Brooke laughed as she drove down the road, visiting with her friend, Emily, better known as Em. "He's a dolt, just like the rest of them! Guys are so easy. Just give them some now and then and they'll believe anything." Em laughed in agreement, "Yep. I still say you should try it without a condom. It feels sooooooo good!"

"No way!" Brooke retorted. "I can't get pregnant. Not until I plan to, anyway. And while they think I'm on birth control, the truth is, I hate those damn pills and never remember to take them. So, the condoms will just have to stay for now. Besides, look where it got you. You're just now getting your figure back from being pregnant." "Well, there is that" Em laughed again.

Just then there was a loud pop and the car shuddered. Brooke pulled to the side of the road and the girls got out to discover both right side tires were shredded. "Shit. What do we do now" Brooke moaned. "There's nothing for miles. So much for saving time with the shortcut." "I'll call for help" Em replied, pulling out her cell phone. Her cheery demeanor changed when she saw the "no service" indicator on the screen. Brooke soon discovered her phone wasn't connected, either. They were looking at each other wondering what to do when a pickup topped the hill behind them. The girls quickly began waving, and the truck pulled up behind them. "He's kinda cute, for an older guy" Em whispered to Brooke as the man got out and approached. They explained what had happened.

"I used to own a tire shop, and I have some tires that will fit your car" the man, who called himself Dan, told them. "Why don't I take these off and we can all go to my place up the road and I'll put the new ones on for you." As they piled into the truck Brooke remarked to Em how lucky they were that a nice, cute guy showed up just in time to rescue them. Dan got in and they drove off, chatting and laughing as they began to tell him about their road trip and how they had just headed out that morning for a 5 day getaway.

After a few miles Dan turned down a gravel drive which wound away from the road thru the trees. He pulled up to the back of a small house and parked the truck. Brooke noticed he drove around a fairly large hole filled with water. There was a dump truck backed up next to it. "What's that?" she asked. "Just an old cistern I'm filling in" Dan replied. "I finally got the dump running and dug a load of dirt to put in it. Soon it will be a nice patio." The girls didn't see any tires, and looked worriedly at each other. Dan smiled at them and said "I just need to tend to my lunch before it burns, and then I'll head out there to the shop." He pointed to a metal building about a ¼ mile away from the house. "Why don't you girls come in and have some lunch with me?" At this, both girls realized they hadn't eaten in hours and were hungry, so they eagerly took him up on the offer.

Once inside, Dan offered them some chips and salsa. "My favorite!" Brooke exclaimed, eagerly digging in. Em ate more sparingly, and Dan got a beer and sat at the table making small talk. Brooke noticed he wasn't eating any salsa, but didn't think much of it. More for me, she thought. "Would you like some tea?" she heard Dan asking, and nodded. He went to the kitchen to get it. Brooke noticed the room looked and smelled funny, all of a sudden, and she couldn't seem to focus her eyes. She tried to ask Em for help, but nothing came out. She could see Em looking at her strangely, and then Dan came out of the kitchen. He didn't have any drinks, just what looked like a kitchen towel in one hand. Brooke watched as he walked up behind Em, who was entirely focused on her now. She realized she needed to warn Em, but she couldn't raise her arms or speak. She watched helplessly as Dan grabbed Em's head and swiftly pressed the towel over her mouth and nose. Em squealed and reached for his hand, but the chemical on the towel quickly overtook her and her eyes rolled back in her head as she passed out. Dan laid her forward on the table and walked around to Brooke's side. She tried to scream, but nothing came out. "You really chowed on that salsa, so you didn't need the ether." Dan laughed as he scooped her up out of the chair and carried her to a back room. She faded into unconsciousness as he laid her on the bed in the center of the room.