I opened my eyes for the first time in a long time and quickly, like a hand thrust inside my chest with the intent to crush my heart, I felt my world crash down around me. Even through my light headedness and fuzzy vision I knew exactly where I was.

A single, helpless sob escaped my lips as I looked up and saw the canopy that surrounded the bed-head and the white, pristine ceiling. How was this happening? How was I here? Was this some sort of sick, cruel, twisted joke?

"Riki? Are you awake?" The husky voice that sounded next to me caused me to turn my head and finally see a familiar blonde figure by my side. Our eyes met, but I couldn't hold his gaze for long—I looked away, if only so he wouldn't see the sheer anguish I felt at being alive. He voiced my name again, this time relief riddled throughout the two syllables, but I closed my eyes in an attempt to contain the overpowering need to cry.

"Damn it…" I cursed mutedly as I lifted an unsteady, trembling hand to wipe away the sudden emotion.

However, the Blondie—who was watching me very closely— did not miss a thing. He grabbed my hand, preventing me from wiping away the salty tears that were clouding my already hazy vision, and I could not fight against him—I didn't even have the strength to try. I simply let him do as he wished, he would do so anyway.

"Riki…" Iason moved himself onto the bed next to me and with his other hand, brushed away my fallen tears with the pad of his thumb and then leaned in, pressing his lips to mine. Again I let him do as he wished. Whatever fight I'd had was long gone. My wick had long ago burned out in the darkness that Iason had left me in. I'd burned for as long as I had been able, but I simply could not burn any longer. The oil at the bottom of my candle had put me out. "Don't cry, Riki. You're forgiven; I forgive you." He whispered, pulling away minutely from my face and staring down at me with concern.

Iason hushed me and gently petted my hair but my anguish only built further. None of this had been my fault, yet for some reason it felt like Iason was pushing all of the blame onto me. I could not fight it though. I could not fight back and tell him these things. It was easier to take the words. I could not go back in that room. I could not return there.

Iason's long blonde hair tickled my face as he sat upright, still holding my hand. He stared down at me with such relief that I felt like I needed to say something—if only to break the immeasurable silence.

"Iason," I said, the words coming out as more of a strained whisper. "I—"

"Shh, Riki." He placed his finger over my lips and then stroked my hair again, as though he'd missed the texture of it. "Don't speak, pet. You are very weak and you shouldn't strain yourself. Raoul says you need to have that I.V. in for another two or three days and you're not allowed to exert yourself."

Confused, I looked over to my arm and was surprised to find a long, thin plastic pipe jutting out of my arm which was connected to a bag on a stand filled with an unknown clear liquid.

I suddenly felt the pressure weighing down the bed lift and looking back over, I found Iason now standing erect.

"I'm going to call Raoul now that you're awake; he wanted to be informed."

Iason turned to make his way out the door, however the terrified cry that left my throat caused him to pause and look back over his white robed shoulder at me.

"No!" I huffed as loudly as I could manage. "Please don't leave!" I strained in desperation, reaching for Iason's sleeve in order to pull him back. I couldn't be by myself—not even for a moment. Iason didn't understand; he didn't understand!

It was very clear to me now that Iason did not fully comprehend what he'd put me through—I'd lived an entire lifetime of suffering in that tiny room and now that I was returned to my old life, Iason was acting as though it had barely happened.

"Please don't go…" I croaked in unbidden anguish.

Iason's ordinarily stern expression softened but was also lined with great, yet veiled concern. The tall Blondie slid back over to me and the bed depressed as he lowered himself back onto it. "Alright," he murmured, reaching out to stroke my panicky face. "I'll stay for a moment if that is what you wish."

After a moment of silence between us, Iason was soon wearing a soft smile. "I'm glad you've accepted that you were wrong during your punishment, Riki. You embarrassed and humiliated me in front of all those other Elites at the party and I was very angry with you—I did consider leaving you to dwell in there for a bit longer but the Furniture was almost incapable of doing his duty due to his concern over your welfare."

Iason's words cut me deeply. So it was true. I was nothing more than entertainment to this sadistic man. I felt ready to choke.

"However," Iason's brows furrowed as he continued, his words breaking through my thoughts. "The Furniture wasn't alone in that respect. I too missed your presence, Riki. I've been very lonely without you here—I was tempted to pull you out of on several occasions, but for the sake of your learning, I refrained. I'm happier now that you're back, though I have to admit that I was wrong to not let the Furniture take better care of you."

The Blondie crushed me to his chest as I suddenly lost complete control of my ability to comprehend what was happening. I couldn't think straight—but I wasn't sure I wanted to comprehend Iason's words. I was so tired of fighting. I didn't want to anymore, at least not for today. Tomorrow things could change, but for today all I wanted to do was be reminded that I was alive.

Iason again pressed his lips against mine, demanding entrance when his upper teeth grazed over my lower lip. I willingly gave up and the Blondie's tongue was quick to invade. It was hard to believe that I'd spent thirty, solitary days in a tiny room, but for now, I would put it behind me. For now I would let Iason do as he wished and I would recover. Yet, I knew that one day I would have to once again face those days, those things I'd finally admitted to myself during those thirty days.

THE END

Thanks for reading guys! Sorry it took me a very long time to post this-I had some urgent stuff I had to deal with. Plus it's not as long as I was intending it to be but I just couldn't work up the motivation to write the last bit *shrugs*. I hope you enjoyed and I sincerely appreciate the support and all the reviews everyone has left.

Much Love,
Soulhearts