[AUTHOR'S NOTE: THANKS TO SUPER BETA READER JDRAGONFIRE29 FOR HELPING ME TACKLE THOSE PESKY GRAMMAR ISSUES.]

Chapter 3 – Day 1

Nikita had been working on the handcuffs for hours, trying to figure out a way to get free and out of this basement of horror. She heard footsteps above her and smoothed out her hair and clothes to try to appear harmless as the trap door opened. Henry walked down the stairs with a cake with lit candles on it. She watched as he blew out the candles and looked at her in glee.

"You know what I wished for?"

She tried keeping her voice as even and conciliatory as possible: "What did you wish for Henry?"

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I finally think I've got everything I've always wanted. Right here."

His answer almost made her sick. She swallowed the sharp retort and responded cajolingly: "You care about me?"

"Oh, you're very special Nikita. Haven't I proven that by saving your life?"

"But I don't understand why you're keeping me down here with handcuffs. You don't want me to feel like a prisoner do you?"

"No, you're not nearly well enough to get out of bed and start running around. You'll catch your death."

"I'll take your advice Henry and even if you took the handcuffs off I…if you said I should stay in bed I will stay."

"It doesn't really matter that much does it? You know, mother baked this cake herself. I think she is getting rather jealous that I brought the rest of it down here. She thinks I spend too much time down here."

His words sparked the hope of rescue. "Does she know about me? Does she know I'm down here?"

"Truth is I think she is getting a little too attached to me. Oh well, I suppose it's better than not being loved at all."

Henry shoved too large of a piece of cake in her mouth and it was all she could do not to gag on the cake and choke. She finally managed to swallow the piece before asking: "She sounds like she's really very nice, your mother. I'd like to meet her."

"I'm sure you would. You see, I knew you were smart."

"Henry, I need something to drink. Some water."

She was interrupted by a noise upstairs. Henry stood up in agitation while muttering: "Mother, one of these days she's going to push me too far. Be a good girl and drink your milk."

She glanced around and noticed Henry had left the fork on the plate. She grabbed it and quickly unlocked the handcuffs. Her legs were weak and her side was burning as she slowly made her way to a pipe with running water. She drank greedily at the water, thankful to ingest something that wasn't laced with sedatives.

She didn't have nearly enough when she heard footsteps above her again. She hurried as fast as the pain would allow and climbed back to bed. She smoothed the covers and hid the fork under her pillow as she secured herself with the hated handcuffs once again.

Henry came down the stairs with a pail and said awkwardly: "Forgive me for being rude. I forgot to say goodnight. Mother said you might need this."

As soon as he left, she freed herself again and made her way back to the pipe for more water, trying to regain her strength in order to leave.

Michael made his way back to the mission site to the alley where Nikita was last seen. He glanced around at the area and noticed recent rain had washed away all trace of her. He noticed a security camera on one of the building facing the alley, Braemar Insurance. He walked inside and was met by one of the insurance agents.

"Oh hi. Can I help you?"

"Hi."

He quickly injects her with a strong sedative. When she was unconscious, he moved her to another room and secured her out of sight. He found the security room and brought up tapes from the day before. He scroll the tape to the time of the failed mission and saw a car approach the alleyway and leave. He noted the license plate number and left as quietly as he came.

The house has been quiet for a while. Nikita had heard the front door open and hoped that meant she was alone. She moved some crates toward the trap door, pausing to regain her strength as the movement pulled at the stitches on her side. She climbed on top and tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge.

She weakly stumbled around the dark basement, looking for a flash light, light switch, anything to illuminate the room. She found some candles near the cages, lit it, and began to work her way around the exterior walls. The candle flame flickered at a spot and she pushed against the board there. After working it for a few minutes, she managed to pry the board down to find a small window.

All of the sudden, the head of dog appeared, startling her as it starts barking. The dog disappeared from view and Henry's face appeared, making her cringe back in horror.

Henry: "Nikita…"

Henry disappeared from view and she looked desperately around for something to use as a weapon. All too soon, the trap door open, ladder lowered, and Henry run down the stairs. She fought him as best she could, but weakness from her injuries and from the sedatives, made her strikes ineffectual. She couldn't stop Henry, as he plunged a needle and injected her with a sedative. She plunged into unconsciousness as Henry muttered about what a bad girl she was.