I'm sorry....what?

Arkin let the question escape his lips without giving it a second thought. The idea of questioning a strange bound woman on the floor that just seconds prior to that screamed for Arkin not to hurt her again was just one of the many bizarre things presenting themselves. In fact Arkin couldn't find a moment of rationality to let his brain land on so that he could formulate and construe clear thoughts to transpire into sane actions. It was a think on your toes situation and Arkin just rolled with it. The woman however answered Arkin's question by stammering out almost exactly the same response as she first screamed at Arkin.

Please.....please, don't hurt me again.

Ok this was beyond bizarre and really not what Arkin needed right now. Although who really needed this situation? No one came home in the hopes of finding a strange bound and gagged woman in their bedroom that then makes the accusation of you hurting them and asks you not do it again. Although a man like Mister Mystery might enjoy this moment. Arkin Octavian Blackwater was not Mister Mystery though. So he didn't relish this moment. In fact it was hard to fight back the sick knot that formed in his stomach as he began to untie the woman.

Listen....I don't know why you think I did anything to hurt you but I can assure you, I did no such thing. I'm simply not that kind of man. I haven't been home all day and am very taken aback by your presence. Maybe instead of asking me not to hurt you again, you can tell me how you got here? Who tied you up? If you get a clear look at my face you'll be able to see I couldn't be the one who hurt you or tied you up. I mean I could if there were two of me but that just isn't the case.

The woman instantly flew to her feet and kicked Arkin in the balls. Arkin dropped to his knees as the woman stood over him.

I see your face pretty damn clearly! You're the man who brought me here. You tied me up and.....oh god, oh my god.......the things you did! You deserve to die! You're an animal!

The woman spit on Arkin as a pain in Arkin's head grew ever intense. A white surge of light began to permeate his vision and that's when everything timed out. A blanket of white placed itself over everything and Arkin Octavian Blackwater ceased to know what went on. The next moment of clarity came when Arkin opened his eyes and was greeted by the slivers of morning light streaming through his bedroom window. He was in bed and waking up from a slumber he didn't remember going down for. As Arkin's eyes focused he tried to piece together what he last remembered before going to bed. He rose to his feet and noticed a piece of black tape on the bedroom floor. How strange? How did that get there? Arkin picked up the tape and examined it closer. He simply couldn't recall what happened. Shrugging and taking the whole matter as a factor of stress and lack of rest....Arkin bunched up the tape and tossed it into the garbage can in his room. There appeared to be a stretch of rope also in the can but Arkin barely took note of it. Instead he made his way off to the bathroom where he quickly showered.

Entering the shower Arkin hit the shower stream on full blast. It felt good to be catapulted with an intense stream of water. It woke a person up and really gave you a clean feeling when the shower was over with. Arkin nearly dropped when he seen the the water that poured off him was RED! Why was the water red? Not just red but it came with the odor of blood. What the hell? Arkin checked himself over for cuts but found none. From what he observed he was just literally covered in dried blood that was now washing off himself due to the shower. This was crazy! Why was he covered in blood? Who's blood was it? Arkin's mind raced as he tried to recall the events prior to waking up and tragically could only remember sending texts out to Donathan and a couple others. Why couldn't he remember anything else? He assumed he had just dropped into bed and went to sleep after sending out texts but now he wasn't sure. The scariest part was this wasn't the first time this happened. Arkin had a memory problem like this happen before, but it had cleared up. Cleared up way before he moved to New York. Now it had returned full force in the span of one night. Memory loss, covered in blood...strange artifacts in his room. He would need to call Dr. Monroe, his shrink and mention what was going on.

Arkin quickly finished his shower and dressed. He walked into the kitchen as he stared intently at his phone. If he called Dr. Monroe and told him the problem started again, Dr. Monroe would stress that Arkin needed more advance treatment. Dr. Monroe wanted to place Arkin away in a facility the last time Arkin had gone through these lapses of memory. Then Arkin had applied for and received the job as Co-GM and the problem went away. Dr. Monroe eased up on his persistent request of Arkin going away and stated that perhaps his memory loss was due to stress. As for the explanation of being covered in blood....the only thing the good doctor suggested was that it was Arkin's mind playing tricks on him due to stress. There were no unexplained murders the doctor said he could place Arkin to. Besides with Arkin's charm and natural friendly demeanor it could never be something like that! No, it was clear Arkin's mind was plagued with stress that revoked his mind of memory and made him see things. Which is why it went away with Arkin's job change. It made sense to Dr. Monroe and so it made sense to Arkin. Now.....Arkin didn't know what to believe. Although he was feeling a lot more stress now that he had this match with Shane coming up. So naturally the problem returned.

Arkin breathed a sigh of relief, happy in the fact he solved his problem. Surely this issue would settle itself once the match occurred. That's all that happened. There was no reason to call Dr. Monroe. Arkin knew there was nothing to worry about. In fact now that he thought about it, he definitely was seeing things when he thought he was covered in blood in the shower. That wasn't the case at all. In fact because his mind perceived that thought so strongly for those moments he did, that's why he even thought he smelled the stench of blood. He convinced himself so strongly his mind must have just placed the scent there. A scent that didn't even exist. That surely was the case. It made sense completely. I mean if it wasn't the case, then who's blood was it? Arkin wasn't injured so the blood wasn't his. He also didn't stumble onto any dead bodies as he proceeded to do his morning waking up rituals. So naturally all these things were in his mind. Arkin was glad he could settle these moments of self doubt so quickly. He was happy to know he had such a strong self sureness that he could push aside moment such as these and figure out things calmly, rationally.

Arkin set his phone onto the kitchen counter and instead of calling Dr. Monroe, since he realized there certainly wasn't a point in that....he opened the fridge. Retrieving some orange juice Arkin poured some into a tall glass. He took a long drink and really allowed his taste buds to bask in the orange nectar of the gods. Today was the day he would be taking on Shane in the octagon. Nothing was going to bring Arkin down and shatter his confidence. He would stride to that ring and accomplish a goal few took on. He would fight and beat Shane . Then Arkin would walk from the ring and hopefully not take part in the impending after match war. Although that was unrealistic, wishful thinking right there. Arkin knew the battle lines were etched out and war was coming. He prepared for this moment the best he could and now there was nothing left to do but purge forward.

As Arkin left his apartment that morning he knew that no matter what he had to keep having faith in himself. To keep focusing on the win and the rest would follow. He couldn't be deterred as long as he maintained his self sureness. Above all else that is what he believed. As Arkin kept his thoughts strong and positive his eyes landed on an earring laying in the hallway. A long, cascading, silver string of stars. How odd? Arkin picked the earring up and looked it over. Just where did this come from?