SECOND CHANCE

V – HELP ME!

At a darkened room, only echoes of dripping water can be heard throughout the place. Then creaking and moaning sounds broke the silence. Not the sounds of rats roaming the place but it came from a woman trying to get free from the ropes that bind her to a chair.

"Uff…"

Her hands and feet were tied to the chair. Her mouth was gagged and her eyes were blindfolded to prevent her from shouting and seeing the surroundings around her. But feeling the temperature around her, she guessed she was in a slick, dark and damp room, maybe an abandoned warehouse because of the echoes. She suddenly stopped moving when she heard footsteps coming near her.

She felt it stop beside her and bent down. He touches Sara's face and she flinched, moving away.

"Sara." He muttered, closing his eyes.

'Hey, I know this voice!'

She tried to speak but was able only to mutter 'mmph' through her gagged mouth. He moved closer to her until he can feel her warmth. He stroked her cheek but once again, she faced the other side, not wanting to be touched by a stranger.

"Sara, I've waited for this moment. All those times that I went after you, you just stayed there. Focused on your job."

'Damn! It's… it's Hank! Oh please, moveaway from me!'

"Finally, I've had you solo. That's why I took you to this place so we can have our private moments together. I've told you this is where I'm gonna build my dream and share it with you."

He moved closer until his lips touched her cheeks and breathed out his warmth. "But you didn't notice me." She was letting out small sobs now, already frightened.

"You prioritized your career first. I was there all along and you didn't notice me! You built your world around sick people who studies the dead for the rest of their lives!"

She tried to move farther. But Hank held her in his hand and focused her to face him. She was crying now, tears running down her face.

"But someday, I will eliminate them for you, Sara. So I will have no competition. I will kill them one by one so your life will be back to normal, starting with that good-for-nothing boss, Grissom."

"Mmph!" 'No!' she thought as she broke free from his grasp.

Suddenly, Hank held her tight at her arms, one with the deep wound that came from the broken piece of cup. She moaned at the pain, but he ignored it. as his right hand held her bloodied lower arm, his left suddenly pulled her hair and forced her to face him.

"I told you nothing will happen if you just follow me! Sara, I love you! Elaine's nothing for me! You weigh more than her in my heart. I'd do anything for you! I'd do anything for us to be together! I'd even kill you now, kill myself afterwards and be together in another world.

'You're crazy!'

"Or a better idea… I'd eliminate what's keeping you from me. Soon, I'll have you whole. Pretty soon enough!"

He backed away and stood up. "Starting from that crazy, filthy boss of yours. That Grissom." Then he left.

Sara was still there, crying louder than before. She was hysterical, furious and scared. She struggled with the ropes but couldn't set herself free.

'No! Grissom… What will you do to him! You bastard!'

in that darkened room she stayed. Her cries with the dripping water the echoes in the abandoned warehouse. She still hopes one day, fate would allow her, taste freedom and be able to look at Grissom's sober eyes that is so full of meaning. But, still, she couldn't do anything.

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