Mary froze and stared at Chris' mouth. Suddenly she realized she couldn't feel her hands. Or her face. Or any other part of her body, most especially not her legs. Which would explain why the ground was suddenly racing toward her. 'So this is what fear feels like,' she thought. She didn't like it.

Chris had moved with her, and was crouched in front of her, predatory. His eyes met hers over the top of his sunglasses. He took her free hand in his, pulling it toward him.

His lips softly grazed the top of her hand, then with one swift, violent motion he twisted her wrist up and plunged his two sharp canines into a vein. Mary let out a yelp and tried to pull away, which only made Chris hold on harder.

She had never felt a pain quite like it. It was deep, and she felt a pulling sensation all the way up her arm. Then, just as suddenly as it had began, it was over.

Mary: "Well that's going to need antibiotics."

A wave of nausea hit her as she broke into a cold sweat. There was a loud but calming buzz in her ears while everything around her suddenly became very far away before vanishing in a wave of darkness.

When Mary came to, she wished she hadn't. Her stomach felt like there were fish swimming in it. She rolled onto her side, waiting for the dizziness and nausea to pass.

It felt like she had been out for hours, but when she looked up at Chris, he was just sliding her cage door shut.

Mary: "What, no juice and cookies?"

Chris: "I hope you know I'm not cleaning that up."
Mary: "Hey, who am I to question your housekeeping skills. Some people like the smell of fresh vomit."

Chris: "Ace, get a mop and take care of this."
Ace: "You've got to be kidding me..."

Chris: "Ace. Get. A. Mop."

Mary tried not to look as Ace cleaned. By the time he finished, her dizziness had subsided and she sat up.

Chris: "Was it good for you, Love?"

Mary: "That's a pretty risky game you're playing. I believe the terms of your arrangement with Mr. Stone were that I was to remain alive."

Chris: "Oh you'll remain alive, I'll see to that. But I've been given free run of you up to and including near death experiences."

Mary tried very hard to remain expressionless as she wondered who had "given" Chris free run. She saw a flicker of confusion pass briefly over his face.

Mary: "Well... good."
Chris: "Fine."

Mary walked into a corner and sat down, facing her captors. She hugged her knees to her chest with one arm and kept her wounded arm elevated, trying to look helpless as she planned her next move.