This way Lisa

Lisa's POV

Why was this happening! Poor Sarah. She wasn't cut out for this! Tessa! How could you! I knew you were angry from our talk but I didn't expect anything this petty! Sarah was innocent, what was the justification in involving her!

I ran til I was breathless but I made it. I saw Sarah in the window in lingerie. Though modest standards by Samantha's usual taste. Running inside I saw Samantha. She was holding some tea. She offered it to me.

"I don't want tea. Why is she still in the window?' I asked.

"You know the rules. She can't be excused when it's began," she said.

I I...

She put her hand on my shoulder. "Lisa. Your the smartest girl I know but your running off emotions not logic. You can do better. Drink the tea. Sit down. Think."

I took a deep breath. She was right. I was the 8th winner. I wasn't Tessa. I wasn't pissy or petty. Also I was thirsty from the run. I thanked her as I sat down and began sipping the tea.

Samuel will not lie to players. It's a rule he stands by. He told Tessa he'd punish her for getting help but adding who she got as a game participant. Sarah. My girlfriend.

And while not officially on the rules exactly. Samuel doesn't release someone til they win or lose. He may give me credence because I'm a winner but he isn't going to break that rule for me. Sarah was stuck. Doomed to be either a winner or loser. I wanted to scream and cry but then ... I realized what I should be doing.

I began walking to the window.

"What are you going to do?" Samantha asked.

"Nothing bad. Trust me," I said.

She nodded.

I opened the panel and climbed next to her. "Sarah. I'm here. It's okay. It's going to be okay. You need to know that. I ... Wish I could stop this. End it but I can't. But I won't let you go through this alone." I turned my back to Samantha. "Give me some lingerie. Way more skimpy. I want to be the center of attention."

"Lisa. But you don't..."

"Please! Now!" I screamed.

She nodded and took me back. The magic of the book wasn't compelling me. Something somewhat stronger was. Love. I would do what I could for Sarah.

It didn't take long for Samantha to dress me up. Honestly the red lace set was way more eye catching than I preferred but that made it perfect.

She walked me up on stage and helped me strike a pose and once there I just manually held it. She was generous in the position of my head. I could see Sarah and the crowd. Could see that I was indeed drawing faces.

But then something surprising happened. Samantha walked in front of me. Also in lingerie. Hers a white set and she struck an even more seductive pose than me. Her head tilted back looking at me before she stopped moving.

I almost wanted to cry for a moment. Samantha felt like such a sister right now. A sister I was so fucking proud to have.

Hours passed and I was alone with just my thoughts. Should I hate Samuel? He after all was the one punishing my girlfriend but to his credit he was tricked by Tessa. Tessa was the one with intent. She wanted to make me suffer.

But was I just overlooking Samuels crimes? Did I even have a choice? I wasn't sure I could stop Samuel. Opposing him may be akin to opposing a hurricane. Was it my fault for not helping Tessa? Or perhaps it was some mixture of the three? I wasn't sure.

An alarm buzzed on Samantha waist. "Fifteen minutes girls. Let's go. Bathroom. Water. Food."

Sarah fell to the floor and I quickly rushed over to catch her. She wrapped her arms around me.

"I'm so scared," she whimpered.

"Come on. Let's go," I said. I helped her walk to the bathroom, allowing her to lean on my shoulder for support.

"How did you know I was here?" She asked.

"We will talk later. Right now let's focus on getting through this," I said.

"Thank you. I was so scared. I didn't know what I was going to do before you got there," she said.

I smiled as I held her. Whose fault this was? I didn't care anymore. Mine Tessa or Samuel. All I wanted was to help her get through it. Though I'd be lying if I didn't want some **** against Tessa. I don't know if was fair to blame her but either way I wanted to get her back.

What a strange feeling? I'd never really felt the desire to destroy something or someone before but that is how I'd describe it. Even when I saved Sarah from that man, my feeling was more akin to removing a pest. As one might do a rat or spider. But my feelings towards Tessa was different.

Looking at Samantha as we waited for the bathroom. Yeah. I think I understood how I felt now. Samantha always treated me with a sense of kinship since I won. I originally considered it odd. We aren't friends or family. We didn't have much in common besides being winners but she saw my pain and not only didn't she dismiss it or do anything like that. She jumped in with me. Just as I had with Sarah.

If love was motivating me. Was it motivating her too? Maybe I had been wrong before. For the past two months I had been debating therapy or something of the like but... No. Now I was sure. I didn't need it. I had something infinitely better. I had a family. Samantha. Chloe. Yes even you Samuel. And hopefully one day. Sarah too!

For now I'd do everything I was allowed to in order to help Sarah win!

My path was laid before me. Now I simply needed to walk down it. I felt a bit better already.