Reformation

9: Hard Labor

"I can't believe Michael actually let you come on a run."

"I can't believe Ryan let me come on a run."

I swung the machete over my head and it planted into the creeper's head. Zoey stood and watched me kill it.

"Well what are you waiting for?" I said as I pulled the machete out of its head.

She grinned and we strolled into (once again) Threads. This time, we were here for us.

I sifted through the racks for outfits that would look good on her. I frowned as she showed me a tight pair of leggings and black tube top. I looked down at my stomach.

"Yeah, that's not happening." I laughed.

She groaned and started walking towards the maternity section. "Thanks a lot, preggers!"

I laughed and kept looking through the clothes. All of a sudden, I felt arms wrap around my waist. Lips planted a kiss on my neck. At first, I stiffened. Then I relaxed a bit.

"Zoey, you're such a lesbian. Don't you think Beatrice might-"

I turned my head and almost screamed if I wasn't so speechless. My hand trembled as I moved it towards the machete in my belt. He quickly knocked the large knife clattering to the ground a few feet away. I balled my hand into a fist and swung it up to his already bruised cheek. He caught it and grabbed my other hand, then pushed me up against the wall. I tried to bite, kick, hit or hurt him in any way I could, but he was too strong for me. He leaned down to my ear, his lips brushing against my neck.

"It's ok, I've got you now. Calm down. I don't want to hurt you."

I smashed my head against his and my vision was filled with black spots. His grip loosened for a second, then squeezed back even harder and he pulled my hands in front of him. He pulled out a black zip tie from his back pocket and bound my hands together.

"Go to hell!" I screamed. I hope Zoey heard.

He smiled and chuckled. "Not the first time I've heard you say that to me."

He finished bounding my hands and brushed a strand of hair from my forehead. Then, he leaned down and kissed my forehead, then my cheek, then my bottom lip. I froze. My heart was pounding. I tried to think of a plan. I wasn't strong enough to disarm him, I wasn't fast enough to outrun him, maybe a little deception would work.

Please forgive me Ryan. I kissed him back. I could tell he was relieved as he kissed me. I put my hands up to wrap them around his neck, purposely showing my bound wrists. I pulled away.

"I'm sorry. Somebody was watching and I had to pretend like I didn't want to see you-" He put a finger up to my lips. "It's ok." He whispered.

Good. He was buying it. I moved my bound hands up to his stubbly chin and caressed it with my fingers. You think he would have learned his lesson after our fake engagement.

"Jim, take me with you." I whispered.

He smiled and cut the zip tie off of my wrists. "I knew you really loved me."

I was about to make a run for it when his hands were on my stomach.

"Why did you-"

He didn't finish because I was bolting to the other end of the store, scooping up my machete as I went. I didn't hear him running behind me and I skidded to a stop when I saw him in front of me. He had a knife pressed against Ryan's throat.

"Don't hurt him." That was all I could manage. Jim motioned for me to drop my machete. I did so.

"I'm tired of your crap, Arizona." He pressed the knife closer to Ryan's neck and blood trickled onto the knife. Ryan let out a yelp of pain.