Maycen opened her eyes, not really sure when she had closed them. She noticed the sky had grown darker, but she was still able to see most of her surroundings. She honestly hadn't moved an inch from when Scabior had left her and that was quite some time ago. Maybe if she was lucky he would forget about her.

If only she was that lucky.

She closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of the forest but she could only hear a few leaves rustling on the ground, other than that it was completely silent. She could hear her breathing; in and out; in and out, and she thought about just holding her breath until she couldn't hear anything anymore.

A loud 'pop' echoed through the woods and it made Maycen jump. She laid as still as she could and she kept her eyes closed, refusing to look at him. She could hear him approach her and with a soft touch, he ran his fingers over the cut on her cheek. Maycen flinched at his touch and when she opened her eyes she expected to be looking up at Scabior, but it wasn't him.

"Go away Cad." Maycen huffed turning her head the other way.

Cad's fingers remained on her cheek. "I can't, Scabior told me to come get you and bring you back to camp."

Maycen still kept her head turned to the side as she let out another irritated huff.

"Maycen you can't be mad at me for not helping you."

Maycen still didn't say anything and Cad's fingers moved down to her chin, where he tilted her head back to face him. Now-a-days he almost seemed as bipolar as Scabior, although not as extreme. She stared as him with hurt eyes, letting him know she wasn't mad at him; she just felt embarrassed.

"Scabior's not in a very good mood, so if we take too long it might not be pleasant when we return."

Maycen blinked her eyes a few times and slowly nodded her head. Cad moved his hands down towards her hips and Maycen started to flinch away from him, but he kept moving until they were on her jeans. Cad never broke eye contact with her as he pulled her jeans back up and buttoned them. He then tucked on of his arms under Maycen's legs and the other behind her back and lifted her up, cradling her against him. Maycen found herself relaxing into him and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Are we apparating back to camp?" Maycen whispered.

Cad started to walk in another direction. "No we made camp not too far from here. Scabior thinks there could be more people hiding out here."

Maycen sniffed. "And why is he so upset?"

"He didn't get his reward for Potter. That crazy witch Bellatrix kicked us out."

"So you don't know what happened? Harry could still be alive?"

Cad shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know Maycen. When we were leaving Bellatrix wanted to talk to the girl."

Maycen swallowed heavily. "B-but if they had called You-Know-Who to the Manor, wouldn't your mark have started to burn?"

"Snatchers don't have the dark mark Maycen. That's why we wear the red around our arm."

Maycen looked up at Cad and examined him for a moment. So there was still a small chance that Harry and the others were still alive, but she didn't know how they would be able to escape. She was even more terrified of Scabior now; he'd probably find some way to take it out on her. Maycen reached up and grabbed onto Cad's jacket.

"I want to go home Cad." She whispered.

Cad's eyes shifted down towards hers, but he didn't respond.

"Please just let me go. You can tell him I tricked you and ran off." She pleaded.

Cad sighed. "Maycen you know Scabior would have my head if I did that."

"Then you can come with me. Let's just leave here please."

"Maycen believe me, I want to take you as far away from here as possible, but I just can't."

Maycen let out a long breath. She knew Cad wouldn't defy Scabior's orders, but she didn't expect him to tell her that he actually wanted to go with her. Her eyes met his and he stopped walking.

"I'm sorry Maycen."

"It's okay Cad. You're a good snatcher and he's lucky to have someone as loyal as you on his team."

Cad shook his head. "No I'm sorry for hurting you."

"Cad you don't-"

"No Maycen, Scabior might be okay with that kind of stuff, but that's not why I became a snatcher. Part of me doesn't even want to do this anymore."

Maycen closed her eyes. "I'm sorry too Cad. I shouldn't have led you on like that, but you have to know it wasn't intentional."

"It's okay, there's nothing about me that you should like anyways." Cad said shrugging his shoulders.

"I like you Cad; I like talking to you and I like how open I can be with you, but I don't like you in that way…I'm sorry."

He smiled down at her. "I like you too."

Maycen smiled back at him and without even thinking she wrapped her arms around his neck. Cad started walking again and Maycen left her arms where they were. She didn't know how far away their camp was, but she was perfectly content being here with Cad.

"Cad do you think after the war we could still be friends?" Maycen asked.

"I'm not sure Maycen. I guess it depends on which side wins."

Maycen sniffed. "What do you mean?"

"Well if somehow Potter did manage to escape and then somehow he does manage to kill the Dark Lord, then I don't imagine the Ministry letting me go free, not with all the things I've done."

"You can't change sides before the war is over?"

Cad snorted. "I don't see that happening?"

"Oh, and if the Dark Lord wins?"

"Well since you're not a mudblood or a blood traitor, I bet they would let you become a snatcher. You'd make a pretty decent one, you know."

Maycen rolled her eyes. Why did everyone keep telling her she would be a good snatcher? She didn't want to be, nor would she ever think of joining them. She'd rather face death.

"I don't think so Cad."

Cad looked at her and it was clear he was upset. "So maybe we weren't meant to be friends."

"Maybe you're right." she whispered.

"I mean we never spoke to each other at school."

Maycen smiled. "That's because you thought you were better than everyone else."

"I believe it was you who thought you were better than the rest of us, little miss perfect."

"Please I'm not perfect." She snorted.

Cad raised his eyebrow. "Oh you're not? What about all your perfect grades; your friends; your boyfriend?"

"I don't have a boyfriend Cad."

He looked down at her and furrowed his brow. "What? But you said-"

"I lied."

"So there's no guy who was in Hufflepuff?"

Maycen shook her head. "Nope, I made it all up."

"But then who really gave you that necklace?"

Maycen felt her lips part slightly. She didn't think he would have remembered when she said that her boyfriend had given her that necklace. She let out a long sigh.

"A boy. It had been an early birthday present."

Cad smirked at her. "And you like this boy?"

Maycen cheeks reddened. "Yes, but I'm not even sure if he likes me."

"Did you ever tell him you liked him?"

She shook her head. "No that's what I hate the most; and now I'm not even sure if I'll get to see him again."

Maycen wasn't sure, but she thought she saw Cad's mouth twitch at the corners for a short second. She narrowed her eyes at him but then shook it off; she was probably just imagining it. The rest of the trip back was silent; Maycen felt awkward after just talking about boys with Cad and she didn't know if he was jealous or happy.

She rested her head on Cad's shoulder and closed her eyes. Just listening to the rhythm of his heart beat was enough to put her to sleep. She would have stayed completely relaxed in his arms, but the sound of voices brought her out of her dream-like state. She tightened her grip around Cad as they got closer to the camp.

"Maycen just stay quiet and please just listen to Scabior. He's already mad enough as it is."

Maycen nodded her head against his chest. Through half-closed eyelids she looked around at the others who were sitting around and they all had bottles in their hands. Terrific. Cad stopped walking and she heard the all too familiar chuckling of her favorite snatcher.

"Well isn't this cute. You know you two could pass for a pretty adorable couple."

The others around them started to snicker and Cad suddenly dropped Maycen on the ground. She looked up at him in confusion, but he stared back at her with a blank face. Okay, so he had to act like he didn't like her, but he could of at least dropped her a little softer.

She turned around and looked at Scabior and right away she could tell he had been drinking. She shakily stood up and faced him, ignoring the looks she was getting from the others.

"I'm surprised you can stand up." he laughed.

Maycen rolled her eyes and folded her arms across her chest. Scabior stalked towards her and she took a few steps back.

"And I'm surprised you didn't try running away."

"What would have been the point?" she mumbled.

"There wouldn't have been one. You've already lost this war."

Maycen raised her eyebrow at him. "What?"

Scabior smirked. "Well considering the Dark Lord has probably already destroyed Potter by now, there wouldn't be any reason for you to run away."

Maycen sucked her cheeks in and started tapping her foot on the ground. "How would you even know? I'm pretty sure you were kicked out of the Manor before He even showed up."

Maycen immediately closed her mouth, realizing she had forgot what Cad had said. Scabior looked to Cad for a small second before he stormed up to her. He reached out and grabbed Maycen's cheeks with his hand, pulling her off the ground so that her toes were barely touching. His finger was pressing against her new cut and she let out a small whimper.

"You best be watching what you say from now on Maycen. With Potter gone, there's no reason to keep you around."

Maycen's eyes widened and she tried to pry his hand away from her face.

"I'm letting you live so you now belong to me."

Maycen shook her head.

"Yes little Maycen. You will do everything I tell you. I won't tolerate any disobedience from you; and if you step a toe out of line then you can become Greyback's next meal."

Maycen's lower lip was trembling and her eyes flickered over to Cad for a moment. He was looking down at the ground, his hands in his front pants pockets. Scabior jerked her head so she was facing him again and his mouth was a thin line.

"Is this clear?" he asked.

Maycen stared at him completely terrified. Scabior grabbed her cheeks harder and he shook her.

"Is. This. Clear?" he growled.

Maycen nodded her head several times. "Yes."

Scabior smirked. "Good then it's time for your first test."

Maycen was about to ask him what he meant, but he pulled her forward and started walking towards his tent. She dug her heels in the ground, trying to slow him down, but she was only delaying the inevitable. Maycen met Cad's gaze as they passed him and he gave her an apologetic look.

Scabior barged into his tent and threw her down on the bed. When Maycen turned herself over Scabior already had his shirt off and he was slowly making his way towards her. Maycen started to back away from him but Scabior shook his head several times, glaring at her.

"You know Maycen when you said my name today I could barely 'ear you."

Scabior was standing over her and he leaned down so that she had to lie down. He crawled on top of her body and lightly caressed her cheek.

"I guess we'll just 'ave to get you to scream it a little louder this time."

{/}

Cad rolled over onto his back unable to fully fall asleep. He sat up and ran a hand through his hair. He reached over and grabbed the bottle of firewhiskey sitting on the table near his bed, and he took a large drink. Scabior hadn't come out of his tent since he took Maycen in there and her distant screams still echoed through his mind.

They weren't screams of pleasure however, and that made Cad smile. He took another swig of his drink and slammed it down on the table. He was a horrible person. Here he was happy that Maycen wasn't getting pleasure from what Scabior was doing to her, and in fact, he was almost jealous of Scabior.

He wanted to feel Maycen's body against his, her soft lips pressed against his own. Cad wished he was the one who was making Maycen scream, and he knew she would at least enjoy with him. It wouldn't be rape if he was with her. Cad grabbed the bottle and threw it across the tent, disgusted by his own thoughts.

Maycen was being raped and tortured by Scabior and all he could think about was his own selfish purposes. He should be helping her, protecting her against Scabior, but instead he was sitting in his tent, wondering what she would feel like underneath him. When she had asked him to come with her and flee, he wanted nothing more than to take her away. And when she told him she had lied about having a boyfriend, he was literally a few seconds away from complying with her wishes and leaving with her. But then she mentioned that there was someone she truly liked and when he saw her face light up at the mere thought of him made Cad's stomach boil with jealousy.

He knew Maycen wouldn't choose him, and he didn't blame her; she deserved so much better than him. She deserved a life better than what her life was now. If only he could convince her to join the snatchers. She wouldn't even have to really snatch people; if she just said she was one, then she would be safe. Cad didn't want to see her get killed just because of her stupid pride.

Cad turned his attention towards the tent opening when he heard a small whimper. When Scabior had first taken her in his tent there was nothing but pained screams, and he had listened to her beg for Scabior to stop. As the night went on, her screams had dulled to small whimpers here and there. It had been silent for quite a while and he thought Scabior was finally done with her, but he cringed when he heard her whimpering again.

Cad laid back down on his bed and ran his hand through his hair again. He closed his eyes in a desperate attempt to fall asleep, so he wouldn't have to listen to it all over again. He heard a quiet sob and he rolled over on his side, facing away from the opening.

"I'm sorry Maycen."