Peyton stirred. Muffled noises sounding around her. Her head felt like it had been stuffed with cotton wool, her eyes glued shut. Just Breathe. She struggled on that simple task alone, a hoarse groan escaping her dry lips as inhaling scratched the back of her throat. Her eye lids flickered, her fingers clawing at the sofa below her.

'There's only half the money here, that's not what we agreed'

An outraged voice sounded from far away.

She froze, struggling to hear.

'No we agreed that you'd dispose of the child'

She couldn't process the words. She couldn't process anything. Sleep came and went.

When consciousness finally found her she lay looking at the ceiling, her mind jumbled and scared.

The moving pictures soon caught her attention. She stared at the large TV screen. The news was on but muted. Her brow contorted.

That was her house. Her house was on the TV.

The picture changed. A photo of herself and Lucas on her wedding day appeared. She pulled her aching body into sitting. The sharp movement sending a jolting pain down her spine.

The image changed.

Her heart sped up.

Erin Penelope Scott's face filled the screen.

Her baby. Her precious baby.

It was like a light being switched on. She remembered. She'd been washing up. There'd been three of them. The phone line had been cut. Erin. The cupboard. The knife. The needle. Then there was nothing. A black hole. She didn't know what the day was, how long she'd been in a drug induced sleep. Where she was, where Erin was. Had they found her. Had they killed her.

She rocked forward, sliding from the sofa. She couldn't stand, dizzyness warped her senses. She clumsily crawled toward the television system, she needed to hear, she needed to know what was being said. She blindly reached out, it took several attempts but eventually the newsreader's words reached her awaiting ears, she slumped back against the glass coffee table, trying to focus.

'-house was sealed off yesterday afternoon and police and forensics are currently investigating. Peyton Scott was last seen on-'

The screen went black and her lips thinned in confusion.

'You're awake'

The voice sounded scarily familiar. It took her a moment to register that it had come from someone behind her. Her head slowly swiveled.

Dread blanched her face.

Derek. Psycho Derek. Ian. Ian Banks. Her prom night. Brooke had saved her, but he'd got away before the cops had arrived.

He looked so very different and yet just the same as she remembered. Apart from the obvious- that he was older, his hair was also darker and shorter and his body more muscular. He was composed, more patient than she remembered too.

'No' Her voice husked, her mouth as dry as sand paper. 'I- how- am- I-how? No' She blurted words deliriously and he just smiled ecstatically.

'I can't believe you're really here' He enlightened her, walking forward. He set the remote down on the glass table and reached for her.

She cowered back, her legs dragging on the carpet. She didn't struggle to standing and run away, cry or scream. She wasn't a scared eighteen year old. She was twenty six years old. She was independent and far from naive, now was not the time for fighting and would get her no where. He'd grown too and judging by this house he'd had a lot of success.

'Where-where's Erin?' She mustered quietly.

He heard. He chose to ignore. 'You must be feeling dizzy. I'm sorry they had to give you that and I'm sorry about your hand but it was necessary'

Her eyes followed his stare to her palm. He'd tended to the cut and bandaged it while she'd been out.

'You need to have some water and something to eat. I've cooked dinner, come on'

She was hesitant but smart enough to know that without any food and drink in her system she'd not make it less than a step outside of this house. With great loathing she let him help her up, she was too weak.

His hand didn't leave the small of her back and she was utterly repulsed by it's presence. He pulled a chair out for her when they reached the kitchen. The table was set for two and red roses sat in the middle.

The first thing she noticed was the back door. The back door open. A nice draft coming through and for the first time since she was awake she felt like she could suddenly breathe again. This was her escape.

She gulped down all of the water he gave her and then he'd set a freshly cooked meal of grilled chicken and salad before her. She picked at it, her mind on nothing other than how to make her escape.

He watched her peering around the room and smiled somewhat nervously. He wanted her to like it. He'd put a lot of effort into designing this modern abode.

He couldn't get over her beauty. Her mascara was smeared and her hair was a mess, having come loose and was no longer tied securely but half up and half down and yet she was still absolutely stunning.

The black dress he'd brought her was crumpled but still snugly fitted to her small figure, she tugged conscientiously at the material, feeling more than a little claustrophobic.

'Do you like it?'

Her eyes had found a collection of framed black and white prints on the far wall, prints of herself and horror was quick to turn her stomach. He'd clearly been watching her, stalking her and her family and that thought had her cringing in revulsion. The sickest part was, that to a strangers eye it would look just as though she lived here, that they were married and living blissfully.

'Do you like it?' He repeated.

Her stare jolted to him. 'What?'

'Do you like it here? The house?'

Her response was delayed as she wavered on cracking and telling him just how much she loathed him or going along with this little loving couple charade.

'It's-it's lovely'

His anxious expression was traded for a elated smile. 'I knew you would like it' he stood from his seat. 'We need some champagne, to celebrate'

She swallowed, he was across the spacious kitchen, behind the sleek marble surfaces, his head in the fridge.

Her body was quivering but she managed to stand without making any noise and then she was running the few steps to the door. It took her a second but those few paces felt like a life time. When the fresh air hit her, she inhaled sharply and then was racing down the few porch steps. The garden was huge and supplied with a good sized pool and backed onto woodland. She had no idea where she was going or what she was doing, all she knew was that the more distance she put in between herself and the psycho, the better. She reached the end of the lawn and risked looking back at the house, her heart instantly speeding up. He was running after her. She tore off again, running as fast as her weak legs would carry her. It was cooler amongst the trees and her skin was covered with goosebumps, perhaps with fear though. She couldn't see him now, or hear him but her stomach lurched at every sound. She kept going, ignoring the lashing of branches hitting her arms and the mud that was engulfing her bare feet, making it difficult to lift her limbs.

A ruthless vine suddenly tangled around her leg, snaring her body. She plummeted to the ground, her knees slammed into the dirty surface, her hands scraping against twigs.

She wheezed, adrenaline forcing her up. She had to keep going. She stumbled, her knees a bloody mess.

She looked over her shoulder. The house was no longer insight. She was surrounded my trees and all she could hear was the sickening beat of her own heart.

A snap sounded in front of her and her head spun.

'Look what you've done'

He startled her and she recoiled, tripping over her own feet as she backed up.

He was so calm and collected and she was a gasping wreck.

'Let's get you back to the house and clean you up'

She hurdled herself in the opposite direction but his hand ensnared her wrist.

She screamed and it pierced through the trees causing a flap of wings as a disgruntled bird flew to freedom.

He pulled her back to his chest and her shoulders shook.

'It's alright' His repulsive voice whispered across her cheek. 'It's alright' He walked her through the trees and she struggled relentlessly, only freezing in her efforts when they came to an opening.

Her eyes expanded. She could see all the way to the horizon. There was nothing. It was vast and barren. There were no houses. Nothing.

'There's no where to go baby'

She blinked. The horrific realisation that indeed, there was nowhere to go, had her vision blurring with tears.

His callous hands ran up and down her forearms as she trembled and his lips pressed against the back of her shoulder.

'I know you're scared, but you're safe here Peyton. I'm going to look after you. This is how it was always meant to be. Just you and me'

It had felt like she'd been running forever but it didn't take long for him to navigate them back to the house. As he walked her up the step a wave of nausea hit her. There really was no way out and all hope drained from her.

He sat her down at the table, where their dinner still sat untouched.

He didn't bother shutting the door, confident that she wouldn't try another bid for freedom. She didn't. He fumbled in one of the cupboards returning with a first aid kit in hand.

'You ripped your dress' He commented as he fixed her grazes up. She didn't respond. She didn't wince or whimper as he put the antiseptic and plasters on. She just stayed staring despairingly. 'It was expensive' He fingered the black material. It was no longer fitted, a rip up to her waist left it hanging limply and her underwear on display. 'It's alright though. I've got you plenty more things' He smiled, his hands slid up her legs and he dropped his head, kissing her thigh unbearably slowly.

She shrunk back into the chair 'Don't'

Her small fingers pressed against his shoulders.

He lifted his head, still smiling at her and she really thought she was going to be sick. He took her hands, forcing them back and holding them tightly to the seat of her chair.

'I've wanted this for so long' He told her emotionally. Everything he'd worked towards, his life for the last eight years had all been pending to this one moment. 'I love you so much'

She took an unsteady breath and shook her head and the small gesture angered him immensely. He needed for her to tell him how much she loved him too. His jaw stiffened and she was certain he'd hit her but apart from his hold tightening on her wrists nothing happened. He reminded himself that it would take her time. She'd been brainwashed. She thought she was in love with Lucas Scott. It wasn't her fault. He would show her and she'd soon come to realise he was right. But he didn't have the strength to wait any longer. He'd been waiting for her for the last eight years and he'd be damned if he was waiting any longer.

'I could have her killed'

Her gaze darted to him. Confusion masked her face.

'Erin' He explained. 'She was meant to be dead by now' His cheeks flushed with fury. He knew he should have done it all himself, instead of getting some inexperienced, completely inept fools to do it for him.

Her mouth opened and he watched delightedly as a mixture of relief and fear seeped into her eyes of green. She was alive. She was safe. She would be with Lucas by now.

'I know you think you love her'

A mixture of anger and hatred filled her.

'It makes me feel sick' He cringed. 'That she's a part of you and him'

She pushed herself back impossibly further into the chair. His forehead was laced with sweat and his eyes like black beads.

'I could still kill her Peyton'

A strangled cry left her mouth. She felt like her heart had just been ripped from her body and trampled on. Life without Erin, her baby girl was incomprehensible.

'Don't get yourself all worked up. You'll have more children. We're going to have our own and they'll be perfect'

He'd thought he'd not be able to move on until the disgusting child was disposed of. She was meant to be grieving now and he was meant to be comforting her. He'd thought that she'd only be able to realise that they were destined to be together if she didn't have Lucas Scott's child to think about. But now, after some considerable thinking, he'd come to decide that he could use this to his best advantage.

'Don't hurt her. God she's just a little girl. You've got what you want, you've got me' She pleaded. 'I swear I'll do anything you want'

He knew she wouldn't be a willing participant the first time, but he'd rather not have to physically force her. He smiled successfully. 'Anything?'

Her eyes were glassy with tears and her long eyelashes flickered. She understood the insinuation. She swallowed and looked down with a curt nod.

Overwrought with excitement, he cupped her face angling it toward him. She didn't fight him. Lucas' face captured her mind as his lips met hers. She wanted to scream, her hands jolted, instinctively wanting to push him away, but she couldn't. She settled them over her stomach instead trying to block it all out, trying to ignore how different this felt to Lucas, how disgusted she was by the way his tongue moved possessively against hers.

He finally withdrew, keeping his forehead against her for a agonizing moment. She didn't know where to look.

'Let's go to the bedroom' He panted.

He held his hand out to her and she reluctantly put her smaller one within it. He helped her up and pulled her in the direction of the hall, her heart breaking a little more with each step.