A/N: Hehe, not a lot of violence in this chapter…except towards the end. But there's a lot of Fayt humiliating. And yes, I know what Stockholm's Syndrome really is…I looked it up…but Albel's just defining it in a way that works to his advantage.

Disclaimer: No Fayt were harmed in the making of this chapter…since I never had Fayt to begin with.

Fayt stared at Albel incredulously. "You've got to be kidding me."

Albel merely grinned evilly. "Oh, I assure you, I'm not."

Fayt looked aghast. "But…you want me to dress in girl clothes?"

Albel nodded, still grinning dangerously. "That's right."

"But whyyyyyy?"

"Because, it's a perfect disguise. No one will ever recognize you."

Fayt pouted. "I don't mind being in disguise, but I don't think I have to dress like a girl to be unrecognizable."

Albel nipped at Fayt's ear. "That way we can be extremely sure that you won't ever be recognized. You do want to do this in secrecy, right?"

"Yes," Fayt said wearily. "I just don't think it'll work. If I was a little kid, it wouldn't be hard to pass me off as a little girl. But now that I'm older…well…women my age are more…uhh…developed."

"So? We'll make you a flat-chested teenage girl. It happens. You'll be fine, Fayt. Now quit worrying."

"And my hair is too short," Fayt insisted. "Most girls don't have their hair spiked."

"I'll take care of it," Albel said smoothly. "I have nice innocent-looking white dress…and a straw hat. If you're really worried, I think I can find you a wig or something up in the attic. And, I'll put some make-up on you so you'll definitely look girly."

Fayt made a disgusted face. "Why do you have make-up and all this stuff? Were you planning this all along?"

"No," Albel said calmly. "I kept some of my victims' clothes. The make-up…well, in the old days…I used to be one of those guys that wore eyeliner." He shrugged casually. "But, that doesn't really matter now except that I know how to use it. So, let's get you disguised."

An hour later, Fayt was dressed in a white cotton sundress with beige sandals and a straw hat with a small fake white flower attached to the front. Albel had put a little bit of blush and eye shadow on Fayt's face, and as much as Fayt hated to admit it, it was a pretty good disguise.

Fayt groaned as he studied his reflection in the small mirror Albel had given him. "This is so humiliating."

"Don't worry, love," Albel purred. "No one will know it's you, so don't feel embarrassed."

"It's uncomfortable," Fayt complained. "I don't like this powdery crap. It makes me want to sneeze. And I don't like not wearing pants. It makes me feel naked."

Albel smirked. "You had no problem being naked around me before."

'Well, with you, no. But I'm not going outside feeling naked and self-conscious. It just won't work. I'll give the plan away."

"You'll be fine," Albel said soothingly. "You just need to go out and lure one of the victims on the list here. I'll take care of the rest. Just one, Fayt. And then you can come home and take it all off."

Fayt sighed wearily. "Alright, alright. Give me the list and I'll go."

Albel pressed a piece of paper into Fayt's hands and gently pushed him out the door.

Fayt immediately recoiled. "It's too bright! The sun is blinding."

Albel rolled his eyes. "What do you expect after being inside for so long? You'll get used to it. It's good for you. You can't stay cooped up inside forever."

"But my eyes hurt," Fayt complained.

"You'll get used to it," Albel said firmly. "Now, go out there and come back with one of the bastards on the list." He locked the door after Fayt and settled onto the couch to read.

Albel was falling asleep reading a boring medical journal when he jerked awake at the sound of a knock on the door followed by an insistent ringing of the doorbell. He rolled off the couch and patted his mussed hair down in an effort to look like he hadn't just been asleep. He failed and he knew it, but it was worth a try.

He opened the door to find a pretty "girl" with soft wavy blue hair cupped around "her" innocent face and a world-weary tall brunette with bright red lipstick smoking a cigarette.

"May we come in?" asked the bluenette. Albel could scarcely believe that the same grumpy Fayt that had walked out the door earlier was now putting on such a convincing kind, sweet girl act.

"Uhh, sure," Albel said, stepping aside so they could both walk in.

"I told her that an old friend from back when she was a nurse in the community hospital lived out here and she was dying to see you again," Fayt said softly.

Albel snickered as the brunette's heels clicked on the floor. "Dying to see me is right."

The girl turned to inspect one of the pictures hung on the wall and Albel made his move. He slammed the door shut and grabbed the girl roughly, spinning her around and pinning her against the wall. The girl let out a startled squeak.

Albel scowled at her a moment and then turned to Fayt. "Who the hell is this? I don't recognize her."

"It's not my fault," Fayt said defensively. "I went to the address you gave me and she said she's the only one that lives there."

Albel frowned. 'Alright, what's your name, bitch?"

The girl glowered at him and Albel shook her violently, his teeth bared in a snarl. 'Answer me, you damn whore!"

"Lauren Hall," the girl said sullenly.

Albel let go of her with a sudden start. "My, my. How you've changed. You've lost weight, started using make-up." He cocked his head to one side with a smug smirk. "And you've started smoking. Tsk, tsk. Don't you know that smoking kills?"

"Like you care what happens to me," the girl retorted. "What is this anyway, kidnapping?"

Albel chuckled darkly. "Oh, it's much more than that."

He tossed the girl over his shoulder and carried her, screaming down into the basement. The he threw her down on the cold cement floor in disgust. "Quit your yelling," Albel growled. "No one will hear you and it'll just piss me off more."

Lauren scrambled as far from Albel as she could. 'Why are you doing this?" she asked hoarsely.

Albel grinned. "Oh, it's a long story. And if you had just listened to me in the first place, we wouldn't all be in this mess. All those kids wouldn't have died." He snorted derisively. "And you called yourself a nurse."

Lauren's eyes widened. "You…I remember you. You used to be such a good kid. But why blame me for something that isn't my fault? I would have been killed if I didn't cooperate."

"So many others died in your place," Albel growled. "And now it's your turn."

She offered only meager resistance as Albel dragged her back to her feet and pinned her against the wall.

Fayt sat at the foot of the basement stairs, watching Albel work with stunned silence.

Albel's gaze turned to Fayt. "Bring me my set of knives, would you, love?"

Fayt hurried to his feet, kicking off the uncomfortable sandals as he ran to Albel's toolbox. He selected Albel's favorite pair of knives and carefully set them in Albel's waiting hand.

Albel turned back to Lauren, looking down at the hand that held her securely against the wall. He could feel her heart beating beneath his hand. Albel was suddenly repulsed by her and he wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. With the two knives sunk into the palms of her hands, she was secured to the wall for the moment, but it wouldn't be enough to keep her there for long.

Fayt settled back in his spot on the stairs, removing the wig and the straw hat and smudging the make-up with the back of his hand.

Lauren's eyes wandered to Fayt. "What's he paying you, kid?" she whispered.

Fayt made a face and buried his head in his lap.

"I'm not paying him anything," Albel said calmly. "He's quite willing to help me out."

Lauren looked disgusted. "You mean he likes murdering nurses as much as you do?"

"No, but he'll help me out if I tell him to." Albel turned away from his victim to settle onto the steps next to Fayt. Fayt looked up hopefully from trying to gather his dress around his legs. Albel gently kissed Fayt's forehead and put a hand on Fayt's chest. "Such a wonderful little helper," he murmured. "I'll reward you better once we're done, but for now…" He brought his lips down to Fayt's, gently pushing his tongue into the boy's willing mouth.

As Albel pulled away, Fayt's eyes glittered with happiness. Albel got up and walked back to stand in front of Lauren. Fayt crept into the background and sat on a stool closer to the action, but not quite close enough to touch Albel.

"You know he loves you, don't you?" Lauren asked.

Albel's lips curled into a wicked smile. "Yes, I know. I'm glad I can finally give him the love and acceptance he's been craving so badly. Too bad the innocent little angel had to catch Stockholm's Syndrome."

"What's that?" Fayt asked faintly. 'Am I sick?"

"No," Albel said, without looking at him. "It's just the disease where cute little boys like you fall in love with wicked killers like me."

"Oh," said Fayt calmly. "That's not too bad."

"Yes, now enough delay. Time for Lauren to meet her maker."

Albel pulled out a rope and knotted it around Lauren's neck and then, bracing himself against the wall, he began to pull back on it.

Fayt stood up in shock and fascination. He edged closer to Albel and stared openly as Lauren's face began to turn blue. She made a strangled choking sound and her eyes seemed to bulge from their sockets.

Albel looked over at Fayt and the boy's eyes were wide with excitement, almost egging Albel on. He yanked on the rope one last time, as if hoping to sever her neck by force alone and then he gave up with a disappointed sigh. "It'll take too long."

Albel brought back an axe. He cautioned Fayt to step back a little and then he swung. Lauren's head rolled off her neck and blood spurted all across the room, over the body, over Albel, over the walls, over the ceiling, over the floor, over Fayt.

Albel dropped the axe and he stared in silence as the blood continued to well up from Lauren's neck. A slight sound from Fayt caused Albel to turn and look.

Fayt's eyes were widened with delight, as if oblivious to the blood splashed across his face. As Albel watched, a wicked grin spread across Fayt's face. Then Fayt began to laugh maniacally, the deranged laughter echoing in the still room.