"Is tha-at you, sun-n?" the crazy girl said to the light, her words garbled from her mangled mouth.

"What the-" said the guy at the door.

The light was too bright. Charlie couldn't see him, but his voice...was somewhat familiar. It was layered with shock and concern.

"Charlie? Look out!" he said.

She turned back to the crazy girl just in time. Somehow, the girl had managed to seize the hammer and was pulling it back to let go on Charlie. They were both on their knees in the filthy floor, and when Charlie shoved the girl, she lost balance easily and toppled over on the rotting body of the dead girl behind her.

Charlie felt herself being supported, being pulled from the grime--plucked like a rose in the middle of a shit hole. She leaned against her savior and he held her, even though she was covered in some of the worst stains and coated in the most awful gunk she'd ever come in contact with. And as she leaned and saw his smooth, sharp jawline, she recognized him.

"Jonny?"

"Come on, quick!" he said, rushing her to the open door.

The crazy girl screamed. Charlie knew as she and Jonny ran to the exit that the crazy murderous thing was pursuing them. She cried out as the speed caused her stabbed calf to sting, but she kept up with Jonny's pace. He let her go when they made it out of the room, and she sank to the floor, letting the waves of pain in her leg subside. Jonny slammed the door shut just in time for the girl left inside to throw herself against it.

"No!" came her muffled scream. "Cheater! I did what I was supposed to, I tried!" Then she seemed to wander away, complaining, "She's gone! She cheats!"

"Oh, my God, Charlie," Jonny said kneeling down next to her, looking her over. "Are you okay?"

"No," Charlie admitted and as grateful as she was that he saved her, curiosity still hit her. "How did you find me?"

"I-I-" he took a pained moment and continued, "Look, I know my cousin is messed up okay, I mean...I didn't think he was capable-I didn't think he could do-" his voice broke, he inhaled, trying to calm himself so he could make the words come out. "I followed him a few days ago, I saw him come here. When you and Shay went missing...and so did he...I just thought I should come here."

Charlie stared at him and saw the honesty in his face, the torment behind his eyes. His own cousin was doing this twisted, sick thing to people. To women and girls.

"I'm so sorry, Charlie," he said.

"It's not your fault. How could you know he was like this?"

"I had no idea," he said, "But I should have."

Shouldn't he have known? Her thoughts pressed. Shouldn't there have been a tiny clue? Charlie looked away, feeling guilty for thinking such things. Of course Jack/Jake would hide that sick part of himself. Serial killers did it all the time. When they got caught, there was always someone...their wife, parents, child, friends, and even neighbors would say, "I had no idea." The saying, "There was something funny about him," came much, much later, after the shock was over.

Charlie let that sink in as she looked at the open gate door that had previously been blocking the hallway. The big chain was now half hanging from the gate, half piled on the floor next to the broken padlock, a crowbar nearby.

We can leave, she thought with a weight lifting.

She stood, her leg shaking as the adrenaline seeped out of her body, and limped toward the open gate. Jonny came closer to lend her a steady arm.

But where is Jack? her mind shrieked.

The instant she thought it, a door somewhere beyond the turn of the hallway slammed. Footsteps, light, but distinct nonetheless, came closer. Instantly, Charlie felt like a trapped mouse again. Their way out was blocked.

"He's crazy," Charlie said in a frantic whisper. "He might hurt you, too."

Jonny looked afraid. Almost as afraid as Charlie. He grabbed the crowbar and dashed back. "Quick, in there." He pointed to the nearest room. It was unlocked, and they scrambled inside.

"Jonny! Jonny, I know you're in here," Jake shouted.

Charlie backed further into the dark room. Her whole body shook. He was going to find them, she knew it. It's just like an hourglass, dropping sand-grain moments of the rest of her life. What kind of weapons would he have? Would it be stronger and faster than Jonny's crowbar? Whatever it was...it was coming. If she weren't dehydrated, she might have cried, or even wet herself from the anxiety.

"Where is she?" Jake asked.

Jonny didn't answer. He stood beside the door, crowbar held back, ready to swing. Charlie kept backing into the room without really meaning to. The dim light was fading into darkness. Then something stopped her. Her back bumped into something solid. A chair, much like the one she'd been taped to. With shock, she could vaguely make out the shape of Shay laying still and quiet on top.

"Charlie, get away from him!" Jake said. "He's dangerous!"