Rosik keeps the hatch open at the front of the van the entire ride and unlike last time I refuse to hide in his blind spot.

Instead I sit in the middle of the padded van and glare at him through his rear-view mirror.

Rosik tries to keep his eyes attached to mine throughout most of the journey, only glancing ahead to swerve back onto the road whenever we hit the gravel on the sides.

The atmosphere tense.

"How is Axel going to handle the newbie?" I grit out, sick of the silence and anxiety.

Rosik momentarily frowns at my question as though the thought hadn't even crossed his mind yet but he's quick to recover.

"He will get over it." Rosik replies and shifts higher in his seat to get a better view of my whole body which is crumpled on the floor, swaying with the van and utterly exhausted.

"And will he leave?" I query and fold my arms over my body, trying to hide the rips and tears in my clothing.

Axels threat from earlier is still fresh in my mind and my heart begins to race as I glance out the front window through the latch and notice that Rosik has his lights on, lighting the way.

It's already nighttime and that means that Axel expects my 'decision' in less than twenty-four hours.

I can always hope that our near escape has distracted him or even the newbie enough so that he forgot's about the threat but I severely doubt it.

"Depends on base." Rosik grumbles and I can tell that he wants Axel gone nearly as badly as I do.

"He needs to leave Rosik.."
I take a chance in saying and Rosik raises an eyebrow but remains silent, urging me on.

I take advantage of Rosiks surprising lack of anger at the overall situation and decide to put my faith in him to protect Dana.

I already know that this is a bad idea but my options are severely limited.

"Axel threatened me this morning.."
I begin and Rosik remains calm but thankfully attentive.

I swallow heavily not enjoying having a conversation with him in the slightest but I also know that it needs to be done.

"He told me that I need to choose either Dana or myself to.. Die by tomorrow night. We are causing too many issues being a pair and one of us has to go." I murmur out and my eyes drop to the van floor as they fill with tears.

Saying the words truly make me aware of how vulgar and evil they are.
The pure weight of them leaves me nearly shaking.

Rosik remains silent for a long time, too long and the shaking takes over my flesh as the tension builds.

The van rolls onto gravel once more but this time eases to a stop and I know that we are back in our temporary prison.

Rosik turns off the car and remains seated, the whole back of the van lights up as I presume the traitors truck pulls up behind and soon his lights are switched off as well.

"Rosik?" I question softly as he remains stiff and now his eyes are cast forward and are blank.

I know I've made a mistake but the question is how large of one is it?

"That's why you ran away.."
Rosik murmurs and unconsciously I lean forward to catch his words, desperate to be saved from the silence.

"You ran away because.. of him!
Axel caused you to leave me." Rosik continues and I scrunch my eyebrows together, this man is too deluded for words.

Now it's my turn to remain silent, figuring that saying anything will just get me in more trouble.

Rosik opens his door and as he clambers out I hear Axel yelling in the distance.

I quickly stand and run up to the hatch and peer through the front window, grateful the Rosik has left the door open as he walks up to Axel who is waiting by the front gate.

Axel is wearing baggy shorts and a rather unflattering white singlet which only makes his slight beer gut even more pronounced.

I can see even from here the swelling in his cheek and redness from the earlier brawl and I have no doubt that there will be bruising there tomorrow.

"Who the hell is this? I'm not sure if you were aware but if you couldn't find the girls you weren't supposed to phone a friend." Axel calls as Rosik continues walking up to him and out of my eye-sight I hear Eric yell out a brief,
"Hello Mate!"
Which falls flat as Axel glares at his presumed destination.

"Seriously Rosik-" Axel begins but by this stage Rosik has reached him and not hesitating and following the speed of his steps Rosik raises his hand in a clenched fist and hits Axel for the second time today.

However as he hits Axel I realise that earlier today Rosik hit Axel lightly.
This hit takes everyone by surprise besides Rosik as Axel falls flat and skids back a few steps on his back.

Axel remains motionless for a few seconds, enough time for Eric to enter my vision and run between the two men.
Confusion and panic clouding his features.

I spin around quickly and run up to the back of the van to squint through the tinted windows and I'm disappointed to find that Dana is still locked in the car and is trying to look around the van to see what is happening.

No matter how much I wave my arms Dana can't see me so I decide to return to the hatch once more.

As my eyes take in the scene I feel my heart pick up as Rosik shoves Eric aside lightly and pounces on the still dazed Axel.

The muscles in his arms shake and bulge as he begins landing strike after strike at Axel's face and body and I'm torn between yelling and staying quiet.

Shouldn't I want this?
Shouldn't I want the situation to be safer for Dana and I?
Axel is threatening us right now so shouldn't I feel elated that he is being taken care of?

However as I continue watching unblinking I can't help but shiver with more fear as I see Rosiks true fury unleashed.
Like a tap that's been turned he is flooded with anger and a thirst for blood.

I'd prefer a monster under my bed any-day compared to him.

Axel is now spitting blood and vaguely I can hear his muted plea's which only cause Rosiks hits to get harder and faster.

Rosik is like a shark, the moment blood is spilt he will swarm and nothing will stop him.

Convinced that I'm witnessing someone's murder I turn away from the hatch and sink down to the ground.

I want to press my hands over my ears but a deeper part of me is morbidly intrigued to know some details of the scene.
If my eyes can't handle it then my ears will fill in the blanks.

I rock on the floor of the van, the sound of flesh hitting flesh causes my mind to spiral as I'm flung back into my childhood and a few traitorous tears drip down my cheeks.

Why am I a magnet for violence?
Why am I always the cause for others to get hurt?

My nails dig into my palms and I vaguely feel blood drip down my hands as I try and choke back sobs.

"Stop it Rosik, you'll kill him goddamnit!" I hear Eric scream and I presume that he manages to actually get between them because the sound of hitting abruptly stops.

"So what if I do? You're his replacement. I don't need him anymore and I hate loose ends." Rosik gasps out and I imagine his face being bright red and the scar on his neck bulging as he attempts to regain his breath.

I can now hear Axel sobbing.

"No, I'm an extra! Base has decided that because you have taken two girls instead of one that two transporters isn't enough. We need to outnumber the prisoners in order for a higher success rate. I'm here as your second partner." Eric quickly relays and only now do I push myself back onto my feet and slowly shuffle back to the hatch.

I wipe my eyes frantically as I do, trying to ignore the pricks of pain in my hands and the small trickles of blood.

"And considering that without me you would have lost the prisoners today I can't help but agree with base. We need all the help we can get.
Especially because of the spitfire."

At this both men turn and look into the van.

I freeze momentarily before casting them a dark glare.
Eric smirks far too lightly, Rosik's shoulders slump and from his place on the ground I feel my glare falter as Axel sends me a far darker one with more prominent threats through swelling eyes.

"What even is your name?"
Rosik finally mutters, turning back to Eric and he grins triumphantly obviously crediting himself for stopping a murder.

I'm still struggling to decide whether I'm feeling relieved or disappointed that he did so.

"It's Eric, Eric Knowles. I'm from the Gold Coast and I've been out in the field for two years now. Over twenty parcels delivered successfully to the plane." He gloats and my stomach flips. Absolutely disgusting.

Rosik obviously isn't impressed and applies his focus to Axel one last time and aims a sharp kick in his side and I flinch with Axel.

"Right. Well deliver this sack of shit back into the house on the couch then come out and get the girl in your vehicle and put her in the first bedroom." Rosik commands, asserting himself as the leader early on and Eric is quick to comply.

Just as Eric helps Axel stand with a loud grunt Rosik walks up to the now swaying Axel and reaching into his shirt Rosik pulls out a hidden key.

"Use this to lock the bedroom door." He finally says before turning around and locking eyes with me again.
I gulp loudly.

"What about the spitfire?"
Eric questions lightly but I pick up a layer of genuine hesitation as he notices Rosiks intense focus on me. Obviously fearing that his anger is now going to be unleashed on a physically less-resilient victim.

"Leave her. She is not your concern. Like I said, she is not leaving my sight." Rosiks eyes narrow slightly as his mind grasps at a new thought and suddenly he grins widely.

"You are now solely in charge of Dana, the younger girl. You are to keep her in your sight at all times and only her wellbeing is your concern."

Rosik orders, still staring at me and my eyes narrow into slits as I realise that this is his way of wedging himself between us and keeping me firmly by his side.
The bastard.

"What is Axels role then?"
Eric questions and thankfully due to his laid-back persona the question flows easily and with no real weight or judgment.

"Axel needs some time to.. Recover from the strain of this job. I'll find a task for him when he's fit to work again. Until then he's on paid rest." Rosik concludes and I can see that Eric wants to linger a little longer.

To strangely enough ensure my safety but he and I both know the risk of pushing Rosiks buttons right now and he begins half carrying Axel inside.

Rosik watches them go, his back to me and I take this time to gain control over myself.

I know that when Rosik comes to get me that things are going to get ugly.
I feel like a fly caught in a web, struggling only makes me more ensnared but it's in my nature.

Whether I want to be or not..
I'm a fighter.

Rosik calmly waits and remains terrifyingly still even as Eric returns outside to collect Dana.

I run once again to the back doors and watch as he handles Dana.
I'm pleased to see that he doesn't touch her and instead simply opens the car door and points her in the direction of the house.

Dana looks briefly into the back windows of the van and I give her a small smile, forgetting that she can't see me but her expression lightens. Knowing that I'm bound to be there.

She walks ahead, keeping her head down and it's not until she see's Rosik still standing there that she starts to falter.

Realising that he and I will be out here alone Dana stops walking and frantically looks at both the men, silently pleading.

Eric grabs her forearm and leads her to the front of the house anyway ignoring her pitiful attempts to pull away.
Dana is crying now and her movements are only draining her further.

Returning to the hatch I clear my voice and hopefully my tremors.

"Dana it's going to be okay! I'll be in soon, I-I wanted to talk to Rosik quickly." I shout out without thinking, too desperate to calm Dana's flustered state.

As my voice carries out into the dark field all three turn to look at me and the feeling of being trapped in a web returns.

Dana looks confused, but my confident exterior is enough to fool her into thinking I'm as okay as I can be and she now allows Eric to tug her the rest of the way into the house.

My eyes greedily watch their retreat and I can only hope that Eric keeps the key to our room and doesn't allow Axel to have it.

I don't return my eyesight back to Rosik.
Even when the front door slams and he jerks to life by walking to the van I still don't look at him.
No, I can't look at him.

He slowly makes his way back to the front of the van and leaning in he reaches around the seats.

Not wanting to be close to him I back away from the hatch and turn my back to him.

I hear the van purr to life and momentarily I wonder if he is going to kidnap me again but from other kidnappers, the thought for some reason amuses me.

Instead Rosik just switches on the radio and because the hatch is open the sound crams it's way into the tight space and oozes from the walls.

The music is foreign to me it sounds folky and I'm assuming it's in Russian. It would be soothing in your average situation but this certainly is not what I call average.
So the music has a creepier edge to it which is highlighted further by the outside being pitch black.

Rosik shuffles out of the seat and I hear the car door slam shut.

I quickly return to my place by the hatch and hold my breath as Rosik appears at the van doors.

I bite my lip to suppress a whimper that is desperately wanting to burst out at this heinous scene but I don't want to give Rosik more power.

Seemingly taking a moment to compose himself also, Rosik pulls the door after a few seconds and I feel my back brush the wall as I lean backwards.

I can feel Rosiks gaze burning into my figure but I still refuse to look at him.

"Haven't you got some ABBA or something?" I mutter half-heartedly while staring at the ground.

Already the folky Russian music is getting on my nerves.
It's sad and slow, the kind of music I loathe.

In response Rosik simply slams the van doors behind him shut and I briefly hope that he didn't just lock us in here with no way out.

Rosik has to bend slightly to walk through the small space and after attempting to adjust to his awkward hunched position he quickly gives up and drops to his knees, rocking the whole van.

"Here." Rosik says surprisingly softly and I glance up as Rosik reveals what he has in his hands and I blanch at the sight.

In one hand he has two water bottles and in the other he has the flimsy dress that he bought me seemingly so long ago.

"I'll have just the water." I mutter, the sight of the liquid setting my throat alight.

Of course Rosik only sits it an arms length away and I curse under my breath.
I know he won't roll it towards me and judging by his smirk he knows that I'm already suspicious and on edge.

"Take it then." He practically whispers and the hairs on the back of my neck stand stiffly.

I can't ignore the burning in my throat though and knowing that something bad is going to happen no matter what I think to myself 'screw it!'
Before shuffling over and bending down to pick up the drink.

I snatch the drink bottle and Rosik tenses and lashes his arms out.

He murmurs a crude "boo!"
And I of course being a clutz focuses so heavily on avoiding his outstretched hands that I trip and fall onto my ass.

As I collect myself and try to ignore the throbbing pain in my thighs and ass I realise that Rosik just wanted to scare me.
He remains seated where he was, oozing confidence as we are sitting across from each other, an arms length away.

I focus on the bottle rather than Rosiks playful gaze and trace my finger over the seal on the lid and I'm grateful to find that it's firmly closed.

I unscrew the lid with a little strain but find the sound of the seal breaking comforting.

I waste no time in tipping my head back and take a large drink.

I feel my cheeks burn uncomfortably as Rosik continues to stare but my body is too desperate to stop.
I fight the urge to sigh as the water runs down my hot throat and drink quietly, at least I tried to drink quietly until Rosik suddenly shifted.

My eyes cut to his form and widen as I notice that he's taking his black shirt off and instantly begin choking on the water, it drips down my chin and my ruined shirt.

I cough and splutter and hastily screw the lid on top of the water.
I go to stand but Rosik reaches his now bare arm out and latches onto my leg.
I try to use my other leg to kick him but he quickly shuffles over and manages to somehow half-straddle my body, tugging my leg to make me lie down flat.

I'm still slightly choking but still try to hit Rosik, I lift the water to fling at him but he quickly catches it just as he pulls the remainder of his shirt off.

My eyes notice that he is indeed shirtless and doesn't have a singlet under his shirt this time.

My cheeks burn brighter and I start thrashing, Rosik allows my arms to smack his form and simply continues to stare down at me with a small grin. He is holding his shirt in one hand and in the other he is holding the water that I flung at him.

"You have cuts all over you Kitty.." Rosik purrs out and holding my frantic stare he opens the lid and pours some of the water over his shirt.

I cringe at the waste of water and double my efforts to try and shove him off as he leans down closer to my body, trapping me further.

The music in the background contrasts greatly with my frantic pulse.

Rosik gently begins to wipe his disgusting shirt over my face.
He starts at my forehead and works his way down over my eyes, forcing them closed and then moves over my cheeks and lips.

He lingers momentarily over my lips and stares at them for a moment too long.

"I'm perfectly capable of cleaning myself." I growl out slowly, applying all my focus into not stuttering and I'm relieved that I achieve my goal.

Rosik breaks his longing gaze from my lips and sends me an apologetic smirk before trailing his shirt down my neck.

I can smell his cologne and shudder as he covers me in his scent.
This is so wrong.

Rosik continued to wipe down the parts of my skin that are showing.

Thankfully he rushes over my arms and legs, simply collecting the small drops of blood and no other funny business. His eyes are bright and I go limp beneath him, just waiting for the torture to be over and not wanting to exert myself.

Rosik notices the blood in my palms from digging my nails into my soft flesh and he 'tsks' at the sight.

"Axel won't bother you anymore."
He murmurs and lifting my limp hand he presses a firm but gentle kiss over the top of my now clenched fist.

I tug my hand away instantly, feeling it burn.

"Can you stop bothering me now?"
I grit out and Rosik laughs loudly, his body shaking against mine but thankfully he does shift off of me.

I'm quick to shimmy back into a standing position and glare down at his form.

"I'd like to go back to Dana now."
I demand and Rosik remains quiet. This whole situation is confusing me greatly, there is something more off than usual about Rosik.

"Might as well drink some more water first." Rosik offers and passes me the second water bottle which I greedily snatch and make sure to keep my body away from his grubby paws.

He holds his hands up in mock surrender and my glare hardens.

I rip open the lid easily, there is no stiffness to the lid and I'm grateful due to my whole body feeling as though it's on fire and not in a good way.

Rosik watches once again as I take a swig of water and I enjoy the feeling of dominance as I stand above him.

"You won't be staying in your old room anymore." Rosik finally utters as I'm halfway through with the water and I falter and force myself to stop drinking.

"Where will Dana and I be staying then?" I question and feel my mind begin to whirl.

That's the only room with a lock, surely Rosik wouldn't slip up this stupidly.

"Dana will stay where she is. I noticed that she's reading one of the books and would hate to take that joy away from her." Rosik continues and I drop the water with a slight thud.

I cross my arms and give him the
'are you serious?'
Look which clearly explains that I'm not liking where this is headed.

"You're going to be staying with.. Me." Rosik whispers the final part and I scoff out loud.

The sound echoes throughout the small space and I feel a head-ache begin to form behind my eyes.

"That is not going to fucking happen!"
I exclaim while rubbing my eyes that are starting to burn.

Exhaustion from the day hitting me hard.

"I think you'll find that it will happen." Rosik returns quickly and now stands.

I feel the whole van lurch and my vision begins to spin.
I stumble into the wall of the van and continue to rub my eyes.

Something isn't right.

"W-What?" I whisper as black spots begin to appear in my vision.

Rosik begins approaching me cautiously like a caged animal and I try to alter my stance to fight him.

However as I turn to push him away I feel my knee's buckle and instead I sag into his open arms and he lifts me effortlessly.

"It's just a little drug to help you sleep Kitty.. You've had a big day, but don't worry, you won't be having any other adventures for a while."
Rosik murmurs seemingly from far away.

I know I should be panicking and I vaguely feel my heart pounding but my eyes close as a forced sense of serenity corners my mind.

The last thing I sense before losing consciousness is Rosiks hot lips press into my temple for seemingly minutes before I completely go limp in his eager arms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oof this is a long one! A lot happens in this chapter..
How do we feel about Axel?
Did he deserve Rosiks wrath?

And poor Katie!
What do we think of Katie's character so far?
Or even Dana for that matter?
Who do you relate with more?

Remember to vote if you like what you see!