Crazy In Love | Buggy

f i v e

Buggy squinted as me, seemingly struggling to get a good look at me from the top row of the seats. In his defense, the tent was dimly lit. I could see him well, but only because of his bright appearance.

"Get a flashlight on them!" He commanded in a theatrical voice, which was immediately answered.

The flashlight struggled to find me. For a minute or so, it moved around the audience, which clearly annoyed Buggy. I could see him roll his eyes - and dramatically, his head too - as he waited for the light to find me.

When it did, it almost blinded me. It was way brighter than I had expected it would be. Now, it was me who couldn't see. I was practically blind with the light on me.

"Betty!" Jean yelled out again, this time through heavy sobs. I couldn't see him clearly now, but I could hear the fear laced thick through his voice. "Help me!"

His voice, with all that fear in it, made me feel so weak and helpless. All I wanted to do was run to him, help him but I couldn't. I was like a prisoner.

I saw Jean attempting to slip free from Buggy's tight grasp but Buggy effortlessly held him in place, by his side.

I remembered how strong he had been when he had picked me up. I was a grown women, but I was unable to break free from his grasp (without biting his ear off) so Jean stood absolutely no chance of freeing himself from him.

"Uh-uh-uh, you're not going anywhere, kid," Buggy teased, his voice thick with amusement. "Let me take a wild guess: that's your sister, isn't it?"

Jean sniffled loudly, "Yes."

"I remember you: you're the woman who knocked over one of my men earlier, aren't you?"

"I am bu -"

"And you're the woman who bit me ear off, too, aren't you?" He interrupted, his voice suddenly clearly bemused.

My regret was unbearable. I had horrifically assaulted the man who was now holding my brother at his mercy. If this Buggy was as evil and ruthless as his legend made him out to be, my brother was as good as dead.

I couldn't think of the best way to reply to him. There didn't seem to be a correct answer. I couldn't argue with him, that would just exasperate the situation further.

Should I just placate him? I wondered. If I begged for mercy, did whatever he asked, perhaps he wouldn't harm Jean.

Playing nice wasn't something I was used to. I was known for speaking my mind, for being honest to fault and now I had to do the opposite of that.

My brothers life depended on it. Actually, everyone's life depended on it. I had to play this perfectly. Any small mistake, one wrong word, and that would be game over.

"No... Sir. I really don't want to cause any trouble and I'm sorry about your man, the one I knocked out and - "

I was interrupted by the sound of thunderous laughter from Buggy. The sound of it jolted me, frightened me. It was the absolute last thing I had thought he would do.

He had seemed so mad just a second ago. Did the laughter mean he thought this was all just a joke? That he wasn't going to hurt anyone? I couldn't figure out if this was a good sign, or a horrifically bad sign.

As his laughter changed from soft to maniacal and crazy, I quickly realised it was a bad sign. Fear began to swell up inside of me.

"You think I really care about that clown - Bozo the clown - as you called him?"

He roughly pushed Jean into the arms of one of his clown pirates, who struggled to keep Jean in his grasp. This clown clearly wasn't nearly as strong as Buggy was.