It was 3:32 AM April 4th.

Zero looked at the clock on the wall. Spaced out watching reruns of That 70s show wasn't all that cracked up to be. Having seen every episode alot Zero was just using it as a filler to get through the night. Insomnia was the worst. Alone at night. All alone. The words went through Zero's head as he sat there just lounging on the couch. His long blond hair was sprawled all around him. There was a blank look over his face that just looked uninterested as he stared at the screen as yet another horrible sitcom joke was made. The night just seemed too long at this point. Zero wasn't really someone who just liked sitting around. He always felt like he wanted to have a goal. Being a college kid normally meant studying your ass off so you don't fail out of your classes and lose your scholarship/and or paying a crap ton of money to retake a class. That wasn't a problem right now. Exams had just been taken. Spring break was about to start pretty soon. There was an ease all over campus. Really chill. Too chill in Zero's opinion. It was too quiet and dull.

His roommate Axl was gone probably doing something he'd regret in the morning. Axl was always doing something ridiculous and either X or Zero always had to go save his ass. He grinned and wondered what the story would be tonight? There was just something about the air that Zero just couldn't put his finger on. The air felt tight and restrictive. Suddenly a phone call shook Zero out of his That 70s show daze. He picked up the cell phone out of his pocket and squinted at it to see it was X. Ah X.

The would be love of his life. Well if Zero had any guts. Well Zero had alot of guts for a regular person. He'd tell people exactly what he thought about them and even put people on the spot. Start fights. Give someone an earful. What ever it took to get his point across. Zero was by no means a push over or someone that beat around the bush. But every time this subject came up there was just a sensitive feeling that Zero felt whenever it did. X was his best friend. They'd been through thick and thin. He was always there to listen and even talk some sense into him when Zero was out for blood. X was like his partner in crime but a bunch more. X was the best. Zero's face lit up a bit and he answered the phone. Zero spoke up.

"Hey" Zero spoke leaning back on the couch more and putting his feet on the coffee table. X spoke on the other line.

"Zero can I ask a favor?" X said it sounded like he was outside. Zero raised an eyebrow.

"Sure, so long as I don't have to watch more That's 70s show." Zero said. X made a "ha" noise.

"Why do you torture yourself watching it if you hate it?" X said with a slight laugh to his voice. Zero shrugged to himself.

"Ya know, you're right. I've got a problem. So X what's up." Zero said looking at the clock once more. He knew then why X had called.

"So I'm going to sound like a complete pussy when I ask you this but...It's sorta kind of scary tonight. I don't know just like a bad vibe and..." X started. Zero cut him off.

"So you want me to meet you and make sure you don't get snatched up in the night because you stayed at the student union media center too long and it's creepy as shit, Don't worry I'm putting on my jacket now." Zero said with a grin. Yep he had X all figured out. X sighed.

"I'm sorry." X said with a sincere tone. Zero could tell he felt bad.

"No it's fine. We all have quirks don't worry. What kind of bestie would I be if I just let you hang?" Zero said as he grabbed his keys and walked out the door. He locked it and kept going. For a second Zero contemplated taking his car but it would take longer. The Student Union Media Center was just down the walk from his dorm building and around a loop corner it would take longer for him to walk to the parking area start the car and try to go around and down some other ways. At this point Zero was walking down the hallway going out of the door. X was still on the line.

This wasn't the first time this had happened. X had always been afraid of the night time. For X, the night meant getting lost, getting taken away in the darkness. It all started when he was 8. X had been walking with his mother one night coming back from a special event that his mother had taken him to. They'd been walking to the car. The parking was in a parking garage that was about a block from the actual building that they'd been in. A man had apparently been walking behind them and he pulled out a knife and well the rest is history. One dead mother and one kid scarred for the rest of his life. His mother's body was never found but miraculously X was found knocked out on the street. There were various bruises found over him but he couldn't remember much. It went unsolved and the man had never been found. X had carried the memory with him through his years growing up.

Zero had been his friend back then and saw the changes when X finally went back to school and had visitors after the trauma. He couldn't blame him. He could see through X somehow. He'd put on a brave face when it was dusk when they'd played outside a little past their time limit. Zero always could see the look of worry on his friends face and took him home or just had him sleep over his house. He'd understood the pain that X went through back then. So without question every time Zero would always be there to help X get home somehow. Even if that meant walking home in sheer darkness clutching each other's hands. They wouldn't speak of it afterwords never.

As they got older it was more and more awkward for X to ask. He thought he'd get over his fear with age but it still it stuck in his mind. X wanted to stop having the fears to rely on himself but still every time he gave in. No one was judging him but himself. Zero had always been there so he knew. So even when X had denied wanting help Zero was always there anyways.

So it wasn't a problem. Zero was perfectly willing to get up off of the couch in the middle of the night. Zero had stepped into the outside. The night time cool spring air hit right in his face as he opened the door. It was a bit warmer this time of year now that it was april. It smelled like pollen all through the air. Zero sneezed a little bit as he walked down the street. Yep definitely spring. Zero walked a little fast. He was almost there we he'd seen a strange car. Zero shrugged it off. Cars weren't normally allowed on this part of campus with out taking the out route way. So what the hell were these people doing. Zero watched them as he made his way around the corner. He'd seen X from a far standing under a light by the bench in front of the center. Zero wondered why he didn't just wait inside. X was always trying to find ways to get over his fear. Zero sighed. Still it was pretty bold of him.

Zero got closer and he made a weak wave, X saw him and returned it. X walked in his direction and they both met at a strange halfway mark. X spoke. His face was a little red as if flustered for some reason. He was holding a book he'd probably gotten from the labs inside. X's scarf was around his neck blowing in the wind that started to pick up. X spoke.

"Thanks Zero, that was oddly quick." X said walking in the direction back. Zero followed.

"Well I do sorta live like right around the corner, plus I was doing absolutely nothing." Zero said with a shrug.

"Still, thanks. But god I met the weirdest old lady in there just an hour ago." X said suddenly pointing back at the building. Zero tilted his head.

"Old lady?" Zero asked. X nodded.

"Yeah she told me all sorts of odd fortune telling, cult mystic stuff. It was really weird." X said. Zero looked up at the night sky as he walked when X said mystic stuff. That stuff always reminded Zero of the constellations and what not.

"Well what'd she say?" Zero asked turning to look at X.

"Well she started talking in mumbo jumbo but then she said something that really stuck with me, That I should take alot of chances because my whole world will get turned upside down tonight." X said like as if he was remembering every word.

"Turned upside down huh?" Zero said. X shrugged.

"It was really creepy because when I asked the woman what it meant she just grabbed my face and told me to look back, never forward and that the gods won't be with me tonight." X said touching his face a little bit.

"Sounds scary. I would've wanted to sock her." Zero said. X laughed.

"Hit a old lady really?" X laughed.

"Well you know, she might just be like that crazy gypsy bitch from "drag me to hell" Zero said. X shook his head.

"No this lady looked pretty regular but still she said take chances because I won't get another chance so...I sort of wanted to..." X started. Zero looked over at X and studied his face. It was a little flustered like and it looked like he was trying to hide behind his scarf. Zero raised an eyebrow,

"Wanted to what?" Zero asked.

"I wanted to tell you something." X said with a sigh.

"So tell me. I'm right here, you're right here. Even if it's super embarrassing like that time Axl threw up on that girl he liked back in 10th grade." Zero said with a smirk. X laughed.

"You'll never let him live that down will you?" X said with a small smile. Zero shook his head.

"Nope never." Zero said with a grin.

"Poor Axl, I'd die of embarrassment if I did that to someone I liked while confessing." X said with a slight blush to his face. Zero laughed.

"Well just don't throw up now. You're as red as a pepper.." Zero said with chuckle. X looked surprised.

"You knew what I was going to ask...?" X asked quietly.

"Yeah, to be honest I wanted to do the same thing. There was just never a good time and it's not an easy thing to do..." Zero said with his voice trailed off.

"Especially when you've known the person so long..." X said as if picking up after Zero. They looked at each other with red faces. Then turned away.

"We don't have to rush it." Zero said suddenly.

"Your right." X said.

"I can tell we're both still sort of ...getting used to the fact and it'll be a big change..." Zero said.

"I know that but..."

"You're thinking about what the woman said huh?" Zero said looking over. X nodded.

"Well X. No matter if the world is turned upside down I'm not going anywhere. So when your ready we can do this. I don't want you to feel any pressure." Zero said stopping into place suddenly and turning to X. X smiled.

"You always know what to say don't you?" X said with a knowing smile.

"Well one of us does and besides I never did believe in any of that mystical stuff." Zero said with a shrug.

"Yeah I guess I was just a little shaken up." X said with a sigh of relief as if he'd just let go alot of his worries. Zero smiled.

"So is this what my dad meant when he said I'd experiment in college?" Zero said with a laugh.

"Pffft. Knowing him this is exactly what he meant. Old man wily is ridiculous." X said with a scrunched up face. Zero was about to respond when suddenly there was a voice from behind them.

"What are you two boys doing out here so late?" It was a piercing voice and it was one Zero will never forget for the rest of his life. Zero turned around quickly to see a man dressed in all black. He had a raspy voice and a face that looked like it's been to the underworld and back countless of times. Zero got a bad vibe instantly and he clenched his fist and turned around. X jumped a bit at the voice and backed up. Getting stopped in the street in the am time must've been nerve wrecking for X.

They got a clear view of the guy he had a suit with a peculiar seal on it. The man smirked. Zero spoke.

"Who the hell are you and what's it to you?" Zero said getting on the defensive. X looked down. The man laughed.

"Oh looks like we've got a gutsy one. But I don't have business with you." The man said then he continued. He pointed at X.

"I've got business with your friend." The man said still with the cocky smirk.

"Friend of yours?" Zero asked X quietly. X shook his head.

"I've never seen him before in my life. But this guy is definitely bad news." X said quietly back.

"Bad news? Well can't deny that. Maybe for some folk. Lets make this short. I want that little brunette to come with me." The man said with a smirk.

"Why? Who are you?" Zero said in a fierce tone. X stepped back more.

"Well I'm not important but my boss told me that he wanted something new tonight so he sent me and the boys to get it. We happen to see little brunette here waiting by his lonesome and knew we had to snatch him up, come quietly." The man said.

"Hell the fuck no." Zero said. Then he continued. "X run. Here's my keys you can get into my dorm and wait for me. Don't stop for anything." Zero said throwing X his keys. X caught them.

"But Zero..." X started. Zero cut him off.

"No, get out of here. Don't look so worried. I'll be fine." Zero said getting into a fighting stance. The man made an unamused face.

"Blondie I just said I don't have business with you." The man started.

"You've got major business with me if you think you're gonna make off with X and prostitute him. Fuck that." Zero said running towards the man and delivering a punch. X looked back once and started running off but not for long. Soon after the first hit was delivered and the sunglasses flew off there was a bunch of men in suits that seemed to come out of the shadows. Two of them had even caught X. Kicking and screaming and fighting back as he might X had being caught by three of the men. He was struggling with all his might when suddenly the third pulled out a knife. X stopped in his tracks and had true horror in his eyes.

Zero cursed. They were surrounded. The man he had just punched got off the ground smiling.

"See I didn't want it to end up like this, Blondie." The man said rubbing his face where Zero had punched. Zero scoffed. He knew right then and there, they were fucked.

"Bastards...why are you doing this...why would you do this...?" Zero said yelling.

"Well kid, when the boss wants something we get it. He said college level twink, We got college level brunette twink."

"You're all fucking discusting...Scum like you should DIE!" Zero said launching himself at the man but was caught by the other henchmen and got thrown to the ground. a night got pulled out and got put to Zero's face. The man snickered. X started struggling again.

"Zero!" X yelled. The men laughed. The man in charge looked at X with an amused.

"You're gonna watch as you're friend gets killed. He's a disrespectful little fucker I'll tell you that. Let's teach him some manners." The man said grabbing Zero's face. Zero struggled. The man brought the knife close to Zero's face and made a deep cut. Zero screeched.

"Not so mouthy huh kid?" The man said. Zero looked up and grinned.

"Bitch ass mother fucker." Zero said. A punch was thrown right into Zero's face. Zero's mouth was bleeding now. The man grabbed Zero by then dug his finger into Zero's eye making it bleed. Zero screamed out in pain. A finger gauging his eye was unlike anything he'd ever felt in his life. It was a pain only the dead would know.

"An eye for an eye." The man said grinning. Zero still tried struggling. The man shook his head. Zero knew he was loosing alot of blood and getting weak.

"You don't quit do you?" The man said grabbing Zero up by the shirt and stabbing him with the knife. Zero clenched his teeth.

That was when everything escalated. The man threw punches and cut all over Zero's body like no other pain Zero had ever felt in his life. Some of the other men joined in. Zero took it all with out even letting them hear a whimper. He was loosing alot of blood. He couldn't move anymore. At the corner of his eye he could see X screaming and crying telling them to please stop and that he'd do anything. Soon it was all muted. Zero had taken so much damage cut after cut. Punch after punch. Zero thought it was going to continue when suddenly he heard a voice say,

" Sir he's bleeding out."

"Put led in him and smash his cell phone." The leading man said. The others nodded. Zero's eyed widened. The man with the cocky smirk pulled a black pistol out of his pocket and smiled and leaned in close. grabbing Zero by the face.

"Hey, hey, Blondie you're gonna die now. Knowing you couldn't protect your friend. Listen to this...he's gonna fuck, suck and swallow until he's completely used up. It's your fault because you were weak. I want you to die knowing how weak and foolish you are. And hey, I want you to know who your killers are "The mavericks." The names Dynamo. I want you to know the man who killed you for the rest of your life. Which isn't long." Dynamno said as he cocked the gun. Zero couldn't even fight back in the condition he was in.

"Goodbye blondie." Was the last thing Zero heard that night along with X's screams and the laughter of men.

His last thoughts were playbacks of what the man said. He felt guilt for not protecting X better. He felt dumb for not taking his car. He piled up a million reasons for it to be his fault. It was his fault X was going to be used and abused. All his problems would be gone if he just had power. The power to protect X. The power to get his revenege. vengeance on his mind. He wanted to rip the bastard apart. All this guilt and thoughts of murderous revenge were interrupted by a single bullet to the head. Zero felt everything go black. He thought he would die. In fact he was counting on it. To escape the guilt.

Fate was on Zero's side. He woke up exactly six months later.

To be continued.

So this story...wait let me just say : Luke can eat a pimple covered dick. Secondly go read the next chapter.