Katie didn't know how long they were staring at each other. Her eyelids began to droop from the mental exhaustion. Nick had not made any move yet. Still, the look in his eyes could kill anyone who dared to look upon them.

Katie started to fidget when she couldn't stand his intense gaze anymore. She wanted desperately to do something to break the awkwardness, but nothing popped up in her mind. However, she didn't need to try. The t.v. screen crackled again as another scene began to unfold.

Katie saw Nick jump from surprise. What more could there possibly be to this seemingly endless torture? Katie felt the tears wet her cheeks again. Her patience was thinning. Nothing seemed to shock or surprise her anymore. She gazed at the screen with one burst of courage. Her cheeks became a vivid shade of red as she realized what they were being shown.

There she was, with Nick, in her brown oldsmobile. Although the background was slightly hazy, she had no problem recognizing the place-Lover's Point, a nice, secluded area where young couples drove by and made out. She had taken Nick there . . . on more than one occasion.

Katie tried not to move her head as her eyes sneaked a peek at Nick's face.. Nick looked rather embarrassed because his face was red as a beet watching their past intimacy caught on tape. Oh God-the thought of them being together in the past probably sickened him at this moment. Katie felt the heat rise within her from the sheer shame of it all.

But all the things she had done in the past were acts of raw emotion. Why did they seem so right at the moment, and now, look so wrong? She watched as she, a 19-year-old woman, kissed a young 13-year-old Nick. Katie cringed and wrinkled her forehead at the act.

She seemed no different from her father, Katie realized sadly. She had taken advantage of Nick as well. And though he did not struggle, she knew that she was wrong. She was a mature woman by then. She should have the logic not to lure a young teenager like that. Nick was too young to think straight. And he had so much trust and faith in her that he did not resist her advances.

She remembered the first time she brought Nick to that little spot. Nick had no idea where they were. Why would he? He was so naïve then. When she had parked her car, he had looked out the window to see other young people in their cars naked, and he laughed. He asked if Katie saw it, and Katie replied yes without even looking. She had been a little nervous about bringing him there because up to that point in their relationship, they were just good buddies.

Well, that's what Nick thought of their relationship. He had liked the fact that she was older and seemingly wiser. But that night, she had surprised him by making her advances. Actually, it wasn't that ominous, really. She did not plan it out. She only felt this intense desire that night. It was a spontaneous move on her part. She didn't really expect anything to come out of it. Had Nick said no, she would have brought him home immediately.

But he didn't stop her or even try to make her stop. When she started touching him sensuously, he jumped a little at first, but did not push her hands away. She then drew him closer so that she could kiss him. His body was a little tense, but once again, he did not pull away. That gave her the idea that he too wanted whatever was going to happen to happen.

So after a little testing, she went through with it. He never once said anything negative. If anything, he actually kissed her back. The first time, they never went beyond just an innocent smooch. And she thought she could leave it at that. But as time passed, she was less able to control her urges. She had taken him back to Lover's Point frequently, and every time, she managed to draw him a step further in their physical relationship.

Katie drifted out of her thoughts to once again look at the screen. She was shocked to see the lust in her eyes as she and Nick undressed each other, never once breaking their kiss. Was she too aggressive? Her movements were jerky and impatient. But Nick's were uncertain and relenting.

Katie all of a sudden felt like she wanted to vomit. Seeing herself act like a wild animal only made her feel more worthless in front of Nick. She casted another sideways glance at him. He was intent on the t.v. screen by now. His face had lost its red hue. Now, only a solemn, sad expression shown on it.

It appeared as though that scene had softened him?! Katie thought it was strange. Wouldn't he be mad at her for taking advantage of him like that? She looked at his face one more time. True enough, there was no anger written on it. If anything, it looked like the corners of his mouth were angled upwards in a slight smile.

Katie felt the tears welling in her eyes. That only made her feel more guilt for what she did to him. He never deserved to be pulled into this mess. He never had to go through all that torment. Only people that committed such sinful crimes deserved to rot and be punished-like her, and Roy . . . and the one who is torturing them all at this moment.

Katie had known-ever since she confronted Nick-who their tormentor was. It was the man who had written that letter, the one whose house they are now locked in, the one who so mercilessly murdered Roy, the one who had returned to punish her . . . and the one who she had tried to run away from for the past six years. But in the end, he found her. What she didn't know until now was why he had chosen to include Nick in his punishment as well.

Why did he want to hurt someone who really had nothing to do with all of these horrid events? But after watching that second scene unfold on the t.v. screen, she knew. He had spied on her throughout the whole ordeal six years ago. And he had found out about her and Nick. The reason for his brutality was so simple-he was jealous!!!! He was jealous of her love for Nick. And her loving, even sexual, relationship with Nick was not part of his grand scheme.

Katie bit her lip. It had been a mistake to ever have known and followed that guy's advice. It was he who had devised that oh so great scheme in order for her to get Roy imprisoned. But it turned out that his aid was not for free. He had lusted for Katie all along. And when Katie directed her love towards Nick instead of him, he had turned his love into hatred. His own plan had backfired on him.

He was sick and twisted. Never in this lifetime would Katie be with him! How could he think that he was more attractive than Nick? He wasn't. He was a dirty old bastard himself. She hated him. It was he that started this whole tragedy.

Katie suddenly became afraid of the whole situation, not for herself, but for Nick. If what she thought was actually true, then it was Nick who was in danger, not her. She knew how this man worked. Though he was illogical and overwhelmingly emotional, he never did anything unless he had a purpose. He didn't kill people for the joy of killing. He never tortured anyone unless he could get something out of it.

She started to panic. Every thing he was doing was for a goal. He wanted her back! And he was trying to do it by putting fear into her heart-and by eliminating any threats to his plan. And Nick happened to be one of those threats! Oh God, she kept on saying to herself. Her eyes drifted to Nick's, who looked back at her now with even more sadness.

"Nick!" she cried out, her fear for Nick escalating every second. "We have to get out of here!" She bolted out of her couch and hurled herself at him. He sensed the urgency in her voice and sort of realized that she just figured out what was going on. One look at her face and he knew that he shouldn't question her.

Katie grabbed his arm and started pulling. "Where was the way out last time? How did you get out of here? Is there some sort of hidden door?" The questions gushed out of her mouth. She was frantically scanning the room, while walking back through the kitchen.

"Umm," Nick thought hard. "I don't know. I was unconcious when they last dragged me out of here. I have no idea." Nick felt a lump form in his throat. "Katie, slow down or you might get into some trouble. This whole house is full of little traps!" His voice was gentle, but firm. Somehow, that second scene that they saw on the screen seemed to have softened him.

They barely made it past the kitchen into the room with the stairs when Katie stopped dead in her tracks. A dark figure was sitting on one of the couches, chuckling menacingly. "Now Katie darling, I was wondering-with your intelligence and all-how long it would have taken you to figure out this little puzzle of mine!"

>>>>>

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