She looks up at me and wipes her nose a little.  "Because it makes me feel like myself."

"You shouldn't."  I say tiredly.  "You're better than that."

"I wanted to go to rehab, but Charlie didn't want me to," she explains.

"Charlie doesn't know what's best for you, Sam.  You can do whatever you want to do, and if you want to change your life, get better...you should just do it.  Fuck this.  Fuck what you're doing to me.  It's not your fault and...you know, if you help me get out of here, I'll help you fix your life."

She laughs.  "You're slick."

"I'm serious."

"Justin, look...you want out of here.  It's understandable, but I know the second you get out, you're going to forget all about me."

"I could never forget about you, Sam."

She stares at me in amazement and shock, and I silently wonder if Charlie has ever made her feel as good as I have in the few days I've spent with her.  She deserves so much more than this.  She's better than all of it.  She's smart, funny, and beautiful.  She deserves to live a decent, healthy life and I wish like hell that this wasn't all so complicated...that we'd met in a different situation and I could love her like she deserves to be loved.  But I can't.  This whole thing is fucked up, and I know once I get out of here, my life is going to get back to normal...and Sam...

Sam is going to be in the middle of a huge mess that she won't be able to talk her way out of.

 Before I know what's happening she's pulled the tiny silver key out of her pocket, and takes the cuffs off my wrists and ankles.  The skin that lies beneath is raw, and I wince as the air hits the exposed flesh.  It stings, and I close my eyes.

 "I'm sorry," she whispers after a few moments.  "Justin..."

"I'll be okay."  I open my eyes, ever hopeful that she's going to help me up next...get me out of this hell hole.  But my hope instantly fades away when I see the gun in her hand.  She wants me to be comfortable, yeah, but she's not taking any chances.  Not when she knows Charlie would kill her if I happened to escape.  Part of me wonders if I could overpower her again, like that first day.  I feel weak of course.  I haven't really been able to walk around much at all in a few  days, but....she's a woman.  I could take her out, get out of here.  My mind is screaming at me to take my chance, but I just can't do it.  I keep staring at her, amazed that she trusts me this much, and amazed that...I really don't want to leave her here alone.  "Why don't you put the gun down, Sam," I tell her, quietly.

She sucks in a breath.  "I can't."

I nod a little.  "All right."

"This completely sucks," she chuckles after awhile.  "If my life was different, if I never met Charlie, and met you instead...I think I would have dated you."

I shrug a little.  "You ever think that maybe, this is like fate or something?"

She cocks her head to the side.  "What you do mean?"

"I mean, don't you think this happened for a reason?"

"It happened because my boyfriend is a fucking idiot."

I rise up from the floor cautiously, sucking in a long breath as I proceed to stretch my muscles out for the first time in days.  I watch with cautious eyes as she keeps the gun pointed at me, and I know...I have to try and talk her down, get her to help me.  I'm so close.  The door is right there.  "Life doesn't have to be like this," I tell her.  "We could leave right now, and I'd take care of you."

"You're a great liar."

"I'm being serious."

We stare at each other for awhile, both scared to death but neither one ready to admit it.  She gets up from the floor and steps closer to me, holding the gun in one hand, and allowing the free one to touch my face gently.  "Just like that?"

I nod.  "Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because..." I trail off and pull her body close to mine, searching her expression for some kind of sign that she's not fucking crazy.  Because if she's not, it means that her feelings for me are genuine, and mine are too.  "You're a great girl.  Probably the best one I've met in a long time.  It's fucking nuts.  I mean, look at us.  But...I'm sort of happy, you know?  I'm happy that I've gotten to spend time with you."

She smiles a little.  It's another rare moment, because this situation doesn't call for smiles or laughter.  It gets me to smile back at her tiredly. 

"Justin, if I kissed you, would it be too weird?"

I stare at her.  I don't know what to fucking think right now, but I do know that...I'd like to kiss her too.  It's crazy.  I should be committed.  The person that was chained to the wall on the first day would have kicked her in the stomach, grabbed her gun and ran out of here the minute she unchained me.  But it's been days...much too long, and I guess my mind has grown accustomed to her.  I rely on her now, for mental support, and without her I'm nothing.  I reach out for her face and close my eyes.  Then my lips are on hers, and we kiss a slow deep kiss before pausing to look at each other again.

"What's happening," she whimpers, seemingly scared out of her mind.

"I dunno," I say, trembling a little.  "I liked it though."

"I shouldn't be doing this." She shakes her head roughly.  "This is crazy.  If Charlie finds out..."

"Hey."  I take her hand in mine and give her a serious look.  "It's not crazy, and he's not going to find out."

"He will." She says sternly, and lifts the gun level with my head again.  "Just...sit back down, Justin."

I shake my head.  "No."

Her eyes become glossy as she cocks the gun.  "I said do it!"

I know she's losing her mind right now, because she's confused.  Hell, I am too.  I don't know what's happening, really.  I just kissed this girl, while I'm stuck in this place, kidnapped for who knows how much longer.  Where is my head?  This isn't a joke, or a fuck fest.  She could shoot me right now and think nothing of it.  I can't just...trust her.  "All right," I say softly, taking my usual place against the wall.  "I'm sitting, see?  It's okay, Sam."

"It's not fucking okay."  She kneels down on the floor, and starts to cuff me again.  "That was stupid, what we did."

"Whatever you say," I grunt miserably as the cuffs bite into my skin once again.  "Just leave if you're going to leave.  Get the god damn money, Sam.  Stop fucking around, because I'm sick and tired of this.  I have a family and friends waiting for me outside of this place, and they want to see me again."

"It's not my problem," she grumbles.  "Stop making me feel guilty about this."

"You're the one who fucking kidnapped me!" I bark at her.

"Charlie kidnapped you!," She cries, the tears sliding rapidly out of her eyes and down her face.  "I just...I..."

"You just played along."  I shake my head and let out a disgusted laugh.  "That just completely recuses you, right?  Fucking junkie, you can't even see a good opportunity when it comes your way.  You're too focused on your drugs, and making sure Charlie gets them for you."

"Don't talk to me like that," she whispers.

I look at the wall.  I can't do this with her anymore.  My feelings are getting too intense, and it's not healthy.  I have to focus on keeping myself alive, not making out with my pretty little captor.  "Get out," I mutter."

"What?"

"Get the fuck out."

She looks at me in disbelief, like I have a nerve for wanting her to leave me here alone right now.  But hell, I'm fucking confused.  We just kissed, and I know...I fucking just know that she wants out of this situation just as much as I do.  Her fear is stopping her.  Charlie has taken such control over her, that she feels helpless, like she can't take a stand and do what's right.  I don't know what to do.  I think I've taken every step to convince her getting out of here is a good idea, but she still won't listen.  It's probably because of the drugs, and the fact that despite everything else...Charlie has and always will provide for her.

At least until he ends up killing her.

"I'm sorry."

I don't answer, and I'm sure she knows exactly how I feel.  The blindfold is pulled up over my eyes again, as I expected it would be, and I just...feel so lost.  I have to move on from here though.  I can't let Sam try to convince me to wait this whole thing out til the end anymore.  I have a gut feeling that if I do...I won't stand a chance, that Charlie already has my ending planned out in his head, and I have to beat him.  I have to survive, escape.

From here on out, that's my top priority.

The door slides open and closed again.

Game on.