Dani paced the floor of her small living room. She had locked her doors, double and triple checking them. She was frightened. More frightened than she had ever been before. She didn’t know what to do. Jeff had told her to stay inside, keep the doors locked, but she only felt alone here, not safe. She contemplated what to do. She could just go down to Tony’s. She’d be safe there. There were lots of people around Tony’s; no one could hurt her there. Dani put Jeff’s jacket back on and headed for the door. Then she left.

She opened the door and looked around to be sure no one was around, then closed and locked it. Dani practically ran to Tony’s, anxious to get out of the open and into some protective place. She ducked in the door, out of breath and let her eyes adjust again. She went to the bar, ordered another beer and took a seat in the booth she had met Jeff at. It was rather private and it made her feel safe from prying eyes. She sat quietly sipping her beer, minding her own business. She didn’t even notice the three men enter.

They walked silently to the bar, exchanged words with the bartender, who pointed in her direction. Dani looked up just as he did so, and saw the three. She desperately glanced around, looking for an escape, or a sympathetic eye to catch, but the three were approaching her fast. She looked to a young man who appeared to be her age. He had his hair in a topknot and looked friendly enough. She tried to catch his attention, but he smiled wickedly at her. She tried to stand up, but in one leap, two of them were at her side, pulling her back down into the booth. They sat on either side of her, drinking in her beauty, practically foaming at the mouth. The one on her right was lean and tall. He wore a long dark trench coat. His blonde hair was very long and looked as if he were standing in a constant breeze, as it waved from side to side. He had a very wicked grin on his face, and would lick his teeth every so often. He sat with his left arm resting across the back of the seat, facing her, and his right hand on her knee. The one on her right also had long blonde hair, but he was smaller in stature, but seemed more muscular. He sat with his arm around her back, looking deeply in her eyes as if trying to read her mind. The two exchanged glances and laughed wickedly at one another.

The third man sat down across from her and took her hands in his. Dani did not look at him, keeping her eyes down, occasionally glancing at the men on her sides. She was too aware of the man’s hand on her knee, and it continued to creep upward. She nervously tried to adjust her leg away from him, but as she did so, he tightened his grip so much it brought tears to her eyes and she whimpered in pain. The man laughed again and moved his hand up her skirt, precariously close to her tender spot.

"Edge, your time will come," said the dark haired man across from her. Edge released his grip and returned his hand to her knee.

"Danielle, Danielle, Danielle," continued the man, "I see you don’t follow directions so well. If you’d just listened to my brother, you would be safe and sound at home. Oh, not that we wouldn’t have come there, this is just so much easier." Dani tried to pull her hands from this stranger she could only assume was Matt, but he pulled her arms, causing her chest to slam into the table in front of her. Dani grunted as the air left her lungs. "If you cooperate, this doesn’t have to get violent, well, unless you want it to," he laughed wickedly. His companions laughed as well.

"I hope you want it to," said the one called Edge.

"Now Edge," said the other man, "Can’t you see what a beautiful delicate flower we have here? She needs to be treated tenderly and taken of her own will. Isn’t that right Danielle?" Dani glanced back and forth between the two. The resembled each other so closely, yet they seemed so different. The man across from her spoke again.

"Danielle, look at me." Dani just kept her eyes on her hands, refusing to look up.

"The man said look at him!" Edge grabbed her hair and yanked her head back, but she would not look at him. She closed her eyes and cried silently.

"Dani, baby," said Matt, reaching out and brushing a tear from her cheek, "Why are you so scared? Don’t you feel it babe? This was meant to be you, me, all of us. Come on, just look at me."

"Where’s Jeff?" Dani asked quietly. Matt pulled his hand away, breathing deeply. "Goddamnit!" He said pounding the table. "Why is it always Jeff?" He suddenly leapt forward and grabbed Dani’s chin in his hand. His own face was mere inches from hers, but she still refused to open her eyes. "Look at me. Open your eyes... DO IT!"

Dani trembled as she first opened one eye, then the other. She stared into deep brown eyes, fiery with emotion. She could feel his breath on her skin. It was hot and moist. She tried to pull away from him, but was unable to do so, as he was very strong.

"That’s better," he said softening.

"What do you want? What do I have to do with all of this?" Dani asked him, venom in her voice.

"Don’t you know? You are one of us. Well, not technically, but you soon will be. We’ll see to that." He and his companions laughed again. Matt suddenly became serious again. He looked around the bar. "We can’t stay here. Edge, Christian, bring her with us."

The two men held her arms as they walked out of the bar.

"Stop it, you’re hurting me." Edge just laughed.

As they turned the corner, they approached a dark Camero with tinted windows. "Get in my dear," said Christian. Dani had no other choice. She did as they commanded.