WARNING: This chapter starts out graphic so please bare with me! It is to show just how broken Lianna has become over the last month before her rescue!

Lianna was still curled up on the damp floor, her wounds beginning to itch as they healed. She laid there in and out of sleep exhausted from the pain she had suffered. As she stared into the darkness her mind was quiet, she was to weak to picture anything...to think of anything other than the blackness that surrounded her. She was beginning to find peace in that moment.

Almost the moment she found peace in her solitude it was abruptly ended by the Master entering. She was surprised no bright lights were turned on and she slowly lifted her head from the hard ground. She stared at his silhouette as he spoke, "it is time". She remained where she was, unmoving she did not know what he intended. The Master walked over and knelt down beside her as he unlocked the collar that sat around her neck. She jumped at the sound of the heavy piece of metal hitting the ground. "Follow me my child."

She did as she was told and kept her eyes down, she did not wish to endure anymore torment. She followed him until he stopped at a door, he unlocked it and lead her inside. She looked around the small room, she noticed it had a bed with clean clothes laid out and a dinner tray. She continued to scan the room as she noticed a en-suite. "This will be your room for the time being, clean yourself up."

She stood frozen as she listened for the door to close. When she did she relaxed a bit, she could hear him locking the door from the outside. When she no longer could hear his footsteps she hurried to the bed and collapsed as she threw the lid of the tray to the side. Cramming the food that was hidden beneath into her mouth. She savored each bite. The last time she had eaten was the night that Quinlan had left. When she finished off the plate she tried to stand as she made her way into the bathroom. Stopping as she noticed her reflection in the mirror. Her skin was stained red from her blood, she could not look at a body part without seeing a wound were she had been lashed. Her hair was matted with blood. She held back the tears, she did not recognize the woman staring back at her.

She removed her blood stained undergarments and grabbed the comb that sat on the counter and climbed into the shower. When she turned it on the water was ice cold but slowly warmed as the time passed. She watched as the water ran red as it retreated down the drain. She slowly tried to comb away the knots that had formed, she cringed each time she pulled the comb through. When she had finished she knelt to pick up the wash cloth that was hung over the tub, collapsing in the process. She did not have the energy to stand so she sat on her knees, as she slowly began to scrub the blood away from her skin.

When she finished she turned off the water but made no effort to move from the bottom of the tub. She wanted to stay there and hide from the world. She eventually mustarded the strength to climb out of the tub and crawl to the bed. She noticed that their was a first aid kit under the bed and pulled it out. She sat there exposed as she bandaged the wounds that were still very open and susceptible to bleeding. When she finished she reached up and pulled the clothes off the bed and dressed herself as she laid on the floor. She had no energy to move in that moment and simply grabbed the blanket and pulled it off the bed, curling into a small ball she slowly drifted off into a deep sleep.

She awoke to a commotion in the hall outside her door, she listened as they swiftly made their way to the elevator she had seen on her way in. She could hear the same commotion on the floor above and below her. After a short while the whole building fell to a surreal silence. Lianna cherished the silence she heard, and quickly fell back into a deep slumber.

As night fell Quinlan put their plan into play. As they drove upon the Empire State Building the silence was eerie and unsettling. Fet radioed to the other vehicle, "anyone else find it strange we haven't seen a soul?" No one answered but they stared out the windows, knowing something was not right. When they came to a stop right outside the doors of the building they ran through the plan one last time to ensure that everyone knew what to do.

Quinlan and Gus both entered the building and boarded the elevator. They rode in silence, until about the 45th floor Quinlan spoke, "just make sure you get her to safety."

"I will."

Quinlan turned his whole body towards him now and said sternly, "and don't forget to tell her what I asked..."

"I won't." Gus felt bad knowing that Quinlan feared he would never see Lianna again, "you know she loves you too, don't you?"

"I can only hoped to be so lucky." The elevator stopped and the doors slid open, "good luck."

"You too." Gus walked out and watched as the doors slid back closed. As he stood and listened he did not hear a soul anywhere. He began walking the halls calling out Lianna's name. Each door he reached he would jiggle the handle and try and open them. Almost all of them were locked. He reached a long hallway and hurried down it flipping on a switch to the room. Using the barrel of the gun he pushed the door open. His eyes immediately fell on the dried blood pool that was formed by Lianna, and a metal collar that was thrown near by. His heart sank, he prayed that he would find her alive, but as his eyes looked at the blood pool he became uncertain that he would.

Quinlan reached the 102nd floor, and as he stepped out he noticed the Master's coffin was gone, all that remained was traces of dirt from inside. A female strigoi suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs, Quinlan pulled his sword. "Where is he?!"

"I am no longer here", the strigoi walked closer revealing the red circles in her eyes. Quinlan heard the others circle him. "You will not face me until I am ready. I say when and I say where."

"You are a coward!"

"No, I have a plan, and that plan does not include me being destroyed." The strigoi reached the bottom step before it spoke again, "I very much enjoyed Lianna's company. I see why you care for her."

Quinlan's heart sank, "where is she?"

"Unfortunately no longer with me, what a shame." Quinlan's hand shook with anger, he did not want to hear anymore. He swung his sword removing its head. The others began to attack but he took them out with ease.

Gus left the room in a hurry, his heart pounding. He ran the halls calling out louder, "Lianna! Lianna! Please say something! Lianna!"

Lianna woke up as the silence that surrounded her became broken, she was half dazed her head swimming in confusion. She sat up and was finally able to make out the words she heard being yelled, it was her name. She crawled closer to the door and tried to call out but her words were faint she hardly could yell louder than a whisper. She sat up against the door and slowly would lift her head only to release it letting its weight bang against the door. "Help...help me..."

Gus heard a rhythmic pounding and hurried to where it was coming from. He stopped at the door it was coming from behind, his heart felt like it stopped for a moment. He undid the locks and opened the door slowly. "Lianna?" She crawled away from the door so that he could enter. When he saw her he crumbled beside her and pulled her in for an embrace. She shuttered at his touch, "Lianna are you ok?"

She whispered, "please just get me out of here." Gus scooped her up in his arms and hurried out the way he had come. Pressing the down button, he looked down and saw tears of relief in Lianna's eyes. As the doors slid open Quinlan stood before them.

"Quinlan, aren't you supposed to be upstairs?"

Quinlan's eyes fell upon Lianna as he noticed the lashes that graced her arms, "he was not here." Quinlan took Lianna from Gus as he entered the elevator. As he looked down upon her face he noticed the tears that streamed it, and his heart ached for her. He hated that he had not been there when she needed him most. "Are you alright?" He wasn't sure what else to ask in that moment, he worried that she would be angry with him. Or worse blame him for the events that followed his departure.

"I am now, just take me home please", she whispered as she laid her head upon his chest. When they reached the ground floor they found the others had found themselves in some trouble. Surrounded by strigoi on either side. Quinlan hurried to one of the vehicles and set Lianna inside. As he brushed the hair from her face he spoke, "just let us take care of this and we will get you home, I promise." Lianna only nodded, Quinlan grabbed the nape of her neck and leaned in to kissed her forehead. He could not wait to get her to safety. He looked at her one last time before he closed the door, he had never been so relieved to see someone again. He loved her and she loved him, he knew that now.