Chapter 2

Disclaimer: read prologue

Lily was at peace, in her own perfect pictured world. There she was galloping across the fields, chasing after the sunrise.

"Faster, Bella! Faster!" Lilly ordered her champion horse, which the appaloosa horse did. They managed to make it on top of the hill where her prince charming was waiting for her with his own horse. He wasn't properly dressed like any prince would in England. Instead, he was in his torn up jeans, plaid shirt, and white cowboy hat with a black belt and bullhorn pins designed around it.

Getting off her horse and up close with her prince, he had the boyish charm with mischief behind the arched brows and sparkling dark brown eyes. His dimples wrinkled in the left hand corner of his mouth. His cute, defined nose that curled up slightly to the tip, teasing it for a kiss.

Lily gleamed bright at this handsome face, and he was hers for the keeping. She kissed the tip of his nose that earned a snort and playful shove from his companion.

"Lily, would you stop that?" he asked.

She giggled with blood rushing to her cheeks.

His voice. Deep, husky with evidence that he was indeed from the South. It was a close resemblance to Matthew Mcconaughey. She could listen to it for hours.

"Can you blame me?" she asked.

The boyish charmed returned, removing his hat to place it on her own head. "You ready for a ride to the country side, pretty lady?"

Lily replied with an excited nod and arms wrapped around his neck.

The sweet moment didn't last for long. The sunrise was covered in storm clouds, covering the rays that shined on the hilltop. The wind gushed through the plains and blew off the cowboy hat off Lily's head.

"I'll go get it!" Lily hurried down the hill, turning her back on her lover. The wind continued to blow off the hat every few inches, teasing the girl in the game of tag.

She leaped towards the hat, face contorted of determination. Desire to win the game. Even though she'll be thrown in the mud face down.

Her head perked sky high, covered in the mess. Head to toe. This was the cheapest mud bath you can afford than going to an actual spa. She spat out the substance, her dirty teeth exposed as her eyes caught sight of her catch. His hat.

"Benny, I got it!" Lily declared happily. She sat up on her knees, attempting to wipe the mud off her boyfriend's hat. She was oblivious with the upcoming storm and a dark shadow approaching her. Until she heard a growl that could shake the ground like an earthquake. Her breath hitched, tightening the grip of her prize, holding it close to her chest.

"B-Benny?"

She let out a yelp the second a hand clutched on her shoulder. She shut her eyes tightly, turned her head to the opposite side of where the claws ripped her T-Shirt. Its touch was hard as steel, but soft and furry at the same time. His grip was locked tight, making it difficult for any muscle man to get away.

"Benny!" She opened one eye to see the large shadow above her small form. She screamed for help once more just when another tight grip interlaced her curls, which she gripped on top instinctively. It yanked her head back to see its face. She saw nothing more than a strike of lightning and a pair of red eyes preying on her. Thunder erupted into the sky, or maybe it was the beast's growl. Either way, she took notice of its open mouth, showing off its white, large teeth matching a lion's.

"Benny!" Lily screamed.

~000~000~000~

"Lily! Lily!"

The blonde's eyes fluttered open back to her nightmare from her nightmare. She couldn't help but shuffle back against the dungeon wall, gripping against the bed sheets as her life depended on it. What happened today wasn't a dream. No matter how many times she falls asleep, she couldn't believe that this was happening. She was frightened of her new beast, like Bambi's mother was to her hunter.

Her breathing slowed as she heard the soothing voices of her best friend.

"It's alright, Lily," Marcia hushed her, caressing her jean leg. "It's okay. We're okay."

"No..." Lily shook her head, her vision blurred more than it already was without her glasses. She felt her eyes burn and dripped down to her cheek by the salty tears. "We're not."

"Guys," Claire hissed in the background. The girls perked up to hear what she had to say. It sounded urgent like something was happening.

"What now?" Marcia asked.

"He's back," Claire declared. "I can hear him."

Marcia stepped away from the bed about to rush to the door, but realized that her friend can't see her surroundings very well. She took Lily by the arm and dragged her to the door. Lily stumbled, trying to follow her friend. Her leg ran into the bed post, lightly scratching her calf, not enough to rip.

Marcia finally released her friend's head and kneeled by her friend. Lily couldn't see, but that doesn't mean she can't feel or hear. She reached her hand that met a solid but smooth door. With both hands she explored the touch to find which side was the door knob. Instead, her hand jolted at something dry but greasy. One of her friend's hair. She was willing to bet it was Claire's. Not because of the length, but Claire was all hair spray plus the hot humidity in the room, moisturizing it with sweat, making it look dead and stringy. Marcia's hair might be the same way, but her hair was always unnaturally soft. It wouldn't be a surprise if her curls remained intact.

Lily raised her hand up to feel the narrow crack of the door. Her friends must be peeping it through to get a visual outside. If only Lily had her glasses. Instead, she pressed her ear against the door, attempting to hear what's going on. What was their captor doing?

"Is it done? Did you do it?"

The voice wasn't Boston. Not even close. It was a sound of a woman that has a pitch of elegance. It almost resembled her former elderly, bluntly fat pageant coach she was forced to meet nine-ten years ago. That time was the worst. Mom was worried about Lily growing up around the farm - the home of horses, muddy pigs, loud roosters, and smelly fishes - to not act like a proper, young lady. So the best cure was to enter the nine-year-old girl into beauty pageants.

Madame Beverly pushed the nine-year-old girl to her limits. Fake hair, glittery dresses, spray tans, and the flippers - every princess's dream and a farmer's horror. Lily remembered the days when her hand was whipped with a ruler without Mom looking for improper posture, walk, and talk. During those days, Lily became resentful and hostile to participate in anything. Luckily, Dad stepped in, helped her escape the prison, and they both have gone back to fishing.

"We have a problem," the Boston man declared with hesitation. It almost as if he was scared of the woman. Was she supposed to be the boss or his mother?

"What?"

The girls heard objects moving about outside, either the floor or counter.

"Where did these come from? You already have a set."

A door creaked behind the girls. They all turned to see a figure exiting the bathroom. Lily didn't need her glasses to know the identity. The long black streaks running vertically down her vision was a giveaway.

"He is back... with a lady," Lily explained. The girl in the corner crept closer to join them and listen in on the conversation.

"Dennis, admit what you have done," the lady commanded.

"Please, don't get upset." The man called Dennis pleaded in a whisper.

"Don't tell me. I'm getting frightened." The sound of clicking heels indicated that the woman was pacing. "I thought that you had this under control. Please, tell me it's not too late."

Under control? Lily's brows furrowed confused. What did she mean by that? Has 'Dennis' did something like this before? Kidnapping girls and keeping them captive in his mother's basement?

"The food is waiting," Dennis declared.

Lily felt Claire leaning back slight, no doubt looking dumbfounded as her and everyone else. The food was waiting? What did he mean by that?

"Is she in that room?" the woman asked.

That's when the captives made their move.

"We're here!" Claire screamed.

"Help us!" Marcia cried, banging on the door.

"Help us, please!" Lily pleaded.

The clicking heels ceased when the cries for help reached the woman's ears.

"Dennis, what is this?!" The woman hissed. "How many are in there?"

The clicking heels resumed, only this time, they were becoming louder, closer. The protests from Dennis were faint. The lady was coming in the room. Lily gasped, feeling one of her friends tightly grip around her wrist, leading her away from the door. This was it. This lady could be their savior. The keys jingled as they inserted the lock and unlocked with a click. The door swung open with an eerie creak.

The woman took two steps inside, and Lily saw red and black. The sight of blurry colors, nearly caused chills down the girl's spine. Lily felt her friend's grip slackened, releasing her wrist and returned to the owner's side.

"Ma'am! P-Please help us!" Lily pleaded, trying to hold on to her friend's hand again. "He... He tried to make us to do horrible things! Please!"

"Shut up," the girl next to her commanded in a whisper. Lily realized that the girl who held her wrist wasn't Marcia and Claire. The voice belonged to the girl in the corner, who essentially dragged her to the corner.

There was a minute of awkward silence. Lily expected questions from the lady. Are you alright? Did he hurt you? When the minute passed by with the continuing silence, Lily had her doubts on the woman. If the lady was going to help them escape, she would've said so already.

"Don't worry," the woman reassured the girls. "I'll talk to him. He listens to me."

Lily made the conclusion. The lady wasn't here to help them escape. The way she walked and talked sounded like she was the ringleader of this circus. She was going to help, alright - help her son outside get away with this crime.

"He's not well," the lady whispered with a hint of amusement in her tone. Was this some kind of joke? A game to her? Has the lady gone mental? Did the lady not see what her son's doing was wrong?

"He knows what you are here for. He is not allowed to touch you. He knows that. Mm-mm." The lady cleared her throat, fiddling something in between her fingertips. Lily couldn't see what it was, but she could hear it.

"Forgive me. Silly me. Has anyone lost these?" The lady asking, a red sleeve stretching out as if she was showing them something. Lily couldn't make out what it was for everything was a blur. Her heart skipped a beat when the lady in red and black approached her slowly and steadily with confidence that Lily lacked at the moment. Her breathing hitched as she listened to the heels click at each movement.

The girl in the corner backed away a few steps to keep her distance. So much for being in this together, Lily thought.

The lady finally mirrored her stance with Lily's. The girl jolted, shivers radiating up and down her spine as the lady took her hand, placing something on her palm. Lily whipped her hand away from the lady's freezing cold touch. It took a moment to feel what was in her hand. A pair of lens with a square frame around them.

Her glasses.

Without a thank you in mind, she went ahead and immediately put the glasses on, relieved to finally see everything crystal clear.

Once she put them on and blinked her eyes a few times, she saw a sight she didn't expect to see.

The lady in red and black turned out to be a man in red and black. That wasn't weird enough. The bald head, the knitted brows, the stern sky-blue eyes. He was her kidnapper in Mr. Beniot's car... only it wasn't. The smug across her - his lips was completely opposite of the stern, straight face of her kidnapper. Her - His voice didn't have the Boston flare. What happened to it? It's no wonder why the girls haven't said anything. They were in shock of this as well.

Her mouth dropped at the revelation, coming close to fainting. She was in debate whether this was a dream or her mind was playing tricks on her. If she had gone mental, someone take her to a mental institution.

"What? Don't I get a thank you for providing the gift of sight?" the lady - man demanded in a hiss. The same way she - he spoke to Dennis... or himself? Same way Madame Beverly spoke to Lily.

Lily has yet to say anything. Her throat was clogged, she couldn't find the words.

The lady... The kidnapper... The man in women's clothes rolled her - his eyes, completely annoyed.

"Close your mouth, young lady. For God's sake, you are not a codfish."

Lily finally moved. She closed her jaw, blinking a couple more times.

The lady... The man looked around the room to face each girl who was just as speechless as Lily. Having enough of this, the kidnapper exited the room, locking the door behind her - him.

Once the second door closed with a click, the girls took a moment to find the words.

Claire was the first one to say, "What just happened?!"

"Is he a transgender?" Marcia asked, "Does he have a twin? I'm confused!"

"No," the girl in the corner shook her head. "He's the same guy. He is the guy from before, the same guy who took us... he is the same guy now, only he's not."

"Oh my God," Lily whispered the three words over and over again. "I think I'm going to be sick!" This was too much. Her head was pounding, her stomach was churning. She hurried herself in the bathroom to throw up.

~000~000~000~

When the girls managed to calm down and got over their shock to actually have a discussion, they all huddled together in one bed. Lily was laying down with her feet raised against the wall. Claire was sitting on the bed, legs crossed, her shoulder resting against the wall next to Lily's feet. Marcia was next to Claire with a hand underneath her sharp angled chin. The girl in the corner was sitting on the floor, her back against the wall, legs spread out lazily.

"So basically... we got kidnapped by a loon?" Marcia asked rhetorically. "This is mental. Something is jacked up with this guy."

"I don't believe that," Claire disagreed. "I think he is trying to intimidate us."

"Well, he is doing a good job. Did you not hear him outside?" Marcia gestured the door. "He was having a full conversation with himself!"

"And wearing a dress," Lily grumbled, resting her forearm against her forehead. "She... He was wearing a freakin' dress."

Her lower back was getting sore, and her head was pounding every minute. She wished she had ibuprofen. Doubt there will be any in the cabinet, considering that her captor - captors? - didn't want to risk the girls overdosing.

"He said something about the food waiting," the girl in the corner declared.

"Yeah," Marcia agreed. "What did she... he - he mean by that?" Marcia caught Lily's confusion of the man's gender identity as well. It's clear that the man was a man, considering how he attempted to make Marcia dance in front of him. However, the dress and the elegant voice of a rich grandmother was throwing them off.

"Maybe he is cooking something in his oven," Lily offered weakly. "Turkey perhaps."

"Are you seriously joking right now, Lily?" Claire's stomach growled at the mere thought of Thanksgiving meat. How long were they kept here? She didn't know. They all had pizza and cupcakes at twelve. Claire typically wouldn't be hungry till six. She calculated that it indeed late outside.

She ignored the tummy rumbles, attempting to focus the task at hand. To escape.

"Does anyone get how whacked up this is?" Claire asked in a hiss.

"No, Claire," the girl in the corner spat with her own sarcasm. "Perhaps you tell us. The man in a dress isn't evidence enough."

"Don't smart with me, freak!" Claire hissed, pointing a warning finger at the other girl who didn't pay mind to the insult.

"No, she's right," Lily argued, jumping into the other girl's defense. This was new to her, defending the girl who tried to kill her with a paint bucket. The pain, the darkness, and the wood fumes was getting to her. She needed the natural air, the sunlight, the sight of squirrels hanging on trees. She wanted it all, but can't have them here in this dump. "Everyone knows this is whacked up. Kidnapping someone is already whacked up! Nobody should do it! I don't know why people would do it! It's whacked up! How about instead of talking about how whacked up this is, lets conspire to get out of this hell hole! Fast!"

The girls glared at her with widened eyes, looking at her the same way the popular students and teacher look at the girl in the corner. Lily was officially a freak, but can she be blamed? Everyone wasn't acting themselves. The girl in the corner was the only one being the quiet freak - before and after the kidnapping. How could she be so calm, and not overreacting the situation? Lily and her friends don't know how, nor want to go into the strange girl's mind to find out.

Marcia tried to calm Lily down, raking her manicured nails through Lily's golden locks.

Lily removed her glasses, pinching the bridge of nose, blocking regretful tears from escaping. "I'm sorry. I'm so-"

"Shh," Marcia hushed her. "It's okay. We are all stressed out."

Lily moaned, enjoying the soothing touch that almost reminded her of her mother. The woman was a massage therapist after all. When Lily was little, every night, she remembered her mom tucking her in for bed and rubbing her back and scalp. The nails were Lily's favorite. The thought of her mom and dad, how worried sick they must be, nearly made the poor teen cry.

"I just want to go home! Agh!" Lily winced painfully, shielding her eyes from the sudden brightness. The lights in the room clicked on, overpowering the lamps above the beds.

First sign that someone was coming. Second sign was a key unlocking the outside door with a clunk. Claire and Marcia gasped, holding on to each other, while the other girl continued sitting there, unaffected. Lily couldn't help but admire the freak's courage. She wished she was that tough.

Reluctantly, Lily rolled onto her stomach, putting on her specs, facing the door like everyone else.

The door opened with the familiar creak. Much to the girls dismay but relief, it was the kidnapper they first interacted.

Dennis.

Thankfully, he was wearing the same style buttoned down shirt and jeans - men's clothes. Instead of bringing a chair like last time, he brought a pail bucket with cleaning supplies.

He locked the door behind him, didn't bother look at the girls, not they wanted him to anyway, after what happened earlier. The girls were waiting with anticipation. What did he want this time? Was he going to kill them now?

He kept his head down as he walked to the bathroom.

Lily winced, knowing that the clean freak won't be happy, considering that she and Claire threw up earlier. The aroma should be the first clue.

The girls can hear him, grumbling and cursing to himself. Just as they suspected, he wasn't happy.

"No. No. No!" The man exited the bathroom, finally facing the girls. Instead of lust as how Marcia and Clare described it. He showed utter distaste.

"Ladies, please, please keep your area neat. The bathroom is unacceptable."

Lily was happy to hear the Boston back in the man's vocal cords, even though he sounded like a father scolding a child for being dirty. Not her fault that she was raised on a farm that was a pig's mud paradise.

If this situation was different and he wasn't a kidnapper twice their age, she could almost picture Marcia teasing him to spank him if she refused to comply. The horrifying thought almost made the girl turn red that matched her slapped cheek.

Lily hated to admit it, but despite the age, he was handsome, and the accent only boost the scales. She nearly asked Claire to slap her face for thinking such unholy thoughts. She already had a soulmate who was no doubt worry sick about her as well as her family and animals back at home. No way, she will suffer Stockholm Syndrome on the first night. After all, she didn't forget how the man tried to make Marcia dance for him and slapped Lily across the face.

"To make it easy, I color coated these." He lifted a spray bottle with blue liquid inside, "The blue is for-for the floor." The other was a dark rose color. "The pink bottle is for the ceramic surfaces." He paused, waiting for a response. When he received none, he merely sighed, stepping away from the bathroom entrance, offering the bucket out to them.

Lily furrowed her brows in confusion. He didn't actually think that they would clean the bathroom, did he? They didn't ask to be here. After all, he kidnapped them, tried to rape Marcia, and slapped Lily in the face. The girl can still feel the pins and needle on her cheek.

The girl in the corner, however, put the disgusted thoughts of this mental man aside. She refused to risk getting him mad and cause an episode. She stood up, approaching the bathroom, taking the bucket from her kidnapper.

Claire and Marcia reluctantly followed, hand and hand. Lily huffed, getting off the bed, immediately the shooting pain ran down her back. She groaned in agony that didn't miss everyone in the room.

"Are you okay, Lily?" Marcia asked.

Lily breathed out, squeezing her eyes shut. It took a moment for her to pull through, nodding her head in response.

"Suck it up, Lily," Claire hissed, clenching her teeth with a snarl. The alpha wolf ready to devour at any moment. "We can't make him mad now."

"What's the delay? the man demanded.

Her friends looked back at her, expecting her to answer.

"No.. nothing," Lily assured with force. "I'm fine."

She kept her head down, refusing to face her captor's gaze, only to follow her friends' footsteps. It may have been fine to stare at him from the beginning, but only when she couldn't see. Now that everything was crystal clear, she was afraid to relive the flashback of her traumatic kidnapping. Those eyes. She could never forget those eyes.

They made it to the bathroom. The girls walking hand-and-hand went first. Just as Lily was about to set foot inside, an arm extended in front of her, blocking her path.

Lily ceased her movement, staring at the arm with widened eyes.

"What?" she asked meekly, keeping her gaze averted from his face.

"Your boots," he declared. "They are dirty."

"So?"

"So they are unacceptable. It is bad enough you all messed the once cleaned bathroom, I will not stand muddy trails as well... Take them off." He commanded in a low, husky whisper.

She furrowed her brows at his request, turning to her friends and the freak to see if she heard him right. They all kneeled by the bathroom sink, completely dumbfounded.

"W-What?"

"Did I stutter?" the man snapped, loud enough for the girls' inside to hear. "I said take them off, now."

"B-But these are my shoes."

"Take them off," he commanded with forced politeness, no doubt annoyed that the girl wasn't following his command.

"Will I get them back?"

A hand grasped her throat, causing her to choke. She instinctively struggled to pry him off. The other wrapped around the curve of her jaw, forcing her to look at him deep in his steel eyes. One look and she already got the flashbacks. She later regretted not following his command immediately.

"I said take them off, impure!" He roared loudly, enough to make the entire Underworld shake.

The girls inside took effect by his outburst. Marcia burst into tears. Claire wrapped her arms around her best friend in a tight hug, panting heavily for breath. The other girl only kneeled in silence, kept her head down and ears covered. She refused to see or hear what would happen next.

Lily's body began to shake, eyes blinking away the unwanted tears. No way she was going to cry in front of her captor. She won't let him think that he broke her already. She can take the slap, but not the yelling.

"P-Please st-stop!" Lily pleaded. "Stop, please!"

She couldn't see his face, but can hear him sigh in dread. Either he regretted his outburst, or annoyed by this weak child before him.

The hand around her jaw pulled towards him, feeling his warm breath against her cheek.

"Don't make this worse than it already is," he pleaded in a hush whisper. "I'm trying to be good..." he stated with desperation. "But your disobedience shall take me no where but the alternative. Now... Take them off... or I will take you outside and make you wish that you did."

Lily let out a whine, jerking her head away from him and his strong grip. She used the tip of her left boot behind the other's heel to slip one foot out. She raised her left leg up to unlace the boot, only to stumble into the man's arms. He held her steady as she hurried to remove the other boot. She couldn't help but feel the warm tingles in her stomach and the goosebumps rise underneath the sleeves of her arms. Benny used to hold her like this, tender and sweet. With her captor holding her like this made the memory officially repulsive.

Finally, her foot slipped out. Lily regained her footing to hand him the pair of boots, relieved that he released her body. He took the pair, allowing her the chance to hurry inside and join her peers. She stood in the corner of the bathroom, where the freak's special place should be. She was close to the shower curtain, tempting her to hide behind it. She didn't want to look at her captor, nor acknowledge him.

Unfortunately, she didn't have a say in the matter, only listened.

"Patricia has reminded me that I... was sent to get you for a reason. That..." He stuck his arm out that was holding Lily's boots as if it was garbage or a diaper loaded with baby poop. One true fact was that her boots do indeed stink, required shoe freshener. He must've taken notice of the smell, wishing to burn the pair adding the girl's socks.

"That you are sacred food."

The words alone caused the girls to sharply glare at him. Food. They were the food? For who... or what?

"Sacred food?" the girl in the corner asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"What do you mean?" Claire pressed.

"It means what I said!" He snapped, silencing the girls into a moment of awkward silence. He took the time to step back and run a free hand over his shaved head. He breathed in and out deeply, slowly regaining his calm composure.

"I understand you ladies are curious, but now is not the time for discussion. All questions, I assure you, shall be answered in due time. Miss Patricia will be back soon for your meal, so be ready with respect and obedience. Is that understood?"

The girls didn't acknowledge with words, only nodded.

He bowed his head, "And another thing..." He cleared his throat, showing slight hesitance. "I want to excuse myself for my behavior earlier, and... I promise not to bother you all again."

Lily added a mental note in her head. The man - lady in red and black - has a name. Patricia. She must've had a talk with Dennis that made him the submissive instead of the kidnapper. She must be the ringleader, after all. She was the one to watch out for.

Much to their relief, he turned towards the exit and never looked back, keeping the boots a distance from his nose.

The girls in the bathroom took a moment to process what transpired. The girl in the corner was right. They weren't going to be here long. They were not going to be sold as sex slaves but something sacrificial. They were going to be something or someone's meal. They heard headline stories of captivity, but never something like this.

How could they escape from this horror? How could they protect themselves from being someone's turkey? How were they ever going to bid their family, friends, soulmates, and pets adieu?

Maybe the death wouldn't be so bad, let alone painful. Heaven is the best place in the universe compared to earth. They will die young dressed in white, gracing the good Lord with their presence, reuniting with dead relatives. Maybe the girl in the corner wished for this. The girl could be with her loving parents again.

No.

Their family from heaven and earth wouldn't wish death on their souls. They would want them to fight with everything they have. Not to fight with a man's strength, but with a different weapon. Not just their beauty and brains, but something else. Captors tried to steal that weapon, breaking their prisoners physically and mentally. The one thing that many prisoners must learn and grasp quickly.

Hope.

The girls could gain that power and hold onto the string of their sanity. Most moments in this small space showed signs that they started to unravel. It would be only the matter of time when they might fall off the edge. Just like their whacked kidnapper.

If they hope, there shall be hope for escape. They must grasp it quickly, or it will slip from their fingertips and their fates shall be sealed.

Let the fight begin...

A/N: It has been forever since last update, last summer to be exact. I do apologize about that, I had other stories and life to attend to. Luckily, I found inspiration and continued to write this story.

Thank you: Delusional Fantasies and imperfection for reviewing. Thank all for taking the time to read and/or add this story to y'alls favorites and/or alerts. You guys rock!