Author's Note: I'm sorry for the absence I've had once more. School, after all, is a good staller and sucker for people like me; those who have no interest in the academics unless it's for a really good reason to divert my attention. But alas, I do need an education.

To say I didn't communicate much more with Amber and Blondie for a good few months was to say the least. In fact, I hardly talked to anybody except Gorski and, in secret, Blue. I didn't know what came over me: I just felt at home with him by my side… Like things were the way they were no matter how badly I knew that the truth was in it all. I shouldn't be doing this, and I should be keeping a careful eye… But nothing had happened. It was like all things ceased once I came back in contact with him. CJ and Dansworth began to even respect me once more as another person instead of someone they'd look up from their work to glare at. But I knew the vibe it set off with the patients, both in reality and in the brothel. Even Gorski questioned it in silence. And I could only look down and away… I didn't want to answer. My mind was completely closed.

One night, though, I spoke too much… But I now know to blame it on both, once more, alcohol and Blue's sly ways. He was still as slimy as ever.

I don't even know how it began. One moment, I was just with Blue in his office, reminiscing about the old days as kids and, next thing I knew it, I was in a dizzied drunk state. I hardly remembered what I even said… But something rang clearly through my head in the aftermath, and I suffered its consequences: I'd confessed too much about… Well, everything. From how I'd always loved Blondie since I was here at the mental institute as a patient on the very first day, to how I found out that Amber and Blondie have been sneaking around behind everyone's backs to make-out and such… Why did I do it? Why did I even drink? I though I never would again. I thought I had grown much stronger since the last event all those years ago…

I was wrong. I was terribly wrong. But he wasn't interested in having any chances at me anymore. No, he could care less. He'd moved onto different targets, though, by the time I had realized what I had done the next morning, it would be too late. He got all the information he could ever want from me… And there was nothing I could do about it, for once, except watch everything crash and burn before my eyes… I was helpless. And truly terrified, both for what I'd done and for what will happen to the others in result.

It was a busy night in the dream world. As per usual, Blue called all the dancers together for a final meeting before the show would start. I was hidden in the corner, making final touches and last-minute repairs on costumes like usual, though I felt deeply set chills crawl up my skin as I saw him enter the room. There was something new about him. And it was scaring the daylights out of me.

"Alright, ladies. It's time to assign our most prominent members of the club to their respective dancers. Listen up if I call your name…" He gave off a small smile – or was it smirk? – as he looked down at his clipboard.

I cringed. This was always something I hated bearing to listen to. Dancers, based upon the personal opinions and desires of these frequently visiting faces, would be picked by them to be their personal escort about the place whenever they would visit, and would be forced to do whatever the male pleased with them. It was always heart-wrenching to see anybody in my group with one of them. These men were pigs whose only wants were that of the sexual nature… Always.

Blue cleared his throat and went down the line. Amazingly enough, Sweet Pea didn't get someone this time, which relieved me. But, just when I thought it was over… He took Amber aside before he left, looking serious for a moment. I saw that deadly glint in his eye and automatically knew something wrong was going on.

When he was finally gone, Amber looked just as frightened as I was on the inside, and maybe even more. She walked over to Blondie and gulped before quietly saying, her voice shaky, "I got assigned the Mayor."

Blondie's eyes widened. The Mayor was the highest-paying customer of the place and kept things down and away from the public. He made sure things stayed within the doors and not anywhere else, but he also was notorious for being abusive with his escorts, as well as quite demanding. He had a thing for violence as much as he did for sex.

Sweet Pea and Rocket overheard Amber from nearby at their own vanities and had pitied look on their faces. I shuddered and knew: Blue was doing this on purpose. For my sake… The git! Just because I didn't like her didn't mean I wanted harm to come to her… I bit my tongue, forcing it to not say a thing. I couldn't tell them I felt like I might have been responsible. It'd break their hearts and trust.

Sweet Pea looked to me and asked, calm anger in her voice, her discontent and disliking to Blue absolutely clear, "Why would he do that?"

"I-I-I don't know…" I couldn't stop the stuttering, but I tried to make it come off as surprised, almost shocked. "I-It is the customer's ch-choice, right?"

Blondie couldn't help but look suspiciously. Another chill came over me, and I had to hold back my shivers. She walked over and looked into my eyes. No, not even looked would be a proper word... It was a stare, to be more accurate. A penetrating one that was decoding everything and all I could do was look back, though it felt like my very being was shrinking away into that of a child's. Her eyes, for the very first time, were dark and brooding to me… But they still softly spoke of the years that came before when I remembered that figure next to mine. When that body was pressed against me to soothe away the pain, those arms were wrapped around me in such loving ways, the face beamed with such delight and happiness, and those eyes held feelings just as strong as our love for each other… The glow was still present even now, I could feel it. But it had died just a little. But it wasn't enough; it was still the most dominant feature.

That didn't stop her from whispering something only I could hear: "You helped cause this, didn't you? You know you can't lie to me."

I tried to not stiffen nor melt away at the painful words. My neck tightened a little as I shook my head, though it was a bit rigid. It felt worse trying to not tell her that I had done it, my tone meek and unwilling to give way to my attempts at add strength: "No, I didn't… I swear." But I knew my eyes were the ones she was caring about finding the reaction to, and it took all my willpower to hide away the emotions.

Her eyes seemed to glaze over my face for a moment before her brow twitched slightly. "Okay… I still blame you."

"For what?"

"For ever having loved you. Because I can't get you out of my mind."

Her eyes looked off to the side, away from my shock. My heart gave an enormous leap before landing with a heavy thud. She… She… She still loves me? She backed off and walked away, my eyes glued to her as she went back to comfort Amber, lacing so soothingly about her current lover's figure. All I could comprehend was, evident in my hushed puzzled voice: "Why?"

Author's Note: Next chapter? Why, we'll be arriving, at last, on the main storyline! Yes, no more prequeling, people! Now, you'll recognize these next chapters because I shall be naming them after the songs featured on Sucker Punch's official soundtrack. Reviews, please, and thank you very much for your patience.