Some scent lightly tickled my nose. Slowly it stirred my mind to move ? to figure out what this scent could possibly be. It smelled really good, familiar... Something that I always loved. It smelled like wildflowers.

Groggily, I opened my eyes to a mossy color. It was vivid, but subtle at the same time; I think any other color might have hurt my eyes. After another few seconds I realized that I was lightly bouncing. I was being carried on someone's back, and that was their hair.

My brain just didn't want to form conclusions, it was slow and dull. I continued to bounce on that person's back until I could feel my arms and legs.

With a bit of a stretch, I groaned. Something clicked suddenly and I knew what was going on. Samba had done something to me back on the stage. She fucked me, but... something happened after that. Nothing seemed to be fitting into place though; I just couldn't remember what had happened.

"Finally waking up, Lynn?" Smug and with enough arrogance that the air grew thicker, Samba called.

I wanted to think of something cool to say, something impressive or witty, but all that came out of my mouth was a quick "Yeah".

We continued walking in silence as my head started to clear more. It was odd; I expected her to do something, to knock me out or whatever she did again, but nothing ever happened. Blocks went by, we crossed streets, she was so sure of where she was going that I might have followed her even if I wasn't being carried.

As my mind started to clear up more I felt my hands become clammy, my eyes open wide, and I'm sure my skin had turned white. Something went terribly wrong, at first I thought it was a lie. It had to be, there was no way any of what I was remembering was true. "You better not be thinking of running away.."

Running away!? How was I supposed to run away from these memories? She had done this to me; she was forcing me to see these things. It had to a trick, none of it could be true. They wouldn't have done that to me!

...yet I knew as the gentle heat of whatever her energy was flowed into me that it was true. Part of me wanted to run, but trying to teleport now would be risking. I didn't understand what was really going on, and in my distress I might leave a limb behind.

Realizing I couldn't even run away if I wanted to, my grip around her tightened and I thought I was going to be sick. A terrible nausea welled up in my stomach, and everything around me seemed broken. The entire world seemed completely broken for a few brief seconds. I hated everything, especially the woman who carried me.

But that hatred was overcome in a flood of sadness. The nausea stayed, but now it was accompanied by a lump in my throat and a burning in my eyes. A little girl once told me that grown-ups don't cry; that they're strong. So I tried to hold it back. I really did, but it was just too much.

With an awkward yelp, I buried my face into Samba's back and wailed in despair. "What the hell are you doing!?" She really had no idea what just happened and that made me feel worse. There were people looking, I knew and I was embarrassed, but I couldn't stop myself now that I had begun. Sobs tore from my throat, even as Samba started to panic.

"Dammit, shut up!" She yelled at me and practically dropped me. Luckily, I was still hanging around her neck and she was quick enough to brace herself.

One thing I know Samba wasn't expecting when she turned around was for me to press against her, trembling and still crying, pale as a ghost and sounding just like one. "Wh-what the hell... I... shit it won't be that bad..."

She really really had no idea what was going on, and I was not in the state to explain it.

"Co-come on, we can't stay here... use that uh, whatever it is you do and take us somewhere else alright?" The energy she had been pouring into me stopped. Everything cleared up and I knew I wouldn't have a problem now, but as I tried to think of places I could go nothing came to mind. Nowhere was safe, everyone wanted to just use me. After a few seconds I looked up at her with an uncertain face and shook my head. "Grah... Whatever, just... come on, stop making such a racket, we aren't far from my apartment all right? Can you make it that far?"

I don't know if she was worried about me or if she was just trying to get me to shut up, but for now I was too afraid to do anything but agree with her. Such an awkward situation, I felt like a lost child thrust on a teenager.

The walk felt like an eternity; I was barefoot and the sidewalks of the busy street were cold. I couldn't stop clinging to Samba either, both my hands were holding one of hers and I was practically leaning on her. She tolerated the awkwardness, but the occasional cringe made it obvious she was restraining herself.

We finally arrived at her apartment building. Someone was at the desk, so it must not have been too late - or they always had someone there. It was under-decorated; a few pictures hung on the walls, a few vases in the hall ways, but there was almost nothing there. The carpet was an ugly gray color and it felt as cold as the streets did. Samba still seemed to walk with a purpose though, even with me clinging onto her, and she eventually threw open a door.

Her apartment was small: a living room, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a kitchen. I instantly knew the bedroom wasn't in use because the couch had a pull out bed that was pulled out with sheets covering it. She lead me over to the bed and sat me down.

I stalled by trying to get a better look at her apartment, there were no decorations, no TV, no chairs, nothing. Just the sleeper sofa. Stalling this way wasn't effective at all.

"So what the hell is going on? Normally if someone starts crying they try to get away." Her eyes locked onto mine and I couldn't look away. They were stern, in a guiding way, and very pretty. I looked over her one more time; she was very sexy. Toned muscles, an elegant frame... since I couldn't concentrate on the room, I was concentrating on her.

"I don't know what it is with you and looking me over like a piece of meat at important times, spit it out or I'll make you dammit!"

I sighed very deeply, I could feel those tears already coming back. "You... did something to me and... and..." I couldn't hold them back. "Doe... she... my whole life isn't real... She just... even Azara and..." Samba just looked at me bewildered.

"Slow down, who the hell are you talking about?"

"I loved her, everyday I couldn't wait for her to get home, she was... She was like a mother and a best friend..." I couldn't stop sobbing. "When she left she'd put me under, made me believe I was doing things with a slave she got me and... she'd..." My voice became labored as the lump in my throat got larger. "Every night she'd..."

Samba cringed as she lowered herself to the bed and wrapped her arms around me, pulling my head down against her. I really couldn't stop crying then. She didn't say anything, but what could anyone say in a situation like this?

"Even the twins... they made it so I would go with them and help them... I can't even trust them..."

"I'm sorry, but... I have no idea what you're talking about, ok? I mean, I was just planning on filling your mind with a dance and keeping you like that myself... but eeesh. If you have so much baggage you aren't going to be able to balance." I'm not sure if she was joking or not, but I smiled a little bit at the thought of me trying to dance around while holding luggage.

"I know, I just..." I sighed again. She wasn't who I needed to talk to. Bridget, Charlotte, and Doe... I had to find out why they had done it, to hear it from them. Anything else just wouldn't be worth it.

...but did even Azara have to be a lie? Did the twins have to let me think I was their friend? Did all my love for Doe have to be so meaningless? Why couldn't they have done something else?

It was frustrating. I had lived my entire life under someone's thumb, even when I thought I was free.

Samba was still holding me. "You can tell me about it sometime, but you really need some sleep, all right? You can stay here for tonight, I promise no one will find you."

I don't know why she was protecting me. Had I looked that miserable and pathetic? Maybe she had an ulterior motive too and just wanted to use me. More tears filled my eyes at that thought; I don't think I would be able to survive if that was the case.

Slowly she fell onto her back, dragging me with her. We laid there for some time. She was oddly warm and that green glow of hers was always there, I could feel it with my presence. It was comforting, almost like a blanket.

Eventually I dozed off.

I felt a rocking and closed my eyes tighter. I felt it again and shut them even tighter. The rocking stopped for a second before I felt fingers press against my clit and my eyes shot open. "About damn time! You sleep like a fucking rock!"

"What the hell!? Did you have to wake me up like that!?" I practically screamed back at her. She just raised a brow and something told me I should be quiet. Still, I couldn't help but keep going. "I mean come on! Is nothing sacred?"

She scoffed. "Whatever, I let you sleep on my bed, you owe me."

That was true.

"I didn't even make you into a dancing slave, yet, so really I'm being quite nice." She continued.

That was also true.

"So, I can wake you up however I want!" Her eyes started to glow that increasingly inviting mossy color and I felt a bit numb just thinking about it.

"Fine, fine, fine." I huffed a bit stubbornly, but smiled after a few seconds. Really, Samba had helped me through last night. She might not have done much, but I just needed someone to be there and listen. I did have to think about what I was going to do though, with the twins having manipulated me into playing their games and Doe having well... completely controlled my life, something had to be done.

First I thought it would be best to deal with the twins. "So Lynn, now that you had some sleep, do you wanna try and tell me what last night was about."

I nodded, it would be good to get this off my chest in a more comprehensible way. "Ok, I lived with this woman for most of my life. I thought she was being good to me, treating me like a daughter or something, but whatever you did let me catch a glimpse into what had really been happening."

I took a deep breath, it was still hard for me to say it. Everything still felt so real, it was hard to believe it was fake. "Apparently... she had me sitting, facing a blank wall for most of my life in a dream world of sorts and she just used me for my ability."

"Your teleporting?"

"Yes, she was just using me like a tool." Samba seemed to be mildly interested and I could tell she was thinking about something or other. Suddenly I was nervous if she was thinking it was a good idea or not.

"And well, I have two friends that when we first met they tried to put me under with their vo--"

"Charlotte and Bridget, yeah, I know all about what they can do Lynn. Yggy and Helena told me all about it." She shrugged, this was apparently normal to her.

"Who?"

"The two you made fuck in that restaurant." She grinned and winked as she said that and I started laughing. So it had worked? Good.

"Wait, wait, does that mean the twins go--" Samba's finger came to my mouth and hushed me. There was a smell of arousal her finger and I realized it was the finger she pressed into me, though I don't think she noticed.

"Maybe, but seeing as how I haven't gotten a call, probably not."

Suddenly I was a bit worried, Charlotte and Bridget were still my friends, even if they had been dishonest I didn't want them to get sold off or anything. "Well can you find out or something!?" My voice was a bit higher pitched and desperate than I wanted it to sound.

"Relax, go take a shower or something and I'll find out. You shouldn't worry though, I'm sure they got hauled off to jail last night or something if they haven't bugged me trying to get you." That made sense, they were supposed to be after me too.

I looked at Samba a little pitifully, hoping she would just make the call while I was right there, but I didn't elicit anything from her beyond a raised brow and a stern look.

The shower was fast and I hurried. The only stall I took was smelling the wildflower scented shampoo Samba had used. In record time, I dried myself off and realized I had no clothes here. It was a bit embarrassing, but I didn't have much choice except to wrap the towel around myself and head out to the living room where Samba waited.

"Well, good news is that the twins got away. Bad news is that now they know I have you." She hardly seemed to take it as bad news, a grin was painted on her face. "So we're going to make a deal, all right Lynn?"

"Deal?" That didn't sound like something I wanted part in. I could just leave at any time, she knew that, but... I hadn't left yet. For some reason that just didn't sound like the right thing to do, maybe it was because she wasn't forcing me to stay?

"Yes..." Samba practically purred as she approached and tossed the towel aside. As soon as I tried to move away from her, she grabbed me around my waist and I felt something forming against my skin. I shivered a bit as Samba circled my waist and I could feel warm metal now. "The deal is, you come back after taking care of whoever you need to, and I won't turn you into a dancing puppet. You'll still dance for me, but I'll let you keep your mind. Sound good?"

At first I tried to struggle away from her, but something about whatever she put on me felt... good. It was warming up my insides, making me feel a bit stronger and more focused. When she was done, I looked down to see a chain tightly hugging my waist with a padlock on the front. I was only allowed briefly to look at it as another white dress covered me.

"And that's so you can make an impressive entrance. Now get going I want you back here by tomorrow night at the latest." She let me go (and for a second I wish she hadn't) but I felt that chain around my waist heat up a little bit and I felt my resolve strengthen. I needed to do this. I concentrated on the twins and the world shifted around me.