The next day,

I woke up feeling slightly less anxious than the day before.

It was the first time I could remember feeling that in a long time.

I met Ellie downstairs, and we had breakfast together.

Ellie seemed distant, but in a good way. She told me she had called my family, and that they were fine.

"You didn't tell my parents we went hunting yesterday, did you?" I asked.

"No, I didn't, can you believe that I'm being asked that very question right now? I don't think I could even begin to lie convincingly if I tried."

"I think that's a very good idea," I said, "Not to mention we need to tell him that we're dating."

"We're not..."

"We're not what?" I looked at Lin Xin's room and said, "Didn't you agree yesterday? We're fuck buddies, addressing each other's needs."

"That's not the same thing as dating," she said, "And you know it."

"Really?"

"Really."

"You're right," I said, "It's not. Don't tell anyone, especially your father."

"He won't find out," she said, "And if he does, it'll be nothing but a rumor."

"I'm just not sure how that rumor will turn out," I said, "But don't worry, it won't be anything bad."

Ellie nodded.

"Good," she said, holding a smile to her face, "Because I'm pretty sure you'll need a fake boyfriend if this relationship between us is to last."

"Fake boyfriend?" I asked, taken aback.

"Yeah," she said, laughing, "Just don't make it too obvious. And don't go all weird on me by constantly calling me or visiting me in secret. It'll freak me out."

"No problem." I thought for a moment and asked, "Does your father mind a Chinese-American son-in-law?"

Ellie raised her eyebrows.

"I wouldn't put it that way," she said, "But yeah, I think he'd be fine with it. Why do you ask?"

"No reason." I shrugged and said, "I'm just worried about you being isolated, after all, many white people can accept a white male marrying an Asian girl but not a Chinese marrying a white girl."

"I wouldn't say that..."

"Of course not," I said, "But it's true. How many Chinese-American families have a third generation born in America?"

"I guess that..." Ellie paused. "I have no idea."

"That's just stupid racism that shouldn't distinguish between people based on their skin color."

"Maybe..."

"Anyway, I can't wait to be your boyfriend," I said, trying to bring the mood back to the beginning of this conversation.

"Me too."

At this time, Lin Xin came out of the room. Her eyes met ours, and she left without a word.

"What's wrong?" Ellie asked.

"Nothing. Maybe she's sick of being my girlfriend."

"You might have mentioned it before." I nodded and said, "I'm pursuing her, and she's a backup candidate. Just a bit of an age gap, but a bit better education and class background."

"What's 'a bit better' mean? I'm not a snob, but I'm also not a pushover." Ellie smiled for the first time that day, and I knew I had won.

The rest of the day went by much too slowly.

When it was time to go home, Ellie and I ended up back at my place.

She said, "I guess we should talk, don't be alarmed if I suddenly disappear for a few days."

"No problem."

Ellie took a deep breath and said, "I have a confession to make. Before I met you, I had a boyfriend. I've been lying to you all this time. I broke up with him. I didn't want you to know, because I knew you'd be upset."

"You had a boyfriend?"

"Yes, and he's still very much alive."

"What's his name?"

Ellie hesitated.

"Tell me his name," I said.

"It's... it's complicated."

"Try me."

"David."

"David? The David that's still alive?"

"Yes."

"Why the hell didn't you tell me this earlier? How long has this been going on?"

"About two months..."

"Two months! You let me think that the only reason you were with me was a lie, when in fact you've been sleeping with a guy who's still alive! And you let me think I was the only one you were lying to when in fact you were lying to all of us! I will kill you if you have been lying to me this whole time! Do you understand?"

Ellie nodded.

"Good," I said, "You're a second-hand bitch who dropped out of high school! Worthless! I'll have to think about that."

"Think about what?"

"How dare you?"

"You heard me," Ellie said, stepping closer.

I took a step back.

"You want me to kill you because you don't want me to kill David?"

Ellie nodded.

"Well, then I can understand that... but can't you just... not tell me his name? I'm sure we'll both be happier if I don't have to know his name."

"Fine."

"I need to think carefully, we can be boyfriend and girlfriend, but you can't go see David again."

"I understand," Ellie said.

"You can meet up, but no more than that. I need time to decide what I'm going to do."

"Deal," Ellie said, taking my hand.

"You're a dropout bitch, and if you don't listen, I'll beat you up." I said, viciously.

"Oh, and how did your parents feel about you dating a girl who's been expelled?"

"I haven't told them yet," I said, "But I will. I'll find a way, and I'll deal with them. You understand, right?"

"Of course I do," Ellie said, putting her hand on top of mine.

"Are you still a virgin?" I asked with a sigh, shaking her hand.

Ellie blushed.

"I don't want to hear what you have to say about my virginity," she snapped, "Just yes or no."

"Yes, and it doesn't matter." I threatened, "Shut up, I didn't have a real girlfriend before you!"

Ellie started to cry.

"You're a liar. You've been lying to me this whole time. And you've been playing along with me, while you were sleeping with him."

"It was only one... I swear..."

"One what? One time? You expect me to believe that with a straight face? Look into my eyes, and tell me you haven't slept with someone before."

Ellie's eyes widened in realization, and she sobbed, "You... you're right."

"Of course! Don't move until you kneel before me, you're a sinner."

"I promise..."

I held up my hand to stop Ellie from saying anymore words.

"How did you find out?" Ellie asked.

"The same way I know everything else. Through David."

"Oh, God..." Ellie whispered, shrinking back.

"Don't worry," I said, "I'll be gentle. Just tell me the truth, and I'll make sure you're okay... but I need to know the truth."

Ellie nodded, taking in deep breaths.

"You... you said you broke up with him... why?"

Ellie hesitated.

"You've been lying to me this whole time!"

"Yes..."

"I knew it, go ahead, don't lie." I said with an expressionless face.

Ellie looked down at the ground, then back at me with a broken expression.

"David and I... we've been involved for two months, and we've slept together..." she said, looking away.

"You finally said it, you approached me just for the money too, right?" I asked with a smile.

"No! I love you, and I don't want to marry you if that's what you're thinking."

Ellie's voice had gotten softer still, until it was little more than a whisper.

"If you aren't willing to do it, then don't. I don't want to be with someone who's not willing to be with me."

"I... I don't know what to say..."

"Go ahead and choose David to be with, and when a few years have passed, you'll end up in a garbage dump with visions of drugs for the rest of your life."

"I... I..." Ellie whispered, before bursting into tears.

"Tell me the rest, or I'll beat you up."

"I... David asked me to marry him..."

"Congratulations." I kicked her and said, "Guess where David went?"

"I... I don't know..."

"The dump. That's where you'll be in a few years, if you choose David over me."

The rest of the ride was silent. Ellie was sobbing quietly, I planning my next move.

"What's the rest?" I asked.

"I... David wants to marry me..." she said with a weak voice.

"That's enough of your bullshit, that's all you have left. Always remember this day, I can change to another white girl without you."

"I... I love you..."

"Yeah, yeah. So do I. So do I. You say that every time you see me, and every time I see you. You think I don't notice? Well, I do. Now get out of my sight. Forget what I said, it was just some words. I don't even know myself anymore... I'll show you... I'll show you..."

Ellie stopped, before shivering and shaking her head.

I opened my desk drawer and threw some photos at her and said, "Take a good look at how David died."

"What photos?"

"You know very well. Take your time. Take as many as you want."

Ellie stared at the dead photos of David on the ground, before picking them up. There were about seven of them, all taken from different angles.

"You wanted me to...?" she asked, hesitating once more.

"Look carefully, I gouged out his eyes and then cut off his ears & fingers."

Ellie shuddered, looking at the photos one by one.

"Why?"

"Why? Because I can. That's why. Now go. Go downstairs and take a shower, I'll come over later."

Ellie nodded, grabbing the photos and stuffing them into her bag. She quickly left the room. I waited for her to leave, before I went downstairs.

I took a long, cold shower, before heading to Ellie's Bathroom. I couldn't believe I'd done it. I'd set out to prove a point, and I'd done it. I'd also learned something else: David's death wasn't a random act of violence. At least not if David had his way about it.

I went back upstairs to my room. The shower had given me a chance to reflect on what had happened. I was still shaken up, and I could sense that Ellie was, too.

She was so stupid, she could have been totally pre-judged on her next step. David had wanted her to get away. I guess he must have known that I'd see her for what she was, and kill her if she stayed.

"David, I'm sorry..." I said.

"It's alright. I just wish we could have worked things out... I really do."

When David left, he was a drug addict, and he'd chosen Ellie because she was young and pretty. For Ellie, it was normal that a young rebellious girl would find a rogue gangster as a boyfriend, including Lin Xin, a pawn who had not deviated from the plan.

So now, Ellie was in love with a murderer. A killer. What could possibly go wrong?

I went back upstairs to see Ellie.

She was sitting on the floor, her back against the wall. The tears were still streaming down her face, yet she was trying to hide them.

"What happened?" I asked.

She looked up, her brown eyes meeting my pale blue eyes.

"David died," she said, her voice cracking.

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

"It was all my fault. He was a good man, I knew he was. I just..."

"He was what?"

"He was my friend. David was my friend."

"Yeah."

"He asked me to marry him."

I walked up to her and said, "Uh huh. So what?"

"He was a good man. He was my friend. He would have wanted me to be happy."

"Are you happy?"

"I don't know."

"And did you know about the time I gave him a thousand dollars and he called you an idiot? Did you know that before he died he begged me to leave him alone and he said it was all about you seducing him?" I sat down and spoke slowly so she could hear me clearly.

"I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."

"It's too late for apologies. I've got something to tell you."I left. That's when I realized a mistake had been made.David meant a lot to that girl. She would do anything for David. Fortunately, David died and I was able to shape Ellie's image of him.

"I paid David to propose to you."This revelation took me by complete surprise.

"You paid him to propose?"

"Yes."

Ellie didn't hide her astonishment.

"How much did you give him?"

"10,000..."

Ellie's eyes widened.

"You gave him 10,000 dollars?"

"Yes."

Ellie stood up from the ground, her eyes fixed on mine.

"That's the truth, when he told me everything, I asked him to propose to you to get you to reject him, but neither I nor he expected you to say yes." I stared at her and said, "I can also provide recordings and correspondence if you want."

She didn't say a word. She just stared at me, her eyes filled with contempt and loathing.

"I wish you hadn't done this, li."

"I really wish you hadn't said yes to David, too." I replied calmly.

"He deserved better than you."

"Don't talk about David in the past tense, okay?"

Ellie clenched her fists and said, "You'll pay for this, Mu."

"If I'm sorry, then why wouldn't I?" I took off my jacket and said, "How about forgetting about all this cheating together? We're a couple?"

Ellie looked shocked.

"What do you mean? What are you on about?"

"What do you think I am, an idiot? I paid David to get you, so I could set you up with a friend of mine. I've had enough of your nonsense, I'm tired of it. So stop acting like a baby, and let's be over with. I've got a business proposition for you."

"No." She snapped.

"Dammit, Ellie, I can do anything I want. I'll give you a million dollars if you let me have you."

"You're lying." Ellie said.

I sighed. "Look, we're a bad match. I got you, you're my girlfriend. Don't forget, it was you who betrayed me first. I'll give you one final chance. If you don't want to be with me, then you can walk out that door and go back home."

Ellie's eyes narrowed as she examined my face.

She said, "If you were any other man, I'd kill you for what you've done to David."

"That's interesting. Do you think you could ever kill me?"

"I'd try."

"Unfortunately, I'm not, and you were the one who betrayed and was abandoned by David first. Get down on the bed!"

Ellie obeyed, and I locked the door.

I drew dick from my pants and pointed it at her.

"Make a move and you're dead," I said.

"You're a cold-hearted killer," Ellie said.

"And you're a snivelling, cheating..." I crawled up behind her and said, "Did you buy your own silk panties? I like them a lot."

Ellie's eyes widened, followed by an annoyed expression.

"How dare you!" She cried, "You listen to me, you bastard. If you do anything to harm me, I'll..."

"Shut up! Who fucked other men first! cunt! Open your legs!" I slapped her on the ass and said, "You're a loser! Only for sex."

I climbed atop her and pressed my hips forward, driving my shaft into her.

"AHHHHHH!" Ellie squirmed to get out from underneath me.

"Stop fighting me," I said, "I'm not fighting you, I'm fighting your game."

Ellie rolled her eyes and muttered, "Fine, but don't get sloppy."

I smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Ellie smiled and said, "You know, we are good together... in the bedroom, at least."

I drove my hips forward, deep into her. Ellie moaned and rubbed her back.

"How many fingers do you want?" I asked, kneading her buttocks.

"Shut up," Ellie said, "I'm trying to focus on you."

"Sorry, sorry."

I kissed her neck and licked my way down to her cleavage.

She let out a low, rumbling purr.

I licked my way down to her bare, muscular legs.

"Yes, yes, do it..." she whispered.

I licked my way up to her belly, and over her small, perky, round, little booby.

Ellie gasped.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Okay, then."

I lowered my head and licked my way up her inner thighs.

"Mmm..." she said.

I licked my way up to her belly button and looked into her eyes.

"Yes..." she said.

"Look up and open your mouth." I leaned close to her head and said, "I'm going to spit."

Ellie's eyes widened in surprise, and she opened her mouth.

I spat directly into her mouth.

"Ugh!" she made a disgusted face, and said, "You're disgusting."

"Just do what I say, and this won't hurt so bad." I laughed and said, "Pin your legs around me."

"What?" Ellie asked, confused.

"Just do what I say, or I'll make this really hurt."

Ellie was silent as she looked to the ceiling.

"Come on, pin me," I said, pinching her slender, pale arms.

She stared at me as if I were an animal.

"Please?" I asked.

"Fine." Ellie bent her knees and opened her legs.

I stared into her eyes and saw her looking back at me.

I said, "Close your eyes."

She obeyed, and I said, "Imagine that your heart is a light. Your light, pure and bright."

Ellie's eyes widened as she stared at me.

"Imagine it. Imagine it so strong, so blinding, that it prevents all darkness from entering your mind or heart."

A tear escaped Ellie's eye, and she let out a tremulous sigh.

"Then it was devoured and conquered."

"Yes. The light in your heart is replaced by the darkest of thoughts and feelings. It becomes the blackness that surrounds all things. The void, the nothingness, the darkness."

"Yes."

"Then, the darkness is devoured."

"Yes."

"It is made one with the darkness."

"It is conquered and destroyed."

I nodded and said, "Open your mouth."

Ellie obeyed, and I spat into her mouth.

"Ugh!" she said, and rubbed her throat.

"Imagine that your heart is a light."

"Yes."

"Imagine it... so bright that it prevents all darkness from entering your mind or heart."

"Yes."

"Then it is devoured and conquered."

I slapped her in the face, causing her to stumble backward.

"Pin your legs around me."

She did as I said, and I pinched her slender, pale arms.

"Look into my eyes."

Ellie obeyed.

"Do you do drugs?"

She shook her head.

"No."

"Do you smoke cigarettes?"

She nodded.

I smiled. "Do you masturbate?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to?"

She shrugged.

I asked, "Do you want to at least have phone...?"

Suddenly, she snapped her fingers, and said, "Now!"

Ellie and I quickly pulled on our clothes as she threw her things on the bed. We hurried out of the room and down the stairway.

"I can't believe we just did that!" she said, "I can't believe you just asked me that!"

"Well, did you say yes or no?"

She sighed. "Yes."

"Give me your phone." I sat down on the couch and brought over a glass of water.

"Why?" she asked.

"Just give it to me."

She reached into her pocket and withdrew her phone, handing it to me.

I examined the phone and saw that it was a prepaid phone.

I put her phone in the glass of water.

"What's this?" she asked.

"An opportunity for the both of us, I'd say." I handed her the phone and said, "Fold it, you have to make a cut with your old circle of friends."

"What are you doing?" she asked, frowning.

"Keeping you from contacting your original friends, would you rather have people talking about your rebellious past behind you when you become a rich wife later in life?"

"No, I don't want to cut those friends."

"If you want my help, you're going to have to cooperate with me."

Her mouth tightened, but she said nothing.

"You're going to have to pick one: friends or family. You can't have both. Pick your choice, and then we'll see where we are."

"Fine."

Ellie made a cutting gesture with her hand.

"Fine?" I asked.

"Yeah, fine," she said.

"Good," I said, and folded her phone.

I stared at the phone, feeling the satisfying crackle of static electricity that I always felt when I held a new phone.

I shoved the phone into my pocket and said, "Let's go."

We got up from the couch and left the apartment. Ellie locked the door behind us.

"Are you sure about this?" Ellie asked.

"If you don't want to go through with this, go back inside the apartment," I said.

Ellie looked down at the ground.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing," Ellie said.

"Tell me," I said.

Ellie looked up at me. "Why did you choose me? I dropped out of high school and got tattoos and smoked. I..." Ellie's voice trembled a bit. "I'm not like you."

"I didn't choose you because you're beautiful," I said, "You're a white man."

"What are you talking about?"

"I read your background. You're a college dropout, with a criminal record."

"That's not who I am. I'm good person."

"That's who you were," I said.

"But I'm a different person now," she said, her voice wavering a bit.

"Then prove it to me," I said. "I chose you for your skin color and shitty education."

"Fine," Ellie said, putting her hands in her pocket.

We walked in silence for a while. Ellie folded her arms as she watched the streets of go by.

"I need cigarettes."

"I don't smoke."

"It's not about whether or not you smoke, it's about having cigarettes. I need cigarettes."

"I don't have any cigarettes."

"Don't give me that crap. You've had cigarettes before and you'll have them again. Just give me the cigarettes."

"No." I chided, "Bear with me, you have to quit smoking."

Ellie growled, "Fine, fine, I'll go get cigarettes on the way home."

The sky outside the window was beginning to darken as we walked down the street. I could see the outline of the skyscrapers in the city.

"I wish I could be a fly on the wall for that party," Ellie said.

I stopped as I heard her.

"Why?" "You could probably get away with it too, considering how lax security is at those parties."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Ellie said, shaking her head.

"Why not?" I asked.

Ellie shrugged. "I dunno. I guess it just wouldn't be as fun."

I nodded.

We found a cell phone store and Ellie bought a cheap pay as you go phone.

"How much do you need?" I asked.

"A thousand."

"A thousand New Zealand dollars?"

"Yep." Ellie looked around uncomfortably. "It's not that much."

"That much?" I asked, scoffing.

"You're from America, you must be thinking in dollars, not New Zealand dollars." Ellie rolled her eyes.

I took out my wallet and handed Ellie a hundred dollars.

Ellie counted the money.

"Alright," she said. "You've been helpful, I'll buy cigarettes from you."

I folded my arms and leaned against the wall. Ellie came out of the store with a couple packs of cigarettes. She handed them to me.

"Here," she said, "you can get more whenever you want."

I said, "Thanks," taking the cigarettes.

Ellie smirked and said, "Anytime."

I walked around the block with Ellie. I had a pretty good view of the city from the opposite side.

"What do you want to do first?" I asked.

"Do you want to go to an Indian restaurant or a Chinese restaurant?"

"Chinese food," I said.

My stomach rumbled with hunger, and my mouth watered.

"I know a great Chinese restaurant," Ellie said.

"I don't care, take me there," I said.

We walked to the closest Chinese restaurant and I sat down with Ellie across from me.

The waiter took our drink orders: iced tea for me, and a glass of wine for Ellie.

"So," I said, "what's the plan for tonight?"

"You know," Ellie said, "the usual."

"Oh," I said, not knowing the "usual" Ellie was referring to.

"A-ha!" Ellie said, smiling, leaning into the table.

"What?"

"You didn't read my background, did you?"

"No," I said.

"Anyway, the usual for me is going to a bar or a club, meeting new guys, and then getting laid."

"I guess I should have thought of that, you can't go back to those places."

"Why not?" Ellie asked.

"Because they're full of douche bags."

Ellie shrugged.

"Is there another reason?"

"Sure," I said. "I want to have you all to myself."

"Oh," Ellie said, blushing a bit. "I see."

"So," I continued, "what's the plan?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because every time I try to dance, you look at me like I'm a freak."

"What are you doing?" Ellie asked.

"Feeling the breeze."

"Can you talk?" Ellie asked.

"Well, Ellie is the most beautiful and noble girl here?"

"Shut up, Li Mu."

"Alright, let's talk of something less weird."

"Like what?"

"Are you going back to your house tonight or staying at mine?" I asked as I took a sip of my beer, "Don't say you're planning to sleep on the street."

"I dunno."

"Well, I do," I said.

"You're weird."

"I'm not weird," I said, "I don't want you to simply come here later and then sleep with some strange man."

"You talk too much."

"Fine, I'm weird," I said, "But you're still going to stay at my house, right?"

"Yeah."

"Good. I'll go get the wine. You can put your things over there."

"Thanks, Li Mu."

I leaned closer to Ellie.

***

After I finished, I went to go get the wine, and then I got my coat and bag from the table.

"Let's go," I said, "It's getting late."

"Yeah."

I walked out of the bar and opened the door to the cold. The wind nearly knocked me over.

"Hurry up, Li Mu," I said.

"I'm hurrying."

I grabbed her hand and started running. As we ran down the sidewalk, we looked for a place to sleep. It was already getting dark, and there wasn't anywhere decent to sleep. The streets were full of puddles, and the air smelled of sewage.

"Where are we going to sleep?" Ellie asked.

"Find a love hotel, no ID check."

"That's even worse than a dirty public park." Ellie rolled her eyes.

"At least there are no cops around to ask questions."

"Fine, we'll go find a dirty love hotel. How do we get there?"

"I know a place," I said, "Come on."

We walked through the dark, cold streets. The wind bit my face, and I shivered. The clouds hung low over the buildings, blocking the moon and the stars. The buildings looked gray and lifeless. The street lamps illuminated only a narrow stretch of pavement, no longer than the length of a football field.

We walked for half an hour.

"Do you think we're lost?" Ellie asked.

"No."

"How do you know?"

"I just know," I said.

"What do we do if we're lost?"

"I've been there with a girl."

"What girl?" Ellie looked ahead, squinting her eyes.

"You don't remember? The one from the bar?"

"I was drinking, not taking drugs," Ellie snorted.

I grabbed Ellie's hand. "The one with the black hair."

"Shut up, Li Mu."

"It was a pretty girl, with black hair, wearing a red dress."

"I said shut up, Li Mu."

"I'm not saying it again."

***

We walked in silence for another fifteen minutes. I was starting to get cold, so I pulled up the collar of my coat and jammed my hands deep into my pockets.

"My feet are cold," Ellie said.

"We're almost there, that basement under the bridge up ahead is it."

"Should we go?"

"Yeah, let's go."

We walked down the dark streets. The air smelled of coal, garbage, and piss. It felt like a wind was blowing, chilling me to the bone.

"Here it is," I said.

We walked to the underpass and looked down its length. The street lights only illuminated a few feet in front of the underpass, leaving the rest of the area in darkness.

"Let's go down there and check it out," I said.

"Fine."

We walked down to the underpass, and I looked around. A street lamp illuminated the area, but its light did not stretch to the dark corners, leaving those in shadow untouched by any light.

"Are you sure this is the way you want to go?" Ellie asked.

"Yes," I said, and after a few more steps I saw the hidden, raw-embroidered iron door.

I unlocked the door and we walked inside. We entered a stairwell that would take us down to my basement. I found the door to the stairwell and unlocked it.

"Thank you," Ellie said.

"Don't thank me yet."

She walked into the stairwell. I followed her inside and closed the door.

The stairwell was dimly lit. The walls were painted dark green and the stairs were old and dirty. I could hear music, but it was small. I took Ellie's hand and we started down the stairs.

When we reached the bottom, Ellie opened the door. She stepped outside and I followed.

Ellie shuddered, pulling her shirt tightly against her body.

"Come on," I said, taking her hand again.

We entered the dark and smoke-filled room. The place was filled with cigarette smoke, and the light from a few faint candles made the place look even darker. I took Ellie's hand in mine.

"This place is like a fireplace," she said, her voice high.

"That's good," I said.

The place was a shithole. The floor was littered with garbage and scraps of paper. Old pizza crusts and empty beer bottles were strewn across the floor. A single, filthy mattress lay against the far wall. A homemade fan sat on the floor near the bed, the blades painted black.

"The basement door's over there." I pointed at the door. "Go on through."

"You coming?" Ellie asked.

"Yeah, I'm coming," I said.

Ellie looked around, blinking.

"We should leave soon, or my father will kill you."

"Your father can't kill me, he doesn't even know me. Besides, I'm not going anywhere until you do."

"I don't know..." Ellie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay."

"Okay." I pushed open the door and inside was a wide basement with some furniture with a TV, a refrigerator, and a generator. There was Annacism on the wall with some graffiti. The basement door slammed shut, and Ellie jumped.

"What was that for?" I asked.

"I don't know, it just felt... good," Ellie said.

"There is no law here, or we are the law." I pointed to the left and said, "There is the bathroom with the kitchen, and don't go to that door on the right."

"What's in there?" Ellie asked, and she stepped to the right door.

"Nothing, it's just a storage room," I said, and I slammed the door in her face. "Some weapons with bulletproof undershirts."

"Why'd you do that?" Ellie asked.

"We're not going to have any problems down here, are we?"

"No, but..." Ellie said, and she looked down at the floor.

"That'll do it, come play."

I grabbed Ellie's hand and we walked into the basement. I pulled her to the mattresses on the floor. It was covered in dust and smelled like a gym locker.

"I'm scared," Ellie said.

"It's going to be fine, I promise."

"Promises can't stop bullets, liars never do."

"So what do you want? In a basement with no laws, you want us to just talk?"

"Yeah, let's talk."

I sat down on the rug, and Ellie sat on the mattress.

"Are you going to shoot me?" Ellie asked.

"No, why would I do that?"

"You're a liar."

"I didn't shoot you because I don't want to. It's not my nature. Now, let's talk."

"What do you want?" Ellie asked.

"Happy, I don't like to feel tied down by society. What do you want?" I turned on the TV, which was showing some bloody, violent movie.

"I want to go home," Ellie said.

"I could get you a home."

Ellie looked up at me, her eyes widening.

"You're a devil."

"So are you." I get food from the fridge and say, "You want these things, why else would you drop out of school?"

"I want to go home. Now."

"How? You want me to pull some strings?"

"No, I want to leave in the morning. Can you take me back?"

"Yeah." I handed her a drink and said, "What kind of music are you listening to?"

"Rap. You don't like it?"

"No, I do."

"What's your favorite kind of music?"

"I like classical music." I sat down and said, "You can tune the music yourself, tune it so you can dance for me?"

"You're on." Ellie began to play her music.

I felt bad for her. She looked so alone, and had no idea what she was getting herself into.

I knew I'd never do it. I felt like I was taking advantage of her. At the same time, I had to try. I had to try to get her out of here, while I could.

"Do you know how to strip?" I asked.

"Wh

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