Ever have those moments in life where you just sit there, aimlessly staring at the space in front of you whilst your mind is a million miles away? Do you find yourself doing it without realising it, and before you know it nearly a whole half hour has gone by? Tina suddenly became aware that she was doing just that as she still stood there, staring at the reflection of herself in the mirror, her mind elsewhere. The only thing which brought her back from deep in her thoughts was the little grumble her stomach let off, making her gasp a little in surprise. She didn't realise how hungry she was, or the fact she hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon because of what happened at the restaurant. She never did get to order her favourite meatball dish.

"Why does life always have to be so painful", she sighed as her finger gently traced the cut on her lip. It didn't hurt now as much as it used to, but the little red scar was still evident from where her father's ring had caught her when he'd slapped her. At least she didn't have to wear an ugly plaster on it now, not like anyone would see her, she thought. It made her think about her father, about what he must be doing right now. Was he in the house, in his study talking with the police? Was he in the kitchen, rustling up some breakfast to bring to her to check she was okay? Or was he out 'working', minding his own business, not giving a single care or thought about his daughter? Frankly, Tina didn't care; her head hurt too much to think too much about it.

She figured that seeing as she was up now, she might as well try and make an effort to cheer herself up, as she suspected she'd be seeing a lot more of her room in the next few days. Routing through the boxes of clothes that she'd already packed for her moving out to university, she pulled out some clean clothes and quickly stripped off her pyjamas, tossing them onto her bed. She paused once she'd slipped into her underwear as she caught sight of her back in the mirror. Just below her bra strap, travelling down to her hip was an almighty large bruise, her skin a horrible shade of black and yellow. Gently, she touched it, feeling a little tinge of pain shoot up her back. "Ouch", she winced under her breath, turning around to angle a better look at it. It must have been when she'd been thrown backwards over the table, she thought, thinking of how she'd gotten it.

After putting on a baggy tshirt and cardigan, she slipped into the loosest pair of jeans she owned and tied her hair up in a messy ponytail. She decided there was no point in her making an effort in her appearance, so closed her make-up bag. That's when she noticed the mark on her hand, just visible beneath the cuff of her burgundy jumper. Tina pulled her sleeve up so she could get a better look at it, her finger gently tracing the bruise which went around her wrist in several places. "How did I get that?", she mumbled to herself in though as twisted her wrist around, looking at the bruise, trying to think how on earth she got it. Then she realised what bruise it was, a large hand print. Of course, she realised as she placed her other hand around her wrist, trying to line up her fingers with the marks. It was where that man had held her, pulling her along last night, trying to help her. What was his name again? Jack, no, Peter? Tom, that was it! Tom. Tom what? She remembered she'd never caught his name, or even had a chance to thank him for what he did last night; Tina doubted she'd ever get the chance to. 

"Well, this sucks", she sighed, looking around her bleak bedroom, which was acting as her prison cell. Even though she hadn't done anything wrong, she was the one being punished in all of this, being kept in her room like some animal or fragile painting which should never see the light of day. The posters and collages around her room didn't even bring any warmth or hope to her as she sank back down onto her bed, staring at her reflection in the mirror again. Well at least I've still got my films, she thought as she spotted her DVDs stacked up in the corner along with all her other possessions ... along with her laptop. Tina frowned slightly as she realised that her phone was missing from her beside table, where it would always live on charge as she slept, but for some reason it wasn't there. She even got up to have a look under the bed and under the covers in case it had fallen down and gotten stuck, but she still couldn't find it, but she noticed that the charger was also gone too. 

Gareth, he must have taken it, but why? It wasn't like she had a million friends or many contacts she could talk to. The only contacts she had saved were her father and Gareth, so why would he take it? Maybe she could ask him. After trying to pull open her door only to find it locked, she knocked on her own bedroom door, hoping someone would be listening on the other side. Tina heard a muffle of voices and the approach of heavy footsteps before the key in the lock turned, and a security guard opened it. She had never seen this man before, but he looked to be in his mid 40s, well built, tall, and dressed in casual jeans and tshirt with big heavy boots which only seemed to make him taller. "What?", he asked bluntly, his jaw clenched. "I want to speak to Gareth and my Dad please", Tina told him firmly, trying to take a step forward out of her room, but the man stepped aside, blocking her path in the doorway. "He's busy at the moment and your father isn't here". 

"Then let me get past you so I can at least get some food. I'm starving", Tina snapped at the man, but again he stepped into her path to stop her leaving her room. "I'm sorry miss but we are under strict orders not to let you out. It's for your own safety". "My safety, my ASS!", Tina growled in response trying to push past him, but only succeeded in getting herself jammed up against the door frame. "If you want food, we will bring it to you". "At least let me go the toilet! Please!", she fought back in response as the man easily pushed her back into her room. "Freddie, just let her", a voice called from the other room, the voice one Tina didn't recognise. The man, Freddie, as quickly as he had been forcing her back into her bedroom, was now propelling her in the direction of the bathroom faster than Tina could register. 

"I can WALK!", Tina shouted at him, pulling her arm out of his grip as she half ran towards the bathroom, slamming the door shut. She firmly locked the door and watched the shadow of Freddie lurk outside from under the door, the familiar feeling of panic returning back to her. "Shit", she whispered, trying to calm her breathing as she backed away from the door, knowing that there was no escape. How many of those men were in her house? Why wouldn't Gareth see her, and where was her father? Stop over-reacting Tina, these men are obviously here as security put here on your dad's orders she tried to tell herself whilst attending to her needs, her eyes constantly flicking towards the door. After splashing her face to try and cool off, she peaked through the slit in the bathroom window blinds to see if her theory was right. To her relieve, several other men similar to Freddie were walking around the outside of the house, pacing with their sharp eyes, hands resting near their concealed guns. 

"You done?", the sharp loud voice of Freddie shouted, making her jump as she heard him try to open the door. "Yes", Tina stammered, trying to recompose herself before she unlocked it, trying to appear calm when inside she was screaming. "Food will be brought to you in about half hour. Until then you're to stay in your room for your own safety". For once, Tina bit her tongue, refusing to argue back as she was escorted back to her bedroom, the door locking behind her. Her own safety? Yeah, you mean keep me locked up like a prisoner, she thought as she listened to his footsteps dying away, the faint laughter of the men resuming their conversation. Only Tina didn't feel safe here at all, let alone having all these people around that were suppose to be protecting her. What if they were working for someone else, and not her father? What if something had happened to him?

But then she remembered what Gareth had said; Trust me. How can I trust you Gareth with all that is going on, Tina questioned herself. She shivered as that horrible feeling returned with the memory of Gareth touching her cheek in the manner he did, and the way he had kissed her forehead. She tried to shrug it off for her overreacting, but she couldn't get it out of her head. She remembered the blackmail note and how pale and ghost like her father had turned, a memory which now had a similar affect on her. Then her hands started to tremble again as she recalled the sickening sound of flesh on metal, the smell of burning flesh, the scorching heat, the terrified screams ...

Her hand grasped tightly around her bruised wrist, squeezing it as she forced the tears from her eyes. Calm, find safety, find peace she told herself, taking deep breathes, trying to focus her mind on an escape. That escape. That man. His arm tightly around her, his hand holding her tight, his eyes finding hers. A deep sapphire blue, like the sea. "Tom", she breathed, clearing seeing his face once more in her mind, the feeling of panic easing. Her fingers gently squeezed her bruised wrist as she focused on his eyes, before slowly opening her own. Tina had forced back the panic attack and fear, just for a moment, but it was long enough to allow herself to calm down, all thanks to her saviour. But who was he? Really? All she had was the memory of last night being trapped with him, and his first name. There must be millions of Tom's in the world. How on earth was she going to find out who he really was? She'd already raced to her laptop and already put the name 'Tom' into a web search, but all she got was cartoon Tom cat. 

Tina's mind was exhausted and she sighed, closing her laptop again. How could she get ahead of herself like this, and let her imagination just run away like that? The only people who could answer her questions were her father and Gareth, whenever they would decide to return. Until then, she would just have to occupy herself and resist letting the stress and horror of these events get the better of her. Besides, like Gareth had said, she was safe here, wasn't she? Tina slumped back onto her bed, pulling the covers around her as she cast a weary look at the outside world through the window, hoping that wherever he was, that Tom wasn't suffering as much as she was. 

* * * * *

He chuckled quietly to himself from his vantage point, hidden from view as they watched the distressed figure try to figure out what was happening around them within their room. They were smart, he didn't doubt it, and he knew they had already began piecing a few things together, but it wouldn't be enough to save them. Regardless of the amount of security they had around them to protect them, nothing would stop the inevitable. It was only a matter of time before they would be saying their prayers on their knees in front of him before he put a bullet in their head. 

* * * * *

[ A / N : Things aren't looking good for Tom or Tina. Let's hope they can stay safe before danger seeks them out once more. Don't forget to comment your thoughts and all that jazz. Love reading your comments, and again, Thank you so much for those of you who are still reading this! I love hearing what you think ]