The next few months were frantic for both Mark and Brandy. While Mark was away, Brandy decided to stay home so she could put her full focus on getting everything ready for the wedding. Luckily, Teresa was more than willing to help with all of the planning, which Brandy was very grateful for. Without Teresa's help, Brandy knew she would be utterly lost. Other than a hectic schedule for the both of them, everything was going along quite smoothly, and it looked like they would be able to plan for the date they had chosen. Neither one thought anything could go wrong…until that one fateful night.

)))))

"Thanks for helping me pick out the flowers, Teresa. You have no idea how much help you've been," Brandy said as she finished off her water.

"Hey, no problem. I know how tough it was for my wedding, since Glenn couldn't help with anything because of work. I just don't want you to go through what I did," Teresa replied, taking one last bite of her pizza before standing up and throwing the crust away. "I'd love to stick around longer, but I really need to get home."

"I understand. I'll see you tomorrow then, I guess?" Brandy said as she stood up, walking Teresa over to the door.

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow," Teresa replied, giving Brandy a hug before walking out the door. Brandy stood there, and waved at Teresa before she got in her car. She stood there and watched Teresa drive away, finally heading in once she was out of sight.

She sat down on the couch, letting out a sigh, and just as she did this, the phone began to ring. Muttering curses under her breath, Brandy reluctantly got up and headed for the phone. Just as she was about to pick it up, though, a hand clamped down over her mouth, and a foul scent invaded her nostrils. She immediately started kicking and struggling against them to get free, but was beginning to feel peculiar. Her legs felt rubbery, and her surroundings started to blur. Slowly, her body quit struggling it, even thought her mind screamed to fight back. Just as she slipped into the darkness, she could hear Mark's voice talking on the answering machine.

(((((

As Brandy began to wake up, she immediately noticed the queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She tried to sit up, but a wave of nausea forced her back down.

"Finally decide to get up?" a voice said. She struggled to clear her mind. Why did that voice sound so familiar? She tried hard to remember where she heard that voice before, but was so groggy that it was impossible for her to do so. Slowly, her vision returned to normal, and she could see around the room. Everything was unfamiliar to her, and she started to panic as she began to remember what happened.

"Rise and shine doll-face," the same voice said, making her jump in surprise. She looked over, and her eyes went wide. The person sitting there next to her was the last human being she ever wanted to see.

)))))

As soon as Mark came to a complete stop in the driveway, he immediately jumped out of the truck, not bothering to grab his bangs, and rushed inside. He had been gone for four months, and was more than ready to see his girl again.

"Brandy, baby, I'm home!" he called out the second he stepped into the living room. He frowned when there was no answer. "Brandy?" he called out once more, but once again, it was silence that greeted him. Just then, the phone started ringing, and he picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hey Mark! When did you get home?" Teresa asked.

"Literally seconds ago. Hey, have you seen or heard from Brandy today?"

"Yeah, I was just at your house with her about an hour ago. Why do you ask?"

"Cause she isn't here."

"Maybe she had to go get something from the store."

"Yeah, maybe. Were you calling to talk to her?"

"Yeah, just have her call me once she gets back, okay?"

"I'll let her know Teresa," he replied, and they said good-bye before hanging up. Knowing he had time to kill until she got back, he headed back outside and brought his bags in. He carried them upstairs, and into his bedroom. He tossed his bags onto the bed, and frowned when he saw a piece of paper lying on his pillow with a ring on top of it. He picked it up, and saw it was the engagement ring he got Brandy that was laying there. He brought his attention to the paper, and saw it was a typed note that read:

Mark,

In case you didn't already notice, I'm leaving you for good. I can't keep pretending I'm happy in this relationship, when I'm really not. I never have, and I know I never will, so that's why I'm breaking it off. Find yourself someone who really loves you, because I never did. Sorry for leading you on all this time. Have a nice life.

-Brandy

Mark was stunned. How could Brandy do this to him? Had she really been that miserable this whole time? Why did she stay in the relationship if she never had mutual feelings for him? Suddenly, it all clicked. She really had been in it for his money…just like Jodi had been. He should have seen it coming. Why did he think she would be any different? All women in the end were the same. They stuck around for free merchandise, a good fuck on occasion, and then dropped you like a bad habit once they got bored. Shaking his head, he threw the ring at the wall and stormed back downstairs. Heading outside, he got on his bike and drove off, desperately needing to get away.

(((((

Brandy stared at Tom for a while, unsure of what to say. Finally, she said, "Tom, why did you do this?" Tom remained silent. "Look, whatever you're upset over this time, can't we try to talk about it?"

"There's nothing to talk about," he replied simply.

This comment made Brandy mad. "Nothing to talk about? You drag me away from my house, bring me to God-knows-where, and claim that there's nothing to talk about? That's bullshit, Tom, and you know it!" she replied, practically yelling by the end.

"You've gained quite the little temper," he replied, keeping a calm voice.

"Fuck you, Tom. You can go to hell," she growled, glaring at him.

"Now is that any way to talk to your man?"

"You are NOT "my man", Tom. I've found someone else, someone who loves me, and treats me right, unlike you."

Tom stood up, walking over to the bed, and suddenly slapped her, making her cry out in surprise and pain. "You need to get rid of that attitude, or else I will make your time here a living hell," he threatened her.

Brandy was suddenly brought back. "Just how long do plan on keeping me here?"

"Your mine, Brandy, so forever."

"Tom, NO. I can't do that. I don't want Mark to-" she started to say, when he suddenly slapped her once more.

"Don't you EVER say that name in my house again. I've been watching the two of you, and it makes me sick! You're supposed to be with me, damnit, not that fucker!" he yelled. By now, he was pacing back and forth in front of the bed like a caged animal. "You can just forget about him, because I'm never letting you go back to him," he added in a cold manner.

"Tom, please don't do this to me again. If you really cared about me, then you would be willing to just let me go, and accept the fact that I'm finally happy," Brandy pleaded, hoping this would somehow bring him back to his senses. "Besides, when I'm not there when Mark comes home, he's going to worry. It will only be a matter of time before he figures out what happened."

An evil grin suddenly crossed his face. "I don't think he'll be thinking about you much anymore," he commented.

Brandy grew nervous from this. "Tom…what did you do?"

"Oh…let's just say, I think you little 'lover boy' will be moving on quite quickly."

"Tom if you did anything to jeopardize our relationship…" Brandy started to say, but was so furious that she couldn't even finish her statement.

He simply laughed at her, enjoying very second of her discomfort. Enraged, she suddenly reached out and slapped him. As soon as she saw the look on his face, though, she regretted it. He looked at her with fury in his eyes. "BIG mistake, Brandy," he growled, and lifted her up off of the bed. She fought against him, but he had a death grip on her as he dragged her out of the room, and toward a closet in the hallway.

When he opened the door, she pleaded, "Don't put me in there!"

Ignoring her protests, he tossed her in. "Welcome to your new home, bitch," he said in a cold voice, and slammed the door shut. Brandy tried to open the door, but it was pointless. Slumping back against the wall, she covered her face as tears came to her eyes. She hoped and prayed that Mark was looking for her, and that he still loved her, because she didn't know if she could handle losing him.