I don't own Cowboy Bebop.

=Third World Think Tank=

The hiss of rain was what woke her up.

Indescribable pain flared in her head and she bit her lip to keep from crying out loud. Her body, she could feel each bruise and each cut.

What a way to wake up, she thought sarcastically.

She tried to move, but felt that her wrists and ankles were bound by rope. She opened an eye, and realized that she was in a dark abandoned room sitting on a chair. There was no light, no sound, just useless space…it reminded her of…herself.

What the hell happened? It was hard to think of anything. She forced her mind to remember, forced it to recall what she was too afraid to bring to mind. She was drinking. A man in a bar. Vicious. He had attacked her, and now she was here.

She shivered involuntarily.

"You're awake."

She heard Vicious' voice. He was close by, almost next to her.

She turned slightly and saw him. He was sitting at the corner of the room, half hidden in the darkness. He wasn't looking at her, but he was polishing his katana. He seemed to be busy at taking off a smudge that wasn't really there.

"What the hell do you want with me?" Faye muttered. She tasted blood at the corner of her lip as she talked.

"I don't want you," was his simple reply.

Faye took in his nonchalant voice and cursed. "Could've fooled me."

Vicious stood, and stalked closer to her. Faye tried to squirm away, but found it was impossible. His hand darted toward her and he grabbed a fistful of her hair. He pulled until she looked up into the vortex of his eyes.

She could feel his blade slither against her throat, then cascade down to her leg. The cold blade slid and she felt new pain bloom near her knee. She kept herself from recoiling only by sheer will.

Rain pounded against the roof of the building, while Vicious stared at her.

Seconds, minutes, hours past….She didn't know…she was too scared to think.

Finally, he released her, a satisfied smirk spreading across his face. "You're bait." He moved away from her and walked toward the door.

Finding her voice, Faye yelled, "For who?"

"Who else?"

Who else? Spike? Faye bit her lip. But--he's--

"Spike's dead!" She could taste the bitterness in her words…She was still angry at Spike…

Vicious turned around, his hand twisting the doorknob.

The rain became intense, making it difficult for her to think.. Faye looked at her bound hands and shut her eyes. Please don't say what I think you're going to say…

Vicious turned back toward the door.

"No, he isn't."

=End Chapter=