*Disclaimer-I do not own Sailor Moon in any way. Just the story. Also I gotta give credit to my two beta readers who helped me tremendously on getting this first chapter out so you all can read it. Thank You DiamondApril and Scarlet Winter. Sorry I didn't mean to leave you out, I was just really anxious to get this posted. Forgive me!*

Darkness met my eyes everywhere I looked; pain filled my body, sharpening with every move I made. It felt as if I were wrapped in a blanket of nails. With little help from a small window letting in the moonlight, I was able to get an idea of where I was and looked for any possible escape route. I noted that the window was too small even for my petite frame to squeeze through continued my search. My attempt to move my aching body was halted when I felt pressure on my hands and looked up to see that each were handcuffed to opposite bedposts. Not only were my hands fettered but each foot was also tied to bedposts with rope. I shivered realizing I was bound to a bed, helpless. I guessed due to the temperature and dampness of the room, I was in a basement of some sort. I shivered as a cold breeze ran down my leg and realized if I was feeling the cold air on my legs I must not be wearing my pants anymore. I looked down only to find my blue jeans and tank top replaced with a silky spaghetti strap satin dress reaching mid thigh. Anger tinged with embarrassment flared within me. Whoever had the nerve to make me their little Barbie would pay. I began pulling at the restraints with all the energy I had, twisting and thrashing violently in my bid to break free.

"Damn it…"

Warm wet moisture from my eyes started to cloud my vision. Minutes pass with no luck. The only change being the crimson rings of blood around my wrists, severe rope burns on my ankles, and the dress riding up higher. Feeling feeble and drained, I laid listless.

My voice cracked as I quietly pleaded, "Someone help me…..please."

My eyes slowly drifted closed; the tears clouding my vision broke warm and salty flowing down my face across my temples into my hairline. For a few minutes I wept tortured by thoughts about how I might not see my friends, my family, or….him ever again. How in the world I became a victim of some lunatic serial killer? I didn't understand. I did know that I had to be stronger than this, even in my moment of despair, I can't give up.

Using my arms, one for each side of the face to wipe away the betraying tears, I again tried to get free. I note that the blood on my wrist might slick the cuffs enough for my hand to slip through. Before I test my theory a muffled noise suddenly seizes my attention. The hair on the back of my neck stands straight up. I'm not alone. Praying my voice doesn't betray me, I swallow than speak.

"I know you're here. What the hell is going on? Where am I? What do you want from me? Show yourself you bastard!" My voice is only slightly horse, filled with anger.

For a minute I thought I was hearing things, maybe going insane until someone spoke.

"Ahhhhh Serena, you never give up do you."

The voice was exceedingly familiar but who it belongs to I'm not sure. Scanning the room trying to see where the voice is coming from, I focus on the slightly darker shadows in the corner to my right.

"There is no need for such foul language coming from that sweet mouth of yours", he said in his despicable raspy voice. "As for where you are, well, let's just say you can scream and yell all you want but no one will ever hear you. How are you feeling? You look tired." His sinister laugh echoed slightly in the small confines of the room. Sustaining my anger and pushing away the fear was zapping my energy, not to mention my ankles and wrists throbbed from the damage I'd done in my struggles to get free. Sleep was tempting but like hell I was going to nod off with this psycho in the room if I could help it.

"Ahh yes I forgot how strong you really are. I truly wished things worked out between us. We could have been great together… … … … …my little bunny."

The nickname was the key to the identity of the man holding her captive. Only one man ever called her that. His shape emerging from the shadows confirming her worst fears absolutely petrified her.

*Two years ago*

The first week of school is one of my favorites. The weather warm, with just that hint that the leaves would be changing color soon. Laughter, bright and sharp punctuated by shrikes of delight, from the children on the playground filled the air. I took a deep breath and sighed with a smile I have to say I love the way my life turned out.

I enjoy being a first grade teacher, working with the kids, helping them to learn. I delight in their sense of wonder at the world. It truly is priceless. The recess bell rang snapping me out of the moment. I called my students over to make sure all 25 were accounted for.

"Okay, I need all my students to line up in a row along this wall so we can go inside… … …Jimmy, keep your hands to yourself please."

"Everyone please get out your box of crayons and a piece of paper." I began the activity for the afternoon once the children had gotten settled.

"Now, remember earlier when we read the Cat in the Hat?" I waited for the chores of yes's to die down.

"Here is your project. I want you to draw what your world would look like. Would you have purple elephants, flying pigs or how about some green eggs and ham? Go ahead and start now."

The final bell rang signaling school was finished for the day. One by one the kids grabbed their backpacks hanging up on the wall bringing their papers to me at the door.

"Okay everyone, have a good day, be safe and I will see you bright and early tomorrow morning."

As the last student filed out of the classroom, I headed back to my desk to gather my tote and purse. I gathered all the drawings, some of them making me laugh, and put them inside my grading binder. A knock at my door interrupted me. Seeing that it was Mina coming in, I smiled and continued getting my things together.

"So how was your first day?" Mina questioned.

"Oh you know same 'ole, same 'ole….you?"

"Yeah same here. Hey, what are you doing Friday night? There is this new club that opened downtown. Wanna go check it out? I heard they have this really hot bartender there…"

That's my Mina; always boy-crazy but never goes past first base.

"Sure, I could use a night out with my girls. I forgot over the summer how quickly teaching young children can wear you out," I exhaled a long strenuous breath.

"Sweet! So I'll come to your place around 8'ish Friday and we'll go from there."

"Sounds great, talk to ya later."

Grabbing my belongings and keys, I head home for the night.

*Earlier that day*

'Damn it!' He thought in frustration as he growled and with effort stopped again before pulverizing the keys on the keyboard. He fell back in his chair rubbing his face with his hands, than raking them through already messy black hair. Researching and organizing this case was seemed to be an excise in futility. He was fishing and he knew it. No new leads had been dug up for months and the murders continued to spread like poison through the Daytona Beach area. He was sick and tired of getting nowhere.

Homicide Detective Darien Shields has unraveled numerous cases concerning serial killers who thought they were smart enough to get away with their crimes; this particular case, however, frosted the icing on the cake. This person was good; a little too good, the asshole hadn't made a mistake yet. Usually some sort of evidence is left behind; a bullet casing, fingerprints, clothing fiber, or if you were really luck DNA but these scenes were clean. Hard to accomplish considering where the crimes were committed.

The only evidence which indicating the murder took place at these locations was the stench of bleach and whatever else was in the chemical concoction the killer used to clean up, and man did it work. It was like a Harry Potter Disillusionment Charm concealed any kind of existence present. Ha….if only magic really existed…

The aggravated black haired Adonis slammed his head on his wooden desk. Disregarding the pain that now throbbed through his forehead slowly permeating the rest of his skull; he continued pounding on the keyboard. He was getting really restless from this case. By this point on any other case, he would already have handed the prosecutor and iron clad case and a cell on death row would have been all but reserved. He didn't hear his office door open over the pounding pain in his head that seemed to surge in time with his pulse.

"I don't want to hear your bitching and complaining when you get a headache later."

Detective Andrew Hansford declared as he entered the office him and his partner Darien shared. A mug of steamy, hot, black coffee was placed on his partner's desk in hopes he'd stop this nonsense.

"How about if I have a headache now", Darien muttered taking a grateful sip of too strong, hour old not to mention burnt coffee, you got used to it. Retreating to his own desk, Andrew couldn't help but shake his head. He knew how serious Darien took his work; hell he'd known him ever since grade school. They'd both studying and hard work, put in hour of overtime to get where they were now. Having known Darien for so long was a great advantage when they'd been partnered as detective. They were partners-in-crime so to speak. One thing though that always baffled Andrew about Darien's lifestyle were the women. There was always a different girl each week. Heck being single too, he could understand the appeal. He liked the company of a young lady every now and then, but for some reason it seemed like Darien's need for a companion was substituted for something else. He had mentioned it to Darien once back when he was working at the Crown Arcade but Darien shrugged it off as nothing.

**Flashback**

Tepid sunlight poked through feathery puffs of clouds. The crisp warm spring air whipped at Darien's dark locks as he made his way to a set of double glass doors. His 6'3" well-muscled frame loomed in front of the door way as the automatic sensors acknowledged his presence and opened. Taking off his black Aviators, he strode over to his usual spot at the front counter passing by a group of teenagers screaming and roughly playing Mortal Combat. His best friend Andrew was too pre-occupied with scrubbing down the counter to notice Darien approaching.

"You missed a spot!"

Andrew snapping back to reality concentration broken gave a menacing glare to the discourteous customers' remark.

"Whoa, easy Drew it's just me! If looks could kill, I'm pretty sure I'd be chopped liver at the moment."

Softening his furrowed brow his death stare relaxed into a friendlier one.

"Oh hey Dare, sorry it's just been really busy and I finally have a chance to catch up on some work."

Dropping his rag into the bucket of sanitizer underneath the counter, he made his way over to Darien.

"What'll it be?"

"Oh just the usual coffee…black."

"Coming right up."

"Hey Dare I've been meaning to ask you this for a while."

"What's that?"

"Whatever happened to your parents? I never hear you talk about them."

"Oh um they are always busy going places and whatnot so they call whenever they can." The thought of his parents seemed to make the air around him difficult to breathe.

"So they leave you all alone?"

"Yeah…."

"Hmm, must be nice."

"Yeah…I guess."

Andrew oblivious to the pain under the façade Darien presented carried on, gave Darien his order, and went back to cleaning the counter to get that blasted spot out.

**End Flashback**

As he made his way into his seat he decided to go over the victims' background yet again hoping to find something missed along the way.

'What makes this bastard's tick? His time frames are erratic, all the victims' fit a definite type but it's not like I can hunt down every woman fitting that description in this city. Ignoring Andrew's warning, Darien was about to slam his head down again but the phone rang stopping him in the nick of time.

"Detective Shields speaking"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes sir, be there shortly." Glancing at his partner with an all too familiar look, they stood, grabbed their jackets and headed out.