A/N: Unbeta'd.

Chapter 28

BPOV

I slowly come to, feeling a throbbing pain in my head. I try to reach up to touch the spot, but I can't. I try again with the same result, and it pulls me through the haze. My eyes pop open as I struggle against the duct tape around my wrists and ankles. My breathing picks up and panic makes its way to the forefront of my emotions.

No. Not again.

"I'm glad you're awake," comes the voice of the intruder, my capture. The voice is familiar, yet different, rougher with age. I don't need to see his face to verify who it is, the face from the shadow is prominent in my memory now. "This wouldn't be as satisfying if you weren't."

Suddenly, I hear a vehicle pulling up the drive, and if I strained my hearing, the faint sounds of sirens too far still. My capture races to the window to see who the uninvited guest is.

"Fucker is bold, and it'll get him killed." He turns to look at me and says, "Your boy toy is here. I didn't plan on this, but this could be fun." The tiny bit of hope that started to set in vanishes and the panic overwhelms me. I start to shake and tears fill my eyes, spilling over without permission as I fear for Edward's life. He doesn't know what he's walking in to.

"Please, no," I whisper. "Please, God, keep him away," I pray.

"Oh, prayers can't save what's been destined for you. And I can't leave this earth with unfinished business."

I silently cry, trying not to anger him into ending this sooner than necessary; though if it's inevitable, I'd rather go quickly than suffer.

"Come on. What are you waiting for?" he inquires. I chance peek at him. He's still looking out the window as stealthily as he can with a small gun in hand. I need to get him distracted and away from the window. I don't know what's going to happen, but if Edward has a plan, I need to give him the best chance.

Pushing down my fears, I find my voice and ask, "How did you do it?"

He answers without looking away, "Do what?"

"Escape. How did you get out?"

He looks at me then and smirks. "It took time, of course, but there really should be rules against straight, female guards working in an all-male maximum-security prison." He backs up from the window and stalks toward me. "She was tough to crack, but I had plenty of time, you know, since I was to be in there for the rest of my life, no thanks to you." His tone became harsher at the end. He controlled himself again and continued. "I just had to make myself a bit more attentive than I used to be, more charming and all that shit. I reeled her in like bait for a fish and when that hook finally caught, I knew I had my in."

I don't know how else to explain the smile he gave at the end of that: it was a combination of creepy and triumphant, perhaps sinister is the right word.

"I think I deserve to know the rest; don't you think? If I'm going to die, what does it matter?"

A/N: More is coming in the next few days, I promise!