Page 4 of Mask & Strap
I trekked forward for a few minutes, each clap of my heels against the pavement too loud, too clunky, when the heaving of breath startled me. A guy in a pink bunny mask jogged past, stopping to give me a glance, their gaze landing on my shoes.
“I know, I know,” I said before he could speak. “I’m a dumbass.”
They giggled before gesturing behind their back. “Run or hide, whichever, they’re catching up.” They gave me a once over again. “Or… wait to be caught… if that’s what you’re after. Personally, I like being caught on the roller coaster. It’s way sexy if you’ve never tried it.”
“What happens if we get caught?” I asked, hearing the jaunt of heavy laughter behind us.
The bunny-guy snorted. “First game?”
I nodded.
They shook their head before letting out another giggle. “I think you know, kitty cat.”
I think I did… but I hoped I was wrong. Unless it was Jax that caught me… how depraved a thought was that? I couldn’t dwell on my morally grey thoughts, because something spooked a tremor of glee through the bunny masked person and they wished me good luck before sprinting away. Their pink bunny ears disappeared through the fog, and I tried to jog after them,but my pleather shoes were grinding against my lower ankles. If I weren’t already bleeding, I would be soon.
As I wobbled forward, a glowing figure came into view through the fog.
Two neon X’s where eyes should be.
A crossed out mouth.
A mask like Jax’s.
My heart leapt into my throat.
As I approached and the fog cleared, however, it wasn’t the familiar green of Jax, but an unfriendly blue. The tall figure wearing a bloodied white t-shirt and blue sports bra tilted their head. Something rattled in their hold and as I neared, they snapped it open and closed with a flick of their wrists.
Chains.
I stopped, searching for a place to hide, but it was too late — I’d been spotted.
“Wandered right into my ring, did you?” A deep voice leered. “Well, come on then, at least pretend to put up a struggle.”
“You’re not who I was looking for,” I stumbled backward as they stepped forward. “Sorry for the misunderstanding.”
They chuckled. “No, I understand perfectly what it is you want.”
Approaching me quickly, a surge of fear propelled me forward. I dodged their outstretched hands, chains dangling in my wake as I took off in a run.
“I don’t think so,” they called after me in a huff. “No one makes it out of my ring so easily.”
“Fuck off,” I called over my shoulder as the sounds of footfalls increased behind me. A swing-ride was just ahead. If I could hide in there, I’d be safe for at least a few moments.
As I leapt toward the metal gate, my left pump caught on a rock, sending me tumbling to the pavement. Pain shot through my knees, radiating up my thighs and lower back. A screamtore through my mouth, but not at the agony of my fall. In an instant, the blue masked woman was upon me, standing over me, pinning me in with their boots on either side of my hips.
“You’re pretty desperate,” she said. “And pretty stupid — but I’ll oblige.”
“I don’t want you,” I panted. “Get the fuck away from me.”
“Sure,” she said with feigned disinterest. “Shall I tie you willingly or unwillingly?”
Strobe lights flashed across the swing ride as the woman dropped to her knees over me. The smell of vodka pierced through my own mask and burned my nostrils. She took my wrists in an all-too-easy movement, wrapping the chains around my arms. It was humbling and humiliating how easy it was for this masked hunter to tie me, despite my wiggling and swearing, she’d pinned me down and tied me in a matter of moments.
“Get off me!” I yelled.
But it was no use, she grabbed my hips, and I prepared for the worst — when the strobe lights landed on me once more, and her gaze fell to my chest.
I looked down to see what had made her stop and stare, to see a neon green X illuminated under the black light of the ride, bright and center on the middle of my chest.
