I wake up in the basement. Handcuffed to a pipeline on my knees. The duct tape is removed from my mouth and I am able to breathe the air. Teddy is curled up into a ball, her back is to me. She is silent, so silent that I am sure that she is fast asleep. I watch her movement keenly, her chest heaves up and down, reassuring me that she is alive.

I am exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically. I feel like I have been stabbed directly in the heart. The sheer agony slashes through my flesh. I can't feel my limbs, it is almost like they are nonexistent.

C-101 and Red are still chained and cuffed. Exhausted and weak. I don't believe any of us has eaten or drink.

I stare at the staircase, worrying that Paul or Lisa will come. It is utterly silent in the house. My eyes then scans the room, I do not see Daphne. I begin to believe that the scene I saw was just a horrible nightmare. But that thought is short lived. I couldn't deny or dismiss the event I have witnessed. Daphne was throttled by a furious Lisa. I was upstairs with Paul. Teddy, C-101, and Red were all in hysterics. I watched Daphne die. I failed her.

All I want to do is apologize. I failed her. I failed to protect her, I failed to bring her to her family. With a heavy heart, I look at Teddy. My only remaining child I have.

I hear soft sounds emerging from her. I use all of my strength to yank my chain, so I could make my way to her. I lean over her and I see her wide eyes staring at the wall.

Her face is contorted with dejection and grief.

"Teddy…." My voice is hoarse. Teddy doesn't answer me. She seems to be in her own world, trapped in a self induced trance.

Tears exits Teddy's eyes without warning.

I keep talking. I need to talk to someone. My own mind is beginning to unravel. I feel like I am hanging off the end of a thread. "Teddy, I am sorry….please...talk to me...let's talk…" I croak desperately.

Teddy still doesn't answer me. I feel completely alone.

I see C-101 sitting nearby a slumbering Red. C-101 appears utterly exhausted and depressed. I need to speak to someone.

"What happened?" I croak.

C-101 doesn't look me in the eyes. "She's dead." He mutters.

"What happened?" I repeat.

"L...Lisa….killed her. They…...took her body….and...and…" He seems to be choking on his words. He had pent up horrors inside of him. "Daphne is gone."

I can't prevent my mind from envisioning what happened to her body. Her limbs dismembered and cruelly stuffed away into the titles of the basement.

I feel the bile rising in my throat. I swallow hard. "What do we do?" I ask weakly.

"I don't know…" C-101 croaks. His voice is weak and raw.

I pull at my restraints as roughly as I could. Hatred boils in my chest. Homicidal thoughts brews within my mind. In the deepest, darkest parts of my psyche, I imagine myself killing Lisa and Paul. I want their deaths to be slow and painful.

"Teddy…...please…..just….say something…" I beg. This time Teddy stir. She manages to turn over, her hair was disheveled, her face is pale, her eyes floods with misery.

"Daphne is dead….." Teddy whispers weakly.

I take in a deep breath. I struggle to keep myself from breaking down. "I know…" I murmur.

Teddy's eyes lowers to the floor. "She's dead…..she's dead…." Tears flows down her face. Teddy's despondent state evokes a powerful wave of pity and compassion.

I desire to hug her.

Teddy exhales dismal. Her eyes finds the ceiling. "I…..I….can't….believe it…..she's dead….why?"

I inhaled. "Teddy, we need to escape.." I say quietly.

Teddy sits upright. "How?"

I say nothing. I contemplate to myself. Then I remember the girls. Chelsy and Kate. "Maybe we could ask them for help!" I say. Then as if on cue, the basement door opens and Chelsy comes down the stairs.

"Chelsy," I blurt out. "Help!" I fear that Paul or Lisa would hear me as soon as I said that. Chelsy's eyes lights up.

She is cautious and make sure to close the door as slowly as she could. "Be quiet." She whispers to me.

I arch an eyebrow in confusion.

"I want to help you." My hopes burst out of my chest. I couldn't help the relief pouring out of my eyes.

I glance at Teddy, her face was sealed with skepticism. "Why?" Mistrust is prominent in her tone. "Why should we trust you?"

Chelsy responses to this by digging into her pockets and pull out a handful of keys. "I managed to get some of my Dad's keys."

"I'll free you and then we will all run away." Chelsy promises. I say nothing. At this point, I have no objection. I'm desperate. It is silent within the house. "Lisa and Paul are evil, both of them!" Chelsy hiss. I see the defiance in her eyes.

"CHELSY!" I frown in dismay at the sound of Lisa's yell emerging from upstairs. Before anyone could react, Lisa opens the door to see Chelsy standing on the last step with the silver keys in her hand.

I felt my stomach churned.

"Chelsy!" Lisa's face reddens. "I knew you were a traitor. You and your sister are both traitors!" Her voice is venomous. Her eyes were prominent with hatred and bitterness. "Your Father needs to teach you a lesson! Who the fuck do you think you are?"

A flash of fear appear on Chelsy's face. Her skin turns ashen, her hands turns into shaky fists. She bites her lower lip.

Lisa gives her a callous glare. "I told you what would happen!" She snarls. I then notice a handgun in her pants.

Tears of misery overflows out of Chelsy's eyes. She dropped the keys onto the floor and breaks down. "NO! NO! PLEASE!" Chelsy sobs.

Lisa's eyes flick to me. Her animosity is directed at me. "Faye," Then she briefly looks at Teddy. "And you, I have a little job for you two." She smiles wickedly.

Lisa walk down the stairs, Chelsy becomes useless. She is stiff as a statue. Paralyzed with terror. Lisa picks up the keys. She is inches away from Chelsy. SLAP! Lisa gives Chelsy a sharp slap across the face. It is so hard that Chelsy doesn't scream. She falls to the floor and lands on her butt. Chelsy chokes out broken sobs and cowers.

Malice dances in Lisa's eyes. My mind is blank, I'm weak from the lack of hunger and thirst. Lisa unlocks me. But she keeps my handcuffs on. I am limp and didn't move.

"Fucking worthless cunt!" Lisa hiss. I ignore her and remain silent. I catch a glimpse of C-101 and Red watching this. They are speechless and exhausted.

I see C-101 struggling to vocalize something to me, but is unable to.

"You…..killed…...Daphne." Teddy cries as Lisa unlocks her. Lisa glares at her and becomes infuriated from Teddy's soft crying. She yanks Teddy's hair roughly, causing Teddy to shriek. "You little bitch, unless you want to be like your little friend, be quiet!" Lisa barks.

Teddy clenches her teeth and Lisa releases her. "Come. Now." She gestures to her handgun. "If you try anything, I will put holes into the both of you!" She warns gravely.

Teddy's facial expression is hardened. I find the strength to stand up. I want to murder this woman. I want to rip her little throat out. But she has a gun. Even if I infect her, she will kill Teddy and me. I resolve myself to be obedient.

"Teddy, come on." I utter. I grab her hand without asking. Teddy gives Lisa a resentful look, but stays close to me.

Lisa heads upstairs and roughly yanks Chelsy to her feet. Chelsy keeps weeping hysterically. "No! NO!" Chelsy bawls.

Lisa drags Chelsy up the stairs. She feverishly screams and sobs. I ignore her pitiful cries as I escort Teddy behind her. I enter the kitchen/living room. Daylight basks the house.

"No! Please, just stop! I made a mistake!" Chelsy pleads. "Please, Lisa, just stop!" Chelsy pulls back and begins to tussle with Lisa. "Where is my Dad?"

Lisa is not having it. She swings her fist into Chelsy's throat. "You little bitch, you deserve this! I warned you!" Lisa hiss. "Your Daddy can't help you! He is out!"

Chelsy sobs brokenly. Lisa ignores this, she shoves Chelsy to the floor. Pathetically, Chelsy weeps to herself helplessly.

Lisa goes into the kitchen and within two seconds, she returns to us with a eight inch kitchen knife. "I have a little job for you two." Lisa says vaguely. Sadism glints in Lisa's eyes.

"Like what?" Teddy croaks. She reverts back to a small child and hides behind me.

An evil smile grows on Lisa's face. "You'll see."

Lisa yanks up Chelsy and orders all of us to go upstairs.

Once we were all upstairs, Lisa goes into a small bedroom. I see a slumbering Kate in her bed. Chelsy is behind all of us and is on the verge of a emotional meltdown. Chelsy hugs herself, trembling violently, she leans on the wall, her tearful eyes are fixated on her sister. Lisa turns her head to Chelsy. "Do not say a word. Or I will put a bullet in your sister's head." Lisa threatens.

With that, Lisa gently closes the door. Kate is deep in slumber. Lisa grins as she showcases her knife to me and Teddy.

"What?" Teddy whispers.

"Which one of you will do it?" Lisa asks vaguely.

It is silent. I realize what she wants us to do. I have taken lives multiple times throughout my life. But murdering a child is atrocious. I never once considered harming a minor. Lisa narrows her eyes furiously. She becomes impatient. "Fine." Lisa whispers coldly. Without warning, Lisa grabs Teddy's right arm and puts the knife into Teddy's hand. "Take it!" She whispers harshly.

Teddy begins to shake, her eyes widens. "Wh...what…..why?" Teddy gulps. I struggle to compose myself. No thought enters my head and I grab Teddy's shoulder. "No!" I whisper. Lisa gives me one look and swiftly she grabs the gun and directs it at me. I jerk back instinctively and freeze. Teddy begins to hyperventilate. "Don't even try. Kate is a heavy sleeper. Make all of the noise you like," Lisa gestures to a broken Chelsy. "Blame this little bitch for this."

"Girl, go over to her and slit her throat." Lisa instructs Teddy in a hollow voice. My mind goes blank, all I see is the gun pointed at my head.

"Do it." Lisa commands.

"Don't kill Faye!" Teddy begs.

"Do it! Or I will kill the both of you!" Lisa warns. "NOW!" Teddy shakes uncontrollably. "I….I..DON'T THINK I CAN!" She shrieks.

Lisa is apathetic. "Do it! Or your friend dies." Lisa inches the gun closer to my face. Teddy appears to be in a self induced trance. In her daze, her quivering eyes flick to the knife. Teddy inhales and exhales heavily.

"I will…" Teddy croaks with fresh tears.

I find my voice. It is small and weak. "No...I will do it!" I say. Lisa doesn't care. She is adamant about forcing Teddy to do this evil deed.

Teddy weakly staggers to the side of the bed. Teddy is trembling violently, she could barely keep the knife steady. At this point, I did not care about the gun. My legs were wobbly from the exhaustion, my mind was empty, I feel pure numbness. I turn my head to Teddy.

I see Teddy mouth the words, "I'm sorry." Then I watch Teddy proceed to draw a red line on Kate's throat. Kate wakes up instantly, but is only able to utter out a startled scream. Teddy manages to cut through her throat, a spew of blood sprays from Kate's throat. Kate's screams turns into choking gurgling. Teddy is splattered in blood, with a pitiful sob, she successfully slit Kate's throat, killing her instantly. Time seems to slow down. At this moment, I experience my very first panic attack. The thoughts are accelerating inside my head. I want them to slow so I can breathe but they won't. My breaths come in choking gasps. Every passing second I feel like I'm going to faint. My heart is hammering inside my chest. The room spins, giving me vertigo. I feel so sick.

Teddy backs away, she heaves and clutches her stomach. She gasps for air desperately. Her eyes bulges. She proceeds to vomit violently onto her feet. With powerful willpower, I fight my mental sickness and sprint to Teddy. I fully expect Lisa to shoot me in the head, but I do not care. I hear Lisa's cruel laughter behind me. I throw my handcuffed arms around Teddy. I am unable to physically hug her, so I press myself against her as a alternate sign of affection.

"Teddy!" I break down into tears. "I'm sorry!" I sob. Teddy's silence only makes me hysterical. My sobs were uncontrollable and long winded. Teddy is limp, she stares into space, and stays silent.

"Good job, Teddy!" Lisa rejoices. She has wicked smile on her face.

Chelsy's grieving sobs echoes through the somber room.

Lisa raises her voice. "Go back to the basement with the others!" Lisa yells at us. Lisa seems to be enjoying all of this mayhem. "You know, Faye, your little kid is talented with knives." She tease.

I ignore her. When I am free, I will make sure that Lisa has a slow and painful death.

But in my current state, I'm helpless. I still hear Chelsy's sobbing. I feel nothing for her. Teddy is now a murderer because of her.

"Lisa, we have guests!" I hear Paul yell out from downstairs. Lisa flinches. "He's back already!?" She mumbles to herself. She then shoots me and Teddy a cold look. "Do not misbehave." She warns.

Without thinking, I glare at Lisa. "I hope Paul slit your throat after he sees what you did." I say bitterly.

Lisa appears offended. She aims the gun at me, her face is beet red. "Do it." I say boldly.

Lisa grits her teeth. Her nostrils flares. Her finger is glued to the trigger.

"LISA! Where are you, Sweet Pea?" Paul shouts. Lisa narrows her eyes. "You are lucky." She hiss. She lowers her gun.

I hear chattering from downstairs. A another set of victims awaiting their fate. Within seconds, Lisa masks her callous, psychotic personality with the facade of a innocent, kind hearted woman. "Kids, come downstairs with me. You're going to play pretend today." Lisa instructs.

"No." I object. "Go fuck yourself."

Rage engulfs Lisa's eyes. "Do as I say or I will kill you and all of your little friends." I feel my heart thundering. I just want to kill her at this moment. But instead I give in. I nod. Once I do, Lisa uses her free hand to dig into her pocket and pull out a key. With that, she frees me from my handcuffs with the gun still pointed at me.

"Good." Lisa says. Then she raises her voice. "Sweetie, I will be downstairs in a minute, honey. The kids made a mess!" I'm amazed of how Lisa is able to sound normal. Her voice is gentle and innocent.

"Give that brat a wash down. Go to the bathroom down the hallway. I ran a bath for myself, but she needs to be clean and presentable. She's covered in blood from head to toe." Lisa says. "Do not allow the guests in this room!"

I follow Lisa's orders, not seeking conflict. I grab clothes out of a nearby dresser. A long red sleeve shirt and dark blue jeans. I am cautious and I pop my head into the hallway to see if there is anyone around. There is no one. I hear a family talking to Paul. I hear a man, a woman, and a little girl.

All I think about is Daphne.

I clutch Teddy's limp hand as I pull her light body down the hallway. I do not look Teddy in the eyes. The bathroom door is wide open, the flickering lights of candles brightens the bathroom. I escort Teddy inside. The bathroom is tastefully decorated and is tidy. The bathtub is clean and is snow white. It is filled to the brim with lukewarm water. I force myself to look at Teddy. She leans idly against a wall, staring directly at the floor. She is silent with a empty expression.

"Ted?" I make sure my voice is gentle as can be. "Are you alright?" I want to kick myself at this moment. Of course she is not alright! I'm an idiot for asking that question. I change the subject and pretend I never said that."Teddy, you need to take a bath. Do you want me to step out?" I ask her.

Teddy says nothing. She remains motionless. I walk over to Teddy and I nudge her. Teddy stirs slightly. "You need to get the blood off of you." I say.

Teddy is quiet for a short moment. Then she finally becomes responsive and nods. She doesn't ask me to leave. Teddy prepares for her bath. I cover my eyes when she undress herself and I hear her get into the tub. Blindly, I grasp for a nearby towel on the sink counter and toss it into the tub. Once Teddy cleans herself of the blood, she gets out of the tub and I uncover my eyes. Promptly I grab a drying towel and give it to her.

After Teddy completely dries, I hand her new clothes. Once she is dressed, I grab her hand and escort her out the bathroom. "Teddy, we need to pretend to be.."

"I know." Teddy interrupts in a flat voice.

I nod. "Well we must be on our best behavior," I say. I attempt to sound cheerful to brighten the environment.

"I know." Teddy repeats. I frown at the sound of her deadpan tone.

We head downstairs, presentable. The family is still chattering with Paul. It is a large family, I swear I thought I heard fewer people in the room. Lisa is in the kitchen, serving canned food. I get a good look at the family. The woman was tall with auburn hair and green eyes. She wears thick clothing and has freckles all over her skin. The man is sturdy and muscular. He has curly dark hair and brown eyes.

I see a hard-eyed young boy with dark brown skin, black hair and brown eyes. He has a lean build and a long face. I see his brown quiver bag filled with arrows, in his possession is his archery bow. The boy appears to be older than me. Behind him are two little girls. The first one girl hauntingly reminds me of Daphne. The little girl has fair skin with brown hair dark as the Earth soil. The girl's bashful demeanor even reminds me of Daphne, she is shyly clinging to the boy like a lifeline. Her brown eyes are quivering with timidity. The second one looks to be eleven, she has strawberry blonde hair and brown eyes that are full of liveliness. The girl is scrawny, towering over the timid girl.

Then I see another set of two young girls with them. The first one is tall and graceful. The girl has thick auburn hair and high cheekbones. One of the unique things I find about her was her eyes. They were different colored. One is vivid lime green and the other is blue as the ocean. I briefly think of Laura. The girl wears thick clothing. She is chattering lively with another girl. The other girl looks nothing like the redheaded girl or the others. She is skinny and slender. She has thick light brown hair, big brown eyes, dimples, and a perpetual smile that showcased her pearl white teeth.

Both of the girls are wearing thick clothing that seems rich and luxurious. No scratch or stains. In fact, they all appeared clean. They all appear well fed and healthy. I look at my hands. For once, I notice how filthy I am. Dirt is caked in my nails, my skin is layered with filth. Teddy is clean now because she took a bath, but before she was as dirty as everyone else. These people look well off. Well as well off compared to other survivors. I wonder if Paul is going lock the girls in the basement and make them his newest "pets." None of them notice us.

I stand there with Teddy. My heart heavy in my chest, my mind overwhelmed, and my anxiety flooding my psyche.

Here we go. I think.

Next chapter will come.