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Author's note: This is Maria's pov now. It picks up from the last time Maria was talking.

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Maria:

He looked like the classic bad boy from a band.

That what was my first impression of James before I even knew him.

He was sitting by himself in the back and had the look down. He had dark sunglasses, brown hair and I half-expected to see someone like him on a park bench strumming his guitar. The rebel with an attitude against his loaded parents seemed to be the odd one out on the bus to the warehouse. The bus ride to hell more like for all the suspense built up on it. Maybe I should jumped out of that bus when the doors opened because the next thing I knew, I was led into a stinky warehouse.

Inserted with a needle, I passed out without any recollection for several hours.

Later when I was lying on my bed in chains, just about ready for the inevitable, and he approached me, I thought the worst of him. However, in my vulnerable state, he surprised me with five words that would change my life forever.

"Will you help me escape?"

"What?" I gurgled with tubes in my throat and I think he did not hear me because he repeated it again.

"Will you help me escape?"

I had tried everything to leave this place and this boy band member just offers me a way out, just like that? I had no reason to trust him so I kept my mouth shut for a moment and saw what he did next.

He pulled out a tablet showing the footage of our room, I looked to be alone sleeping.

I thought how..."The technology they have here is pretty archaic. I had someone I used to know who worked on computers from the 80s...", he trailed off and looked to the window in my room.

Wait, was he psychic? Also, was he crying? Definitely not what I was expecting...

He started speaking again and sounded strained and melancholic at the same time.

"Please can you help me escape? I have figured out how to get out of this place, but I need an accomplice and you're the only sane, able-bodied person I have been able to find in this place".

Now the truth comes out. I was a way out.

He saw my face of disgust, spread his palms out and said, "Look, you don't have to trust me. But I am your best chance out of here. Please I can free you from your chains as long as you keep the promise of...helping me escape with you. I have nowhere to go".

I did not trust him at all, but at that moment weighing my options, I chose to go with him and nodded. He took off my chains with a lock pick and I prepared myself to fight against him.

Again, he surprised me by putting his hands behind his back and giving me some clothes I registered as mine while turning around. I quickly changed and we left that hallway.