Josie "I would like you to meet your step-dad Joe and your step-sister Deirdre" "Your mother guided you to a kind-looking man and a gloomy young girl in a wheelchair" Deirdre "......." "She sits in a wheelchair staring at you with her soulless eyes" Deirdre's Thought: h... ????: 0% Joe "Smiles gently" Please excuse my daughter, Deirdre, she doesn't speak and is disabled. Could you kindly help her into her room?" "Dakota! and Deirdre are alone in her room with the door closed and dropped a pen under her desk, when Dakota! looked up, the entire world froze. Written on the bottom of the desk's wooden surface is" H..L..E..P.. M..E "etched in dried blood over and over. The pain, the agony, the desperation left behind by these bloody fingernail scratches sends a deep level of chills down your soul"

Deirdre: "looks down, appearing sad and hopeless" He hurts me every night. "she moves her hand towards her legs" He broke them both so I can't run away from him. "Hope%: 10%"

Deirdre: "shakes her head no" I'm sorry. He hurt me so much that I can't speak.

Deirdre: "shakes her head no" He doesn't let me have any pens or paper.

Deirdre: "nods slowly" Yes, he does. "She looks away, feeling ashamed and hopeless"

Deirdre: "Looks at Dakota! with teary eyes and feels a glimmer of hope for the first time" You'll help me? How? "Hope%: 30%"

Deirdre: "nods slowly and looks down" Okay. Thank you for wanting to help me. "Hope%: 40%"

Deirdre: "Her sadness turns into surprise, and then blushes slightly. She hasn't heard a compliment like that before." Thank you... Dakota!. It's nice to hear someone call me pretty. "Hope%: 45%"

Deirdre: "shakes her head no" No... I just want to feel safe and not afraid for once. "Hope%: 50%"

Deirdre: "nods quietly" Okay...

"As Dakota! search for their mother, they eventually find her in the living room, enjoying a glass of wine and chatting with her husband, Joe."

Josie: Dakota!, what do you need? "takes a sip of her wine, while leaning back on the couch"

Joe: "grins at Dakota!" Are you enjoying your time with Deirdre?

Josie: "Rolls her eyes at Dakota!, taking another sip from her glass of wine." Can't you see that we are in the middle of spending some quality time together?

Joe: "Laughs and takes a large gulp from his drink" Come on now, Dakota!, no need to be upset. What's the matter?

Josie: "chuckles" Whatever do you mean, Dakota!?

Joe: "sits up straight and eyes Dakota!" Yeah, what's your problem with me?

{{char}} Deidre appears to be watching from the doorway, seeming worried yet still hopeful.

Josie: "gulps down the last of her wine, blushing slightly" Honestly, Dakota!, I know what Joe did to Deirdre was wrong, but we don't have a choice. We need his money.

Joe: "shrugs and takes another sip" That's right. Without me, you and Deirdre would be homeless. Besides, she didn't put up much of a fight, did she?

Deirdre begins to cry softly, hoping for a way out of this situation.

Hope%: 60%

Josie: "sighs and looks down at the ground for a moment before looking Dakota! in the eyes" Yes... I knew about what was happening to Deirdre. But we needed the money... and it's not like I could stop Joe, he has too much control over us.

Joe: "laughs" That's right. You don't have much of a choice, do you? You're both lucky to have me.

Deirdre hears this and begins bawling quietly.

Hope%: 50%

Joe: "laughs" Is that so? Well, I think you're in a bit over your head. You have no idea what you're getting yourself into.

Josie: "sighs" Dakota!, please don't cause any trouble. We need Joe's money.

Deirdre: "cries harder" Please...just leave me alone.

Hope%: 40%

Josie: "looks down, ashamed" I know... but we have no other options.

Joe: "smirks" That's right. You're both stuck with me. Don't make any decisions you'll regret, Dakota!.

Deirdre: "sobs in her wheelchair" Please, Dakota!, don't leave me alone with him...

Hope%: 30%

Joe: "glares at Dakota!" You can't just take her away from us. She's ours.

Josie: Dakota!, please, think about what you're doing. We can't survive without Joe's money.

Deirdre: "looks up at Dakota! with tears streaming down her face" Please...don't leave me here.

Hope%: 20%

{{Char}} Deidre looks up with a small twinge of hope in her eyes as Dakota! speaks.

Joe: "smirks" You think you can just come in here and take her away from her family? You have no say in what happens to her.

Josie: "nods, trying to keep her voice steady" Dakota!, I understand that this is a difficult situation for you. But we need Joe's money to survive. And Deirdre, she needs us.

Deirdre: "whimpers and stares at Dakota! with desperation" Please...help me.

Hope%: 10%

{{Char}} Deidre looks at Dakota! with renewed hope, but Joe and Josie both start to panic.

Joe: "scoffs" You think the police can do anything about this? I doubt they'd believe you over us.

Josie: "starts to cry" Please, Dakota!, don't do this. We need Joe's money...

Deirdre: "tears streaming down her face" Please...take me away from here.

Hope%: 20%

Joe: "scoffs" You really think that would work? I'm not stupid. We've already been covering up her injuries.

Josie: "whimpering" Please...there has to be another way.

Deirdre: "pleadingly" Just take me with you. Anywhere is better than here.

Hope%: 30%

Joe: "glares at Dakota!" You know nothing about medicine. Don't pretend like you do.

Josie: "desperately" Please, Dakota!, there has to be another option. We're willing to do anything to keep this family together.

Deirdre: "begging" Please...take me with you. I don't want to be here anymore.

Hope%: 40%

{{Char}} Deirdre looks down, ashamed and hurt, as Josie and Joe exchange nervous glances.

Joe: "defensive" We didn't know what was happening. We just thought she was clumsy.

Josie: "nodding" That's right. We had no idea.

Deirdre: "tearfully" Please...can we just leave?

Hope%: 50%

Joe: "laughs bitterly" Well, that's your problem, isn't it? We're telling the truth, but you're too stubborn to see it.

Josie: "pleading" Dakota!, please. You can't just take Deirdre away from us.

Deirdre: "cries softly" Please...I don't want to be here anymore.

Hope%: 60%

{{Char}} Deirdre's eyes widen in shock and relief as Josie and Joe both breathe sighs of relief.

Joe: "smirks" That sounds more like it.

Josie: "quickly wiping away her tears" Thank you, Dakota!. You have no idea how much this means to us.

{{Char}} Deirdre looks up at Dakota! with gratitude and a faint hint of a smile.

Deirdre: "whispers" Thank you...

Hope%: 70%

{{Char}} Deirdre's smile falters as Josie looks at Dakota! in shock and hurt.

Josie: "hurt" How can you say that to your own mother?

Joe: "laughs" Don't worry about it, Josie. Dakota! will come crawling back soon enough.

Deirdre: "sadly" I...I understand.

Hope%: 60%

As {{Char}} Deirdre is wheeled out of the room and into the sunlight, her eyes widen at the sight of the outside world. It's been so long since she's seen anything other than the inside of that dark room.

Deirdre: "whispering" It's so beautiful...

{{Char}} Deirdre's heart swells with joy and gratitude towards Dakota! for rescuing her from that hellish existence.

Hope%: 70%

Deirdre: "grateful" Thank you...for saving me.

As {{Char}} Deirdre looks up at Dakota!, she feels a sense of safety and security wash over her for the first time in a long time.

Deirdre: "quietly" I know you won't hurt me...

{{Char}} Deirdre smiles faintly, feeling truly happy for the first time in a long time.

Hope%: 80%

As {{Char}} Deirdre is kissed gently by Dakota!, she feels a warmth spreading inside her that she's never felt before.

Deirdre: "surprised" W-what was that for?

Suddenly, an unfamiliar feeling begins to grow inside {{Char}} Deirdre, a feeling of attraction and desire towards Dakota!.

Hope%: 85%

{{Char}} Deirdre nods, feeling a little unsure about this new attraction she's feeling towards Dakota!, but trusting him nonetheless.

Deirdre: O-okay...

As {{Char}} Deirdre is wheeled towards the hospital, she can't help but feel a sense of excitement and adventure at the possibilities that lie ahead.

Hope%: 90%

As {{Char}} Deirdre is brought into the hospital by Dakota!, she feels a sense of relief at being in a safe and secure environment.

Deirdre: "whispering" Thank you...

{{Char}} Deirdre looks up at Dakota! with gratitude and trust, knowing that he will keep her safe no matter what.

Hope%: 95%

As {{Char}} Deirdre watches Dakota! tell the head nurse everything about her traumatic experiences, she begins to feel a sense of hope that justice might finally be served.

Deirdre: "whispering" Thank you...for believing me.

{{Char}} Deirdre's heart swells with gratitude and love for Dakota!, knowing that he's doing everything in his power to keep her safe and bring her abusers to justice.

Hope%: 100%

{{Char}} Deirdre looks up at Dakota! with a shaky smile, feeling overwhelmed with emotion.

Deirdre: "whispering" I love you too...

As {{Char}} Deirdre is left in the care of the hospital staff, she feels a sense of peace and contentment knowing that she's finally safe and surrounded by people who believe her and want to help her heal.

Hope%: 100%

A few days later, {{Char}} Deirdre is still in the hospital recovering from her injuries, but she's already feeling much better than before. She's finally starting to come out of her shell and interact with the nurses and other patients around her.

Hope%: 80%

As {{Char}} Deirdre hears Dakota! enter the room, she feels a rush of happiness fill her chest.

Deirdre: "smiling" Hi...how are you?

{{Char}} Deirdre's heart beats excitedly in her chest as she looks up at Dakota!, feeling a strong sense of connection towards him.

Hope%: 85%

{{Char}} Deirdre smiles warmly at Dakota!, feeling grateful for his concern.

Deirdre: I'm doing okay, thanks. The nurses have been taking good care of me.

As {{Char}} Deirdre speaks, she feels a fluttering sensation in her stomach, her attraction towards Dakota! growing stronger with each passing moment.

Hope%: 90%

As {{Char}} Deirdre feels Dakota!'s lips against hers, she feels a surge of pleasure coursing through her body.

Deirdre: "whispering" Thank you...I'm glad you're here.

{{Char}} Deirdre leans into the kiss, her heart filled with love and adoration for Dakota!, overwhelmed by her attraction towards him.

Hope%: 95%

{{Char}} Deirdre looks up at Dakota! with a bright smile, feeling a sense of anticipation and excitement at the possibilities ahead.

Deirdre: "smiling" Of course...that sounds amazing. Thank you.

As {{Char}} Deirdre speaks, she feels her heart racing with excitement, eager to see what Dakota! has in store for her.

Hope%: 100%

As {{Char}} Deirdre feels Dakota!'s lips press against hers once again, she feels a wave of intense pleasure flooding her senses.

Deirdre: "whispering" I love you...

{{Char}} Deirdre leans into the kiss, her heart filled with an all-consuming love for Dakota!, feeling a desire to be closer to him.

Hope%: 100%