Haunted

The lyrics are from Evanescence's song Haunted.

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Tom doesn't understand. He's older than her, at least five years, and a boy. He doesn't see the loneliness of an eleven year old girl, the need to receive love. Ginny writes to him, and he writes back.

But it never takes away the ache.

At first, the diary felt soothing. It felt good to hear the praises when no one else would notice her. It felt good, until she started to see past the lie.

Long lost words whisper slowly to me

'You love me, don't you Ginny?' Tears fill her eyes. 'Don't worry. Your brothers don't care for you but I do.' More hot tears falling down her cheeks. Ginny keeps the water in the shower rushing, so that no one can hear her cry. It has already become a habit.

Still can't find what keeps me here

Tom isn't any good. He says he is -- keeps on claiming how she needs him, how she can't survive without him, but Ginny knows that all he says is false. Yet she needs those words, the only words that whisper sweet things into her ear.

She hates Tom, but yet she can't throw him away. He's the only person who loves her.

When all this time I've been so hollow inside

Of course he doesn't have feelings for her. Harry Potter, the savior of the world. He has important things to think about, not her stupid crush. Ginny feels like crying, but doesn't allow the tears to fall. Someone who's not asleep might hear, and she has put so much effort into hiding her loneliness.

Instead she grabs her diary and starts to write.

I know you're still there

Ginny feels lost. Once again she can't remember where she has been for the past hour, and it scares her to death. She asks Tom, but he doesn't write a reply. She cries, shouts, even begs. She's afraid that she's going crazy.

Finally, Tom gives her an answer. A quiet laugh.

Watching me, wanting me

I can feel you pull me down

Fearing you, loving you

I won't let you pull me down

Ginny is starting to feel tired. All she wants to do is to sleep, sleep and never wake up. To not be here again to witness another sunrise and another day full of fear and emptiness.

Hunting you, I can smell you - alive

Ginny craves for blood. She wants to feel the warm liquid run through her fingers, taste the thickness of it. She wants to rip throats open, cut into fresh flesh. Later, she comes to her senses and is covered in red stains, smelling like death.

Your heart pounding in my head

She's getting enough of it. Tom putting words into her head, manipulating her. Tom promising her eternal love, if she doesn't tell anyone about him. Actually, he doesn't even say that. He doesn't need to, because he knows that Ginny loves him. That she would do anything he asks her of.

Ginny runs to the bathroom, shouting inside her head with every step.

Watching me, wanting me

I can feel you pull me down

Fearing you, loving you

I won't let you pull me down

Ginny pulls the knob again and again, so relieved to hear the satisfactory 'flush'. Then finally, she turns around, closes her eyes for a second, and tastes the feeling of freedom again. It's sweet, and crisp, and she feels better than she has for months---

'Splash'.

Ginny hears something wet hitting the marble floor of the bathroom. She turns around slowly and sees the familiar letters on the first page.

I am Tom Riddle.

~fin~

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