• He was here, I could hear his footsteps, his sped breathing from running, his racing heart. I could hear him. But why was her here, in this room where I was? I tried to open my eyes but the lids were too heavy for my to lift. And my limbs. I couldn't feel them as if I never had them. But I could hear him and I felt more alive in this moment then I ever had. He was there, he was searching for something. Then he spoke.
    "Ann? Ann! Ann, where are you?" His voice called out my name. Was he looking for me or someone with my name? It had to be someone else, he didn't care about me anymore. He'd said it long ago. I tried to call his name back but I couldn't seem to bring my breath to my lips. Didn't matter, he wasn't looking for me.
    "Ann, talk to me. Where are you?" He called to me again. This time I knew he was looking for me. It was obvious in the way his voice caressed my name, like it once had when he loved me. He was looking for me. I tried to speak again but nothing. Why couldn't I speak?
    I felt something wet and cold pour onto my body. Was it water? It didn't smell like water, more like blood. Blood... Something my body craved, begged for. Something I needed to live. I listened over the pouring of blood back to his voice. I heard metal slide across more metal in the distance. He was looking for me, come to save me. Oh please save me, please.
    More sounds of metal, growing closer and closer. His footsteps, his heartbeat, his breathing. They all grew louder as he became closer to me. Then the footsteps stoped. I waited for him to find me. I waited and waited and waited. But he said nothing and I heard him turn to move on. He spoke again.
    "Ann, love where are you?" His perfect voice was tourmented and he walked on slowly, passing me as the blood level rose. I started to float in it but I could still breath. He was moving on. Finally, he stoped again and his breath caught in his throat.
    "Ann? Ann! Oh, I found you. Speak to me, are you okay?"
    But he wasn't talking to me, it was someone else. Had he gotten the wrong person or name? He had to have, just had to... I forced air to my lips, forced myself to speak.
    "Dan...Dant..." I coldn't make out his name. I needed more air."Dante..." There, I wispered his name. Please hear me...
    "Oh Ann, please respond to me. Ann!" He said, still far away. He hadn't heard me. The blood level rose over my head and a very small stream conected to the fangs in my mouth.
    "Dante, Dante, Dante!" I tried to call. He turned and started to walk back toward me.
    "Ann...?"
    "Dante!" I called to him again. He heard me and he was coming.
    Then the sound of the metal came again. But I couldn't see him yet. My eyes were still closed and I couldn't open them. I didn't have the strength. But he saw me, I could hear it in his voice and the way his heart skipped a beat, knowing it was me.
    "Ann! Baby, I'm coming in to get you. You'll be okay." He said and I heard him move. He jumped on the top of the container I was in and then he dove in. The water broke around his body and moved from him. Then he touched me and happiness poured into my body. He cradled me to his chest and kicked off the bottom of the tank. Then there was air.
    "Ann! Ann! Open your eyes Ann!" He yelled at me, trying to force me with the will of his words. But I couldn't respond. I was just too happy.