Star sat there somewhat relieved the girls had gone, they were making her uncomfortable, but now that they had gone, and it was just her and David left alone in his territory, she actually felt even more uncomfortable, feeling like there was now an even bigger expectation for her to do something with him.

'So… You've been here a while now, how do you like it?' He inquired, pulling each finger of each of his gloves and sliding his extremely pale hands from beneath the black leather.

'I like it, yeah. I mean, it's amazing, but how did you end up here? How did you even find it?'

'Stroke of luck.' He replied, throwing his gloves down on the makeshift table in front of him.

'How is it that nobody else knows about it though?' She asked, thinking about the history the place held and the things that must still be down here. David just smiled and shrugged. Once he had found this place, he wasn't giving it up for anything, it meant he could get out of Max's place and they could be on their own. Anyone that came near the place met a messy end which had created a local legend about the caves up on Hudson's Bluff and led to the danger signs being put up. Too many bodies had washed up on the rocks. 'You don't live here, though right? You guys just hang out here?'

'No, we live here.'

'Where do you sleep?' She looked around and couldn't see any beds anywhere but then Dwayne had appeared from somewhere out the back with his girl.

'Would you like to see?' He asked, smirking.

'No.' She said almost too quickly, her cheeks now blazing.

'No?'

'No thank you.' She swallowed thickly, she didn't know what he was exactly asking but it had her hands shaking again. And he was still looking at her, what was he looking at? 'How long have you… lived… here?' She asked, making small talk really, in the hopes he would become more animated and stop staring at her so intently.

'A while.' He said, mimicking her answer from earlier on and the corner of her mouth lifted in amusement. Although the music still played, the silence between them grew as she avoided the whole bed conversation, but he patiently watched and waited for her to address it. 'You look nervous.' He finally said.

'I am.' She admitted, wringing her hands together. 'I feel like I'm intruding here.'

'You're not. I want you here.'

'Why?' He tilted his head at her question.

'Because.' David said, leaving her hanging.

'Look, I really appreciate everything you've done for me tonight, I really do, but I think it would be better for me if I go.' She started, quickly realising he still had her keys.

'I told you, you're going to stay here with me.' He said again.

'The offer is really kind of you David, but I can't stay in Santa Carla. Ben and Carl will find me if I stay here.' She tried to reason with him again, why didn't this guy get it?

'Nobody knows we live here.'

'He does know I was with you last though and he will track Paul down here. Santa Carla isn't that big and it's not like you guys are hard to find amongst the surfers. I can't be down in this cave forever.' Her comment made him smile. Forever was exactly what he had in mind.

'Star, you're not listening to me. I'm not going to let anything, or anyone hurt you. I won't even let anyone touch you and trust me, neither of those two are going to fuck with me or my boys.' He said seriously and she felt a strange sensation in her stomach. She looked into his eyes as he spoke, and she almost believed him. She couldn't imagine anyone messing with him after what he did back at the house. Carl seemed no match for David at all, but she knew those boys, and she knew they didn't give up that easily. She went to tell him as much, but he seemed just as determined to keep her there, so she figured there was no point. It was too late, and she was too stoned to either drive the six hours to LA or to even try and find somewhere else to sleep for the night, not that she even had her keys to go anywhere anyways. She decided she would just get up early and search his jacket pockets for hr keys tomorrow and she'd sneak out while he slept. She rubbed her eyes, raked her hands through her hair and sighed.

'Fine. Where can I sleep?' She asked, her submission appeasing him, and he curled his lip in approval. He knew he was going to win but he liked it that she came to that conclusion on her own. He beckoned her with his forefinger and a look of nervous fear flashed in her eyes before she got up to follow him. A scuffle of feet sounded at the entrance and she turned to see David's friends jumping down the entrance sans the girls they had left with. Suddenly her chest tightened, and she felt trapped, even though she had agreed to stay, now she felt like there was no escape. She was alone with these boys and she knew if they wanted to try anything, there was absolutely nothing she could do. David didn't even turn to look at them, he just continued to lead her out the back down a thin hall with an uneven floor and the further she ventured down that hall, the more scared she became. Suddenly she couldn't see anything, and she felt his hand find hers and he pulled her closer to him, so he could guide her with his body. His hands were icy cold and all she could hear now was the dim beat of the bass from the stereo behind her and the thumping of his boots and all she could think of was that he was leading hr to her death. That he was going to murder her. Every step he took was like a syllable in the word, mur-der, mur-der, mur-der, mur-der-er, he's-a-mur-der-er. By the time they'd reached the room she was to stay in, her heart was beating so hard, she was almost having a heart attack. He let her hand go and left her standing in the pitch black, paralysed in fear while he did god knows what, then suddenly he flicked his zippo and lit two candles on an old and very dusty dresser against the wall, lighting up the 1900's room.

'Oh my God.' She couldn't help herself as he she could finally see around her and was blown away at the standard the room was in, considering how old it was and that it had fallen in the earth. The bed was made with old white sheets and a frilly white overlay with blue birds on it, well, it used to be white, now it was more of an off white. The many square pillows on it were askew and she looked at David.

'This isn't where Dwayne and that girl were, is it?' She screwed up her nose a little as she asked him, and it amused him.

'No. There are many different rooms that survived the quake.' In all honesty, he had no idea where Dwayne had been with that girl, but she seemed somewhat placated knowing the bed hadn't been used that night. She gingerly touched the fabric of the bed spread and she looked around the room. It had been kept in the dark pretty much permanently for the past 80yrs and it was dusty and smelled funny but in the candle light she was surprised the see how much colour had been preserved in the fittings. There were rich reds and golds in the detailing along the top of the walls and beautiful handles on the closet door, it wasn't big, but she could imagine it would have been a cosy room to stay in back in its day. Right now, however, with it being nestled inside a dank cold cave near the ocean, it wasn't a very enticing place to sleep for her. She thought of the exit out of the room and how dark it had been, how there was no way she would be able to find her own way out, until she looked at the candles burning on the dresser. Maybe she could take one of those and find her way out once he was gone. But he still had her keys, and where was she going to go anyways? She figured she was stuck there. She cautiously sat on the bed and looked over at him, he was lounging against the wall watching her like a lion watches its prey and that's kind of how she felt, like she was prey for him.

David watched as she analysed another room in his home and again became a little perturbed at how much attention she paid to the walls and the bed yet how little she paid to him. As much as she maintained her levelled disinterest though, he could see her intrigue in his world growing and that was exactly what he wanted. She felt so awkward sitting on the bed and it must have showed on her face because he sat down next to her.

'Are you OK?' He asked her, but she was momentarily mesmerized by his blue eyes shining in the candle light. They were hypnotic, and he knew she was beginning to come around to him and he smiled. 'Hmm?'

'Um.. They're not going to come in here, are they?' She bit her lip, nervous in asking the question.

'Who? My boys? No.' He quietly laughed. 'Don't worry about them, they've had their fun for tonight.'

'Have you?' For the second time tonight, he saw a vulnerability in her eyes, a fear that hadn't been caused by him.

'Star, if I was going to hurt you, you wouldn't even be here.' He replied a little too seriously and she saw a flash of displeasure in his demeanour. 'I told you, nothing else is going to happen to you tonight.' He repeated. Her connotation had annoyed him, he had shown her nothing but kindness, which for David was as rare as hen's teeth, and she should be appreciating his efforts, not judging him. He stood up, suddenly thinking twice about the ungrateful bitch sitting before him. 'Good night Star.'

'No, wait!' She quickly said, 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to… Please don't go. I don't want to be in here alone.' She clutched his jacket and he looked down at the girl pleading for his company. He was finally getting a taste of what he wanted from her, she was looking at him with such desperation, like she not only wanted him but needed him, but he wanted more. He wanted her to crave him, he wanted her on knees begging for him to touch her and kiss her and consume her. He wanted every part of her body and soul aching for him, like she couldn't bear to be without him and he would keep her and manipulate her and twist her until he had her right where he wanted her, and even then, he would keep pulling until she was screaming for him. He would break her, even if it took him the rest of time. He would own her.

'Star, you'll be fine. Believe me, no one is going to find you in here.' He informed her, and as she looked back at him, the rejection became evident in her expression.

'Please don't leave me.' She stood up to make her request stronger and he placed his hand upon her cheek. Her skin was soft, and he could feel the blood rush to the surface beneath his fingertips.

'Go to sleep Star. You are safe here.' His pupils dilated as he spoke, and she suddenly felt drowsy and a little dizzy. She sat back on the bed and lay down, gazing up at him with her large almond eyes half closed. He knew then he could take her, do whatever he wanted with her, but he didn't. He wanted his game, he wanted her to come to him without any compulsion. He wanted her to earn his love.