---

All the past terror of the infected returned to her in one swoop. She fell to her back and scrambled back out the door. The infected man swiped at the air as his red eyes focused on her. She heard some one screaming and it was seconds before she realized it was her that was screaming.

Strong hands found her shoulders and lifted her up. She fought to get away before she realized it was him. It was West.

"In..Innfec…." She tried to get the word out but could only babble. West held her to his chest and shut the red door.

"That was Mailer." he said calmly into her ear-still holding her to him, to calm her and to keep her from running away.

"W-Why?" She stared at the red door, fully aware what evil laid on the opposite side. "Why would you keep it?"

West moved her jaw to face him. "We can learn from him. He can teach us."

"He can kill us!"

Her eyes looked into his. They told her nothing. The corner of his lips turned down in a frown.

She fought against him again and this time managed to get lose. He called out for her to wait as she ran away, back upstairs. Back to the large statue. She now paced beside it, trying her best not to wring her hands.

Her mind raced with it all. West had been keeping one of them here. It was under her nose this whole time. She had thought she was so safe here when there had only been a door between her and one of those monsters.

West wasn't far behind her. He stopped and stood at the top of the stairs and leaned against the banister, his arms crossed.

"I understand that was quite a shock…" He started.

"Understatement." She snapped back as she paced.

"…I never meant for that to happen."

"You could've told me you had one of them !"

"I knew you were having trouble sleeping, I thought that if you knew it would only upset you."

"Oh, You think?"

"I want you to feel safe here, happy. Like you said last night in my room-normal. I only want that for you." West pushed himself off the banister and approached her slowly. His hands now at his side. When he was in front of her his arms stopped her pacing. She looked up at him. "I told you I would keep you safe. I will keep my promise. You're in no danger." His gaze was unwavering. She fell into his embrace. He cradled her head to his chest-wondering if she would still trust him after he let his men loose on the other women.

----

When it finally happened, it was chaos. There had been gunfire. Mitchell had Selena grabbed around her waist. She was fighting back. Rachel tried to help but West had ordered Clifton to hold her back.

"Take her to my room." West told Clifton who nodded and did his best to carry the girl up the stairs.

"Here. Get them ready and dressed. I found these in the lady-of -the-house's closet." West threw some fancy red dressed over the nearby seat.

"You cant do this!" Rachel heard Selena yelling as Clifton threw her onto West's bed and shut the door. The closed door muffled the screams from below. Clifton stood stark still guarding the door. It wasn't a few moments until West entered and sent Clifton down to 'help' with the women. Clifton looked pleased and quickly disappeared.

Rachel stared as West walked across the room to the window. His back to her she almost began to run for the door.

"You're safer up here." He said when he heard her stand.

Rachel stood her ground. West turned to face her.

"Selena and Hannah…" She began, but he cut her off.

"There's no other way." He said matter-of-factly. He looked down at his feet before continuing. "A short time after, I found Jones with his gun in his mouth. He said he didn't want to live if there was no future. What do a group of men do -besides wait to die themselves? So, I promised them women. I set the broadcast. You all came."

"And why am I so blessed to be up here with you and not down there getting 'ready' with them?"

His eyes met hers intensely for a brief moment before looking away again. "Because I promised I wouldn't let anything hurt you."

--soo ideas?