of him being so close to her. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the bed as she stared at him shock.

"Let's try something."

"What are you doing? Let me go!"

Oscar pushed Zoie on the bed before climbing on top of her quite quickly. She turned her head as he grabbed her by the neck and began placing kisses on it. Zoie squirmed uncomfortably underneath him as he continued to attack her neck in kisses.

"Be still." He demanded.

"Please get off of me." Zoie mumbled. She refused to cry. She fought the tears as he continued to assault her neck.

"Shut up!" He exclaimed.

Oscar turned Zoie's head towards his before placing his lips onto hers. Zoie squeezed her eyes shut as he moaned lowly. She wanted to do nothing more than use her powers and kill him but she knew it would blow her cover and she would no longer have the freedom to living freely. Grabbing a handful of his hair, Zoie pulled his head back causing him to groan loudly. Oscar raised his hand before slapping her across the face.

Oscar reached down and shoved his finger into Zoie's pants causing her to kick him directly between his legs. Oscar's mouth opened as he let out a loud groan. Zoie couldn't stop herself from grabbing him by the neck and squeezing it tightly. She watched as Oscar's eyes widened and he gasped for air bringing her much joy. Realizing that she was very close to blowing her cover, Zoie let go of his neck before running out of her room.

"Zoie!" She heard Oscar call yet she ignored it as she pulled the front door open and kept running.