Disclaimer: I don't own Jhonen Vasquez.

Reviews are much appreciated. Just let me know you're reading this if you want.

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The next evening, Nny paused outside Devi's apartment. He gulped, and knocked on the door. After a few minutes, he heard the locks coming undone, and the door opened. Devi's face peeked out, a hateful look on it just for whoever dared interrupt whatever she was doing. She saw him, and the odium in her eyes increased considerably.

"Devi...don't shut the door on me. I came to talk to you."

"About what?" Devi asked, opening the door the rest of the way.

"About trying to kill you. I want to apologize."

"Oh really?" Devi asked, still looking hateful. She glared at him. He shivered at the coldness her eyes held.

"Yes. I'm so sorry Devi. You have to understand."

"I'm not even going to TRY to understand you, Nny."

"But I-"

"Nny, you should just leave. I really don't want to talk to you."

"But-"

"No."

"OK then," Nny mumbled. But he WAS going to get another chance to make her understand. Suddenly in one smooth motion he leaped forward and grabbed the back of Devi's neck, his fingers closing on just the right spot and he squeezed as hard as he could (this part is inaccurate but if Devi had time to fight Nny off she definitely would) and before she had time even to react she passed out. Nny caught her carefully and lifted her limp body in his arms. He carried her off.

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Nny reached her house a short time later. He carried Devi down to his basement, where he made Devi 'comfortable' for her stay.

When Devi awoke, the first thing she was aware of was cold metal against her wrists and ankles. Manacles. She opened her eyes. She was hanging from the wall of a basement. Nny stood before her. She looked down at him, since her eyes were a few inches above his because she was hanging a little ways up on the wall. She struggled against the metal that bound her. But it was no use. She was trapped. She glared at Nny. He looked her up and down. Her purplish-brown duster was stained with blood from when he'd dragged her across his floor. She looked terrified and angry at the same time.

"Nny, why did you do this?" Devi asked, her voice both desperate and unbearable to Nny. He looked down at his black boots, slightly bloodstained now (he'd have to clean those) and said nothing.

"Oh lord Devi I'm sorry," he scratched.

"Sorry isn't good enough. You'd better let me down from this wall or I'll-"

"You can't do anything, Devi. You're bound with steel," Nny said rather unpleasantly.

"Nny..please let me go," Devi said quietly, her voice miserable. Nny looked guilty and miserable as well. He moved over to her and slipped his arms around her, an apologetic hug. She turned her head away from his for a moment, but she found it painful to her neck and finally allowed her head to drop onto his shoulder. He shook slightly, trying to hold in his tears of remorse, and succeeded in holding them back. Despite the nerve-racking situation, Devi couldn't help notice that for a homicidal maniac his hair did have a rather nice scent to it. And then she mentally stabbed herself for thinking anything of the sort.

"Devi I ask for forgiveness. I know it's out of the question, but it never hurts to ask."

Devi hung there limply. She said nothing of his comment. And then she thought of something. Something Sickness had said this morning..something about freeing yourself by getting rid of what ailed you..and she couldn't easily get rid of Sickness. And suddenly somehow she knew what to do.

"Nny, can you free my hands, please?"

"I'm afraid that I can't let you go."

"Just my hands Nny. I won't get away," Devi said, looking at him as innocently as she could, trying to mask her hatred for a moment.

"I suppose just letting your hands free wouldn't hurt anything," Nny mumbled. Devi cheered herself on in her mind. She was getting out of this mess once and for all. All she had to do was play it calm. Act like she didn't hate him. And soon she would be free.

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Another chapter will be up soon.