Without a moments hesitation I push the key into its hole.

Shoot - a shot of pain travels up my arm and I regret busting up my right hand. But, I override the pain and twist the key firmly.

The lock gives easily.

Recalling how thick and heavy the door is, I position my back square on it and use my body weight to gently ease it out and open.

"Hello," I whisper.

No reply. So, I edge out.

It's only a short hallway. Looking behind I see it's a dead end. My only way is ahead.

A random thought enters my head 'I'm thankful for Darby & Associates casual dress code, my sneakers make better getaway footwear than heels.'

"Hello," I repeat, a little louder.

When there's no reply, I sprint to the end of the hallway. I turn right into a reception room and SCREAM!

A black clad figure stands in the corner. The skintight latex like fabric accentuates the astonishing musculature of his male physique.

My scream transmutes into a heavy hyperventilating heaving sound.

The guy stands stony still, but lifts a finger to his mouth to indicate quiet. It's then I notice his startlingly pale hand, his long fingers are accentuated in length by the bright crimson painted, talon-like nails.

His is the hand that freed me.

......

My breathing normalizes a little.

He removes his hand from his mouth, "It is an honor to be in the presence of your greatness, Tanya," he says, in a voice that is soft, yet has a high, hyper female pitch.

"You know my name?" I ask.

"Yes. You are a living legend amongst us followers in the know," he smiles, showing a full set of metallic silver teeth.

Relaxing a little, I ask, "In the know, meaning?"

"We know all that you know, the truth. As opposed to the devoted, indoctrinated followers." He looks suddenly wistful, "Yet we are incapable of escape. Troy is the first and last follower to ever have escaped, he is our hero." His silver smile returns, "Your victories gave us all such hope, not for ourselves, we are resigned to our fate, but for the rest of humanity.

My own hope begins to rise a little, "What's your name?" I ask.

"I am Drew." He begins to shake a little, becomes jittery. "You should go now. The observers are all at their busiest as the park opens." He opens a door that leads onto a stairwell, "Go Tanya. Take the north exit from the park and from there you can make your way into Chicago, and from hence make your way back to London."

"Come with me, Drew. You can free yourself," I say, making my way to the door.

"No! Today is my Death Day. Freeing you is my final act of rebellion; for I was to be the father of the child they were to impregnate you with." He lowers his head, "They extracted my seed before castration," he says, with sadness.

He's castrated - that explains his high-pitched voice, I realize, as my heart hurts for the poor guy.

He swiftly lifts his head, "I urge you to flea - now!"

"Please come with me," I plead.

"NO, GO - Tanya. Your place is next to Kade. I don't think you realize the triumphs you have achieved, or the Global tragedies you have aborted."

My sadness for Drew mounts as he begins to full on tremble, "You two, along with Kelly and Troy are revered as legends amongst us long-term followers. "You must return, to continue your great work in London."

His eyes become moist, "They have a new and sinister strategy; soon the Imps will be launched in London. They aim to hook their followers at a young and impressionable age, that way they will have a whole new generation of followers who will know no other life than that in servitude to The Lady."

I can feel the nervous urgency emanating from his quaking body. I stall at the doorway, "Drew, can I give you a hug?"

He jolts back, alarmed and terrified. "NO! Please don't show me affection, I'm not used to it," he whimpers. He touches his hand, "You caressed my hand, that felt really special, thank you, that is all the affection I require to experience before my death."

Understanding his mental damage, I step back, "Is there anything you can tell me that will help us?" I ask.

"Beware the Topknot," he says, conspiratorially.

"Do you mean Topknot guy, back in London?" I ask.

"I have no further information, other than that ominous phrase." He points to the stairs, "Your freedom is my greatest help, please don't waste it - GO - it is imperative you return to London!" He says, raising his voice a little.

I take the steps two by two. As I reach the top, Drew shouts, "Tanya!" I turn and see him smiling his silver smile, "Tell Troy I loved him." I smile and blow him a kiss, "I will Drew, I will."

......

WHOAH - Once outside I'm thumped by a thunderous rumble and a cacophony of high-pitched screams that force me to squat down and cover my ears.

Once the roar has passed I look up to get my bearings. The door from the stairwell actually leads out directly under the first drop of The Love Rush Rollercoaster. Standing up, I'm hit with a rush of nostalgia and sadness - this is where my love for Kade blossomed. And now I'm back here, without him.

The familiarity of this space makes me incredibly lonely. Looking up at the gargantuan red rails, I recall watching them being constructed, with Kade by my side.

But when I take in the spectacle of what the place has become, I snap out of my nostalgia daze, and back to my reality days.

......

Our old home, which was once an isolated and barren waste ground is now a huge Theme Park that is rapidly filling with families and excited people of all ages. And right now, I'm making myself look obviously out of place by standing in a space that's clearly out of bounds.

Nonchalantly, I walk under the coasters red rails and into the park. I feel my jaw drop at the sheer spectacle of the place.

Coasters, huge rides and attractions of all kinds fill the vast space. When I look toward the entrance and see the name of the park, The Surgeon's words, uttered at the Hospital, come back to me loud and clear, "Land of Love. No one will ever know what goes on beneath the crowds of screaming revelers."

And as another Love Rush carriage swoops past, carrying a new load of thrill seekers, I realize that their excited screams probably mask the terrified screams of those unfortunate enough to be trapped below.

......

Searching, I see the bathroom sign and power walk toward it.

In the closed seclusion of a cubicle I strip naked and examine every part of my body. Even my private parts get a thorough probing, my fingers searching for any sign of foreign objects, such as tracking devices that may have been implanted inside me whilst I was sedated.

Relatively satisfied that I'm clean of any unwanted imposters, I dress and splash my face with cold water. Feeling invigorated, I check my appearance and satisfied I look OK, I make my way into the park with Drew's words ringing in my ear, "Take the North exit and make your way into Chicago from there."

......

It's a relief to be out of there; seeing all those innocently smiling faces I wanted to shout - "IT'S ALL A LIE!"

There's a sign for a courtesy bus into the city and the digital clock tells me I only have a few minutes to wait.

Sitting on the metal bench, I'm aware of a strange feeling coming over me, a kind of recklessness, combined with ruthlessness. I can't quite fathom whether it's a positive or negative feeling. I guess I just gotta ride it. For now, I'm outta that prison cell and I'm not gonna be having a strangers baby growing inside me - that's a victory.

......

A crowd of squealing thrill seekers pour from the bus and I find myself reacting aggressively to the ones who crash into me in their eagerness to get into the park.

I'm desperate to get on the bus and get away from the place, not only because I know of the dangers that lurk there for me, but because it reminds me of Kade and the fact that he's not here, with me.

......

"Looks like it's just you and me young lady," says the driver, a fat, bald and sweaty man. I don't answer; I'm not in the mood for conversation. But my silence doesn't deter him. "Land of love sure is attracting the crowds, they say footfall will double when they open Imp Land, for the kiddies."

My ears prick up at that, "When is Imp Land due open?" I ask. "I'm not sure. I thought you should know that, you work there, not me," he says, with a big laugh that makes him wobble like a lump of jello.

I don't bother to explain that I'm not an employee, I'm an escapee. A runaway lab-rat.

......

It's only as the bus reaches the bustle of the city that the enormity of my situation hits me.

My stomach flips over and my mouth becomes suddenly dry, like sandpaper. "OK, young lady, this is where I kick you out," says fat man.

The door slides open, I jump down onto the street and am immediately consumed by blind panic.

All I have on me is a cell phone, with limited functions. No money, no I.D, no Passport. I'm just as trapped as I was in that cell!

......

'Walk Tanya, just walk' I tell myself.

I'm at a total loss as to what to do. I think about giving myself up to the authorities, but no, that backfired on me before.

Passing a public call box a thought lifts me, I can call the Hospital in England...but no, I don't have a dime.

'Keep walking, Tanya.' How can someone be so alone, so stranded in this digital age? It's pretty damn easy, because I am.

......

When I pass an expensive looking jewelry shop, I think of stealing something, and selling it; then swiftly realize how dumb an idea that is.

A spot of rain hits my face - where will I sleep tonight?

When the rain begins to fall hard, I run to a nearby MacDonald's to take shelter.

Pushing myself into a booth, I circle my arms on the table, rest my head in them, and think.

But I don't have much to think about: without cash, my only option is to go back to Land of Love and give myself up.

At least I'll have food and shelter back there.

I find myself drifting toward sleep; I welcome the slumber.

......

When I wake, it's not with that 'where am I feeling.' Unfortunately, the reality of my situation hits me hard - I know where I am.

With a stiff neck, I look outside, It's dark; I must have slept for sometime.

The rumble of my stomach and the dryness of my throat reminds me of the brevity of my situation.

A big girl begrudgingly gives me a cup of tap water. I slug it down in one gulp and when I throw the cup in the trash, I spot a box of half eaten fries.

To my shame, I scavenge them from the trashcan and eat them in the street.

I've hit rock bottom.

......

Looking for a quiet storefront in which I can spend the night, I'm resigned to the fact that without cash, I can't survive, let alone get a passport and a ticket to London.

So, I'll spend the night in a storefront then return to Land of Love in the morning.

I guess I was destined to carry that kid after all. Perhaps Drew was playing with me, he knew I couldn't survive on these streets, or return to Kade without cash - cruel.

......

Walking down a quiet one-way street, I spot an appropriate storefront.

The beam of approaching headlights illuminate the street and I stand back as the car passes.

But the car doesn't pass. It stops.

"Hey, beautiful." Says a well-dressed older guy. He displays expensive teeth as he smiles from the descending window of his Mercedes.

A mix of desperation and curiosity make me smile back and say, "Hi."

He nods me over and I find myself bending to his level, "So, are you working tonight?" He asks.

"I wish, I don't have a job," is my instinctive reply.

His smile widens and he pulls out a dollar loaded wallet, "You just got yourself a job young Lady. Name your price," he says, pulling out a wedge of 100-dollar bills, while looking me up and down, with a sleazy sneer.

The sound of his remote locking system dis-engaging suddenly welcomes me.

I'm the only thing I have to sell; I'm the only route to fast cash.

Benjamin Franklin's face stares at me from the back of a $100 Dollar bill and I think - I can do this.

Correction: I have to do this...