Yay, another chapter! I don't know if you actually read the top part of the chapters, but I DID IT!! I'm DONE with college applications! (YAY!) More time to write!!! So, I'm sorry for Rui getting a hold of my lap top a few days ago; I don't know what he was thinking...

Next I knew, my hands were free and I was being dragged by my hair across the floor. I gritted my teeth against the pain, clawing and kicking at the many hands that reached for me. With a determined growl, I flipped over on my stomach and swiped the legs out from underneath the vampire who had hold of me, making him release his grasp. Immediately, strong hands and shoes landed on my back and sides as the vampires yelled and cursed at me. One foot struck across my face, forcing my head to whiplash to the right and scrape my cheek across the concrete floor. Blood oozed from my nose and my ribs felt like they were cracking under each hit. But I didn't care.

I wouldn't let these losers get to me.

"Back up, back up!" a vampire yelled as he threw his fellow mafia members out of the way. "Remember what the Boss said? We're not gonna make him wail if we beat the shit outta him." Then he turned to me, a grin on his face. "Roll over and make it easier for yourself."

"… Like hell I will," I hissed, pushing myself up and forcing my legs tighter together.

The group erupted with laughter as they all flocked around me, each clawing at some piece of clothing. A loud rip sounded in my ears as the front of my shirt was torn off and cast aside, and a few desperate hands fumbled with my belt buckle. "NO!" I yelled, kicking out and flooring one of the vampires. My legs were then pinned to the ground as my belt was successfully pulled off. With wide eyes and snarling fangs, I pulled myself forward and delivered a crushing blow with my fist to another vampire. As he fell back, though, I saw that he had a gun strapped to his waist. If only I could get a hold of it, I would be able to get myself out of this mess, but before I could reach out for the gun, I was pushed back and the handcuffs were locked around my wrists once again.

Shit… I'm gonna get raped…

"Jose, isn't there a video recorder in the closet?" one vampire yelled.

Jose nodded. "Yeah, man, I'll get it set up," he replied in a thick Spanish accent.

The first vampire leaned down closer to my bloodied face, saying, "We'll take it nice and slow, one at a time until you talk, and if you say nothin' at the end of it all, we'll put a bullet right here." He paused to tap my forehead with a cold finger. "Once we're all done here, and you're six feet under, we'll send your precious Kaname an early birthday present."

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Jose appeared with a video camera and set up the tripod. He gave a satisfied huff, grunting, "Okay, chicos, it's locked and loaded."

In a final attempt to free myself, I jolted and sent my body into a seizure-like tremor that even shook the vampires holding me down. The vampires all whooped and hollered with excitement as the second in command played with my pant's zipper. "I like it when they struggle," he growled. "I love the spark of fear that lights up their eyes."

I gulped back a cry, closing my eyes and pushing my head back. This was it. I had let Emilia win, and now I was in for the most painful and humiliating hours of my life. If I hadn't been so blind… if I had seen through Emilia's twisted mind… if Rui were here… none of this would be happening. And yet it was.

Kaname… please forgive me…

"L.A.P.D.! GET THE FUCK DOWN!"

Next I knew, the door at the end of the room was torn off its hinges as heavily armed police men stampeded into the room. The vampires yelled and scrambled away, fumbling for their weapons, but they were no match for the shower of bullets that rained on them. I ducked out of the line of fire, crawling towards a fallen gun and fumbling to get a good grip on it (my hands were still handcuffed). Finally, I managed to pull the trigger and make a few hits of my own. A few of the police had broken their line, knocking back a few of the survivors and shoving the barrels of their guns into the vampires' faces.

Everything happened so fast; my head swam with the sound of gun shots and shouts that I didn't even notice Jared come up beside me and shake me to my senses.

"Kid, you okay?" he asked breathlessly, kneeling beside me.

My eyes were wide with shock. "H-how the hell did you find me?" I gasped.

"We traced Emilia's phone," came the reply. "Come on, you hit anywhere? Shit… you're a bloody mess."

I stood, wiping the blood from my nose and lips with the back of my arm. "I'm fine. How's Rui? Is he okay?"

"He's fine; we found him in the back of the van and rushed him to the hospital. He's getting a blood transfusion now." Jared paused as he noticed my ripped shirt and my belt lying on the ground. "Uh… your zipper's down."

I looked down to see that he was, in fact, right. With a scowl, I pulled the zipper up and cocked my brow. "Nothing happened," I stated in a gruff tone.

Jared nodded hesitantly, eyeing the video camera's blinking red light. "Yeah… you're glad we showed up when we did."

"Hey, Jared, whaddya make of this?" a masked S.W.A.T. member asked, holding up a bullet torn photo. My eyes went wide and I quickly tore the photo from him.

"None of your damn business!" I snapped. Then spinning on my heel, I asked, "Have you found Emilia yet?"

Jared shook his head. "No, we checked the rest of the building, and there wasn't a soul in sight."

Dammitt… she got away…

"Well, where else could she have gone?" I asked. "I have to pay that bitch back for what she did to me and Rui."

Jared nodded. "I understand. Come on, I think I know where she might be headed."

"That's good… you, uh, wanna get these things off me?" I asked, holding out my still cuffed hands.

"Do I look like I have the key?" came the retort.

"… shit…"