Sam arrived at Nate's place, her heart racing as she hurried through the front door. She was already ten minutes late, and the tension in her chest was rising by the second. She knew Nate would be less than pleased.

She paused just inside the door, taking a deep breath, but Nate was already standing there, arms crossed, his expression dark.

"Ten minutes," he said, his voice steady but stern. "That's ten minutes, Sam. You know I don't like to be kept waiting."

Sam shifted uncomfortably, not sure how to respond. She opened her mouth to apologize, but Nate raised a hand to silence her.

"I don't think you understand the concept of time management," he continued, pacing in front of her. "Do you have any idea how important it is to stick to schedules around here?"

Sam winced, the weight of his words settling on her shoulders. "I know, I—"

"Enough!" Nate snapped. "You've been warned before about being late. And now there's a small consequence to that."

Sam swallowed, her nerves on edge. She braced herself for whatever was coming next.

Before Nate could say anything more, the sound of a door slamming open interrupted the moment, and in burst Patricia and Sally, looking like they'd just walked out of a whirlwind. Patricia, with her usual smirk, took one look at the scene and immediately stepped in.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" she shouted, striding toward Nate. "What's going on here? You giving Sam a hard time?"

Sally, always the more laid-back one, sauntered in behind Patricia, her arms folded casually across her chest. "Ten minutes late? Seriously, Nate? That's nothing. You're making her feel like she just got back from a cross-country race or something."

Nate looked from Patricia to Sally, his irritation now turning into confusion. "What do you want?" he asked, a slight edge in his voice. "I'm dealing with this."

"Yeah, well, we're dealing with you now," Patricia quipped, her tone playful but firm. She stepped forward, planting herself between Nate and Sam. "You're way out of line here, buddy. Sam's had a rough day, and you're gonna punish her for being a little late? Not on our watch."

Sally nodded in agreement, giving Nate a once-over. "You know, you really should cut her some slack. She's dealing with more than you know."

Nate clenched his jaw, his anger simmering, but the sudden presence of Patricia and Sally had clearly thrown him off. They stood their ground, not budging.

"Look," Patricia said, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. "Sam's here now, and she's not going anywhere. So how about you take a breath, and we all forget about this little punishment, alright? Let her enjoy the rest of her evening."

Sally added, "Yeah, no need to make her life harder. We've got enough of that in this crew."

Nate hesitated, his eyes flicking between Sam and the two girls. The tension in the air was palpable, but after a long moment, he sighed and seemed to deflate a little.

"Fine," he muttered, his voice lacking its earlier sharpness. "Just don't be late again."

Patricia grinned, flashing a triumphant smile. "Now that's the Nate we know. Come on, Sam, let's go grab something to eat! You deserve a break." She grabbed Sam by the arm and gave her a quick, reassuring squeeze.

Sam could hardly believe it. The tension that had been mounting in her chest seemed to dissolve as soon as Patricia and Sally stepped in. She threw a grateful look at the two of them, feeling her anxiety ebb away.

"Thanks, guys," Sam whispered, the weight of the situation finally lifting. "I didn't know how to get out of that."

Sally winked at her. "We got you, Sam. You don't have to handle all that alone."

With that, the three of them quickly exited, leaving a still-baffled Nate behind. Sam, feeling a strange mixture of relief and gratitude, couldn't help but laugh a little under her breath.

"Talk about saving the day," she murmured, leaning into Patricia as they walked down the hall. "You two are like superheroes."

Patricia smirked. "What can we say? We've got your back."

Sam smiled, grateful for the support and more than ready to forget about Nate's little punishment. Tonight, at least, was going to be a little bit easier to handle.

As Nate left, slamming the door behind him, the weight that had been pressing on Sam's chest seemed to vanish almost instantly. The oppressive air that had lingered in the club was now replaced by a much lighter, almost playful atmosphere. Sam let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, collapsing into one of the nearby chairs.

"Man, I thought I was done for," Sam muttered, running a hand through her hair. "I didn't think I'd make it out of that one."

Patricia and Sally shared a knowing glance, exchanging a look that almost seemed like they were debating whether or not to tell Sam something. After a brief moment, Sally leaned back against the wall, folding her arms casually.

"Well, now that Nate's gone, you're safe for now," she said with a smile, though her tone was lighter than usual. "But, you know, Nate's punishments aren't always that bad. He has his... moments."

Sam frowned, raising an eyebrow. "Punishments?" she asked cautiously. "You guys get those too?"

Patricia let out a dramatic sigh, leaning forward with a teasing grin on her face. "Oh, we've all had our fair share of punishments for being late, Sam. You wouldn't believe it. You know how he gets when he's in a bad mood."

"Yeah, but we've learned how to handle it," Sally added with a shrug, though there was a glint of mischief in her eyes. "You just need to know how to deal with him, and you won't get caught."

Patricia snorted. "Speak for yourself. I learned the hard way." She smirked, but there was a shadow that passed across her face as she continued, her voice growing a little darker. "One time, I was late by five minutes—just five minutes, mind you—and I thought I was getting off easy."

Sam's eyes widened, her stomach twisting in nervous anticipation. "What happened?"

Patricia leaned back, folding her arms behind her head, a wicked grin playing on her lips as she recounted the story. "He locked me in the back room for three hours. No phone, no food, no water. Just left me in the dark with nothing but my thoughts." Her grin faded a little, her eyes distant. "It's a little terrifying, you know? That's the thing with Nate. He knows how to make you feel it. And when he's mad, he's really mad."

Sam's stomach dropped as she imagined what Patricia must've gone through in that locked room, the darkness surrounding her with no way out. "Three hours? That's... That's crazy."

Sally winced and shook her head, clearly not wanting to dwell on that part of Patricia's story. "Yeah, it's not a fun time. But it could've been worse," she said quickly, her eyes flicking to Patricia before turning to Sam. "Patricia got it worse once. Way worse."

Sam's heart skipped a beat. "Worse?" she repeated, her voice barely a whisper as she turned to Patricia, bracing herself for the worst.

Patricia's smile faded, and she looked at Sam with an almost rueful expression. "Yeah," she said quietly, her voice now more serious than Sam had ever heard it. "He once tied me to one of the poles in the back room. Stripped me down, and then made me stay there for hours while he watched me. And don't get me started on the bruises that came with it. My body couldn't even handle it. After that, I didn't care if I was late again."

Sam's eyes widened in horror, her breath catching in her throat. "That's... that's... awful."

Sally's face hardened, her eyes narrowing. "Yeah, it was. And it took us a while to get out of that situation. Patricia was pretty messed up for a while after. It was a whole thing."

Sam could barely wrap her mind around what they were telling her. She'd always suspected Nate had his dark side, but this was a whole new level of cruelty. To think Patricia, of all people, had gone through something so horrific—Sam couldn't imagine it.

"Jesus," Sam whispered, her voice shaking. "I had no idea he was like that."

Patricia shrugged nonchalantly, though there was a raw edge to her voice. "Yeah, well, you learn to roll with it. You get used to the unpredictability. I mean, the guy's got issues, but what can you do? I don't let him break me."

Sam shook her head, her heart racing. "I don't think I could handle that kind of punishment. It's just... it's wrong. No one should have to go through that."

Sally's expression softened as she placed a hand on Sam's shoulder. "You're not alone, Sam. We've got your back. And if Nate ever crosses the line again, you've got us to make sure you're safe."

Patricia nodded, her face stern for a moment before her usual playful grin reappeared. "Just remember, Sam. If you're ever late again, maybe skip the dramatic entrance, alright? It's not worth the price."

Sam let out a shaky laugh, though her mind was still reeling. "Yeah, I'll... I'll definitely keep that in mind."

As the conversation simmered down, Sam found herself needing a bit of a distraction from the heavy talk. Her mind wandered back to earlier in the day, and before she even realized it, she blurted out, "So, uh, I met this guy earlier. His name's Heat, and... he's actually really nice."

Patricia and Sally both froze, then simultaneously turned their heads to look at Sam, their expressions so sharp it was like they were waiting for her to elaborate.

"Heat?" Sally repeated slowly, raising an eyebrow. "Is that his actual name or just his... nickname?"

Sam felt a little heat rise to her cheeks. "It's his actual name. I mean, he's got this whole... thing with his hearing aids, and he took me out to eat today... it was pretty nice."

"Ooooohhh," Patricia cooed, leaning forward with a smirk that was so obvious, it was almost impossible to miss. "Taking you out to eat, huh? Sounds like a date to me!"

"It wasn't a date!" Sam protested, throwing her hands up. "We were just... you know, talking and eating. That's all."

Sally snickered. "Uh-huh, sure. A nice friendly meal. With a guy named Heat. Who obviously has quite the cool personality."

Patricia laughed, her voice dripping with teasing sweetness. "Oh, I see. A 'friend' with benefits?"

"No!" Sam nearly shouted, horrified by the thought. "No, no, it was nothing like that! He's just really... kind. And understanding." She crossed her arms defensively. "Not like someone I know who likes to lock people in dark rooms for hours."

"Oh, so you're saying he's way better than Nate?" Sally leaned in, eyes wide and mischievous. "Hmmm, sounds like someone's got a new crush!"

Sam groaned and buried her face in her hands. "I swear, if you two start, I'm gonna die. Please don't make this a thing."

Patricia leaned back, a smug grin on her face. "It's already a thing, sweetie. Heat and Nate? You've got a type, huh?"

"Yeah, a 'type' that makes my life extremely difficult!" Sam shot back, glancing at her friends with a glare that was more playful than angry. "Why is this such a big deal?"

Sally let out a low whistle. "Oh, it's a huge deal, Sam. Don't worry, we're just getting started." She nudged Patricia, and the two of them burst into laughter.

"You two are so ridiculous," Sam muttered, though she couldn't hide the faint smile creeping up on her face. "I didn't come here to talk about Heat."

Patricia leaned forward again, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, maybe you didn't, but we sure did! Come on, what's he like? Does he have a hot personality?"

"Oh my god," Sam groaned, slapping her forehead dramatically. "You're both impossible."

Sally grinned, obviously enjoying every moment. "Come on, tell us more! Was it, like, a romantic dinner? Candlelight? Music? Did he look deep into your eyes and whisper sweet nothings?"

Sam spluttered, her face turning an even deeper shade of red. "No! It was not like that! I was not looking for any romance today. We were just talking, alright? Talking. I didn't even expect it to turn into... whatever you guys are imagining."

Patricia winked at her. "So what you're saying is, there was some chemistry. I can see it already. I bet you two had the best time."

Sam groaned again. "This is why I don't tell you guys anything!"

Sally raised her hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. We'll stop for now. But you have to admit, there's something there. I'm just saying."

"Sure," Sam muttered, still embarrassed. "But no promises, alright? Nothing's happening. It was just... a nice meal."

"Right," Patricia said slowly, dragging out the word, "a nice meal."

Sam threw her hands in the air in frustration. "I can't win with you two!"

Sally gave her a playful nudge. "You're right. You can't. But we will be here to support you when you do finally go on that date."

"I'm not going on a date!" Sam's voice was a mix of exasperation and laughter.

"Not yet," Patricia chimed in with a wink. "But it's gonna happen sooner or later. Trust me."

Sam sighed, shaking her head as the two of them continued to tease her mercilessly. Despite the constant ribbing, she couldn't help but feel a bit lighter. After everything she had been through, a little teasing from her friends was exactly what she needed to keep things in perspective.

The situation had definitely taken a shift for the worse. Sam, exhausted from the day's chaos and mental exhaustion, had thrown her laundry into the hamper earlier that morning and hadn't thought twice about it. Nate, after his usual rounds of watching her from the shadows, had volunteered to help her with chores as some twisted form of... "kindness" — or perhaps control.

He stood in the laundry room, sorting through the pile, his fingers running over the fabric as he absentmindedly shuffled through clothes. The scent of Sam's detergent lingered in the air, filling the room with an oddly intimate familiarity.

Then his hand grazed her shirt. A black, slightly oversized t-shirt that she wore often. Nate froze. His fingers lingered on the soft cotton, and his breath hitched as he recalled moments she wore it—moments where his eyes often wandered in ways he couldn't quite control.

The thoughts began to flood his mind, his gaze fixated on the shirt in his hands. The thoughts darkened quickly. Lust crept into his chest like an infection, and he clenched his jaw, eyes narrowing.

Why is she always so... perfect? He thought, his pulse quickening. Why does she insist on torturing me with her innocence, her body...

Nate dropped the shirt, suddenly aware of how hot the room felt. He wasn't supposed to be feeling like this. She's just a girl, he told himself, shaking his head slightly. But his thoughts betrayed him. No, she's not just a girl. She's mine. She belongs to me.

He swallowed hard, and a cold sweat dripped down the back of his neck. A deep, gnawing hunger he tried to keep buried under layers of control started to resurface. Nate moved to fold the shirt, but his fingers trembled. The softness of the fabric against his skin felt too intimate. It felt too personal. Too... wrong.

A scowl tugged at his lips. He was angry—angry at how she made him feel, angry that she didn't understand what she was doing to him. She had no idea. But soon, soon, she'd learn. He'd make sure of it.

His mind raced, a part of him almost amused at the way he was reacting. She'd never know, he thought with a dark chuckle, staring at the shirt once more. But she'll feel it.

He finished the laundry with a little too much force, slamming the dryer shut a bit harder than necessary. He needed to pull himself together. He had to stay focused.

As he walked out of the laundry room, leaving the shirt folded neatly atop the pile, his mind stayed on Sam. And a darker, more sinister smirk stretched across his face.

Nate walked through the club, his thoughts still lingering on the moment in the laundry room. He had managed to push the thoughts aside for a moment, but his mind kept returning to her. Sam. Her shirt, her innocence, the way she unknowingly triggered something within him.

As he walked past the hallway, something caught his eye. It was a framed picture on the wall, one of Sam. He hadn't really paid attention to it before, but now, standing in front of it, he couldn't tear his gaze away.

She was smiling, carefree—much younger in the photo. Her dark hair framed her face beautifully, and the light in her eyes was one of pure, unguarded happiness. She looked so... untouched. So innocent. Nate's fingers brushed the frame, a strange, predatory smile curling at the corners of his lips.

His mind started to drift. The longer he stared at the photo, the more distorted his thoughts became. His grip tightened on the edge of the frame. This is what you're doing to me, Sam, he thought, clenching his teeth. This is what you make me want.

The idea started small, a whisper in the back of his mind. What if you just—

But that thought was cut off as his mind spiraled, darker ideas surfacing. He pictured her in ways he shouldn't. In ways that made his blood run hot with both lust and frustration. His eyes narrowed as he studied the photo, the smile on her face only serving to fuel the fire burning inside of him.

She was just a girl—his girl—someone he was meant to control, mold, break. He wanted to break that smile, make her need him the way he needed her. His fingers gripped the photo harder, his knuckles turning white. Soon. Soon, you'll see, he thought, his pulse quickening as he envisioned what could be.

His breath became shallow as his mind grew darker still. He imagined taking her by surprise, bending her to his will, watching as that innocent smile faded into something else—something more desperate. His stomach churned with a twisted excitement at the thought.

No one is going to save you, Sam. Not even yourself.

With a snarl, Nate turned away from the photo, dropping it onto the nearby table with a loud thud. His mind was racing now, too much to handle, but he couldn't shake the image of Sam—the way she looked in that picture, the way she unknowingly pulled him in.

He needed to focus. He needed to control himself.

But the dark thoughts only continued to swirl in his mind. It won't be long now, he thought, as a menacing grin stretched across his face. Soon enough, you'll be mine.

Joey and Molly were sitting on the porch of the small, quiet house, the evening air cool against their skin. The sky was fading into twilight, soft hues of pink and purple stretching across the horizon. They sat in silence for a moment, the comfortable kind of silence shared between old friends. But the stillness didn't last long.

Molly sighed, her eyes distant as she gazed at the stars starting to twinkle above. "You know, it's crazy how much time has passed since we last saw Sam."

Joey leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his messy hair. "Yeah, feels like just yesterday we were all messing around in her room. Remember how we used to try to prank her? She never got it, but she always laughed anyway."

Molly chuckled softly, her mind wandering back to those days. "She was so easy to trick. Like, you'd get a string tied to her doorknob, and she'd spend hours trying to figure out what was going on. She always thought it was some sort of cosmic joke on her."

"Definitely," Joey agreed with a grin. "She'd get so mad, but then she'd just burst into that goofy laugh of hers, and everything would be okay. I miss that about her."

Molly paused, the smile fading a bit. "I miss her, too. It's like... even when she was going through tough times, she made everything feel lighter. Like, no matter how bad things got, she always found a way to make people laugh or just... feel better."

Joey nodded, the playful glint in his eyes dimming a bit. "Yeah. It's weird. Things just... don't feel the same without her. Like there's this hole, you know? Like no one else can fill it."

Molly bit her lip, trying to push down the sadness creeping up. "I just... I don't understand what happened to her. She was always so strong, so full of life. But now... I don't know who she's become."

Joey's expression softened, the usual joking demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness. "She's just... lost, Molly. The way she's been lately—it's like she's not the same person. It's hard to watch, you know?"

Molly took a deep breath, her eyes wet with unshed tears. "It feels like we're losing her. Slowly, but surely. Like... whatever she's going through, it's too much for her to handle on her own."

Joey's eyes narrowed, anger creeping in as he clenched his fists. "And that's what kills me. She shouldn't be alone in this. None of us should be."

The two of them sat in the heavy silence again, their thoughts consumed by Sam. She had always been the glue, the one who brought them together. Now, it seemed like that bond was fraying at the edges, slipping away, and no one knew how to stop it.

Finally, after a long pause, Molly spoke again, her voice soft. "We need to find a way to help her. I don't care what it takes. Sam's not getting lost on us, not without a fight."

Joey's eyes lit up, his determination matching hers. "Yeah. We'll bring her back. We won't let her fall apart."

Molly smiled faintly, the weight of everything still there, but her resolve stronger. "We just have to get through to her. And we will. Whatever it takes."

The world around them seemed muted, almost like everything had slowed to give them time to process the hole Sam had left in their lives.

But the calm didn't last long.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached from behind. Both Molly and Joey turned, their eyes widening as they saw a familiar face. Heat.

"Heat?" Molly blinked, standing up quickly. "What are you doing here?"

Heat's usual calm demeanor was gone. His face was tight with concern, his eyes wild with anxiety as he stepped forward, almost out of breath. "I just... I just saw her," he said quickly, voice laced with urgency. "I ran into Sam today. She's... she's in danger, and I don't know what to do."

Joey shot to his feet, his brows furrowing. "Danger? What do you mean?"

Heat's hands trembled as he ran them through his hair, clearly struggling to keep his composure. "She—she didn't seem like herself. She's not the Sam we knew, guys. There's something... wrong. I can't explain it, but it felt like she was running from something, hiding something. She's been hurt before, I can tell. But what's worse is... I don't think she even realizes it. It's like she's trapped in this... cycle, and I don't think she can get out on her own."

Molly's heart sank as she listened, her mind racing. "What did you see? What happened?"

Heat closed his eyes for a moment, trying to collect himself before speaking again. "She had a cut on her arm. A big one. And she was... well, not the way I remember her. I thought maybe she was just going through a phase, but this? It felt like something more—like she was... like she was hiding the truth. I tried to talk to her, but it was like she was a different person."

Joey clenched his fists. "I knew it... I knew something wasn't right. We've been trying to reach her, but every time we think we get close, she pulls away."

Molly stood still for a moment, her thoughts swirling. Then, without a word, she walked to the door and grabbed her coat. "We can't wait any longer. We need to find her."

Heat shook his head, his face full of regret. "I don't know where she's going. But I know she's not safe. We have to move fast, guys. She's in a dangerous situation."

Joey and Molly exchanged a glance before nodding in unison. "Then we'll find her," Molly said with determination. "We won't let her slip away again."

Heat exhaled in relief, his shoulders slumping a little as the weight of his fear finally started to ease. "I'm glad you're with me on this. I can't do this alone."

Molly smiled softly, her resolve as steady as ever. "You're not alone, Heat. We'll get her back. Together."