Hobbled as I was, it took some time to make my way down the stairs. Still, I figured I was better off trying to walk down than to take my chances with the elevator and to be at the mercy of whoever got on. I had learned my lesson there. I did not run into trouble until I was almost home.

I had just stepped onto the third floor when I heard a door slam somewhere up above. I expected whomever it was to take the elevator, but a voice whispered down proclaiming the elevator to be too slow and they should take the stairs. Within seconds I heard at least two sets of feet pounding down the stairs.

As quickly as I could, I shuffled over into the shadows of the corner and crouched down against the wall, trying to hide. I shivered in terror as the footsteps grew louder, closer. I hoped that I would not be spotted, so close to my goal, or that no one would open their door near me and catch me as well. I trembled, mewling into my stifling gag.

Suddenly I saw them, and I cowered even deeper into the shadows. A man and a woman appeared from the stairwell, and just as quickly disappeared as they turned the corner and started down the next flight of stairs. I sighed in relief as I heard their footsteps receding in the distance, but I did not move until I heard the lobby door open and slam shut. Slowly I stood, then cautiously staggered my way back to the stairs and started down again.

I reached my floor and leaned against the wall. I listened and looked for any sign of anyone who might stop me so close to my goal. The building was silent however, so I screwed up my courage and hobbled my way out into the hall. I soon reached my door, and my heart sank.

It was locked, of course, and I wondered how I thought that it would not be. Still I tried the knob and foolishly stared down at my naked, bound body, bereft of keys. I sagged against the door and started to cry, a muffled, despairing sound coming from my gag. I was so close.

I jumped at the sound of the lobby door shutting and trembled in fear as I heard the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs. I looked about, trying to find somewhere to hide, but I was too close to the nearer of the two stairways that the person was using, and too far from the other and the safety of where the hallway turned. I was trapped out in the open, nowhere to go-

"Oh god."

I looked up and saw Sharon staring at me in disbelief. Her mouth was wide open in shock as she looked me up and down, and I cowered before her, remembering the things Steve had said.

"Billy.What happened? What have you been doing? Who did this to you? You look like hell." She fired questions at me rapidly, ignoring the fact that I was gagged and could not answer. I hung my head in shame as she stepped closer. I was oblivious to the fact that she held a set of keys in her hand; keys to my building and apartment.

"Mmmmnnn." I said, or tried to. "Ummn-I-eee."

Sharon smiled at my dilemma, then slid her key into the lock of my door. "C'mon." she said, "Let's get you inside and I'll untie you." She opened the door and held it as I shambled past. For some reason, I felt a sense of dread when she shut it behind me and I heard the locks fall into place.

I waited off to one side in the hallway for Sharon to untie me as she had promised, but she brushed right past me after locking the door. I watched as she disappeared behind the flimsy curtain that separated the hall from the living room. I had no choice but to follow.

Sharon was sitting on my sofa bed when I came into the living room. She was dressed in her usual cut-off denims and sandals, though wearing a different shirt. Her legs were crossed and one leg was casually kicking as she patted the sofa next to her, indicating that I should sit down. I did, and she pulled me close and began to unwind the swath of duct tape that was binding my mouth. I spit out her sock when my mouth was free, and she giggled, turning me about as she started to fumble at the knots binding my wrists.

"I don't know what happened to you, but I want you to tell me everything." I did. I poured out my heart to Sharon as she tried to undo the knots binding my wrists. She seemed to take a long time, but that was okay, as I needed a long time to tell her every degrading act I had performed since waking up in the basement laundry room. I don't know why I told her the entire story, but I did, feeling more ashamed with every word. Sharon listened, and really seemed to care. The few times I was able to look at her face, I saw nothing but pity and concern. I was crying as I finished my tale, and she was sobbing as well. She gave up on my bonds and held me tightly, rubbing my back.

"Shhh." she whispered. "It's okay, Billy. It's all right. Let it out. I'm here." I cried on her shoulder until she eased me down on the sofa, and then I cried some more. "Shhh.It's okay. You need to relax. You need to sleep.Sleep." I felt my eyes sagging as she rubbed my belly. "Sleep."