The coordinates Preston received from Angel's collar took him far out of town. He followed roads he didn't even know existed. Twisting, turning roads that led ever deeper into the forest. He hoped he wasn't on a wild goose chase. Eventually, the roads became unpaved. His SUV kicked up a constant cloud of dust as he drove. Daylight was waning. He clicked on the lights and kept going. Soon it was dark. The world had narrowed to twin beams of light cutting through the blackness ahead of him.
It should only be a few more miles, he thought. His eyes searched the edges of the road, looking for some sign of a house or cabin. There was nothing but bushes and trees.
Angel stumbled along. The forest had gone on for so long, she almost didn't believe it when she finally came to a road. Even though she was naked, she ran right up to it and waited for a car to come by. Soon, she'd be able to get help.
She waited for what seemed an eternity, but there were no cars. It was only some old dirt road, probably hardly ever used, if at all. Again despair swept over her.
The sky was getting dark and she shivered, as the air cooled. There was no sense going anywhere else in the dark, so she decided to find a comfortable spot on the side of the road, and try to sleep. It didn't matter if she was asleep when a car came by. She'd make sure she was visible to the road. Surely, anyone driving by would stop to help a naked girl in the middle of nowhere.
Preston slowed to a crawl, scanning for a sign of habitation, but saw the same landscape of greens and browns, bushes and trees. Greens and browns and pink-Wait! he thought. What was that patch of pink back there?
Angel curled herself up into a tight ball and fell asleep quickly despite the hard cold ground she lay on. Vivid, frightening dreams invaded her mind. She was being beaten and tortured by Joe again. She hadn't escaped after all. She twisted and writhed on the ground, groaning, as the dream torture continued.
The dream changed, and she was in a warm, comforting place. She'd been rescued again. Strong, protective arms held her close. She recognized the arms. They belonged to Preston. She sighed contentedly. It was so wonderful being held in his arms again. In her dream, she scolded herself. It's not really Preston. He's dead. But maybe I'm dead too. Maybe I died during the night, and I'm with my Master just as I planned.
She heard his voice. “Angel,” he whispered. “Everything's going to be all right now. I've got you and I'm not letting you go again."
Preston cradled the unconscious Angel in his arms. Her body temperature was low, and she was weak from what must have been a savage beating. He draped his jacket over her, trying to warm her up. “Come on, Angel,” he whispered. “Wake up. Don't leave me.” He felt his eyes well up as he considered he might be too late.
At last, her moans and shivers stopped, and she seemed to settle down. “Oh, Preston,” she sighed in her sleep. “At least we can be together like this."
Preston's face brightened. She was definitely coming around. He shook her lightly. “Angel, it's really me. I'm not dead, baby. Wake up."
Her eyelids lifted slowly. She looked up at him dreamily. “Master,” she said weakly, “I didn't even think they'd let slavers into heaven."
He burst out laughing. “I don't know if they will, but we don't have to worry about that right now, ‘cause we're not dead!"
Suddenly she blinked and slowly sat up, looking around. “I–I'm not dead!” she shouted, touching her own body in disbelief.
“No."
“And I'm not asleep?"
“No!"
She turned and looked at him, tears of joy already streaming down her face. “It's really you?"
“Yes,” he laughed.
“Oh, Master!” She threw herself arms around him and squeezed so hard he couldn't breathe. “But I saw Joe shoot you!"
“Ack,” Preston tried to reply.
“Oh, I'm sorry, Master,” she said loosening her grip on him.
“Still a little sore, right there. And th-"
“Oh, Master!” she repeated, squeezing him again. “I'm so happy! I can't believe it!"
“Urgh,” he groaned, as he pried her loose once more. “Try to restrain your enthusiasm a little. For now, at least."
He pulled her close again and kissed her. There was no mistaking the reality of the gesture.
But just as she seemed to be melting into him, she pulled back, her eyes wide. “Oh my God! We have to get back to the cabin!” she said. “Joe's crazy! He's prob-ably killing them right now!"
“Okay,” said Preston. “Can you take me there?"
“I don't know. I'll try."
He grabbed a couple of flashlights from the SUV along with his gun. “Let's go."
Wearing only Preston's jacket, Angel led the way back into the forest.