"Rowen... What are you doing here?" I asked, taking a small step back. His very presence was enough to turn my stomach. "Cliff isn't here-"

"I know." Rowen spoke before I could finish. He took a small step forward. "I wanted to see you, actually."

My mouth felt dry. "Me?" I squeaked.

A smile crossed Rowen's face as he continued to move towards me. "If I recall, the last time we saw each other you sparked a great deal of interest in me. Primarily because you've sparked an interest in Cliff. You," He had backed me into a corner and his hand extended to brush under my chin, "are very unique."

The touch of his fingertips sent a chill down my spine and I ducked away from him. "You shouldn't be here," I said. I made a beeline for the nightstand where there was a large lamp, the same lamp I had grabbed in defense on my first day as a captive. However, before I got there, Rowen clamped a hand around my wrist to stop me.

"Now, now," he said, shaking his head. "Just come with me and there won't be any trouble."

I turned back to glare at him. "Let go," I demanded.

He pulled me closer, frowning. "I didn't want to have to do this," he said, sighing.

I looked up from my struggling just as a cloth covered my mouth and nose. Whatever was on it made me feel dizzy and I tried to shove it away, but Rowen forced me back against the wall. With the last of my consciousness, I thought to reach for the lamp, but I was barely able to lift my arm before I felt my knees give way and I passed out.

*******

When I woke up, I struggled to remember what had happened. Soon though, I was conscious enough to know there was a bag over my head, and my hands were cuffed together behind the back of a chair. Then I remembered Rowen and the strange-smelling cloth, and it all came back in a rush. I didn't know how long it had been, but something told me I had been out long enough to have been transported somewhere new. Feeling like I may vomit, I inhaled deeply to steady my nerves; something smelled. I sat still and tried to hear something, anything to tell me where I was.

I heard breathing.

Realizing I wasn't alone, I turned my head towards the sound. "Hello?" I croaked, coughing into the bag. That was an unpleasant feeling.

"Morning, sleeping beauty," Rowen's voice said. There was the sound of someone standing and then I felt two elbows rest on my thighs. I tensed as he traced a hand up my arm, but he just chuckled. "Relax, kid. As long as you do what I say, you'll be fine."

"Where am I?" I asked. I wrinkled my nose; something really smelled.

"In a room," Rowen supplied unhelpfully. When I didn't dignify him with a response, he tugged lightly at the edge of the bag, giving my a glimpse of my lap. "Would you like me to take the hood off?" he asked. Before I could respond, the bag was tugged off my head and I came to the conclusion that that was the last thing I would've wanted.

As I looked around at the furniture-bare room, I squinted from the sudden, harsh light. Now that the hood was off, I could smell more clearly the scent of metallic and rotten things, and I could the dark rust-colored stains that splattered the walls and floor of the room.I knew I didn't need to guess to know what it was and the urge to vomit returned.

I didn't even realized I was shaking until Rowen smiled and hushed me. "Shh. It's okay, baby," he cooed. I dropped my eyes to my lap and he grinned. "Aw! Aren't you just the cutest thing," he said, running a finger down my cheek.

"What is this place?" I whispered.

"I call it my training room. But don't worry," he said, walking behind me. He leaned over my shoulder and lifted my chin so I could see into the mirror that reflected a picture of the room, "I won't do anything to you if you just corporate with me."

"Oh, my God..." I murmured, eyes glued to the scene. My mouth parted in a silent gasp I stared in horror at the heads hanging from the ceiling, ghoulish eyes sunken in and hair hanging in thin strings from what little decomposing skin they had left.

Smug from my reaction, Rowen came back to stand in front of me. "As long as you do as I say, you have nothing to worry about," he said. He squatted and gripped my chin lightly, making my look at him. "Don't look so glum, cutie. It ruins your pretty face."

He leaned towards me and I recoiled at the rough press of his lips onto mine, yanking on the cuffs holding my hands. He smirked against my lips and grabbed a handful of my hair, tugging on it lightly to demand submission. The overwhelming memories of my rape climbed up my throat like a lived thing and my eyes watered. In a last ditch effort, I bit down hard on his lip.

He drew back, face contorted to that of pain. "Damn..." He touched the fresh cut in his lip and looked at the blood on his finger, then at me. As much pleasure it gave me to see the injury I had inflicted, it proved to be a bad idea.

Rowen pursed his lips. "That was a mistake," he growled. He walked out and slammed the door shut behind him.

In his absence, I took the chance to tug at my bonds, but they held fast. I was looking for an escape when the door swung open again and Rowen walked back into the room. In one hand, he held a whip with a small knife on the end, and in the other, he held a thick, black stick. He gripped them firmly as he glared at me. "First lesson."

*******

Cliff stood in the doorway to his bedroom with clenched fists. The bed was empty as well as the end of the chain that was linked to it. His first thought when he walked in was that Zane had managed to get out of the cuff, but upon closer inspection, it appeared that the chain had been cut. This did not sit well with Cliff.

He dropped the bag he was holding on his desk and went to examine the chain. As he had suspected, it had been cut with a chain cutter. Cliff did not own one, and even if he had, it would not be located in his bedroom where Zane would have access. There was no way Zane could have done this. It also couldn't be anyone official since the police would have waited for him to return so they could arrest him.

There was only one person who would be so brazen as to steal Zane right out from under Cliff's nose. Cliff let the chain fall to the floor, and he walked straight out of the house. He stormed to his car and slammed the door. He had taken too much from Cliff already, there was no way that bastard was going to take Zane too.

*******

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