A very displeased Katz stood under an umbrella, wrapped in Oliver's bright yellow rain coat, outside of the truck. For all of two seconds, Saoirse wanted to laugh at how desperate Katz must have been to keep dry to wear a dog's coat. Those two seconds passed though and terror filled her.

"Looking for these?" Katz held up some keys – the truck keys!

Saoirse scowled. She also realized that he could unlock the door if he so desired. Well, fuck. There went that brilliant plan. Still, she placed her hands over the lock in hopes to keep him out.

Katz caught on quickly and raised an elegant brow. "Do you intend to stay out here all night then?" His eyes flickered from her face of terror to below. Recognition flashed through them just as quick as the lightning around them. "Ahh…so you were going to escape, were you? Tsk, tsk. And where would you go, you foolish girl, assuming the floods didn't get to you first?"

Damn it, he had a point. In this weather, especially with no hope of it ending anytime soon, it would be dangerous for her to drive in it. She whined quietly, cursing her luck. Thunder clapped, making her jump.

Katz moved closer against the door, holding the umbrella above him. "Saoirse…" her name leaving his lips was like melting dark chocolate, "…come inside. It's warm inside…all so cozy. There's hot tea and fresh food. Why, you must be hungry. Doesn't a hot bath sound lovely?" It was hypnotic, his voice, and induced something of a trance in his description. "Come inside, sweet girl…come home…"

Saoirse's body relaxed under his words. Even with the rush of the rain and the window between them, his voice was captivating. His eyes…gods, his eyes kept her under a spell. Oh, and the idea of just…giving up, going home…a bath, some food, a drink…it sounded lovely. A book, maybe even a show? It sounded…

Clink.

The man unlocked the door and flung it open, startling Saoirse in her relaxed state. The cold water hit her, sliding off the edge of his umbrella, before his hand grasped her arm. With great protest, he managed to drag her inside, leaving a trail of mud in the front of the house.

When they were inside, he shoved the girl to the floor and shut the door, locking it before he started to take off his jacket and toss aside the umbrella. Saoirse sat up on the ground, shivering violently. The heat of the house was taking its sweet time in warming her. What to do now? Where to go? Lock herself in her room? Try to grab a knife from the kitchen? No, she'd end up in the basement again if she failed…

Before she could make up her mind, Katz spoke once more. "Girl." She looked up, teeth chattering. He was a good yard away, flicking his tail to rid any drops of water. "While it would be easier for you to simply die of pneumonia, it would destroy my plans. Go upstairs and take a hot bath. Try anything funny and I'll poison your meal."

"M-m-meal?"

"Having you starve to sickness wouldn't benefit me either." He stated as if it were so simple. He spoke slowly, perhaps, as though she were stupid. "Return after you clean yourself up…or else." His eyes narrowed threateningly.

Or else…

Saoirse's shivering had nothing to do with the cold now. No locking herself away. No finding a weapon. No running – how could she in this cold rain? She'd die. So for now, the smart girl accepted her fate – if only for tonight.

The storm, she thought as she filled the tub with hot water, looked nasty. How long would it last? How long would they be stuck there? If it flooded…she swallowed thickly. Stuck with Katz? This would be bad. Very bad…

Where were the Terrier's?

After half an hour, she got out of the bath much warmer and calmer, collected, than before. She glanced at the dress that was on the ground and placed it in the tub – she'd clean it later. For now, she quietly stepped outside.

No noise…it was odd. She bit her bottom lip before slowly going down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, her tag from her collar clinked lightly. Given the silence, the tag proved to be quiet loud in contrast, even with the storm outside.

BOOM!

Thunder crashed. Saoirse jumped. The tag clinked again. When she turned around towards the kitchen, she yelped and jumped backwards – Katz stood before her. Before she could curse him, however, his tail flickered. "Your dinner awaits you." Pause. "I will taste it to prove it isn't poisoned, if need be, foolish girl."

Ignoring how her heart raced, Saoirse frowned. "It isn't poison I'm worried about," not since he had made it a point to emphasize keeping her alive and well, "but being drugged again."

Katz smirked. "Ah, of course. Had I not drugged you, however, our journey here would not have been quite as easy. Foolish girl. Now come on, we haven't got all night." He ordered before turning away, expecting her to follow.

What else could she do by obey…if only for the moment?

Morning.

It was still dark outside, dreary. Wet. It was raining for, what, the eighth hour? More? Saoirse lost track. She sat up though and looked around. She was in her room with the door locked…and Katz…she imagined was downstairs. No, she hoped he was, but she knew better. He was probably in the Terrier's bed.

The very thought made her blood boil. Had she not been so exhausted last night, she would have put up a fight. As it was…she got out of bed and changed into blue jeans and a simple shirt. Saoirse hesitated at the door at first.

What were her options though? Overpower him…sure, she could try, but…what if she failed? The basement? It would be freezing and damp down there. So then…just…obey him until the moment came? Yes, that would have to work.

Saoirse stepped outside her room and paused. The Terrier's door was open, the sheets…made. She scowled – so he had slept in their bed! How dare he do that, how dare he make the bed afterwards! Okay, perhaps Saoirse was being silly, but ignored it for now.

When she got downstairs, she heard bubbling. Carefully she walked over and looked in. There was…a pot of porridge on the stove. The smell of cinnamon and cream hit her. Her stomach growled. Mmm, real cream…it was so rarely used in…

"So you're awake."

Saoirse spun around and made to strike the owner of the voice with her hand – until a hand caught her wrist. Katz stared at her and she stared back. "…Morning." She whispered, more caught off guard than anything.

"Reflex?" He raised a brow before releasing her. She tried to ignore how her wrist tingled afterwards. "I've made some porridge, as you can see."

As he slinked over to the bowls, she stared for a moment longer, processing. It felt all so…weird. Surreal. "Why are you here?" She asked softly. When he paused and glanced over his shoulder, she shook her head and tried again. "Why me? Why the Terrier's? Why do you want me? I don't understand!" Pause. "If you won't answer me, I'll only get worse. My loyalties are to the Terrier's, not some…cat!"

His tail flicked sharply.

He went back to pouring the food into two bowls. Adding two spoons, he placed them on the table and went to pour himself some tea. He left the tea pot there for her to pour her own cup. Then he sat down. Saoirse, however, did not.

After a moment, he rolled his eyes. "If you sit and eat, I will tell you."

Reluctantly, you did as he said. It was only halfway through the meal – which took nearly no time at all since it was so delicious – that he began to explain. "In the past, I have run several businesses of one nature or another. All of them had been…well. Illegal. As a result, I have drawn the authorities' attention several times just by existing. It has made it quite difficult to make a living." The wind blur fiercely against the wall, slamming drops of rain as it they were little darts. "Once, long ago, I had a pet. It allowed me to venture forth and do as I please in business. It offered a distraction to the authorities."

Saoirse had stopped eating, though she still held the spoon in her hand. 'It'? Her stomach knotted in disgust. It? She didn't like the way he referred to his previous…pet. And she wondered suddenly what had happened to them.

Before she could question further, Katz continued. "When I saw you, an educated and loyal, as you self-proclaimed, pet…quite easy on the eyes…polite, obedient…I knew I had to have you. With you, I'll be able to continue my businesses, my true businesses, as you distract anyone who dares to snoop about. Pretty little thing…"

The spoon fell, hit the edge of the bowl, and fell onto the table. Saoirse couldn't swallow another bite or even a sip. She stood, the chair falling backwards. He wanted…her to be his…distraction? Disguise? All so that he could be in his illegal business? He was going to take her for that?!

Fury took over. Her eyes narrowed, processing it all. Finally she opened her mouth and spoke.

"Never!"