"Willow?" someone rasped outside. She'd never heard that voice and no one had called her that for a very long time, she'd almost forgotten it was her name. "Willow Avery? We're here to help." The stranger outside threw their body against the door. The brief kindling of hope was lost as she realized there was no way for them to get in without the key, she'd seen that door repel bullets. 

"Hello, there." another new voice greeted from the shadows. She lowered herself quickly, drawing even further back into herself. "No, no, meine schönheit. I won't hurt you." he assured. She found it odd, the way he spoke, his 'w' sounded like a 'v'. As he stepped into the light, Willow couldn't help but stare, mesmerized by his beautiful skin. She suddenly remembered what the night sky looked like, it was color of this man's skin, the blue that is so nearly black but not quite. Intricate patterns appeared to be permanently etched into his deep blue skin. His eyes were golden and he bore fangs and an arrow-tipped tail swayed behind him. 

 When he held out his hand, she was hesitant to take it. She was afraid her Master would burst in the door any moment and take both their lives. The blue man had only two fingers, not counting his thumbs, but the two he had were long and thick. "Do not be afraid of me." 

 How could he ask her not to be afraid? That was all she'd ever been, all she'd ever felt, what her entire life evolved around. She lived on her fear and those around her always fed on it. They preyed on her innocence as she prayed to a God that never answered her.

 But she reached out and touched him ever so gingerly before she placed her hand in his and he closed his long fingers around her small hand. "I am Kurt Wagner. You are Willow?" 

 "Yes, sir. I am Willow." the name felt odd rolling off her tongue, foreign even. "Sir," she pulled her hand from his and glanced down at the chains. 

 "Ah, yes." he opened his arms and took a small step toward her. "May I?" he asked. She wasn't sure what he was doing but she allowed him to put his arms around her and she squeezed her eyes shut. Willow felt a small breeze and when she opened her eyes, she was standing a few feet from her corner, where her chains lay on the floor linked to empty shackles. She looked down at her hands, turning them, holding them out in front of her. For a moment, she thought she was hallucinating, she'd done that once when her Master starved her and deprived her of water. "Are you alright?" Kurt asked. 

 She nodded slowly, tilting her head up to look him in the eyes. "Thank you, sir." He smiled at her, a small, sad smile. He watched her slip off her fingerless gloves and stare at her hands and then at him like he'd just given her a ticket through the gates of heaven. He couldn't help noticing her beauty. 

"Come," he offered his hand again and held her close to him again. Willow closed her eyes again and when she opened them, she was standing outside. Fresh, cold air filled her and engulfed her, afternoon sunlight shone down on her and she savored the feeling.