The upcoming months were frantic for both Mark and Brandy. While Mark was traveling with his normal busy schedule, Brandy was left with having to do all the wedding planning on her own. She found herself on multiple occasions wondering if they should simply elope as a way to avoid the hassle of all the planning, but luckily Teresa was more than willing to lend a helping hand and bring her back to the idea of having a traditional ceremony. Having just went through her own wedding planning only a few years prior, Teresa vividly remembered how stressful it had been doing everything on her own. As it grew close to the end of one of Mark's tours, they anticipated the small amount of time they would have to be able to do this together, but neither knew that would not end up happening...

) ) ) )

"Thanks for helping me look at venues today, Teresa. You have no idea how much help you've been," Brandy said as she finished off her glass of wine, and stood up to put her leftovers in the refrigerator.

"It's no problem at all. I remember how tough the planning was for my wedding, since Glenn couldn't help with anything. It made it miserable at times, to be honest. I just don't want you to go through what I did," Teresa replied, taking one last bite of her pizza before standing up and throwing the crust away. "I'd love to stick around longer, but I really need to get home."

"I understand. I'll see you tomorrow for bridesmaid dress shopping, right?" Brandy said as she stood up, walking Teresa over to the door.

"Of course, I will see you bright and early in the morning," Teresa replied, and gave Brandy a hug before walking out the door. Staying in the doorway, Brandy stood there and watched Teresa drive away, finally heading in once she was out of sight.

She sat down on the couch, letting out a sigh, and just as she did this, the phone began to ring. Muttering curses under her breath, Brandy reluctantly got up and headed for the phone. Just as she was about to pick it up, there was a sickening 'crack' as something hard came in contact with the back of her head. Groaning, she slumped to her knees, everything beginning to fade in and out as waves of dizziness rolled over her. Before she had the chance to even try to get up, someone roughly yanked her to her feet by her throat, squeezing hard as they covered her mouth and nose with their other hand. Weakly, she struggled against them, her muffled cries reaching out to no one. "Go to sleep, bitch," a rough voice growled in her ear as the hand around her throat tightened even more. She wheezed as she fought hard to breathe, when everything began to grow black, and just as she slipped into the darkness, she could hear Mark's voice talking on the answering machine.

( ( ( (

As Brandy began to wake up, she immediately noticed the queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She tried to sit up, but a wave of nausea forced her back down.

"Finally decide to get up?" a voice said. She struggled to clear her mind. Why did that voice sound so familiar? She tried hard to remember where she heard it before, but was so groggy it was impossible for her to think clearly. Slowly, her vision returned to normal, and she could see silhouettes of shadows as she looked around the darkened room. Everything, even down to the scent of her surroundings, was unfamiliar to her, and she only grew even more confused the harder she tried to remember what happened.

"Rise and shine doll-face," the same voice said as a light suddenly came on, making her jump in surprise. She looked over, and her eyes went wide. The person sitting there next to her was the last human being she ever wanted to see...

) ) ) )

As soon as Mark came to a complete stop in the driveway, he immediately jumped out of the rental car, not bothering to grab his bags, and rushed inside. He had been gone for four months, and was more than ready to see his girl again.

"Brandy, baby, I'm home!" he called out the second he stepped into the living room. He frowned when there was no answer. "Brandy?" he called out once more, but once again, it was silence which greeted him. Walking over to the kitchen area, he opened the door which led to the garage and turned on the light in there. Her car was sitting right there next to the steps...so where was she?

Just then, the phone started ringing, and he picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hey Mark! When did you get home?" Teresa asked.

"Literally seconds ago. Hey, have you seen or heard from Brandy today?"

"Yeah, I was just at your house with her about an hour ago. Why do you ask?"

"Because she isn't here."

"Maybe she had to go get something from the store."

"Her car is still here."

"Well have you looked all throughout the house?"

"Not yet, it's just... this just isn't the norm for her. Usually she is right here waiting for me when I come home."

"Maybe she laid down, or is taking a bath. She was pretty wore out from today."

"Yeah, I'm sure you're right," Mark replied, suddenly feeling ridiculous for assuming the worse. "Were you calling to talk to her?"

"Yeah, but it can wait. I don't want to impede on your time together. Just let her know I called, and I'll talk to her in the morning."

"I'll let her know Teresa," he replied, and they said their farewells before hanging up. Running a hand through his hair, Mark made his way from room to room, nothing but emptiness greeting him. Where could his Brandy be?

( ( ( (

Brandy looked around the room in a wild daze when she realized there was a gag in her mouth, and that her hands were tied tight to the bed she was lying on. It did not matter how hard she struggled, there was nowhere for her to go. "You look like you have some questions. Want me to take that out of your mouth?" her visitor asked, and quickly she nodded. Slowly, they walked over to her, and she had to fight back the urge to flinch when they reached out to remove the ball gag in her mouth.

"...Tom..." Brandy finally got out once she was able to talk, her stomach knotted and her heart pounding from the rising panic in her chest.

He smirked. "Yes?" She simply stared at him for a while, unsure of what to say. Truthfully, the fear she was feeling was making speech temporarily impossible. "What's the matter, doll? Cat got your tongue?"

She swallowed, wincing at the pain in her throat when she did so, and hesitated, before finally getting out, "Wh...Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you doing this?"

Tom shook his head. "Silly Brandy, did you really think I was going to let you go that easily? Come on, now, I know you know me better than that."

"But...it's been over two years. Surely, you could have found someone else by now."

"Oh, I did, but none of them were right for me. They were just my playthings. No, I've decided you were the one meant for me, Brandy my dear. I've already trained you so well. Although...I'm sure we are going to have to remind you of some things once more."

Brandy felt like she was about to vomit. "Tom, I...I can't."

He tilted his head. "Can't?"

"I can't be with you, I'm already with someone."

Tom waved his hand in the air. "We can fix that. I'm not worried about that pathetic excuse of a man you've been with."

"You...know about him?"

"Of course I do, I've kept a close eye on you this entire time. Did you really think you could get away from me?"

"I...I..."Brandy started to say, but was unable to form words, and shaking her head she bit her lip as hot tears rolled down her face.

Tsking, Tom walked over to her, and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Shh, it's okay doll-face, I'm here now," he commented, reaching out to run a hand through her hair.

"Don't touch me!" she suddenly yelled, pulling back as she yanked at her restraints. "Don't you fucking touch me ever again!"

"My my, what a little temper you've gained," Tom stated, smirking once more. "It appears we are going to have to fix that, won't we?"

"You're not fixing shit on me, now let me go!" she spat at him, once more pulling hard on her restraints. "Mark will-" she started to add, when he suddenly grabbed her jaw so hard she yelped in pain.

"I don't want to hear that filthy fucking name come out of your mouth ever again," he growled, suddenly furious. "I would rather see you dismembered and fed to the pigs, before I would ever let you go back to that piece of shit again. Do you understand me, doll-face? Get that fucking name off of your tongue, or I will cut it out myself." Tears once more silently sliding down her cheeks, she nodded. "You know, I just can't trust you right now, so I think I'm going to have to take certain precautions to ensure he is out of the picture for good," Tom added, finally letting her go.

"What...what are you going to do?" she asked, her voice wavering with fear.

"Oh, I'M not going to do anything. YOU, on the other hand, are going to break it off with him," Tom informed her as he reached into his pocket to pull out his cell phone.

"You've lost your damn mind if you think I am going to do that."

Tom raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh? Is that so?" he asked, and walked over to the television sitting in the room. He hit the power button, and when the screen turned on Brandy was shocked when images of Mark's house greeted her gaze, some of them of the outside and others throughout the inside of the house. "All I have to do is dial a number, and we get front row seats to the show of a lifetime."

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"What I mean, Brandy dear, is if you don't do exactly what I tell you, you get to watch your little fuckboy's head get chopped off, and that would be just the beginning of what I have done to him. I personally would love to see that performance, but I'm being nice, and leaving it up to you." When she remained silent, he added, "So what'll it be, doll? What kind of call am I making?"

Trying hard to stop her tears, she finally managed to get out, "Call Mark."

Tom sneered. "I knew you would take the fun out of this. Fine, we will do it your way," he replied, and dialed their house phone number. As he held the phone to her ear, she silently begged for the strength to do what she needed to do...

) ) ) )

Mark paced back and forth in the main living space, panic building inside of him. He had gone through the entire house, and still had yet to find Brandy. Images of the worst possible scenarios flashed through his head, each one worse than the previous. As he argued with himself over whether or not he should involve the police, the phone suddenly began to ring, and quickly he picked it up. "Hello?" he said, his heart in his throat as he waited to discover who it was.

"Mark?"

Relief filled Mark at the sound of Brandy's voice. "Brandy, oh my god you had me worried shitless. Where the fuck are you? What are you doing?"

"I...I..."

"What? What is it?"

"Mark, I'm leaving you," she suddenly blurted out.

Mark felt as though he had been slapped in the face. "You...I'm sorry, you what?"

"I said I'm leaving you, Mark. I...this just isn't working for me."

"Brandy, where is this coming from?"

"I'm just not happy."

He could not believe what he was hearing. Was this actually happening? "Brandy, will you please come home so we can talk about this?"

"No, I'm not coming back. I'm done, Mark."

"So that's it? Just like that, we're done?"

"I guess so."

Mark scoffed, suddenly furious. "Whatever. Fuck you, Brandy," he growled, and before another word could be said he hung up the phone. Needing to get out of the house, he snatched up his keys, and storming out the front door he made his way to the rental car, unsure of where he would go but knowing he needed to get away from the situation...

( ( ( (

As soon as she heard the click, Brandy burst into tears, everything in her being aching from those hateful words. Mark was gone...the one person she needed more than anything else just left her life, and in that moment she had never felt more alone.

Tom laughed as he hung up the phone. "Oh god, that was hilarious to listen to," he commented as he put away his cell phone. "It's so funny how dramatic you both are. 'Fuck you, Brandy'," he mocked, shaking his head as he laughed once more.

"Just leave me alone," she sobbed, turning her face away as she tried to pull as far away from him as she could. "You got what you wanted, you sick fuck."

"Oh Brandy, quit being such a little crybaby," Tom said as he got up and walked closer to her. "You should be happy! Now that he is out of the picture, it's just you and me doll-face."

"I'd rather slit my own throat than be with you," she said through gritted teeth, overwhelmed by the strong emotions running through her in that moment.

Suddenly, he was on top of her, and a blade was pressed painfully into her neck. "That can be arranged," he said in a menacingly low voice. "Go ahead. Is that what you really want? We can make it happen, just say the word."

"Just do it, I don't care anymore. Kill me. I don't give a fuck," she begged, wishing this would all end.

Tom simply stared at her for a moment, and then laughed. "Sorry, you don't get off that easily," he replied, and putting the knife back in his pocket he got up on his knees.

"What are you doing?" she asked in a panicked voice when he started undoing her jeans.

"YOU might not be getting off, but that doesn't mean I won't," he commented as he yanked the article of clothing down her legs.

"No, please don't," she begged, kicking and squirming in an effort to stop him.

Growing frustrated, he threw her pants across the room and grabbed the ball gag to roughly shove it back in her mouth. "You talk too much," he stated as he fastened it, and once it was securely in place he brought his attention back to the task at hand. "You know, it's a shame you let someone else tarnish that pretty little pussy," he added as he undid his jeans, and stepped out of them before getting between her thighs. "Quit moving, bitch!" he snapped when she began to once more squirm, and slapped her hard across the face. Silently crying, Brandy grew limp as she gave up, feeling completely defeated as she laid there motionless. When he pulled out his cock, she looked up at the ceiling, unable to watch what he was about to do, and let out a muffled cry of pain when he suddenly shoved himself inside her. "Shit, I forgot how tight that pussy is," Tom groaned, thrusting into her at a fast and furious pace. Sobbing uncontrollably, she yanked once more at her restraints, her eyes squeezed shut as she silently begged for it to be over. Pushing her shirt up, he squeezed her breast before pinching her nipple so hard she yelped. "I said shut the fuck up," he once more commanded, and slapped her again across the face. Grabbing a handful of her hair, he yanked her head back hard, making her once more cry out in pain. Breathing heavily, he continued to thrust into her with a brutal force, until suddenly his motions grew still as he groaned, and Brandy once more grew nauseous when she felt his warmth invade her. Unable to help herself, she broke down in tears again, screaming out for Mark in her mind. As he got up and adjusted himself, Tom commented, "It's going to be fun having you around again, but right now I'm sick of hearing you." Suddenly, he punched her in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her, before his hands went around her neck, squeezing hard as he looked down at her with cold eyes. Struggling against him, she coughed and wheezed as she tried desperately to catch her breath, but was unable to do so, and mercifully it was not long before her vision grew dark and she went unconscious. Finally letting her go, Tom grinned as he looked down at her limp figure, and giving her one final slap he exited the room, thinking to himself he could not wait for all the things he had planned for her...