"Do you want something to drink?"
I ask hesitantly as Oliver wanders in and allows his eyes to take in my neat yet cramped living space.

I fight the urge to fidget and without waiting for a reply I turn and fill two glasses up with water from the fridge and leading the way I choose to sit us at my circular table.
The couch seeming far too personal and informal.

He follows behind silently and lacing my hands under my chin I stare at him across the table and cross my legs at the ankles, a bundle of nerves and anticipation.

"So.." Oliver murmurs just before taking a sip of the water and surprisingly looking as nervous as me he rolls up the sleeves on his shirt before focusing back on me.

It's odd to see Oliver on edge, any memory I have of him is when he's playing a part, whether that's 'Eric' or when he's in officer mode.

This is different, this is the realest I've ever seen him.
The thought makes me uncomfortable, I promised myself that I wouldn't ever see him again.

"What I'm about to tell you is highly classified. It's an outbreak that we've kept on the down-low to stop panic from spreading. You need to promise me that not a single word of this will leave this room." Oliver states and I'm quick to nod, the words straight out of a textbook and I take a sip of my own water to cool my suddenly dry throat.

"There have been multiple.. Bodies found across Australia's beaches, ages range from children to young adults and each are found with varying degrees of causes of death."
Oliver pauses to watch my reaction but I keep it cool, calm and focused which pushes him to carry on.

"They haven't been murdered on the beach, that much is certain. They have been moved there, we believe it's to throw off the trail. The sand and ocean wash away any details of their previous surroundings."

"What makes you so sure that they are connected, seems like a stretch that the murders connect across various beaches and states." I finally use my voice to question and I can practically see the wheels turning behind Oliver's blue eyes as he contemplates how much to tell me.

"Each body has a business card stuck to them in some form or another...
Some in very creative ways." At this his eyes shift and I try not to think too hard about what that means.

"The reason why I'm here is because I wanted to show you the card. It just a hunch I have and though they are rarely wrong I figured that you'd be able to confirm it." Oliver pulls out his phone without asking permission but I find that I'm already leaning across the table eagerly.

"What is the body count so far?"
I question as we wait for the photo to load and Oliver shrugs.

"We have had twenty-five reported but God knows how many were sucked into the ocean and forgotten about."
I take another sip of water to hide my surprise at the large number but regret it as Oliver tilts his screen and I fight the urge to spit out my water.

Swallowing roughly and coughing my eyes look over each detail of the card greedily and my heart sinks.

It's a small card, about the size of my palm.
It's a pastel pink with a white trimming I believe, but there is a liquid which I'm going to assume is blood that has stained majority of the card.
Again, I try not to think too hard about that minor detail.

In printed, cursive writing along the centre of the card the words,
'Kitty Callers' fill most of the space in black ink and beneath is a picture of a small ginger cat with bright blue eyes sitting eagerly at the bottom.

Squinting at the cat my heart sinks even further as I notice its front left paw is lifted with a white bandage wrapped around it and that was the final detail I needed as my own wrist twinges in pain once more.

"It's him." I grit out and I drop my hands in my lap to hide the shaking and as Oliver removes the phone I find that I keep glaring at where it was resting, my eyes burning my cheap table.

"What is the closest beach that he has dumped a body on?" I manage to choke out and only now do I raise my eyes back up to his.

He is staring at me with extreme worry and I focus on relaxing my body and slowly my face moulds into a blank mask.

My efforts only seem to double his worry.

"The closest body is about a state away. None have been dumped here... Yet. But they have been steadily moving further and further down."
Oliver slowly replies.

"Do any match her description?"
I question, my voice rough but it doesn't shake much to my relief.
Oliver knows who I am speaking about instantly and his brow softens.

"No.. So far there has been no body that we have found that could be your Cousin." Intense relief leaves my head spinning and I'm glad I'm already sitting otherwise I doubt I'd still be standing.

I can't help the small smile that lifts my features but it quickly vanishes as I realise all the families that have lost their loved ones, their children.

"I just have two more things to ask before I leave-"

"Are you leaving the city?" I cut him off, the words slipping my lips before I realise the desperation to them and I curse myself.

My cheeks turn crimson as Oliver lifts an eyebrow at my question, I'm so stupid!

"I-yeah. Well I mean that kind of depends on your answer to my question.. Have you received any contact from Rosik or someone affiliated with him? Any suspicious behaviour or messages that give you cause to suspect him?"

My eyes grow wide as that horrid man's name leaves his lips.
I haven't heard that name in years.
I haven't spoken it since the day I escaped.

My whole body shivers violently and anger fills my veins, this is my safe place and Oliver is ruining my haven.

"We can offer protective services, I'd be the one to guard you if you need it." Oliver finishes and my mind flashes back to the note on my car.

I can't confirm that it's from him, I have no proof besides paranoia.
That's not enough.

Besides, I think to myself angrily.
I'm not a teenager anymore.
I didn't need protecting then from that beast, I defended myself and now I'm even more capable.
I'm a threat to him now.

"No.. No signs from him at all. I figured that he'd forgotten about me." I lie and it tastes bitter and I can tell Oliver doesn't buy it but before he can question me further I stand and collect our cups, dismissing him.

"Thank you for updating me. I'll keep the secret and keep an eye out."
I respond dryly and while Oliver looks confused at my sudden persona change he can't do anything but stand and nod professionally.

"Of course, I just don't want you to feel unsupported. There are lots of people still watching out for you."
Oliver claims as he begins walking towards the door and I allow my annoyance to show on my face for a moment before reaching the door with him.

"I can watch out for myself Oliver."
I mumble and Oliver chuckles shaking his head.

"Trust me, I know! I've never met someone work better under pressure than you." We share eye-contact for a few moments.
Oliver's hand resting on the door handle and my brow softens momentarily.

"Katie I-"

"It's Katherine." I reply on impulse, forcing myself to look away and banish any stupid thoughts creeping into my head.

Keep it professional, you want his respect and nothing more.

"Right, Katherine it was nice seeing you. Call me if anything happens and I mean anything." Oliver responds after a beat his face dropping slightly but he looks away before I can read him too deeply and pulls out his business card out of his pocket.

It's a plain black card with his name and number printed in white, I fight the urge to roll my eyes at the blandness and I nod instead.

"Thank you. I will." I make sure not to hesitate with my answer, not wanting him to grow more suspicious and thankfully it works.

Oliver only leaves me with one more lingering glance before opening the door and sliding out.

I'm quick to lock it behind him and not being able to help it I watch his retreat to my elevator through the peep-hole.

He doesn't turn around but he does hesitate for a second at the elevator before pressing the button and entering the contraption.

Sighing loudly I turn around and shaking my head to try to forget about Oliver.

I make my way to the shower and force myself to focus on the jets of water rather than the blueness of his stupid eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Unknown POV.)

I make my way down the hallway, my body is light and frail yet the floorboards still creak loudly under my weight as I pass through.

I'm not trying to be sneaky, I'm not even doing anything against his rules but I still feel on edge as I slowly reach the kitchen.

As I pass various doors in the hall I can hear a mixture of sounds bleeding through the wood but I don't slow my pace.
Sobbing, screaming, laughter and flesh hitting flesh pollutes the halls but I don't mind.

It's better than silence, when it's quiet I know that there is trouble and I usually pay the price.
It's just how things work here, I need to pay my way.

Deciding on some milk and two crackers I carefully chew on the corner of one, praying that I haven't taken too much and too anxious to eat them quickly.

Every time I hear a door open I freeze like a deer in headlights but nobody enters the kitchen.
They rarely do after a session, they usually head straight to the showers then to their own beds.

Vacantly I reach my hands up to my hair and tuck my brunette locks behind my ears, ignoring how greasy my hair feels.

I'm just grateful that he's letting me grow my hair out again.
The length is nearly up to my chin since he made me shave it.

Besides, it's when he asks me to clean up my appearance that I have to worry.

Then I know that I have to pay my way in other ways.
But I haven't been requested by customers in at least a month.
In fact I haven't been spoken to in days.

It's nice, almost peaceful.
Almost, if it wasn't for the crippling anxiety.

As I take a long sip of the glass of milk I close my eyes as my hot throat is cooled.

However as I open my eyes there is a man entering the kitchen, his steps large and heavy.

I'm spooked by the sudden entrance and the shaking in my hands are uncontrollable.
My eyes grow large as the glass in my hand slips and crashes into the floor, smashing and spreading milk all over the pale tiles.

I gasp and attempt to shuffle out of my seat but the man groans and holds his hand up, making me pause.

"Rosik wants to see you in his office." The man replies blandly and I nod quickly.

"One of the useful girls will clean that up." He quips and I flinch as though he's physically hit me but I can't disagree as I'm forced to travel over the glass and I flinch as the glass crumbles further under my weight.

"What is it about?" My timid voice whispers as I make my way to the man and he barely hesitates to reach down and slap me violently across the face.

My face is flung to the side but I barely release a squeal of shock.

I deserved that.

"It's about your Cousin." The man still chooses to answer as walks behind me and starts pushing me quickly.

All I can do is follow his directions as his words sink in.

"So the plan is in action?" I question softly and I whimper as the mans speed picks up even more.

"You know nothing of the plan whore." I nod my head robotically, he's right, I really don't know much at all.

"I know the goal is to have my Cousin back with Rosik." I reply quickly, eager to prove that I'm capable of at least listening.
I'm not completely useless, I promise!

"It's not a goal, it's reality."
Rosiks deep voice calls out from his open office door and now the shaking returns as I take in his impressive height, majority of him shrouded in shadow.

"I-I meant that!" I call out wanting nothing more than to turn around but the man behind me is still in control as I'm dropped off right in front of the man I fear most.

"Soon, we'll be a happy little family. You want that don't you Dana?" Rosiks accent is thick and his features are hooded as he stares down at me.

I can sense his excitement but there is also a dark edge to him, silently daring me to go off script and break his fantasy.

"Of course Rosik! I can't wait to see my Cousin, I miss her so much." I reply with half honesty as my eyes water.

"I-Is that all you wanted to tell me?"
I mutter trying to flee as quickly as possible.

Being in Rosiks presence is stifling, he rarely speaks about me, it's almost always Katie.
When it is about me it's only to cause me pain.

"No. I wanted to tell you that we're about to hit another city. You know what to do, I expect higher numbers Dana." Rosik states crossing his arms and I'm quick to nod, fighting the look of exhaustion that desperately wants to drag my features.

"Of course Rosik, i-i'll do better."
I promise quickly even though the thought of the task clogs my throat up with dread.

"Good girl... Now go take a shower, I'll get one of the girls to help you. You'll be working some shifts tonight to thank them." Rosik smirks and I swallow loudly before painting on a small smile.

"Of course, I'm grateful for you all."
I reply but Rosik is already shutting the door in my face, the door slamming my toes in the process but I don't feel anything.

My smile still painted on.

"It's my turn with you tonight."
The man behind me whispers and my smile wavers a little at the corners.

"The first of many I'm sure." I reply without really thinking it through and once again I'm stopped and smacked.

"Such a fucking whore."

And once again I have nothing to say to disagree with that.

That word stopped hurting years ago.