On the break, the two ball dropped into the corner pocket as soon as the diamond formation was broken. Saira smiled and her eyes glowed when she looked into the golden eyes of the woman who had done it.

“Guess I go again...” Meryn said, trying to hide the smirk curling her lips.

Saira found her stifled expressions adorable, though she would never have said that to Meryn out loud. She had grown to know how much Meryn hated that. Of course, they had only just started to get to know one another.

Ever since that night in the jewellery store, Meryn had trouble keeping the pretty girl with the Indian name out of her head. Saira... she had cute, perfect dark hair, cropped short against her head. She had sparkling brown eyes and the sweetest smile Meryn had ever seen.

She didn’t want to reveal that she was The Maiden to Saira so she started making up excuses to go to the jewellery store. After three or four visits, and some awkward conversations, Meryn worked up the courage to ask her out. Meryn didn’t know why she wanted to go out with Saira. Stuff like that hadn’t worked out in the past, after all. And they weren’t really a ‘thing’ just two people who got along and being friendly. Like friends. Yes, that was what they had to be. Anything more and things would just get... complicated. Like they always did...

Saira couldn’t help but smile in her newest friend’s presence. She reminded her of that superhero vigilante who had rescued her in the jewellery store. They even had the same oddly coloured, but beautiful, eyes. And her strong, stoic demeanour, well toned body, beautiful, bobbed read hair... Saira caught herself before her thoughts became less than innocent.

She suspected who Meryn really was, of course. Meryn revealed very little about herself or what she did, aside from the fact that she was ‘not from around here’ and did a job that was ‘dangerous.’ But ever since she first started coming into the jewellery store, Saira found herself quite smitten with Meryn. Though her friend seemed reluctant to open up, Saira did hope one day that maybe Meryn would consider something more...

“You okay?” Meryn asked, noticing Saira staring off into space.

Saira gave her head a shake. “Um... yes! Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You just seemed... lost. And it’s your turn.”

“Oh, you missed did you?” Saira asked, noticing that the one ball was still, in fact, on the table... obscured behind the six and the nine. Though it was only inches from the side pocket...

“Not the term I’d use,” Meryn replied.

“Blocking me in?”

“Hopefully...”

Saira let out a long sigh. “You know I’m just a beginner.”

“Yeah, and I still say you’re a hustler.”

Saira giggled and pretended to be shocked. “Who? Me? How could you even suggest... I’d never even heard of 9-Ball before last time.”

Meryn leaned onto the table. Saira caught herself staring at the strong woman’s backside, tightly fit into a pair of jeans. “I’ve played my share of pool, Saira. Not too many have beaten me fair and square. Sure, it was one out of ten but that wasn’t luck. You’re a hustler if I’ve ever seen one.”

Saira’s eyes flitted upward and met the stern gaze of Meryn. Though her eyes were smiling and traces of a smile began at the corners of her lips, too.

“I think you’re just a sore loser,” Saira said with a giggle. “It’s not like we were playing for money.”

“Oh, I only play cards for money. It’s a hell of a lot harder to hustle someone who can read your face. Still...”

Saira rolled her shoulders and playfully eyed up the cue ball. “Oh dear. It’s a bit of a reach. You sure you didn’t do this on purpose?”

“What are you talking about?”

Saira was forced to bend herself over the table and reach relatively far for her shorter arms. She knew her short, tight fitting black skirt would be riding up a bit, right in front of Meryn.

“Are you....”

“Flirting? Possibly...” Saira said.

Meryn felt her cheeks get warm and looked away while Saira lined up her shot... and missed the one ball.

“Cue ball in hand,” Meryn said, watching the shot. “That’s a shame.”

“Is it though?” Saira asked. “How was the view?”

“Saira... I um... Let’s just focus on the game...” Meryn’s gaze suddenly hardened and her face dropped to a much more sullen expression. I shouldn’t be doing this she thought.

“Meryn? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine I’m just... thinking.”

“Are you?”

“Don’t worry about me. Let’s just focus here...” Meryn lined up a decent angle on the one ball and took aim just off centre of the cue ball, eyeing up where the three rested in line with the opposite corner pocket.

Meryn took her shot, dropped the one, and let the cue settle in nicely behind the three. Her next shot dropped the three and Meryn, wordlessly, ran the table and ended the game in less than five minutes. Saira gave her a sarcastic clap, with a wide grin on her face.

“Bravo. Well done beating a beginner, Meryn,” she said.

Meryn let the traces of a small curl the corners of her lips again, beginning to set up the table again. “Well you can always try again...” Meryn said.

Out of the corner of her eye, Meryn noticed a woman begin approaching them. It wasn’t the biggest or most expensive bar in the world, nor was it terrible crowded, but the woman would have been pretty easy to spot anyway. Though she was smaller than Meryn, and quite lithe and, Meryn admitted, attractive, her broad shoulders and well shaped, toned muscles denoted an athletic profession.

She dressed in sleek, skintight clothing; black leggings and a matching tube top along with black flats. The clothing demonstrated the woman’s strong and shapely muscles and Meryn caught herself staring a bit, giving her head a shake when she remembered she came in with Saira...

Though Saira noticed her too and felt her heart sink a bit at just how trim and gorgeous this athletic woman was. Though she thought she recognized her... pale skin, long, flowing blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and a scar over her left eye, splitting her eyebrow. It wasn’t a deep scar but seemed to indicate this woman may have some form of combat training...

“I couldn’t help but notice,” she said with a touch of Russian accent. That confirmed it for Saira. She knew who this woman was but she let her continue. “You’re one hell of a pool player. And 9-Ball happens to be my game,” she said to Meryn.

“You challenging me? Why’s that?” Meryn asked.

“I like a challenge. No need for money, either. Just... friendly. Good competition, yes?”

“Friendly...” Meryn said. “Got a name?”

“Ivana,” Saira said. “Dragunova. Women’s Welterweight Boxing champion. She’s defending her title on Saturday night.”

Ivana smirked and looked Saira’s way. “You’re a fan, are you?”

Saira shrugged. “I just like sports.”

“Well, you still recognized me on sight. Must be one hell of a sports fan.”

“I suppose,” Saira said.

“What are your names?” Ivana asked.

“This is Meryn,” Saira said. “And my name is Saira. Good to meet you!”

“So then, Ms. Dragunova,” Meryn said. “Care to join us then?”

“Three players? Not exactly standard rules.”

“Every woman for herself. Sound easy enough?” Meryn asked.

Saira smiled, a touch of warmth in her heart. Meryn didn’t want to exclude her from the game! She does care... Saira thought.

“I don’t mind a little rule-breaking,” Ivana said.

“So I’ve heard...” Saira said with a smile and a wink.

“Oh, don’t you start now,” Ivana said, smiling back. “You know those rumours are false.”

“I know. They were made up by... oh, hey. You’re fighting Ryerson on Saturday, aren’t you?”

“Roberta Ryerson, yes. The one who tried to ruin me...” Ivana slammed one fist into her open hand. “Can’t wait to pound her face in...”

“Let’s focus on some pool for now, Ms. Dragunova,” Meryn said.

“Right. So, who breaks?”

“Why don’t you do the honours?” Meryn said, stepping aside for Ivana. “We’ve been playing for a while anyway.”

“Thanks. Now maybe you’ll learn a thing or two. Just watch...”

With the balls racked in their diamond formation once again, Ivana aimed square for the one, opting for a bit of an angle, and fired the cue ball right into the others. Impressively, both the three and the six ball dropped into opposing corner pockets. She and Meryn locked eyes. Meryn nodded to her, folding her arms.

“Nice shot. Got a block on the way to the one, though.”

Ivana scoffed. “Easy bank shot around the five. Watch this...”

Deftly flicking the cue forward, using just enough of a feather touch to launch it forward, the cue ball angle around the five ball and found itself perfectly aligned with the one ball, stopping dead as they collided and knocking it clean into the side pocket. Meryn nodded.

“Pretty good. Might just run the table.”

“That’s the plan!”

Before she could take another shot, however, two very large women, dressed in black suits and sunglasses, flanked Ivana on either side. One yanked the cue from her hands and Meryn felt herself immediately tense up.

“You need to come with us,” one of the women said. Meryn’s eyes looked to the exits on instinct and she caught sight of several similarly dressed people guarding them. These two women were not alone and seemed to be leading a team...

“Who the hell are you to say that to me!?” Ivana said, whirling around and having to look up at them.

Meryn guessed at a glance that they each stood at least as tall as Artema, though perhaps didn’t look quite as strong. They’d be a challenge if it came down to a fight, which it was beginning to look like.

The bar quieted down and several patrons were shuffled toward the exits. Only the group of people in black, Meryn, Ivana, and Saira remained. With the patrons on their way out, the rest of this team of people began to surround the three women.

“Do not resist,” the other woman said. “We are doing you a favour.”

“A favour!? What are you talking about?”

“No more questions. We will not give you another chance to comply,” the first woman said.

“Hey, what is this about?” Meryn asked, keeping a tight grip on her pool cue. Saira grabbed her arm.

“Meryn, what are you doing!? We should get out of here!” she whispered.

“She’s in trouble,” Meryn said. “I can’t just leave her.”

“You’re outnumbered! Don’t be stupid!”

“Hey,” one of the large women said. “You stay out of this. Unless you wish to join her.”

Meryn shook off Saira’s grip, shooting her an apologetic look, and stared the woman who spoke in the eye, craning her neck up a bit. “Join her where?”

“Too many questions,” said the other. “You’ll have to come with us, too.”

“Yeah, good luck with that...” Meryn said.

“Meryn...” Ivana said. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Maybe. If you’re thinking of not giving in to these suits demands...”

“And what would that involve?” Ivana asked.

“Probably a few fists. It won’t be easy.”

Ivana chuckled and the two of them back into each other, facing outward as the team in black suits surrounded them. Saira was forced to back up with them and three, now facing back to back, had nowhere to run.

“Something tells me you’re a woman who’s done this sort of thing before, Meryn,” Ivana said.

“You’re imagining things,” Meryn said. “Just focus on the task at hand. The big ones are closest to you. I’m bigger than you so when I say so, we swap places. You take the two small ones and stay in front of Saira. Don’t let anyone get behind you. Understand?”

“Not a bad plan... I understand.”

“Good. Now... Go!”

Meryn moved faster than Ivana had been expecting and it caught her off guard. She stood still for a moment and watched the blur of a woman spin off Ivana’s back in one motion and slam the wide end of her pool cue into the jaw of one of the larger women.

The woman reeled backward from the sudden pain, which gave Meryn time to reach the second woman. She connected again, but the second woman was ready for her and managed to avoid taking a hit to the head, instead taking the cue off her beefy shoulder, letting it snap in two and clatter to the floor. It still hurt, though, and made her take a step back from the sudden whirling dervish rushing toward her.

Still stunned, Ivana was knocked back into reality as a man, smaller than the two women who had first confronted them, threw a hefty punch and landed it right to her lower jaw. Though she had her fists raised, he broke through what was usually a stellar defence and knocked her back a bit. But, of course, he didn’t take into account that an experienced boxer like her knew how to take more than just one punch...

Her fists moved faster than he could blink. Short, powerful bursts of strength behind each blow, Ivana managed to hit him four times square in the face before she threw his arms up on instinct, trying to shield himself.

He was only saved when three more people in black suits jumped in and pulled him back, trying to surround and grab Ivana. They forced her back, shielding Saira, and shew as now cornered up against the pool table.

Saira, meanwhile, ducked under the pool table to avoid the chaotic melee around her. She watched Ivana shake off her attackers and slide across the pool table toward the bar to get some distance. No longer cornered, she was ready when another man reached her and tried to punch her in the stomach. Blocked easily, he was now subject to a flurry of punches raining down on him from the world renowned boxer repeatedly pummelling his face.

His allies couldn’t reach him before one final solid punch hit him dead in the forehead and he collapsed to his knees in a complete daze. The others reached her but Ivana kept back up, quick on her feet, and keeping just out of their reach.

While Ivana fought the only way she knew how, Meryn had seemingly ignored her own advice to Ivana and was now surrounded by five people. The two large women she had hit with the pool cue were both in pain but mostly just angry... but they couldn’t hit her.

Bouncing between targets, moving with precision speed, Meryn slipped out of holds, dodged kicks, blocked punches, and fired back in a wild and unpredictable pattern. Back and forth, back and forth... the suits had no idea how to handle her.

Finally, seeing an opening, Meryn bounced between three opponents, blocking two punches and ducking another before landing an uppercut to a smaller woman’s jaw, sending her sprawling back onto a table that broke to pieces as she fell. With a gap in their little circle, Meryn jumped between two people who tried to grab her and had all of her opponents in front of her once again.

“Damn it!” one of the large women shouted. “Someone just grab her already!”

Her shining, golden eyes hardened with channelled anger as she put herself on the other side of heavy wooden chair, waiting for someone to run at her. One of the larger women ducked low and moved to tackle Meryn... only to trip over the chair as it was kicked toward her.

Meryn used the momentum she had created kicking the chair to help the woman along, grabbing her hair, and slamming her face first onto another table. Her nose bloodied, the large woman writhed on the floor in pain, unable to see straight...

Feeling another chair beside her, two more of her opponents rushed at her and she picked it up in one hand and flung it at them. Both of them went down in a heap, tangled up with the chair, and hit the floor hard.

Feeling movement behind her, Meryn ducked and whirled around, narrowly avoiding someone armed with a full bottle of whisky, but they still connected and shattered the bottle against her upper arm, splashing its contents all over. Luckily unscathed from the shards of glass, Meryn stuck back and grabbed hold of the man’s shoulders, roughly pulling him forward and bringing her knee up into his stomach before flipping him up and over her head. He landed on a table in front of her, the wood splintering to pieces, and he rolled over onto his stomach and stayed down from the throbbing pain.

Still more of them came at her and Meryn took a moment to survey the scene. Ivana had been faring well but the sheer numbers against her was overwhelming and now she was grappling with the other large woman, who had apparently chosen to abandon her fight with Meryn. Ivana could not break free of the woman’s grasp. And Saira... she couldn’t see Saira!

“Where...” she whispered to herself, snapped back to reality by a small, thin woman armed with a pool cue rushing at her and swinging wildly. Meryn was forced back and easily dodged the makeshift weapon, even jumping up onto the pool table to avoid being cornered... but she still couldn’t see Saira.

“Saira!” she called, but her moment of hesitation gave the woman ample time to grab hold of Meryn’s ankles and pull, bringing her down hard onto the table, rolling off and hitting the floor.

Though the fall hurt, Meryn would not be deterred, Before getting up, she swept out the woman’s legs from under her with a strong kick, taking her to the floor, pouncing on top of her and levelling her with a shut fist to the forehead, knocking her unconscious.

But then a high pitched shriek grabbed her attention and Meryn was back to her feet. The large woman had finished grappling with Ivana, it seemed, and now three of her allies were holding her down. Saira had been dragged out from under the pool table by the large woman who now had a thick arm wrapped around her throat.

“Get off her!” Meryn snarled, running at her blindly, not watching who or what was in her way... when a thick forearm appeared in her vision for a split second and laid her low on the floor. A large woman with a bloody nose loomed over her and grabbed her by the throat, picking her up off the ground.

“That’s enough,” she said, with one punch and everything went black for Meryn.

The other large woman loosened her grip on Saira’s throat for a moment. Saira watched the other woman begin dragging Meryn away and whispered an apology to her. The woman behind her tightened her grip again.

“Get those two tied up. Make sure it’s tight. I’ve got this one...”

Before she could even protest, the woman hauled Saira up and over her shoulder. Saira cursed herself for the way the fight had gone. She was sure Meryn would have won if that goon hadn’t found her under the pool table... But now there was nothing she could do as both Meryn and Ivana were hauled away. Though she didn’t know what they wanted with Ivana Dragunova, she suspected she would find out soon enough.

...

When they were brought into the dimly lit room together, Saira was glad to see that Meryn wasn’t bleeding or anything. Whatever injuries she suffered were likely minor. Unfortunately, Saira suspected that when she woke up she would be less than pleased with their... situation.

Saira was in a chair between the two women and Ivana, to her left, squirmed and writhed against tight bonds that held her in place. She had been tightly tied with strong rope around her wrists, holding them behind the back of the chair in a crossed position. More rope snugly held her biceps closer together just above the elbows and a third, long coil of rope wrapped around her arms and torso, holding her to the chair. Her wrists were tied down to one of the chair supports, arching her back slightly, and her thighs were tied together just above the knees. On the steel folding chair, Ivana’s ankles had also been tied to each chair leg. From the muffled sound of her voice, and the scowl on her face, Ivana’s mouth had clearly also been stuffed full with something and it was sealed in with a sturdy wrapping of duct tape.

While watching Ivana struggle, Saira realized that her gag was similar, though her mouth was merely taped shut and she had been secured perhaps a little less tightly. Not that she could escape anyway but their captors obviously didn’t think of her as a threat.

Her wrists were zip tied behind the back of the chair, duct tape wrapped up her arms and held her waist to the chair and her ankles were similarly zip tied. Saira only wished she was as strong as Meryn then she might be able to break free. But, seeing Meryn’s restraints, her strength wouldn’t have mattered in the least.

After the fight she put up, the two large woman seemed to take pleasure in securing Meryn to her chair. When Saira saw them enter the room with armfuls of chain, she knew Meryn would be in trouble.

Chains wrapped up her legs from the ankles to just below the knees and then tightly coiled around her thighs. Another chain pulled her ankles back and attached to a heavy pair of hinged, steel handcuffs holding Meryn’s wrists together. A wider pair of cuffs with a chain only a few inches long pulled Meryn’s elbows tightly together. Coupled with a heavy chain wrapping up her arms and torso, trapping her arms to her back and tightly pushing up under her chest and the already low cut, yellow tank top she wore... Saira had to give her head a shake. She caught herself staring...

One final chain wrapped around her waist, holding Meryn down to the chair, and her mouth was stuffed full with some kind of cloth. One of the larger women, the one with a bloody nose Saira noticed, used practically an entire roll of duct tape as she angrily taped Meryn’s mouth shut. Deciding to add to her gag, the woman pulled off a long, red scarf around her neck and tightly pulled it over Meryn’s mouth and nose, tying it off behind her head.

Saira struggled weakly and watched Meryn, still unconscious, in her tightly bound state. That punch from the large woman had really knocked her out cold. She hoped Meryn didn’t wake up with a headache...

Slumped into her bonds, head forward and breathing slowly, Meryn sure did take a long time coming around. Saira was starting to worry about the toll that fight in the bar had taken on her.

Her thoughts were interrupted when their captors came back into the room with... a bear of a woman. She had a wicked smile on her face and seemed particularly focussed on Meryn, to the right of Saira.

She seemed to be the leader of this little band of thugs. Saira admitted that she had a rather pretty style and found her long, wavy blonde hair just gorgeous. Though the sound of her voice indicated that she was older than the others, betraying her much more youthful looks.

The mountain of a woman was tall and muscular with thick, strong legs and impressive arms. Her pale skin contrasted her grey outfit; a tight tank top, low cut like Meryn’s, a short, lace up skirt that showed off her strong and shapely thighs and a thin, brown vest. Her blue eyes sparkled as she approached Meryn. Saira noticed the rather pretty, brown sandals the huge woman wore on her feet and was quite impressed with her rather nice style.

Though when she opened her mouth, despite her good looks, Saira was less impressed with her.

“Really did a number on old Goldie here...” she said with a wide smile. “Still out. And all those chains... she ain’t gonna be happy when she wakes up. Can’t wait.”

The large woman with the bloodied nose, still a bit uneasy on her feet after Meryn had slammed her head into that table, spoke up. “You see what she did to me. Who the hell is this girl, anyway? She some kind of bodyguard for Dragunova?”

“Mmmmphh...” Ivana grunted.

“Nah, I know her,” the mountainous, blonde woman said. “Known her for a long time.”

“So what was she doing at that damn bar?” the other large woman in the black suit said.

“My guess, knowing her...” she turned her head to look at Saira. “A night out with a cute date. Wrong place, wrong time.”

Saira furrowed her brow and growled into her gag. “Feisty too,” the blonde woman said. “Just her type.”

“Lmmt mmph gmm!” Saira demanded, attempting a futile struggle against her bonds.

“You really telling me she was just defending Dragunova by chance?” bloody nose said.

“Never could turn a blind eye, Goldie. Always been a goody-good.” The blonde woman sighed. “Just had to go and complicate things, Meryn...”

Finally, at the mention of her name, Meryn began to stir. She let out a low grunt, practically silenced by her gag, and her eyelids flickered.

“Goldie...” the blonde woman said, taunting. “Wake on up, Goldie... Everyone’s waiting on you.”

“Mmmmmpphhh...”

The blonde woman chuckled. “Nice to be on the other side of it this time.”

“Other... side?” one of the large women asked.

“She and I may have done things like this a few times...” the blonde woman said.

“Just where did you come from, Farrah?”

Farrah stood up again, flashing a wry smirk to the woman who had asked the question. “Far as you’re concerned... your dreams.”

Both goons rolled their eyes. Farrah had seemed to come from nowhere. There were rumours she used to run with the thief Aurora Moreno and that she was a double agent playing both sides back when the Weston Agency was still under full operation. But she never confirmed any of those rumours. Farrah just waltzed into their lives one day, proved her skills, and got put in charge when Silver came calling.

Farrah knelt down again, making sure she was there when Meryn opened her eyes. At first, Meryn’s golden eyes flitted open and she couldn’t see much beyond a blur. Her vision took a while to adjust and her forehead throbbed with pain. She also found she couldn’t move her body much and then memories started coming back to her.

The bar... that fight... Dragunova... where am I?

An all too familiar voice whispered in her ear then. “Don’t worry, Goldie. Nobody knows your little secret... Maiden. But you’re still in a heap of trouble.”

An irrational, irrepressible rage took hold of Meryn in that moment. Something in that voice just invoked every ounce of hate of which she was capable... but why?

Who... No. No goddamn way....

The growl started in the back of her throat and Meryn’s eyes shot open, her vision cleared, and she bucked violently forward against her chains, screaming bloody rage into her gag. Her eyes met the sharp, smiling blue eyes of someone she had only hoped never to see again.

“Howdy there, Goldie. It’s been a while.

“FFFMMMMMRRRMMMMMMMM!!” Meryn screamed, bucking and writhing and struggling with her chains so hard she tipped her chair forward and nearly fell. Farrah caught her and roughly put her back down where Meryn continued to furiously struggle, already beginning to tire herself out.

“I knew that would do it,” Farrah said.

“Woah!” Both large women stepped in to hold their chained and gagged captive in place. “Jeez, Farrah, what did you do?”

“Just talked to her. Nobody hates my guts like Meryn here.”

Her rage finally beginning to quell, Meryn was out of breath and drenched in sweat, heaving breaths and glaring daggers into Farrah’s eyes. Farrah knelt low again and waved the goons away.

“MMMMRRRRRGGGHHH!! MMMMMMPPPHHH!!” Meryn screamed incomprehensible nonsense, still taken by her deep anger. Just the thought of having been captured by Farrah, yet again, sent her wildly thrashing again and screaming into her tight gag. When she finally exhausted herself, Farrah let out a low chuckle.

“Are you quite finished?”

Meryn just heaved breaths again, practically snarling at her longtime rival, unable to do anything but listen to her.

“So I guess the fates just want you in this position. With me. Because I reckon you didn’t know anything about what was going on with Dragunova, did you? But here you are, all caught up in it because you just can’t help yourself, can you?”

Meryn’s mind began to calm as she listened carefully to Farrah’s words, still breathing hard.

“Goldie... I’m willing to bet you have heard of Silver, yes? Call it a... gut feeling.”

“Hmmmph?”

“Seems she’s got herself a plan. I hear Dragunova has been something of a goody-good for Weston. Silver hates people like that. People like that one hockey player, Horton, and probably you too, Goldie.”

Meryn growled into her gag again.

“So she’s paid us to get her out of the way while she stands in for Dragunova at that big title bout. And I think you and I both know what a woman like her could do in a boxing ring. Disguised as Dragunova, and with a long rivalry already between her and this Ryerson chick. Plus, as I’ve heard, Ryerson is ex military and may have helped fund a certain program... you know what I’m talking about right, Goldie?”

“Nmmm... NMMMM!” Meryn said.

“I see you’re putting the pieces together. Silver, standing in as Dragunova, is going to straight up murder Ryerson in the ring. Two birds... one stone.”

Meryn started struggling in earnest again. She couldn’t stand for this! She swore there would be no more murders like this on her watch. But chained up and gagged like this...

Farrah stood up again. “Just thought I should explain some things to you. I know you’ve got no connection to this whole thing. But I’d bet Silver would be awful interested to meet you after the fight. So when she comes back and brings Dragunova to the cops... I think the three of us are going to have nice little chat. Till then...” She waved the goons back.

“Don’t let her out of your sight,” she said, pointing only to Meryn. “Chain her up tighter if you have to just make sure she stays put.”

“Sure, Farrah,” the woman with the bloody nose said.

With a satisfied grin, Farrah left her three captives to stew and struggle, ruminating on her words. Unable to free themselves, the three were helpless to stop Silver’s scheme this time...

...

With a wicked grin, Alicia West watched from a distance as Farrah exited the secluded little warehouse. It wasn’t far from the old steel mill, she had noticed. Silver seemed fond of the area, since it was largely abandoned. This refurbished little warehouse was no exception and Alicia knew Farrah was keeping her captives inside the dimly lit, empty room of concrete and steel.

Restarting her life yet again proved a simple task for a slippery woman like Alicia West. Of course, people didn’t know her by that name anymore. They knew her as the eccentric, exuberant, and colourful private investigator, Bridgette Baillon.

She had dyed her long hair bright pink and even wore colour contacts, turning her irises a perfect shade of baby blue. Those who hired her also noted the bright, white clothing she wore at all times. Her skirt, always tight and far shorter than what most would consider ‘professional’ matched her blouse and bow tie as well as the blazer on top of that. Topping it all off were her strappy, heeled sandals, also white, her fedora and her fingerless gloves.

Alicia, or Bridgette as she was now known, had been hired by Ivana Dragunova’s trainer. It seemed she had caught wind that something was going to happen to Ivana and she didn’t seem certain of what. But having this new crack PI on the case was the only thing she could think of to make sure Ivana was safe, knowing well enough not to trust the corrupt cops.

Something in Alicia had changed somewhat ever since she had been kidnapped by Silver. Though she had rather enjoyed being tied up, nothing about what Silver had planned had made it any fun. At first, Alicia had assumed her to be a costumed freak but after seeing her superhuman strength and the work she did in that lab... Alicia turned over a new leaf. Somewhat.

Sealing the deal with Ivana’s pretty trainer, Alicia didn’t just take money as payment, especially if someone couldn’t afford her services through normal means. So she negotiated a deal that involved tying up and gagging Ivana’s manager and leaving her to struggle for about half a day to either release her or get out on her own. To her surprise, the trainer escaped her bonds and, as a result, Alicia agreed to be tied up by her after the job was done. She couldn’t stop her fun altogether, after all. Though her days as The Binder perhaps weren’t entirely over, Alicia refused to just kidnap people anymore. Instead, it seemed she was about to be someone who rescued kidnap victims.

With her confident stride, dyed hair flowing behind her and fluttering in the breeze, Alicia let her hips sway side to side as she sauntered up to the mountainous blonde woman who had exited the warehouse.

“Beg your pardon, ma’am,” Alicia said. “Do you have the time?”

Farrah scoffed and brushed past the pink-haired woman in white. “Time to get a watch, dumbass,” she said, smiling to herself.

With a flick of her wrist, a small black tube emerged from the sleeve of Alicia’s blazer. She raised her arm and took aim for Farrah’s neck, the larger woman still walking away with her back to the odd woman. She didn’t pay Alicia any mind. Gangster types still hung around this abandoned area of town and Alicia certainly fit the profile. Besides, a scrawny little thing like her wouldn’t be able to-

*thwack*

Farrah reached up to her neck and immediately started to feel woozy as she pulled a small dart from it.

“What the...”

“You’re funny,” Alicia said, as Farrah began to stagger. “And pretty hot, I must say.”

“What did... you... do... to....” Farrah collapsed to her knees and tried to stop her head from spinning.

“Don’t worry, just a small dose of a paralysis agent. It’ll wear off in about an hour or so. But, until then, you and I... we’re going to have some fun!”

“No... not... not again...” Farrah said, finally dropping to the ground on her stomach and passing out. Alicia smiled as she strode over to the unconscious woman and reached into her large, white purse and produced a red ball gag with a black leather straps and another strap attached that buckled on under the chin

“Oh yes, my dear. I like you strong girls. All those muscles... you’ll look so sexy in my ropes. Let’s get to work...”

...

Meryn’s chains rattled as she struggled against her unyielding restraints. She wasn’t even dressed as The Maiden so her belt with all her escape tools was still at home. No hope of finding a tool to unlock her handcuffs or chains, then...

The two large women stared at her, grinning, and sometimes scowling as they remembered all the cuts and bruises they had suffered in that bar fight with Meryn. They still both seemed keen on wanting to know who she was so had spent some of their time calling contacts on the redhead with the gold eyes, seeing if anyone knew who they were talking about. All they got was all the talk of the vigilante crimefighter and hung up, scoffing.

“That’s stupid,” bloody nose said. “People say she’s like seven feet tall and can fly. This idiot can’t do anything like that.”

Meryn smirked beneath her gag. I’m a myth now. Perfect she thought to herself. Better to make them afraid...

The woman with the bloody nose stared at Meryn for a few moments and seemed to be contemplating something. She still had a splitting headache from hitting that table and thought she hadn’t gotten even yet. The thoughts crossed her mind about how, when she was finished, she’d break every bone in that skinny redhead’s-

*thwack thwack*

Both women reached to their necks and found themselves quickly passing out, their injuries making it hard to resist the agent passing through their bodies. The darts fell out of their necks when they hit the floor. The three bound and gagged captives frantically searched the room, wondering what else could be going wrong...

Someone was dragged into the room and tossed into the dim light above them on the ceiling. Farrah wore a bright red ball gag, with a black strap hugging tight to her chin. Red, silky ropes covered her body, binding her wrists behind her back one over the other in a box tie position, her arms pinned to her sides and a harness framing her ample chest. Her ankles were also crossed and tied together, bound tight to her wrists and arching her back. More rope wrapped around her calves, below her knees, and on her thighs. Another rope wrapped around her waist, between her legs, and attached to her wrists and ankles. The tight hogtie, and the way the ropes accentuated all of her features, Farrah looked... quite nice.

Meryn gave her head a shake as she spotted a figure behind the hogtied muscle head and squinted a bit. She thought she recognized her, just by the shape of the outline of her silhouette.

“Observant as always... Agent Gold,” the voice said.

Meryn lurched forward, the chains holding her back. “MMLMMSHMMM!!??”

The woman stepped into the light and looked... very different. Her oddly, vibrant blue eyes, the pink hair, her... rather revealing white business suit and heeled sandals... but the face was the same. Both Meryn and Saira would know it anywhere.

“MMMMPPHH!! NMMMM!!!” Saira squealed, beginning to struggle.

“Oh, the cutie from the jewellery store? Long time no see, my dear.”

“MMMPPHH!!”

Ivana was just confused but, based on the distress on both of her fellow captives’ faces, she could only guess that this person was bad news.

“Ah, the woman of the hour,” Alicia said, stepping forward and leaning down into Ivana’s face. “You’ve had quite an ordeal, haven’t you?”

Ivana said nothing and just nodded slowly, eyeing the woman suspiciously.

“Well, have no fear. Sasha hired the one and only Bridgette Baillon to keep an eye on you. She seemed to think you were in danger. And she was right, I see.”

“Hmmph?”

“Oh, don’t worry. I have strict instructions to get you out of here and back to that fight. There is still the matter of Silver to deal with but... one thing at a time, yes?”

Alicia pulled a pair of shears from her purse and moved forward to cut the ropes binding Ivana. “Seems a shame to do this. Pretty girl like you looks so damn hot in ropes like this... but a job is a job, I suppose. Let’s get you free.”

It didn’t take Alicia long to cut Ivana free and help remove her tape gag, reaching down and helping her stand up for the first time in hours.

“Thanks... what about them?”

Alicia slapped her forehead. “Oh, of course! I almost completely forgot!” She snapped her fingers once. “Ladies, bring in the van!”

“Wait... you’re not alone?”

“I have my own team of people. I don’t always use them but I always have them on standby.”

Several women in tight black suits and ski masks burst into the room and, instead of freeing Saira or Meryn, began carrying them still bound to their chairs out of the room.

“Wmmt? Mmmtmmm mmmph!” Saira said.

“MMMPH! WMMMMPPHHTTT!” Meryn screamed, rattling her chains and struggling hard.

“Oh come now, girls. You’ll be in good hands! I do need to have my fun somehow, you know. Speaking of... I have an appointment with Sasha,” Alicia said, turning to Ivana.

“Where are you taking them!?”

“Someplace safe. I won’t hurt them. Better with me than with her, wouldn’t you say?” Alicia said, pointing to the bound and gagged Farrah on the ground.

“I don’t know about that...” Ivana said.

“Oh, they’ll be fine. And besides, I need to recruit Meryn’s help. She wouldn’t listen to me otherwise. We have a bit of a history, you see. But someone has to come up with a plan to deal with Silver. She can help me.”

“Silver... she wants to impersonate me at the fight...”

“Speaking of, we really need to get going! Only three hours till it goes live!”

“But... what about them?”

Alicia giggled. “Oh, they’ll be out for more than a day. I upped the dose on them. When blondie there wakes up... oh, the fun she’s going to have. Until then, I think they’ll be fine. Come on, now. No time to waste!”

Alicia grabbed Ivana by the hand before she could protest and with strength that seemed to come from nowhere, pulled Ivana forward and out the rear exit of the building to a waiting car.

“But why wouldn’t you free them?” Ivana asked.

“I will. I just need to get them someplace safe. There’s more people out here, you know. I can’t have them seeing you three loose and free. Now, get in the car. I’ll get you to the arena.”

“And then?”

“Well... I guess I’ll have to delay my little appointment with Sasha. After all... we need a plan. Silver isn’t likely to just step aside. And I don’t think my tranquilizers will work on her.”

“So what? What do we do?”

Alicia flashed a pretty smile at Ivana as they got in the car. She started the engine and put it in gear. “We need to find The Maiden.”

Before Ivana could answer, Alicia floored the gas and took off for the street, speeding off into the Weston evening.

Story Theme Song: Rob Zombie- Scum of the Earth