Chapter 15 – Chains

When they disappeared, Kirk noticed Ayano left behind the communicator on the broken column for them. He went over and picked it up, since it was their only contact with the ship. Sitting down on the column, the Captain heaved a heavy sigh, "I don't know what to do, Spock…" He looked at the Vulcan, "I've only seen you act that furious once, and that was my fault. I never said I was sorry, because honestly I thought it became a silent, mutual agreement not to mention it. But…I /am /sorry. Probably a shitty time to say so, but when would it ever be a /good/ time, to apologize for something like that?"

Spock's jaw tightened slightly at the mention of his emotional state as he made his way to sit beside his Captain. "Most would agree such an act would be done soon after the incident, however, as it is that you are apologizing now...I will forgive you. You acted as you needed to in order to do the right thing by going after Nero. I had been emotionally compromised..." It was...odd that now of all times Jim wished to ask forgiveness. However the Vulcan found it...calming. "You were correct in the fact I had known you were sorry. There was no need to apologize. What was done cannot be undone. We only live with the consequences of our actions..."

Now that he thought of it...he had lost Bria in a similar way as his most cherished mother. She, too, had been only feet away...just out of his reach. A new spark of anger filled the Vulcan at this. He would /not/ lose Bria forever, too. "We must find her, Jim..."

Spock didn't particularly call him Jim very often, and Kirk placed his hand firmly on Spock's shoulder, "Everything will be alright, Spock. We'll get them back. Right now we have to think of how. I have no idea how to get into the city except through that gate...and I don't particularly want to get caught under those spikes and add to the blood splatters. We can't beam /into/ the city either; guards will be on us right away. We can't exactly help the girls if we're being chased."

"A distraction would be efficient. One that will give us the ability to go in. We would simply then need to acquire disguise which will enable our persons to locate our missing crew members." Spock rattled off one of the many plans he had been calculating. His voice lowered with a dark tone as he brought his hands together in a tight clasp, "You do not understand, Jim...I cannot lose Bria..." He must control himself before his emotions took hold and he did something illogical.

Jim's hand tightened on Spock's shoulder, "You're kind of freaking me out here, Spock. What's going on with you?" he asked softly. Even if Raiden was wallowing in self pity in the farthest corner of the temple ruins, this was a private conversation, "You were acting anxious before, too, in the garden. Whenever she's not in your sight, you get all tense and right now, the anger is /radiating/ off of you. I'm scared for Sarah as well, but holy shit."

The Vulcan ripped his shoulder from Kirk's grasp to stand and pace once more. He could not possibly know, nor was he allowed especially being a Starfleet Captain. This was highly personal and he would not share. He did not even look at him as he sharply spoke, "It is none of your concern what my personal matters are, Captain. I do not pry into yours, and expect the same curtsy to be shown unto me. Even if I were to share, this is neither the time nor place."

Oh, he wanted to play that game did he? Fine. Kirk slipped back into Captain Mode and his frown deepened as he stood and squared off against Spock, "You don't want to tell me as your friend, then fine. But it's affecting your abilities and if you want me to be Captain, then I'll be Captain. Man up, /Commander/, and let me tell you something," Kirk jarred his finger at Spock harshly, "You are underestimating your girlfriend. She survived /five/ long, torturous years in a war-torn world full of ash and pollution from bombs! Plus, /you've/ been training her. I think she can survive until tomorrow so stop acting like she's a helpless damsel in distress! Want to know why I'm not panicking over Sarah? Because our master swordsman Mr. Sulu has been her mentor and she, too, survived five years in the same world."

"You were not there!" Spock suddenly roared, "You were not /right there/ when she was taken! You were /fighting/ in a /competition/, I did not even hear her call out to me if she did. I could have turned and saved her! I should have never let her out of my sights! You could not /possibly/ know how that is affecting me as you do not know my mind so I shall request you stop /pretending/ to know," His chest was heaving and his hands clenched into fists...He must find Bria...He could not control his actions for long.

/THUMP/! Kirk grit his teeth against the pain in his knuckles, and watched in satisfaction as Spock stumbled back, surprise on his face, "Calm the fuck down, Spock, that's an order! Am I really the only one here with a clear frame of mind?! That's supposed to be your job!" He hated throwing orders around, he hated the angry flare in Spock's eyes, he hated himself for wanting to be all macho and be in the competition in the first place and impress Sarah, and she hadn't even been able to see him win because she was snatched beforehand. He felt his eyes sting and he made his fists drop to his sides, "Don't you dare preach to me about not understanding. I shouldn't have been in the ring in the first place. I was a distraction and the whole reason why they were /able/ to take the girls."

The Vulcan's mind raged at the challenge that Kirk displayed...until he caught his eyes. Those aquamarine blue orbs were glistening with wetness, with tears. Humans were well known for their emotions, but Spock had only seen the Captain shed tears one other time. Jim truly felt upset at this as he was. He blamed himself as much as anyone, perhaps more for being the decoy. This...He needed to control himself... Bowing his head and turning away from Kirk, Spock fought with himself to swallow his feelings. His Time was nearing... "...I am sorry, Captain...Bria's kidnapping has...upset me." He breathed, his voice caked with his struggle, "I fear I will fair worst unless Bria is returned safely soon."

"Understood," Kirrk took deep, shaky breaths and swallowed down his tears. A Captain was supposed to be strong. If he was around the rest of the crew he wouldn't be like this at all. But this was /Spock/, and no one else was around. Raiden still had his back turned to them. He could still do his job. "So...distraction. What kind of distraction? I don't want to have Sulu fire on the city, even if it's just at the wall, just in case they got free and are looking for a way out. My warning was pretty hollow if I don't have any way to reinforce it."

"Then we must turn to another option." The first officer stated, taking up pacing once more. "If we are unable to cause a distraction, then we must find away in after nightfall. My calculations are that, due to this planet being similar to that of Earth including having a moon, that it will be a new moon. It will give us the cover we could need to enter and locate the women. Raiden's night vision would be excellent to use."

"That sounds like a good idea," Kirk nodded, "Awesome. That's the Spock I know," he smiled in relief and looked up at the sky, "As soon as night falls we'll head up there and have a look around. Maybe there's a hole already from the last war they had somewhere, or a sewage drain." He heard the communicator go off and he flipped it open. "Captain Kirk here, what's going on?"

"This is Lt. Rei. McCoy and I found our answers and we'll be heading down shortly," she said.

Kirk nodded to himself, "Good, good. We look forward to your arrival," he said and closed the com.

X

Bones and Ayano beamed down finally with supplies not too long after that. Grabbing the three bundles of clothes, Ayano gave them out, "So, apparently the drug was simply a fast-acting sleeping agent. Large doses like any drug would be harmful, but whatever was in the treats was harmless…unless of course the person passes out on the floor," she glanced at Bones who just shrugged, "The fact those who took it sweated and felt really hot was…simply because of the heat. The drug lowers the body's tolerance to outside forces making it easier for them to fall asleep. It wears off within a few hours on its own."

"If left alone we estimated that the girls won't wake until sometime after nightfall." Bones added in, looking to the city. "What could those people possibly want with them? I thought it was all about that Cube Bria had when she came to the med bay the first time."

"It likely would have to do with the prophecy that the Oracle insisted that Bria and Sarah are a part of. It is my belief that she lied about if there was any more. It is the only logical explanation." Spock stated, a frown twitching at his lips. He felt more in control than 4.3 minutes ago thanks to Jim... "If so, we are going to be faced with potentially having the entire guard against us...Lt, if you would turn so that we may dress."

Raiden snickered as he tugged the leather chest plate over his head and tossing it to the side, "Unless you want a free show that is." It could have been notable that the Toran's voice wasn't full of cheer as it normally was, but at least he made an effort.

"Glad to see you're talking again," Ayano shook her head and she turned to look at Bones, "A prophecy? One tends to miss a lot when they're not with you guys, huh?" she took his hand and enjoyed how it engulfed hers, "Unfortunately for you, Raiden, I'm only interested in one man's booty."

Kirk was highly amused by this, glancing over his shoulder to confirm what he heard, "Well it's about time, Bones."

The doctor cleared his throat with a glare towards the Captain, "Unlike you, Jim, I don't rush. All good things in time, as the saying goes. I'm sure you're finding that out yourself." Looking back to Ayano, he rubbed his thumb over her hand, "There's nothing quite like the love that blooms in time."

"It is impossible for love to bloom, doctor, as love is an emotion with no physical properties." Spock reminded coolly as he finished sliding on his pants.

Bones made a face as he rolled his eyes, "Vulcans and their logic...It was a figure of speech, Spock. It was meant to be romantic."

"Vulcans are unfamiliar with romance as it involves emotions." the commander stated.

"Just let it go Bones," Raiden shook his head, "He's been extra logical today."

"Believe me, it's for the best," Kirk told the Toran, slipping on his shirt. Oh boy...it was going to be a long wait. He'd be lucky if Bones and Spock didn't kill each other...

X

The night had fallen and they were about to put out the campfire they had made. While rather hot during the day, it became /really/ cold at night and Kirk was glad for the change of clothes. Surely the armor was warm at night as it was breathable during the day, but he felt /much/ more comfortable in uniform. Spock oddly at the sight of his rank badge as well as being in uniform seemed to bring a sense of duty, and calm to the Vulcan, though he was definitely getting more agitated.

Kirk was just about to put his phaser in his holster when he heard the bushes rustling. Jumping he pointed his phaser towards the sound, "Come out, whoever you are!"

"D-Don't fire," Eri's meek voice said as she held her hands up in surrender, standing and coming into the light of the campfire. She wore a green robe with a brown cape, and she reached up, putting the hood down.

Raiden leap to his feet with wide eyes, "Eri! What are you doing here?" Moving around the fire, he went right up to her and checked her over for any injuries. If her mother wasn't above kidnapping, who was to say she wasn't above beating her daughter who tried to spare him... "You shouldn't be here. I haven't said anything, but-"

"Where are they?" Spock's voice ordered suddenly. "Your mother is the most likely one to have kidnapped Bria and Sarah. Answer me. Where are they?"

Raiden narrowed his eyes at the Vulcan, turning and keeping the woman behind him. "Lay off, Spock."

"I will not." Spock glared harshly as he moved passed Jim without even pausing when the Captain tried to stop him, "She knows where Bria is! Her mother is the cause behind all of this!" He moved right up to the Toran male who nearly, if not actually, matched him in height. Raiden growled in warning, refusing to move aside.

"Leave. Her. Alone." He hissed, pulling Eri back farther away in case there was a fight. There was. Spock went to shove passed Raiden who flat out decked the Vulcan who retaliated. By the time Kirk and Bones had interfered the two were rolling on the ground with snarls, growls, and hisses.

"Please! Stop!" Eri begged, her hands over her mouth, tears glistening in the fire light, "I came to help! Please!" she whimpered, "If you stop, I'll tell you what I know!"

"Spock, she's willing to help us get Bria back!" Kirk had his arms wrapped around the Vulcan's waist while Bones was attempting to restrain the tiger, "Spock! This is our chance! Pull yourself together, man!"

Raiden continued to hiss at the Vulcan until the Captain had him under control. Both were panted and still glaring, but neither tried to go back at it. Bones released the Toran who immediately went to Eri's side protectively. Bones frowned, looking over at Ayano before addressing the Oracle's daughter, "I think it would be best to start talking now, Eri."

Spock forced himself out of Kirk's hold, his jaw clenched as he once again fought to keep hold of the reins. If he went without Bria for much longer... his emotions might cause him to do something regretful. He didn't look at the Captain, or anyone for that matter, as he went to pace nearby.

"I knew the treats were drugged, but I never...I never expected what would happen. I didn't know half the plans my mother had, just that she wanted the girls," Eri looked at Raiden, "The arranged marriage...is obsolete. Akantha is absolutely convinced Bria is a Seer, which isn't true. Bria doesn't have that air about her. She's highly spiritual, but not a Seer. Akantha saw that Achaz would impregnate the future Oracle, since I'm a failure. Achaz doesn't know I don't have the Sight, just that Akantha prefers Bria over me. Sarah's unharmed, but chained to a wall to keep her from escaping until whatever twisted, sick thing she has planned is over. Please..." she turned to Kirk next, "It's not the King's fault. He was pressured into it. Unlike your culture, the King only has as much power as the Oracle gives him. He's just a puppet. We can't afford another war, Captain. It's all Akantha. I can't even stomach calling her my mother."

Eri shrank closer to Raiden as she addressed Spock next, "There's a back entrance in case of invasion that Elene is waiting at for us to let us in. I know which room Bria's in, so when we go there I'll point it out to you. You can't run off on your own to find her, or the guards will find you and kill you."

"...If you are able to aid us, I will...comply with your plans," Spock had once more calmed himself to a...stable state for the moment. The thought of finding his Bria, however, made it even more difficult than it already was...this was taxing. He looked to Kirk, "If you are in agreement, Captain."

Raiden wrapped an arm around Eri's waist in a protective manner to comfort the woman. He had been ready to rip a superior officer apart for her; there was really no point in acting as if he didn't feel anything. Shaking his head, he gently squeezed her shoulder, "Are you okay? I mean, by Akantha. She didn't hurt you did she?"

"I am definitely in agreement, Spock," If it meant finding Bria and Spock going back to normal, he was all for it. He grabbed the water and started pouring it, the fire hissing and smoking in protest.

"She slapped me for stopping you from eating one of the chocolates, but nothing more than that," Eri shook her head. She had expected Spock to rage again after mentioning Akantha's plans, but perhaps the prospect of getting her back overrode everything else. "I'm so, so sorry about all of this. Please, all of you, follow me. I don't know how much longer they have."

X

Voices…vague through the fog that filled her head…

All she heard was 'you know what to do' before the sound of a door closing reached her ears. Her eyes opened slowly, letting her eyes get used to the light from the torches and candles. She shifted to try and get on her elbows and look around when there was a tug at her wrists as she moved and rattling. Glancing up she saw the chains, and glancing down she saw she was completely bare. Her ankles were /not/ chained, however. Her mind flared to life as she spotted…Achaz…standing full glory with his arms folded over his broad, hairless chest, his wide shoulders tense, and the bed was just tall enough to provide convenient censorship, "A potential rapist with the courtesy to wait until I'm awake. If you want screaming and begging you're out of luck…" though…by the looks of it…he was packing.

Achaz remained silent as his eyes wondered over her body. He felt...nothing. She was just like any other woman to him. There were natural pricks of desire that were more due to a buried animal instincts. No passion was sparked from this...He had hoped that perhaps when he saw her bare that he would be filled with enough lust that it would make this...easier somehow. The soldier did not want this. He would set this woman free if he could, and run to the one he truly loved. The Oracle foresaw he would...impregnate the future Oracle, which she was convinced had to be this outsider. First, Eri and now this woman...never the woman he loved. "...This will go faster if you just accept this..." Achaz suggested darkly as he forced himself climb onto the bed to where he was on his knees beside her legs.

"What makes you think I will?" Bria swallowed thickly seeing how...long he was. She could deal with thickness, but...oh god, this was going to hurt so bad. She could never take /length/ very well, seven at best and that was only /after/ getting used to it /gently/. This guy had to be at least nine. Damn it...he needed to be in front of her, not beside her, or she wouldn't be able to do anything.

Achaz chose not to answer as he gently gripped her leg closest to him, bent it, and scooted between her legs. He adjusted himself, but instead of trying to get this over with as fast as possible...he hesitated. She trembled under his touch even as he tried soothing her by gently rubbing her legs. Just...just picture /her/. "Think of your lover. Imagine I'm him. It will help."

"My previous lover is dead, asshole!" Bria snapped her knee up and kicked /up/, clipping him right in the nose with a sickening /snap/ and there was instantly a gush of blood. The force of her kick sent Achaz tumbling backwards off of the bed with a loud /thump/ and she huffed, "And I don't even know what Spock looks like below the belt, we just got together! We are just significant others right now, we haven't had a chance to become /lovers/!" She huffed and scooted back so the chains wouldn't hurt her as she got onto her elbows, "Not restraining my feet was a mistake. I'll fight you tooth and nail before you take me. Though, I think you're having a hard time already. You can't even get it up, can you?"

The soldier lay with his back on the ground, holding his nose though it presented little aid to stop the blood. The pain was momentary; he had felt worse many times over. This wasn't his first broken nose, either so he should be able to get right back up and fulfill his duty to the Oracle. He /should/... Grunting, he picked himself off of the stone floor to return to the bed. Achaz once again remained silent in the face of her words. Although the phrase was strange, the men of the city has similar ones concerning their anatomy, so he understood her. She was right. His penis still hung limply between his legs with no signs of impending arousal. Once they...start, his body would take care of itself he imagined. All he had to do was face this like he would when facing taking another's life to protect his city. "Don't fight this. I do not want to harm you any more than I have to." Achaz pleaded softly, watching her legs in case she kicked at him again.

"You don't want me, and you didn't want Eri either. It's Elene, isn't it?" He froze at the sound of her name. She was on stable ground now, she could do this. She really hated being naked in front of a man she had no interest for, but there was nothing she could do about that.

"How...?" he asked softly, bowing his head as he ran a hand through his hair. He had been avoiding even thinking of her name since he aided in the outsiders' kidnapping. What would she think of him now as he stood ready to take a woman against her will? They both had dealt out punishment to men who had done the very same thing without holding back. Elene...his strong, beautiful Elene with a heart of a warrior and the gentleness of a loving lady.

He remembered the first time she joined his unit back when the war first started. At the time, he had not known her, and had thought she couldn't handle herself. There were many women in other units, but Elene was the only one in his. The night before his first battle, she came to him pleading that he reconsider his plans of which he ignored. His men were strong and could handle themselves; she needed to stop acting like a wet nurse fussing over a babe. That very next day she save his life by taking a spear to the side that had been aimed at him as his men fell like flies. Thank the gods that she had stopped the spear from going any farther in or else she would have died. Achaz remembered sitting by her bedside every day until she recovered.

He remembered the first time he had kissed her. They had been arguing about his hesitation in making decisions for battle while in the privacy of the armor room. She had made him so frustrated by getting right up into his face that he could not stop himself from pinning her to a wall and kissing her passionately. Elene had been the one, however, to make the second kiss when he pulled away. She tasted of peaches and the wine they shared earlier that day.

He remembered the first time they made love the night after they had won the war. They were perfect in every way for the other. The sweet, blissful heat...her moans and cries...the way her nails left trails down his back...the bite marks he left on her neck and shoulders...When they finished, Achaz remembered believing that they would always be together now. His beautiful, golden haired warrior. His love...then the Oracle chose him to be Eri's betroth the next day. He was to father a child with the future Oracle. He...he could do nothing but accept even was he saw the pain in his Elene's eyes.

"No...no I do not..." Achaz breathed, clenching his fists, "Why must it be /me/? All I want is to be with my Elene, no one else."

Bria frowned, and she watched him war with himself, his eyes flashing with memories, frustration to happiness which dissolved into horror and finally pain. "I'm not a Seer, Achaz. Neither is Eri. I'm just a spiritual person, and I guess Akantha mistook my strong aura." She could speak with those terms and such and he would understand, the entire population descended from Sibyl, "I won't produce the heir she speaks of. This is pointless. You're a smart man, a strong one, too, full of honor and worthy of respect. What do you feel from me? Do I have the same aura that Akantha has?" Not counting of course the evilness the other woman possessed, obviously, "Did Eri ever feel the way her mother did?"

Achaz stared at Bria as his brows furrowed in thought. No. No, neither woman had the same sense he felt from the Oracle. How could either produce another Oracle when they did not possess the Sight? Akantha...how could she not see this? "Akantha is wrong...she is turning a blind eye to her duties for personal wants." The captain of the guard practically growled with disgust. Disgust at the woman who wanted him to do such a thing to Bria, and disgust at himself for not realizing this before now. Looking around the room, Achaz found some sheets and quickly retrieved them to cover the naked woman. "Akantha has the keys to the restraints. I am afraid I have to leave you here and get them from her. No one else is in this part of the temple. Akantha did not want any...interference. I promise I return and free you. After we find your sister, I will see to it that you both are returned to your people."

Bria wanted to grip the sheets, but the chains would only allow her arms to go so far, "Thank you, Achaz." she watched him turn to grab his tunic and throw it on, "Just...watch out for Spock. Something...tells me that he's not a force to be reckoned with. He could kill you if you provoke him. If he punches you or does anything to you, just take it, for your own safety."

Pausing at the door, Achaz nodded, "I understand. I will be swift and try to avoid your Spock then. Bria...I am sorry for the wrong done to you." With that said, the soldier padded out of the room.

Just before the door thunked shut, there was a rather loud /SMACK/ and Bria winced, praying that Achaz didn't just get his jaw broken by a livid Vulcan...

X

Sarah whimpered from the cold. Although she adjusted to it quickly when she moved in with Bria, she never liked it. She enjoyed warmth and heat, like how she had set her room climate to be...but if it was cold then this wasn't her room. Forcing her eyes opened, the brunette sucked in a shock breath. Where...where was she? She remembered the match, watching Kirk as he fought a behemoth of an opponent...then nothing. This wasn't her room or the Coliseum. Upon trying to move her hands, Sarah found that she was actually chained to a wall which explained why she felt so cold. The wall was chilled, and this dress wasn't made for cold wear. Her shoulders ached due to the pull on them to keep her standing up even when she obviously couldn't do it herself. "B...Bria? Jim? Spock? A-anyone?" the science officer called out shakily, "Is there anyone out there?!"

The door opened as Akantha returned and the dark woman arched her brow at the younger girl, "So, you've awakened, it's about time. Your sister is with Achaz at the moment while he fulfills his duty to me. Such an obedient little soldier," she smirked and closed the door behind her, then walked over the table close to Sarah, picking up a knife and plucking an apple from the bowl of fruit on the table, "Don't struggle against the chains, dear, you'll only hurt yourself," she said before her prisoner could do anything rash, peeling the apple.

"What are you having done to Bria?! Don't you understand what you are doing by kidnapping us?" Sarah snapped as her heart pounded in her chest. She prayed that Bria was safe. Right now though...she needed to get out of here. Come on, Brain! Think! Where are all those calculations from before? Despite, Akantha's words, she tugged at the chains harshly, whimpering when the metal cut into the flesh around her wrists.

"I am just securing the heir to the line of Oracles since my own daughter doesn't have the Sight," Akantha glanced up at her, unimpressed, "Quite a disappointment she is, really. All she can do is cook. She can't even fight, or even do other domestic housewife things like sew, or first aid to be a healer. She is and always will be useless to me."

"How can you say that about your own daughter?" Sarah snapped, struggling again though this time her actions sliced her skin which caused blood to trickle down. Despite the pain of this, Sarah continued to wiggle her wrists until she had them pretty cut up save for the area over her vein. By the end of it she was whimpering and fighting back tears. "She's your own flesh and blood, yet you call her useless. You're a monster...If anything happens to Bria, you'll pay for it. If not by the federation, then by Spock. Just let us go and we might still save this."

"Don't bother. Flesh and blood means little when they won't even be able to carry on the family legacy," Akantha sneered and she walked over to the woman, taking a bit of her freshly peeled apple, twirling the knife, "You couldn't possibly hope to escape. You'll end up bleeding to death if you cut your veins. Just stop struggling. If you must know, I foresaw that Achaz would impregnate the woman who would produce the future Oracle, and assumed it was Eri because I am the Oracle. When I discovered Bria had the Sight, I was glad. She is strong, and will have worthy children."

"Bria doesn't have this Sight that you talk about," Sarah growled, waiting until Akantha got closer before grasping the chains connecting the lock to lift herself up and slam her feet against the woman's chest, successfully knocking her to the ground. Folding her thumbs against her palms, the Brunette used her blood as a sort of lubricant to slide her hands free. She had done similar methods when having to remove her ring from her finger, thankfully this turned out to be no different. Sarah sprung for the fallen knife and held it threateningly towards Akantha. "You're going to take me to my sister, or...or you'll regret it."

Akantha stood there in, admittedly, surprise. She had assumed Sarah was the weak link, the way she hid behind the Captain, "So, you have a backbone where it matters," she stepped forward towards Sarah instead of cowering away, "I don't believe that'll save your sister, however. Give me the knife before I have to hurt you."

"Don't come any closer!" Sarah warned, her hand holding the knife shaking. 'Keep steady. Do not let your fear show.' she repeated Sulu's words from one of their lessons in her head. When Akantha continued, Sarah stepped back, "I said stop! Please don't make me do this...I don't want to hurt you..." Her words only seemed to make the woman smirk. 'If it were a choice between you and someone else, Sarah, let it be the other person that falls'. Her back hit the wall both literally and figuratively causing tears to slide down her cheeks. Bria's well being was on the line here...she had given up so much to see /her/ safety... "I'm so sorry..." she whimper, her right eye stinging as she adjusted the knife in her hand, reared her arm back, and...she closed her eyes the moment the metal flew from her hand. There was a gasp moments before a thud of something heavy falling to the ground. Unable to stop the sob, Sarah slid down the wall, her hand still outstretched from the knife throw. "I'm so sorry...so sorry..."