Around her was darkness. There was no way of telling where she was or why she was there, only that she was completely alone and sitting on a cold, damp concrete floor. Rebecca hugged her knees against the cold and tried in vain to loosen the ropes around her ankles and wrists. She could feel them rubbing against her skin leaving raw red marks on her skin. Eventually her eyes adjusted to the low light and she could see the outline of a door at the far end of the cell. There was no point in shuffling over, she was sure whoever had taken such care in binding her feet and hands would not be so careless as to leave the door unlocked.

The side of her head throbbed and ached and her pulse filled her ears. Since she could not remember arriving in her prison, she assumed her captures had knocked her out. Alone and afraid she began to cry. Her sobs echoed around the room, bouncing off the stone walls until finally, the guard outside had had enough.

"Quiet!" He shouted from outside. Rebecca ceased instantly, terrified but also strangely relieved to find she wasn't completely alone. The voice had sounded rough and irritated but also tired. She gathered he had probably been standing outside for quite some time. How long had she been in here?

Rebecca thought back to the fight at the Cirque. Her memory was hazy but she recalled the men advancing and throwing Evra to one side first before coming for her. Wait! Hadn't Darren been there? Rebecca rubbed the dirt out of her eyes and opened them wide as if trying to see into the past. No, he had left by then. Darren had been rescued by Mr Crepsley and had fled, leaving her and Evra to defend themselves. They had been a poor match for the cruel bunch of Vampaneze and had nothing to defend themselves. One of them had made a grab for her with his rough, grimy hands but Evra had pushed it violently out the way. This had provoked hostility and aggression from the group and Evra had quickly found himself pushed up against a wall, help several inches off the floor by a fist around his scaly throat.

"Get off!" Rebecca recalled screaming as one of them had made a grab for her again. She had hit out at the Vampaneze holding Evra but had missed. Fortunately, she had diverted his attention and had distracted him into dropping her friend. Unfortunately, he had headed straight for her. That was when she had blacked out. The last thing she remembered seeing was the malicious sneer of the advancing creature.

By herself, Rebecca began to whimper again. The memory of that terrifying man crept back into her thoughts and she began to imagine off sorts of horrible things lurking in the darkness around her, reaching out to touch her or worse. She moved her legs closer to her and suddenly screamed when something brushed her leg. Upon closer inspection, she found it was only a stray piece of rope but her shriek was enough to attract the guard's attention. Light flooded the cell as the door was swung open. A tall, square silhouette filled the door's frame, heaving with exasperation, but he did not enter. He simply glared at her and whispered menacingly:

"Be quiet, or I may not be able to prevent myself from spilling some of your precious blood!" Rebecca visibly shook with fear as he slammed the door shut again and locked it. Bolts slid into place audibly, confirming Rebecca's suspicions about being trapped. Darkness swelled around her, suffocating her and overpowering her. A small sob escaped from her throat, followed by a slightly louder one. Rebecca pressed her hand across her mouth in an attempt to muffle the following series of sobs but failed. The sound of bolts being hastily unlocked evoked a rich fear in Rebecca and she shrunk back against the dripping stone walls as the heavy door slammed back against the wall.

"Right, that's it!" Said the man threateningly as he put his foot over the threshold.

"No," begged Rebecca, "Please!" To her relief, the man halted by it was not due to her pleading cries. A pale hand rested on the guards shoulder as a muffled voice whispered into his ear. Somewhat reluctant, the silhouetted figure shuffled off and was replaced by another.

"In here," he ordered. Rebecca watched as several shapes emerged from the corridor and began to push three new prisoners into her cell. They stumbled forwards with stifled cries and fell into the room. Rebecca shuffled backwards to make room, the space was very small. The door closed behind them to the sound of laughter but a small window in the door was left open allowing a small amount of light to enter the dark room. The beam fell across three bodies, all bound and gagged but thankfully unhurt. A middle aged woman attempted to cuddle her young daughter as her husband glanced at Rebecca fearfully. Rebecca immediately pitied the family. Their faces were stained with tears and they visibly shook with fear.

"Who are you?" asked Rebecca in surprise.

"Mhmm hmm!" Cried the man. His voice was suppressed by a piece of ragged cloth tied around his mouth.

"Oh," said the girl, thankful she still had the power of speech, "Well, I'm Rebecca. I was taken here a few hours ago, I think, but I don't know why and I don't know where we are." Her words steadily grew quieter as she realised how desperate their situation sounded. Voicing her predicament aloud only me it worse. They were truly trapped.

Hours dragged past with little or no sound however there was never really any silence. The prisoners could hear the scratching of rats around them and the regular drip of a leak from the ceiling in the corner. Sometimes the guards outside would cough or laugh, reminding them of their presence. Rebecca and the family would often drift in and out of an uneasy sleep, never really feeling at peace or relaxed. Rebecca had woken up several times to hear the others crying or whimpering softly and she often joined in. Eventually, when the hostages were ready to give up, the beam of light from the door's hatch was obstructed by a face peering in at them through the darkness. It was a man and he laughed harshly to see the frightened expressions on the captive's faces.

"Show time!" He giggled as he unbolted the door. It swung open to reveal several more Vampaneze waiting with ropes and gags.

"Let's go," said their leader. The men crowded the small room and picked up the captives as though they were nothing but bags of rubbish waiting to be carried out to the curb. They lifted the little one first and her parents cried out in protest to see her handled so viciously. They were each rewarded with a sharp slap across their heads.

"Don't!" Called out Rebecca before she could stop herself. She bit he lip as she realised she had just reminded them that she had no gag.

"Restrain her," said one lazily and a beady eyed man lurched forward with a torn piece of material to tie around her mouth. Rebecca retched as the dirty cloth was knotted. Without further conversation or explanation as to where they were being taken, the group were led along dark carpeted passage ways and up several flights of narrow wooden stairs until they reached a curtain. Through it stepped a hideous man with an insane look in his dark red eyes. His dark hair was matted and wild and appeared to have been brushed back into a pony tail. He stuck his thumbs in his pockets as he addressed the group.

"Yum yum," he complimented, "Tie them up." The four were pushed apart as strangers wearing dark clothes began to attach them to harnesses. The man who appeared to be their leader walked in and out of the hostages nodding and grinning like a maniac.

"Lovely," he smiled with a thick Scottish accent, "I like them plump and juicy!" He made a grab for the woman beside Rebecca causing her to squeal and writhe in panic. The man laughed loudly and continued to walk amongst them. He hissed and spat t them, enjoying seeing them flinch away from him. Suddenly there was a commotion from behind the man which distracted him from his teasing.

"Murlough?" A voice said, "Man! Where are you now?" A teenage boy threw the curtains aside in one dramatic sweep as he entered the room. He started as he saw the captives all bound up but then smiled in surprise.

"Oh you got them then? I wasn't sure they'd make it here intact although I did give specific instructions..." He strode arrogantly round to peer into the faces of the bewildered family.

"Should have adopted me!" He laughed as he walked away, "too late now though... Murlough's got his eye on you!" The father made some attempt to call out to the boy from behind his gag but was silenced with a quick blow to the stomach. Steve made his way down the line until he reached Rebecca.

"This the freak?" He asked no one in particular. Beside him, Murlough nodded and pulled a face.

"Gross," sniggered the boy. He gave Rebecca a push on her shoulder and to her horror instead of falling backwards she spun gently around in a circle. Looking up, she found she had been attached to a harness connected to a pole on the roof.

"Hoist them up," ordered Steve. He took several steps backwards, his chin lifted defiantly to watch the four rise slowly toward the ceiling. The group wriggled in panic and cried out as them were hauled up above what appeared to be a stage.

"Like a bunch of piñatas, aren't they guys?" The Vampaneze murmured in agreement. "But when you split them open, instead of sweets, you get delicious blood!" There was laughter and cheers from below and for once, Rebecca was glad she was so high above them, safely out of reach. From her vantage point, she could see clearly around the room. It was empty save a few Vampaneze running in through the double doors from outside. Below her she could see the crowds being cleared. Murlough directed the groups out the back and Steve followed suit. Soon only Murlough was left.

"He's here! Darren's here!" Called an unseen person from somewhere below. Murlough chuckled and glanced up at his captives.

"Showtime," he whispered.