(A/N) HEYYY PARTY PEOPLE! HAHA SORRY HAD TO SAY THAT! ANYWAYS, HERE IS THE NEXT CHAPTER OF OUR WONDERFULLLL STORY. SO JUST WARNING YA WE ENCOUNTER A FEW *COUGHCOUGH* ADULT THEMES IN THIS CHAPTER. NO REAL LEMONS YET, BUT IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT OR CAN'T HANDLE IT, THEN JUST EXUSE YOURSELF TO GO CLEAN YOUR MIND..OR WHATEVER IT IS YOU DO! I LOVE YOU ALL AND REMEMBER TO REVIEW WITH LOVE AND STORY ALERT IT IF YA LIKE IT! PEACE!

I must have dozed off. For some time later I woke up from a lazy sleep. The thrill of escape was still present, but now I felt a nagging little reminder. Something didn't sit right with me. Something was wrong. Steve. I couldn't help forget how literally moments before I escaped we were locked in a somewhat passionate kiss. Whether that was real or not, I couldn't help feel like a total bitch. I kissed and ditched. Niiice.
I tried to push him out of my mind, but his grin, his walk and his eyes remained. The words he whispered about my fragile beauty rang through my head. He seemed real. It seemed like the truth...but could I really trust my kidnapper?

I tried to forget about Steve. I looked around in the car. My body froze. The officer who was driving wasn't looking too official anymore. He had no badge, no gun, and his outfit seemed kind of fake...had he changed? He looked at me and flashed a horrible smile-I realized I was naked. I screamed!

"What the hell!"

"Stupid bitch. You really believed I was a police officer? Do I look like a police officer?"

Now that I was actually looking, no, he looked like a fraud.

"I don't know why you were trying so hard to get away from your boyfriend. Maybe it was 'cuz he fucked you right before I pulled up. Yeah I saw you out of your seat. It doesn't matter anyways. 'Cuz you're mine now. And we're about to have some funnnnn."

"Let me out of this car!" I yelled.

He didn't stop

I pulled on the handles and banged on the glass

"You fucking whore shut the hell up nobody can hear you!"

I was scared. Shaking. Looking back, I realized that the gun was a warning. Steve must have realized the guy was a phony and probably was trying to scare me into staying. I mean why would an officer talk to the kids before the parent? I cursed. I was a total idiot. Not to mention the worst escapee ever. I started crying, he kissed me and I left him. He tried to save me and I ran away. I was a child and stupid. And now I really needed him to swoop in and save me.

The guy pulled to the side of the road. I didn't move. I prayed to God something would save me. He tossed me into the backseat of the car. I asked the universe for a miracle. He unzipped his pants. I swore at the world and wondered how a girl could get so unlucky. His gross hands started touching my body. I asked ANYTHING to show me mercy. He brought me closer to him. And right before this rapist took my virginity, I prayed for Steve. I prayed he'd save me like in the movies. But my life's not a movie. The universe is clearly against me. So, I got raped.

He threw me out of the car when he was done. I lay there for a few minutes, naked cold and stunned. I felt violated. I HAD been violated. I let out small sobs. He raped me. I couldn't believe it. In this moment I wished I was with Steve. I wished he would come and pick me up drug me and take me away. At least I'd be vaguely safer there then here. But I was alone. I'd chosen to leave.

Realizing that I couldn't lay naked forever, I picked myself up and brushed the dirt off my mangled and beaten body. He had beaten me a few times while raping me, I was going to be black and blue tomorrow. It's a miracle the guy didn't kill me. Must have been the only miracle God was willing to give. I thought to myself about where I should go. I had no clue. Forest was in front of me, and a narrow stretch of road behind me. I could probably follow the road to some sort of shop. Get help. Go home. I could have my life back, it could be mine again. Or I could venture into the unknown. I could walk into the forest, even more so vulnerable than on the day I was taken. No, when I'm up against Steve, I'm always vulnerable. Always at his mercy. Steve. What if he found me again? Would he let me live? Had I killed everything the kiss meant when I left? Ugh, too many questions. Just decide! And so, like before, I walked into the woods. I walked back into the fire; into the place where it had all began.

I shivered as I walked, it was cold and I was naked. I wondered where I was going, but my heart just told me anywhere was better than here. I wondered what kind of animals lurked in the forest. Should I turn back? Maybe my gut feeling was off this time. Eventually I slumped down into the leaves, my life was a mess.

"Princess I really don't think those leaves are going to cover you up."

Turning around I saw he was there.

"Steve!"

I flung myself up from the leaves and started running at him arms wide open.

I stopped dead in my tracks. "Steve.." My voice was barely a whisper, pain and guilt ran through it.

Then, finally realizing I was naked, "STEVE!" And turned around to cover myself with my hands.

He came up behind me. He was standing so close I could feel his body pressed against mine.

"Don't freak out, I've been following you for a while. Here." He thrust a t-shirt and some pants into my hands. I didn't even care they were black. I was covered up now.

"That guy wasn't a police officer. He was a rapist. He raped me. But you had already figured that out in the car hadn't you?" My voice fell quieter with every word.

"Yeah, I guess the gun wasn't a good warning sign?..."

In a small voice I whispered, "Not really."

"I'm sorry that he…hurt you…Natalie."

"It was my fault. So… back to Mr. Tiny's car..?"

"No he left after you ran. We got into an argument. He thought I should find and kill you…"

I could feel my throat tighten. "Oh."

"But I'm sure you figured out a while ago that I won't-I can't"

I gave a small nod.

"So once again you're stuck with me. Whether you like it or not."

"I know."

He started walking, but before he could take any more steps I had to blurt out the question.

"So what did the kiss mean?"

I immediately regretted asking that, he stopped dead in his tracks.

"It meant nothing."

Something inside me cringed. Before I could protest, he continued.

"Don't worry; you've made it perfectly clear you didn't like it. I guess it was my mistake. Seeing as how I am a monster, I drank your blood. Forget it, I'm sorry."

Where had his huge ego and confidence gone? Here he sounded broken and unsure. I had done this. I rejected him and made him feel like a monster. I felt horrible. I felt sick. He'd never believe me even if I told him I did like it. I was stuck with this zombie Steve. Nothing I would say would change his mind.

Noticing how I hadn't moved, Steve let out a big sigh, ran his fingers through his hair and said "Come on, let's go."

We walked in silence. I tried to figure out something-anything-I could say. But every time I went to open my mouth my courage left. He hated me.

Eventually we reached the road and a car. It wasn't Mr. Tiny's, but I didn't care. However he had gotten it didn't matter, where we were going didn't matter either. I wanted to fix this. I wanted his big ego back, his daring smiles and his protective side. But he stayed frozen and blank. While driving he kept his eyes focused on the road. He wouldn't even look at me. I turned on the radio.

"… And I was always hoping that I could find someone like you (someone like you)
The way you take my hand and the way you touch my face
It got me thinking that I don't wanna be no other place
It got me thinking that I have felt someone like you (someone like you)

But it ain't like that
Lets turn the time back
To when you told me you had to take your heart back
You had me waiting
Anticipating
Everything we could've been-"

My hand smashed the radio off. Stupid radio, always playing songs that somehow related to me. I swear.. As I contemplated how my life as a prisoner had turned into such a drama, Steve swerved to the left. I saw the bright, neon sign that read "MOTEL". I let out a laugh. "Really?"

"Another problem? Sorry this isn't the luxurious Resort you're probably used to. Probably not good enough for you. But it's all I can find." The acidity in his voice was unbelievable. I had a feeling he would be using ordinary things to compare to the kiss a lot in the future.

We stayed at the motel for a while. Steve would leave me all night locked in the room and would return at daybreak. There was really nothing to do in the room but sit and think. Occasionally he would bring food home with him. And sometimes he would even drink my blood. That was rare now. When Steve came home he would rarely say words. And he never answered my questions to where he would go all night, he would just come back to sleep. Somehow I had adapted to his unusual sleeping habits. The room had two beds and not to my surprise we each slept in one. The motel felt kind of like a living dream. I didn't sleep in a coffin with his arms in a death grip around me; I was never tied up, never drugged, and never thrown into new situations. It was like limbo. I just wondered what would come out after this "limbo" stage was done. Would I my life become heaven or hell? Ahh, metaphors.

I was getting sick of doing nothing all day. While gazing out the crappy view of a brick wall that was the view of the only window in the room, it came to me. I suddenly remembered my previous bobby pin skills. While I never thought I could get them before, this was limbo after all, and Steve was acting like a zombie. Maybe now would be my chance. I knew he'd be pissed if I left, so I'd have to create a scheme, but let's face it, I was awesome at that.

He walked in one morning when I decided to make a move.

"Hey." I said in my usual monotone voice.

"What?" He said, sounding somewhat annoyed.

"I realize that while I'm never going to see anyone in this room, 'cuz you're not letting me out, my appearance really shouldn't matter. But I'd at least still like to try to look decent. Think I could get like, a headband..elastics..bobby pins? Anything?"

With a glare he walked out and returned a little bit later with everything I had asked for. I turned around and smiled, his guard was definitely down. When he left next evening, I waited ten minutes, tapping out the time with my nails, before with precision skills, unlocked the door. I gave a small cheer- freedom! I strolled around the little motel lot for a while. It was a real scummy place. From room 3 I could hear what sounded like a prostitute at work, I quickly hurried far away from the room. I continued to walk around the complex, keeping a look out for Steve. I noticed that the car that he drove me in here was gone, so I assumed he had left the motel. They had a pool out back that I eventually found. I lounged by the pool for a while. Sitting in one of the broken plastic pool chairs.

I closed my eyes and images began to form in my mind. Mom. Dad. My brothers. Friends, foes, crushes. They reminded me that I still had a life back there. I felt a stab of pain in my gut, I thought about all of their sufferings. I could only imagine the current state of my family. They probably thought I was dead by now. I missed them all, more than before. I opened my eyes, freedom was staring me right in the face. I could escape. But then there was always Steve. Torn between two different kinds of lo- no. I didn't love him. I just liked him. It was a minor crush. Probably Stockholm syndrome, like in that book I read. Yeah, I just though I liked him 'cuz I've been stuck with him for a while.

Then leave, it's right in front of you.

The thought burst through my mind. Disrupting all other thinking. I bit my lip, I'd never leave. Secretly, as much as I protested, I'd never leave him. He needed me too much, and I'd grown rather fond of him. I couldn't help but think that he wouldn't keep me locked up forever. Eventually he'd let me out. Maybe things would get better. But maybe they wouldn't! Ugh, everything was so confusing. Who was I kidding? I couldn't predict Steve's movements at all. It was a complete game of chance. But something inside him wanted to love. I could tell, it broke out that day he kissed me. As bad as my situation was, I'd stay. As badly as I wanted freedom, I wanted him as well. And currently I couldn't have both. So I'd stay. Maybe one day, I could have both.

The idea of freedom was scary too. For me, freedom had turned out to be getting raped. I shivered, I wondered if I'd ever get over that. I kept having these re occurring dreams, where I would vividly re live my rape, except sometimes instead of the rapist's face, it would be Steve's. I didn't like those dreams too much. As much as I hated being cooped up, I didn't think he'd rape me. Heck, he wouldn't come within 10 ft of me! But thankfully lately those dreams were diminishing. In their place, came a dream of making love with Steve. The first time I had had it I woke up feeling hot and with a feeling of arousal in my stomach. I was still in disbelief that I was having those kinds of scandalous dreams. One kiss and I'm already dreaming about having sex with him? Paaathheeetic. But I really did want to kiss him again. I missed being in his arms and the warmth he always seemed to possess, even if he was.. dead? Undead? Kinda deadish? Oh well. I sighed, I really really reaallllyy would give anything for just a conversation. Although I had a feeling we'd have a very long conversation when I got back. Except less talking and more shouting.

I realized the sun had risen. No way! I couldn't have spent all night in that chair THINKING? Aw shit, Steve is probably back! I bolted form the chair back to the motel. I burst into the room only to find Steve sitting on the bed that I usually slept in. His hands were folded neatly in his lap, and his head remained down and silent.

"Aw shit, I'm sorry I left, you probably shouldn't have brought me those bobby pins-"

He stood up and in three brisk steps had closed the distance between us. He didn't look up. He grabbed me with one of his arms and pulled me closer to him. His mouth forcefully pressed against mine. I wasted no time responding to his kiss. And soon we were both locked in a passionate embrace, kissing like we had never before. I thought about how right it felt, how I loved the sweetness of his kiss. I was back in his arms, and I loved the feeling. I could feel his muscles moving underneath me, holding me steady. I wanted more. My hands pressed against the hem of his shirt, I slowly slid them under. My hands crawled up his chest, feeling the muscles flex and move underneath them. He let out a small moan, and broke away. I wondered if I shouldn't have touched his chest, but then he took his shirt off. He looked at me with an expression of intrigue and amusement. I stood there, looking at the beautiful body standing before me. It was strong and muscular, not an inch of it that wasn't covered in perfect muscle. I reached out, wanting so desperately to touch his body again. He answered by pulling me into him, and we broke into another vigorous kiss. His hands slid down until they were under my ass. He slowly lifted me up and I wrapped my legs around him. He pressed me against the wall. I loved the taste of him. I loved the short breaths I heard him take in. But I couldn't help but wonder why he didn't yell at me. I broke away for a second.

"What? I-I don't understand."

"You came back. You left but you came back. Why?"

"I don't know." Yes you do, just tell him! "I didn't want to. I don't want to be without you. If that means sacrificing my freedom, I guess that's what I'll have to do."

"But why? I drank your blood. You should hate me. I took you away, you should want more than anything to escape."

"Well, I can't change what's happened and neither can you. For now, I'm looking past all of that. This is all really confusing, but I'm tired of denying what I've felt. You have no idea how much I wanted to kiss you back that day in the car."

His expression was torn between happiness and disbelief, he nuzzled his head in my shoulder. I liked the feeling of his warm body against mine. Inside, I breathed out a sigh of relief. Somehow, it had turned out alright, somehow I had fixed my horrible mess. I wondered how he could consider himself a monster. His condition wasn't his fault… or was it? I never really asked, most likely because he wouldn't have answered. But mental note to keep that in mind. Back to the issue at hand,-had he really thought I despised him that much?

I felt a small pain in my neck. I think he bit me. OH FUCKING SHIT WAS HE ABOUT TO KILL ME?

Before I let out a scream, I stopped myself. You spent all this time trying to convince him you liked him and he wasn't a monster, and now you're about to blow it. I took in a deep breath. I could still breathe and blood wasn't pouring into my throat. I was alive.

He looked up into my eyes, "So you really do trust me huh?"

"I think I've made that kinda obvious, but ummm, whatchhaaaa doing to my neck?" I asked in my sweetest most innocent voice.

He gave me a puzzled look. "Haven't you had boyfriends?"

"Well um..yeah a few..ish."

His look told me he didn't believe me. "Then I thought you'd recognize when you're getting a hickey."

I let out a small gasp, he was marking me?

"Honestly Natalie, I'm a vampaneze, what else did you expect?"

With a devilish grin, he proceeded to cover my neck with hickeys. And I let him without a complaint, only giving small little gasps here and there when he would bite my neck. After all, there could be worse things done ;)