Carlos made peace with the fact that he was about to die. The wolves were circling around him. I never really had a chance - he thought not against twenty wolves. But he was proud of himself for how well he had managed with what he had. He closed his eyes and began to recite Psalm 23. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...”Suddenly he heard a woman calling his name. “Carlos!” she shouted. He recognized the voice. It belonged to Crystal. What is she doing here? - wondered.“You can do it!” she shouted. “I know you can! You are the strongest person that I have ever known!”

Eric cleared his throat, and three guards entered the infirmary. They carried each other with an electric baton. Crystal could tell right away what they were about to do, and she shouted for them to stop, but it did no good. All at once, they pressed the batons to his flesh, and he began to flail about. It looked like he was having a grand mal seizure.“I don’t think that he’ll be putting up much of a fight now,” Eric laughed. ****Crystal felt like a shell-shocked soldier, and when Eric led her into the next room, she went along obediently. He sat her on the bed, and he began to treat her wounds.There was a clock on the wall, and its steady tick-tock-tick-tock rattled her brain. She looked up at it and saw that it had been two and

The clerk let out a disappointed sigh. Sure enough, she thought all the good men in this world were taken...Crystal smiled as she slipped the gloves over his fingers.“They are perfect!” Nathan exclaimed. “What made you want to buy me a gift?”“I suddenly remembered that I have never bought you a gift before,” Crystal replied, “and I wanted to rectify the situation.”“But you have bought me a gift,” Nathan said. “On my birthday. Don’t you remember?” Crystal blushed, and she turned her head in embarrassment. On his birthday, she had given him herself to him as a gift. Nathan kissed her neck. “That was the best gift I have ever received,” he whispered. “Of course, I also like t

“I’m just going to the washroom,” Crystal replied. “I don’t understand why you want to watch me do my business...”“Fine,” Nathan grumbled. He went into the bedroom, and he saw an unfamiliar bag on the bed. Inside, he found sewing materials, and he thought - From this, Crystal will make my puppet! - and he was overjoyed.A few minutes passed, and then Crystal emerged from the bathroom. She had a smile on her face, and she was carrying a water-filled foot massager. Nathan stood up and offered to help, but she stopped him. She said, “Stand still, with your back to me.”Nathan ignored her instructions. He held up the bag of materials and said, “I thought you forgot. Bu

Crystal had the fireworks stashed under the porch, and they took them to the middle of the yard. Once they were settled, she began to set off the fireworks, and she danced with Clark on the lawn.Occasionally, Crystal thought about Nancy. She had no idea what could have been so important that she would abandon her son. If she did not return soon, Crystal would have to take Clark with her when she went to live with Eric. The alternative was to leave him with Nathan, but she was afraid that he would abuse the child.And then there was Noah to worry about. If she was loyal to Eric, then he would give Noah the antidote. Perhaps then, Noah could raise Clark until Nancy returned. It was just a thought... At least with Noah, the boy would be safe, and they already acted like a Father and son when they were together.Crysta