Sam shoved her into the doors, slapping the down button and hitting it a second time when it didn’t light up instantly.  Lara didn’t know how to start.  How did she plead her case?  She really couldn’t tell Sami the truth now, could she?

            “Sami, I’m sorry.”  Lara began and a dark laugh escaped Sam and she tilted her head to the left.

            “Lara, fucking save it.”  Sam began and Lara grabbed her shoulders.  She shook her lightly and Sam slapped her hands away.

            “I was insane ok, things happened that you wouldn’t believe!  I wasn’t myself.  I know you don’t know that because you didn’t know me before, but I’m not that woman you hate.”  Lara stated tears flowing from her eyes as the elevator began its rise to her floor.  She had fleeting moments before Sam threw her into the elevator and walked away.

            Sam met her honest eyes, but she didn’t care.  She hated Lara Perkins with a venom that she’d never known before. 

            “Please?  Sami, you have to listen.”  Lara begged and Sam put a hand to her chest, pushing her into the empty elevator.  She pushed her right up against the wall.  “I have to stop those pictures, Sam, I have to!  They can’t come out! It will ruin Dana!”  Lara pleaded and Sam just looked at her darkly; she stepped back and hit the button to the car garage.

            “I never want to lay eyes on you again, Lara.”  Sam said as the doors shushed and as they clicked closed and the pulley motors whined, Sam’s head hung down, chin to her chest and she let out a sigh.  Soft shivers moved throughout her body and she walked back to look in on the babies and take her mind off Lara Perkins.

~*~*~*~*~*

            The latest incarnation of Crystal’s was no different than its predecessors…dingy and dark.  But then, most of the underground dungeons were.  Operating without sanction or license, far outside the rules practiced by the BDSM community, the undergrounds were prone to ‘unfortunate events’ that were difficult to cover up.  Relocation was frequent and necessary and few owners were willing to invest much in the décor for clients that seldom stayed long enough to notice, just long enough to get a fix of whatever darkness pleasured them.