*This chapter has been edited from the original version*

I open my eyes to see my worst fears coming true. Men with guns flood our clearing and the hedges are on fire. As I look around, I see Jacen bound, gagged and knocked out, and Lukashi cornered, about to be overwhelmed. I struggle to my feet and run toward Lukashi to help him, but a heavy hand grabs me, stopping me short. I fight against its grip, but another hand smacks me hard against my head, and I taste blood in my mouth as my head snaps to the side from the blow.

I watch, helpless, as Lukashi is bound (though it takes six men to do so) and drugged. I cry out as it unfolds before me, and tears leak from my eyes. The person who has me captive half drags, half pushes me towards Mark, who's waiting by the entrance, a triumphant smirk on his face. When he sees me, it becomes a triumphant grin.

"Ah. My final prize," Mark crows, grabbing my chin, forcing me to look him in the eyes.

"Why? What do you want from me?" I ask him, my breath raspy from the smoke that's quickly filling the small clearing.

"What do I want from you?" he replies. When he sees my dumbfounded face, Mark begins to laugh. "You don't even know your own strength!" At his mockery, I lose my calm. I spit on his laughing face, stopping his laughter short. I feel a rush of satisfaction as he glares darkly at me. With a scowl, he spins away from me, and barks at his men.

"Let's move out from here! We have what we came for!" he orders, making hand gestures that must mean something to the men with him, because they form ranks, and march out of the clearing. Not long after that, someone presses a cloth that smells sickly sweet against my nose and mouth. Comforting darkness greets me from the nightmare my life just turned into, and I happily fall into it, though I know it won't last.

~~~~~~~~~~

So...um...yeah, that happened.

-T.K. Anderson