Kayla Grace didn’t like malls.

There was something about the endless storefronts full of mass produced and overpriced goods that rubbed her the wrong way. She’d take a dusty thrift shop over some polished chain boutique any day. But thankfully Kayla wasn’t here to browse or shop, she was here on business.

Her boots clacked rhythmically against the smooth tile floor as she walked. She was dressed today in a black dress pulled over a white turtleneck, sheer black nylons, and her polished black ankle booties with little white socks peeking out from the tops.

She was here at the mall to profile Molly Winters, the woman behind Hazeldale’s newest sensation: Make-A-Fuzzy-Friend. The shop had only been open for a few months and was already wildly popular, often with a line out the door. It was a DIY stuffed animal store, not unlike Build-A-Bear, but with cheaper prices, more customization options, and branding that was much more modern and up-to-date with the times.

And if there was one thing Hazeldale loved, besides being a city full of rope wielding goons, it was supporting local businesses. That was part of what made Kayla love reporting here. Community pride ran deep, and it was exciting to see small businesses flourish. So Kayla was here today to do a story on the shop, hoping to give it a nice spotlight in the paper.

She glanced at her phone. Still about twenty minutes before the interview. Just enough time to grab a treat and review her notes.

Kayla veered toward a brightly colored bubble tea kiosk, ordering a milk tea with boba. She took the drink with a polite nod and settled at one of the small metal café tables nearby. With a sip of the icy drink, she pulled out her notes and crossed her nylon clad legs, idly bouncing her foot up and down as she perused her notes.

Her nose was so buried in her notebook that she barely heard her name being called.

“Kayla?”

She looked up. A girl, early 20s, maybe younger, stood nearby. She had long, dark curly hair and a bouncy energy about her. She was wearing a cute top tucked into a black skirt, with sheer black nylons and tall black thigh high boots. The kind of outfit you’d expect to see at the mall: trendy and well put together.

“Kayla Grace?” she repeated, stepping closer.

“Yeah?” Kayla said, setting down her tea.

“Oh my God, I knew that was you! I’m so sorry...I hope I’m not interrupting. I’m Iris. Iris Blake.”

Kayla gave a warm smile and offered her hand. “Nice to meet you. Let me guess, you’ve read some of my work?”

“Um, yes. All of it,” Iris grinned as she shook Kayla’s hand. “I love your pieces. You and Sara Philips and Becky Carter...I’m kind of obsessed with the whole investigative girl-snoop scene. I’m trying to get into it myself.”

Kayla chuckled. “That’s very flattering, but thank you.”

“Oh, of course!” Iris said, eyes bright. “Mind if I sit?”

“Go for it,” Kayla said, gesturing to the chair across from her.

Iris sat, adjusting her boots and smoothing her skirt before crossing one leg over the other.

“So what brings you to Hazeldale?” Kayla asked, picking up her tea again.

“Well…” Iris said, tucking a curl behind her ear. “I’m chasing a lead.”

Kayla raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Yeah. My friend, Jordan, told me there’s something shady going on at one of the mall stores. Not confirmed or anything. Just weird stuff after hours.”

Kayla’s interest was immediately piqued. “Which store?”

Iris glanced around, lowering her voice. “Make-A-Fuzzy-Friend.”

Kayla froze with her straw halfway to her lips. “You’re serious?”

Iris nodded.

“That’s literally why I’m here,” Kayla said. “I have an interview with Molly Winters in…” she checked her phone, “ten minutes.”

“No way!” Iris leaned in. “That’s perfect. What if we team up?”

Kayla tilted her head, a smirk creeping up at the corner of her lips. “You mean… go full-on snoop?”

“You read my mind” Iris grinned. “If they’re hiding something, I doubt a straight interview will uncover it. But with someone watching the front and someone poking around the back…”

“…We might just find what we’re looking for,” Kayla finished. She smiled, a bit cautiously. “But you know this might get… complicated. Who knows how they’ll react to some nosy snoops”

“Oh, I can probably guess,” Iris said with a giggle.

“Are you sure you’re up to that?” Kayla asked this with genuine concern in her voice.

She was always careful when it came to these kinds of things and getting people involved in peril that was a bit over her head. Thankfully Andrea and Madelyn had come around to things, but still Kayla always wanted to be careful. It was hard work being a snoop after all.

Iris smiled in reply, “yeah, I’m up to it. Besides, this wouldn’t be my first rodeo anyway. I haven’t been snooping for that long, but I’ve definitely run into my fair share of trouble if you know what I mean.”



“Oh I know exactly what you mean,” Kayla replied.

“So yeah, continued Iris, “don’t worry about me. I can hold my own out there.”

“Okay, good to know,” Kayla said, uncrossing her legs and setting down her boba. “Here’s what I’m thinking: while Molly and I are together, that’s a perfect time for you to go looking around. You won’t have a ton of time, but I can try and buy as much of it as possible.”

Iris nodded, “that sounds like a plan to me.”

“It should be easy enough,” Kayla replied, “but these things are usually easier said than done.”

“Tell me about it,” Iris said with a sigh, “but you can count on me!”

Kayla smiled, “same here.”

She stood up, smoothing out her skirt and taking one final sip of her boba.

“Alright well, the meeting is in like five minutes so we better get going. I’ll head in first and get things started. You just hang back a bit and whenever you see an opening to sneak in and take a look around go for it.”

Iris stood up as well, nodding at Kayla’s instructions.

Together, the two of them headed off toward Make-A-Fuzzy-Friend. When they got close, Iris peeled off and headed toward a nearby bench. She took a seat and prepared to wait as Kayla walked into the shop and got ready for the interview. Molly had scheduled the interview for a day when the shop wasn’t open, and as such Kayla walked in and there was no one around.

It was a cool place with lots of little animals on the wall along with various outfits and accessories you could purchase for them. There was even a big fluff machine at the back as well. Shortly after Kayla arrived, Molly came out from the back. She smiled warmly at Kayla.

“Hello, dear,” she said with a warm southern accent. It wasn’t as thick as it could be, but you could definitely hear it still lingering on her voice.

Molly Winters emerged from the back, tall and well-dressed in a tailored navy pantsuit with sharp shoulders. Her silver hair was perfectly straight and tucked behind one ear, and a subtle lipstick shade completed the composed look.

“Nice to meet you,” Kayla said, stepping forward to shake her hand. “Thanks for agreeing to the interview.”

“Of course, dear. Always happy to support the local press, especially one with such a strong reputation.”

The two women crossed the plush carpet and took seats near the front, where Molly had set up two comfy chairs beside a table stacked with promotional booklets and colorful plush prototypes.

“The place looks great,” Kayla offered. “And congrats on all the success so far. Things are really taking off.”

“We’ve been blessed,” Molly said, crossing one leg over the other. “This town’s been real good to us.”

Kayla opened her notebook and flipped to a blank page. “Let’s start from the top. What inspired you to open Make-A-Fuzzy-Friend?”

As Molly began speaking, something about spotting a market gap in the DIY plush scene, Kayla’s pen moved dutifully, though her eyes occasionally flicked toward the backroom door.

She just hoped Iris had made it inside safely.

Iris had, in fact, found her way through the maze of service hallways behind the mall’s western wing. A small, handwritten sign labeled Staff Only – Vendors was taped above a dented steel door. Iris glanced around and pulled the handle.

Unlocked.

Score.

The hallway inside was empty, at least for now. Iris tiptoed through it, every bootstep clopping softly against the linoleum floors. She passed by several unmarked doors before spotting one with a simple white sticker that read Fuzzy Friend.

Bingo.

She prayed that there was no one on the other side, and thankfully there wasn’t. The door opened to a small storage closet, a small overhead light illuminating the space. There were lots of boxes and random supplies and various merchandise all over the place. On the wall there was a small desk with a computer and a bunch of papers. Just the kind of thing Iris was looking for.

She closed the door behind her and made a beeline for the desk. As she did so she checked her watch. She’d found this space quick enough that she figured she had at least a few minutes to look through things, maybe even more. She just hoped that Kayla could keep Molly busy long enough.

Back out front, Kayla was wrapping up her fifth question.

“…So this is your only business, right? No other ventures?”

Molly smiled, but Kayla saw the flicker. A twitch at the corner of her mouth. The smallest shift in her posture.

“I’ve got my hands full with this one,” Molly replied, tone still pleasant but a hair cooler. “Why do you ask?”

Kayla shrugged. “Just curiosity. You’ve had such a rapid growth curve, I wondered if there was… outside investment. Or maybe a second location?”

“No other streams at the moment,” Molly replied quickly, “just the animals and the clothes really. I’d love to expand of course, but we’re keeping things simple for now.”



Even the southern charm was slowly slipping from her voice, her tone a bit less warm than it had previously been. Perhaps she was looking to wrap this conversation up and move Kayla along. Kayla wasn’t going anywhere though.

“An expansion you say? How exciting! Already looking to what’s coming next, that’s awesome. What would that look like do you think?”

“

Not sure,” Molly said with a small sigh, “if we were to expand that would definitely be down the road, but with how good things are going who knows? Could come sooner, but I tend to just take things one day at a time here.”

“That’s smart,” Kayla replied, nodding her head. She opened her notebook, scanning things over and getting ready for her next question. Before she had the chance to ask it though, Molly had spoken up.

“Hey, darling, listen I know you’re the one here asking questions, but I actually wanted to pick your brain on something.”



“Oh yeah, sure thing, go for it!”

Molly uncrossed her legs, smoothed out her pantsuit, and then recrossed her legs again, leaning back casually in her chair.

“If you don’t mind me asking, who tipped you off?”



Kayla’s heart skipped a beat.

“I beg your pardon?” She said, doing her best to maintain composure after that sudden question which had come literally out of nowhere.

“I said, who tipped you off?”

Kayla maintained eye contact with Molly. The woman’s glare was ice cold. How the hell had she already caught onto Kayla? What was going on!?

“Uhmmm, I can assure you I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Kayla said.

“Please, don’t even try that with me. I know all about you, miss Kayla Grace. Like hell you just scheduled a random ass interview with me! I don’t buy that for a second. Now I’m only going to ask this one more time: who tipped you off? I just want a name, and if you can give me that then maybe I’ll let you off easy this time.”

At this point Kayla knew that she was in some deep shit, she just had to figure out how deep. Her cover was effectively blown and if she didn’t play her cards right, this entire operation was going to fall apart. Also, she knew that there was no “getting off easy” and that if she didn’t figure out a way to get out now, things were going to get ugly…

“Look, Molly,” Kayla began, all while carefully eyeing her exit points, “no one tipped me off, I swear. I literally just came for an interview, that's all.”



Molly laughed, “that is so fucking rich coming from you. You think I buy that even for a second? You’re not slick, you know that? Asking about my revenue streams and where I make my money. Please, I know exactly what you’re up to.”



Kayla’s heart was beating fast now. All she had to do was make a break for the front doors and she was in the clear. The only question was did Molly have backup, and if so where the hell were they hiding? At least for now her path was clear, and if she didn’t act fast she might lose her window.

“Thank you for your time, miss Winters, but I think it’s probably best that I get going,” Kayla said this while gripping her bag tightly.

As soon as the words had left her mouth she jumped up from her chair and made a beeline for the door. The coast was clear and for a second she thought she was making it out, but at the last moment two burly looking men entered the shop and cut her off. One of them pulled down the main gates behind him, the entire unit crashing into the floor with a loud bang. With the shutters drawn on the windows, and the gate now closed, Kayla was sealed off in the shop with no escape.

Molly walked up behind Kayla, her heels clopping on the linoleum floors.

“Not so fast, dear. You think I would just let a nosy snoop like you get away? No, no, no. Besides, you still haven’t told me who your informant is.

Kayla sighed, “I’ve told you numerous times already, I don’t have one, okay?”



“We’ll see about that,” Molly said, her words laced with a palpable venom.

“Wait what do you meammmmrrmmph!”



The words had barely left Kayla’s lips when one of the burly goons lunged forward, clamping a meaty hand tightly over her mouth.

“MMMPHHH!” she shrieked into his palm, eyes wide under her skewed glasses as her head jerked back. Her muffled protests vibrated against the clammy skin of his hand while the second man seized her wrists, wrenching them painfully behind her.

The duct tape came out fast, ripping with a sharp shhhrrip! as he looped it around her wrists. The sticky fibers bit down through the sleeves of her shirt, yanking her arms snugly together. Another strip cinched higher up her arms, tugging her elbows together. Kayla winced, her chest arching forward as her upper body was drawn taut.

“Mmmrrffhh lllmmmph hhhhhmmmph!” she screamed desperately into the hand still clamped over her mouth, her legs stamping uselessly beneath her.

“Take her to the back, boys. I need to make a few calls so just keep her secure for now. I’ll give word when I’m ready.”



“Got it, boss.”



“Hrrrmmph mmmmmph! LLmmrph mmmggnnmph ggrmmph!” Kayla protested loudly into the hand pressed against her face, but the man holding her was far stronger than she was.

Meanwhile in the back, Iris crouched beside the desk, quickly flipping through the scattered papers. Shipping invoices, some kind of stuffed animal parts manifest… and—bingo—a small memo with an address and a little note that said “shipment dropoff, ask for Billy.”

It wasn’t much but it was a start. Iris snapped a few quick photos with her phone. She scrolled through the images to make sure they were clear enough, but then all of the sudden she heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

Her breath caught.

And then, muffled grunts. Urgent and frantic.

Kayla.

Iris froze in place. She clicked her phone screen dark and silently backed away from the desk. A shadow moved past the frosted window in the door. She needed to find a place to hide, and fast!

She darted across the room, slipping behind a tall shelving unit near the far wall. She crouched low, squeezing herself between the boxes and metal frame.

The office door creaked open.

From her vantage point, Iris could see just enough through a narrow gap between boxes.

Kayla was being dragged in, her arms tightly bound behind her.

“Easy now,” one of the men grunted, shoving her shoulder as they forced her onto the ground.

Kayla glared up at him. “You idiots are seriously making a huge mistake.”

“You hear that?” the man said with a chuckle. “Girl thinks she’s in charge.”

“Get her quiet,” the other man grunted.

“Don’t you dare touch mmmmmphh!!”

Kayla’s protests were abruptly cut off as the first wrap of tape sealed her lips. Then another. And another. The man circled her head methodically, binding the tape over and over, flattening her lips shut and pressing her hair awkwardly against her cheeks.

“Mmmnnnrrrggghhh!” she groaned furiously, her voice completely swallowed by the gag.

“There we go,” the man said, giving the final strip a good press. “Much better.”

By the time they finished, Kayla’s mouth was smoothed into silence under a cocoon of tight silver tape. She could do little more than thrash her head from side to side, strands of her sleek black hair now trapped beneath the layers. Her glasses had slipped low on her nose, framing her wide, furious eyes that glared at her captors with fury.

“Mmmmrmmph mmmmmph!”

Iris clutched her phone tightly, still hidden. Her heart thudded in her ears.

She couldn’t just sit here.

But what was the plan? Text Jordan? Wait until they left? If they found her, she’d be next. Iris felt bad just sitting there watching Kayla get tied up though. The men spared no expense in keeping her secure.

“Get her legs,” one of them barked.

Kayla shrieked into her gag and kicked hard, her polished ankle boots sliding against the carpet. But the man simply caught her ankles, straightened them out, and wound the tape in wide, merciless loops. Around her boots, over her white socks peeking above the leather, binding her feet together until the soles squeaked uselessly against each other.

“Mmmmrrmmggph mmmmph!” Kayla mumbled through her tape gag as she wriggled about on the floor.

Another roll circled higher, locking her knees tight. Within moments, Kayla was a taped bundle on the floor, every limb cinched and her mouth sealed tight. She flopped onto her side, the hem of her dress flipping up onto her nylon-clad thighs as she wriggled madly, breathing fast through her nose with her rear on full display, the outline of her underwear just barely visible through her tights.

“Much better,” one of the goons chuckled as he and his buddy stepped back to admire their work. “Now she won’t be causing any trouble.”

Iris’s breath caught in her throat. Watching it all from her hiding spot, her heart pounded with urgency. She couldn’t let this go on. She had to act now or this whole operation would be a total bust.

She had to make a break for it. There was no other option. She would run and get somewhere safe and call for help. That was pretty much her only choice at this point. Iris took a deep breath, steadying herself before bursting out of her hiding place as fast as she could.

“HEY!” one of the men shouted, spinning toward the sound.

But she was already to the hallway door. She didn’t look back as she took off running, as fast as she could, boots clambering against the tile floors. She tried to remember the way she came, but the back hallways felt like a maze. She weaved through them as fast as she could, and thankfully she had managed to find herself in a section with a set of doors at the end and an exit sign above them.

This was it. All she had to do was just make it there and she was home free. Her hand had just stretched for the glowing exit bar when strong arms snatched her from behind.

“NO! Let go of me!” Iris screamed, her legs kicking furiously as she was hauled backward off the floor.

Her boots clattered against the tiles as the second goon caught up, easily seizing her flailing ankles. With a sharp rip he yanked the duct tape into action, winding it tightly around her boots. The thick silver layers cinched her ankles together, pinning her heels flush. Iris squealed as her legs trembled with effort, but within seconds her lower legs were sealed together.

“No more running for you,” the goon holding her legs laughed.

With her ankles bound there was little Iris could do to get away now. Her only option at this point was to scream for help.

“Help someone hemmmrrrfffmmph!”

A broad hand slammed across her mouth, smothering her cry against his sweaty palm. The sound cut off into a muffled, angry hum. Her wide eyes blinked rapidly as she shook her head in protest, curls bouncing with each jerky movement.

“Let’s get her back to the office,” the goon holding Iris growled.

Together he and his partner dragged Iris away and back to the office. Throwing open the door they hauled her inside, Kayla was still wriggling around on the floor.

“LLrrmmmph fffrrmmmph mmph!” Kayla groaned when she saw Iris tossed onto the floor beside her.

At some point, Kayla had managed to roll onto her stomach. The effort had hiked her dress up considerably, now exposing the tops of her pantyhose and the full curvature of her backside. Her legs were bent slightly bringing more roundness to her posterior, ankles shifting and squirming, but finding no reprieve from her binds.

The goons wasted no time with Iris. The hand peeled away from her mouth, but before she could get a word out the sticky silver tape was pressed against her lips.

“Wait...don’t you darrrmmmMMMPHHHH!”

The first strip silenced her instantly. Then the second, and the third, winding around her head in harsh, snug layers. The tape tugged her curls flat against her cheeks, sealing her lips together while forcing her jaw painfully shut. The more they wrapped, the fuller her face looked, her cheeks puffing around the gag until her muffled cries were nothing but faint vibrations trapped inside.

“MMMFFFhhhggghhh! HHHrrmmmmphhh!” Iris groaned, writhing side to side, her skirt twisting up her thighs with each squirm.

Her ankles scissored weakly, bound tight in their tall boots. Kayla watched her with wide eyes, letting out her own urgent muffled noises through the bulging tape that sealed her mouth.

‘“Hhhhmm hhrrrmmph hhmmph fffrrmmph mmph!”

“That should hold ‘em,” one of the goons said triumphantly.

The other nodded. “Good enough. Let’s leave ‘em. Boss’ll want to handle the rest herself.”

They shared a grunt of approval and then left the room, the door shutting firmly behind them. The muffled sound of their boots faded down the hall, leaving Kayla and Iris alone in silence, or rather, alone with each other’s gagged, desperate noises.

Kayla wriggled on the floor a few feet away, turning her head just enough to meet Iris’s wide, gagged eyes.

“Nnnmmrrrmph fffrmph mmmrrmmph hhhrrmmph.”

Iris blinked rapidly, having no clue what Kayla had said through the thick gag. She mumbled back anyway, “Mmmph! Gmm mmmph! Dnnn knnnnmph whrrr mmphnnnmph!”

Their gagged conversation descended into overlapping muffled grunts and hums, neither of them able to understand a word out of the other thanks to all the tape slathered across their lips.

“Hrrmph… grrmmmph… mmmnnnff,” Kayla groaned, giving her bound wrists an experimental tug.

The tape held surprisingly firm. She tried shifting positions, but it only caused her plaid dress to bunch higher up her thighs.

“Nnnrrmph,” she moaned in frustration as she rolled onto her side, her tights slipping against the floor.

“Mmmfffph hrrmmph mm gmmmph nnnggph!” Iris whimpered, trying to shuffle herself closer. She kicked lightly at the floor, her ankles tightly cinched, boots clunking together uselessly as she moved a few inches at a time.

Kayla tried to sit up straighter, shifting her knees beneath her, but the tape around her torso held her arms so tightly that all she could do was lean sideways.

“Mmmmmmmmggmmph,” she moaned, resting her head on the ground for a moment. She was determined to get herself up, maybe even see if she could stand. That way she could at least hop around and see if there was anything she could find to get free.

Iris had the same idea as well, Kayla’s bound partner shifting around in her own binds as she struggled to push herself up. She twisted and rocked, wriggling her hips with determined little grunts, her taped face flushed with effort.

“Mmmrmmgph hhhhrnnmph mmph!”

Her own skirt had ridden up quite a bit by now, her sheer black tights stretched tight over her bottom as she flopped onto her side and curled her knees in.

“Mmmph! Hhhrrghhphh!”

With a shaky breath through her nose, she managed to tip herself upright, wobbling unsteadily until she was sitting on her knees, back hunched, curls matted to her cheek under the layers of duct tape.

Kayla watched, wide-eyed, and let out an encouraging series of muffled grunts.

“Mmrrmmphh! Ymmph dmmph mmph!”

Her own effort was slower but steady. She rolled from one hip to the other, twisting her torso until she too was upright, kneeling with a loud grunt of strain. The two bound girls now faced each other across the cluttered floor, panting heavily through their noses, both swaying slightly as they adjusted to the upright position.

“Mmnn gmmph,” Kayla muttered through the gag, nodding toward the nearby supply shelf.

Iris caught the look and nodded back quickly. “Mm mmph! Llllrmph mmphh chhffmmph!”

Together, they pushed themselves up from their knees until they were standing. Then they bunny hopped over to the shelf as they began their search for something, anything that would help get them free. Sadly, there wasn’t really anything sharp they could use. Just piles of fluff, display props, ribbon spools, and other random supplies.

“Mmmmrrph,” Iris groaned.

But Kayla had already come up with another plan.

“Ymmph! Mmpph hrrr! Gmmph bbbmmprh,” She gestured with her head for Iris to spin around.

Iris immediately understood what Kayla was asking, and after a few short hops she was standing with her back to Kayla’s. Shuffling herself closer to Iris, Kayla used her hands to try and peel away the tape at Iris’ wrists. Iris did the same as the two girls rushed to try and pick themselves free. Sadly for them, the thugs that had taped them up had done a real good job, and the tape around their wrists was well secured.

Kayla’s fingers scratched and picked, trying to find an edge. “Mmggghhh hhhhmph.”

Iris did the same, her fingers fumbling around Kayla’s wrists. It was an incredibly slow process. So much so that they had barely made any progress at all before they heard footsteps approaching them once more.

“Gnnnnmph hhhmph!” Kayla mumbled, hopping away from Iris before lowering herself back down to the floor.

Iris followed suit doing the same as she flopped down next to Kayla. While it would obviously be great to escape, Kayla’s rationale was it was also better not to drum up any extra trouble for themselves. Getting caught while trying to break free was sure to make matters worse for them. Although, it’s not like they were really faring that much better…

The footsteps got closer and closer before eventually the door to the closet flew open as Molly and her goons strode back inside. Molly entered first, her goons behind her wheeling in a cart with two massive sized teddy bears on it. Kayla and Iris exchanged worried glances. Just what the hell did Molly have planned for them?

Molly wore the same calm, calculated expression from earlier, though her eyes now sparkled with amusement as she took in the sight of both girls tied, gagged, and quietly squirming on the floor.

“Well,” she said lightly, stepping forward, “looks like you two had plenty to talk about. Or… maybe not, given those gags.”

Kayla rolled her eyes. Why did every damn villain in Hazeldale have to be so corny?

“Let’s actually take those gags off for a second, boys,” Molly said with a casual flick of her hand. “I want to have a little chat real quick.”

The goons moved in. Iris flinched as the tape was peeled roughly from her face with a sharp rip. Kayla’s turn came next, the tape ripped away from her face as she stretched her jaw. Both of them gasped in the sudden freedom of air, lips sore and raw, saliva glistening at the corners of their mouths.

Molly folded her arms. “I’m going to try this again. Who tipped you off?”

Neither girl answered right away.

Kayla blinked, then chuckled dryly. “Seriously? That’s all you got? I already told you that no one tipped us off. So just give it up.”

Iris snorted, flexing her sore jaw. “Yeah, you’re really gonna have to work harder than that. We’re not intimidated by you.”

For a moment Molly just looked at them, her smile never faltering, but her eyes sharpened, glittering with cool venom.

“Oh, girls…” she said softly, crouching down until her face was level with theirs. “You seem to be under the mistaken impression that I need to intimidate you.”

She reached out, brushing a stray lock of Kayla’s hair back, letting her manicured fingers linger for just a second on the edge of Kayla’s flushed cheek.

“I don’t,” Molly continued smoothly. “You’re already completely helpless. I don’t need threats. I have time, plenty of time in fact. And believe me… I intend to enjoy it.”

“Well good for you,” Kayla said, voice sharp. “But we’re not saying a word. So you can try all you want but you’re not getting shit.”

Molly sighed through her nose, standing tall again and dusting her hands together as if brushing off crumbs. “So stubborn. Fine. If you insist on running your mouths, I’ll just make sure they stay full instead.”

Her eyes flicked to the goons. “Prepare them for transport. And stuff those pretty mouths properly this time. I don’t want to hear another peep.”

The goons stepped forward as Iris and Kayla shared one final look between each other before the goons descended upon them.

“Of course…” Kayla muttered dryly as one of them crouched beside her feet.

The man grabbed her left ankle and began tugging off her black bootie, twisting it free from her sock-clad foot. He dropped it to the floor with a dull thud. Her right boot came off next, landing beside the first.

Iris jerked as the second goon knelt beside her. “Don’t even think about it,” she hissed, glaring down at him as he cut the tape free from her legs before grabbing hold of one of her tall black boots and gave it a sharp tug. “Hey! That’s designer!”

The boot came off anyway. Then the other, revealing the white crew socks she wore layered over her dark nylons, the heels of them faintly dirtied from walking around all day.

Kayla watched as her own socks were pulled down, slowly, one at a time, the man clearly savoring the moment.

She rolled her eyes.

“Just hurry it up, will you?” She barked, narrowing her eyes.

The man said nothing as he continued to work, balling the socks up into a neat little wad.

Molly stepped in, voice smooth and amused. “Now, girls, since you seem so insistent on not cooperating, we’ll just make sure your mouths stay good and full. Perhaps after chewing on those yummy socks of yours you’ll be ready to talk.”

“Oh yeah? Well I got news for you lady, you’re wasting your time,” Kayla snapped. “There’s no way in hell I’m telling you anything. So go ahead, do whatever kind of freaky shit you want but I’m not mmMMMPH!”

Her eyes went wide as the socks were shoved between her lips mid-sentence, silencing her instantly and forcing her mouth wide open. The socks were still warm and very clearly worn.

“Mmmnnrrgghh,” she gagged, her cheeks puffing outward as the wad filled every bit of space. Her lips strained uselessly around the soft bundle, her glasses slipping down her nose as she jerked her head in protest. The damp cotton smothered her tongue, thick and sour with the taste of boot leather and her own sweat. Her cheeks ballooned visibly as she was crammed full to bursting.

“Hhhhhnnnggmph…” “Kayla moaned in disgust, her jaw already aching as the gag filled her mouth to the brim.

Next to her, Iris tried to get in her own last words, eyes narrowed, voice raised.

“You people are sick. Seriously, just how do you think you’ll get away wimmmmrrrmph!”

Her socks were crammed between her lips just as roughly, the faint taste of the inside of her leather boots lingering on the soft cotton. She moaned a furious note into the gag, writhing as her legs kicked uselessly, her nylon-clad feet brushing together.

“Mmmmffffffpphhhhh! Hhhmmmmmnnnghh!” She squealed furiously into the gag, brown eyes flashing wide as the cotton shoved her tongue flat and ballooned her cheeks until her face looked stuffed to bursting.

Then came the tape.

The goon seized Kayla’s chin, tilting her head back, and pressed the clear strip against her flushed cheek. He wound it around her head slowly, deliberately, each loop pulled tight beneath her sleek black hair, trapping it against her nape but leaving the locks free to frame her face. Layer after layer encircled her, pinning her lips shut and sealing the bulging wad inside. The glossy bands gleamed under the light, showing every swollen contour of her stuffed mouth.

“Mmmnnnggghhhhfffhhmmmphh!”

Iris got the same treatment with tape circled under her curls. The clear plastic gleamed across her face, wrapping her jaw tight, showcasing the obscene bulge of her sock-packed cheeks. Every loop compressed her lips harder, the outline of the gag displayed openly beneath the glossy bands.

“Mmmmhhfffpphhh! Nnnnnrrrggghhhmmphhh,” she moaned furiously into the gag, arching her back as she struggled to speak.

But it was no use. The girls were now fully silenced.

Molly’s lips curved in a satisfied smile. “Now that’s more like it. Just look at you both, perfect little plush accessories. Now… let’s get them packed up.”

The goons wheeled the giant bears closer to where Iris and Kayla were, unzipping the backs of them in the process. Kayla and Iris looked at each other with wide eyes over their taped mouths. Neither of them liked where this was going…

The zipper of the first bear rasped open, teeth parting with a long zzzzzzippp.

Kayla thrashed as the goons lifted her up, her bound legs kicking frantically.

“NNNNNGGHHHHMMMPHHHH!” she howled into her gag, but it only came out as a wet, stuffed hum.

The goons pushed her in feet first, her nylon toes vanishing into the cavern of plush. She squirmed desperately, cheeks puffing grotesquely around the socks crammed deep in her mouth, but the bear swallowed her inch by inch until her whole body was engulfed. Stuffing pressed in on all sides, hugging her tightly, denying her even the space to wriggle. She felt the last wisp of cool air on her face as the zipper closed over her, sealing her inside.

“MmmmHHHhhhpphhhhh! Mmmnnnnfffhhghhh!”

Iris followed, still groaning into her gag as her curls bounced with each futile jerk of her head.

“Hhhhrrrmmph mmmmgggmmph!”

She writhed wildly, her nylon-clad legs wiggling furiously, but it was hopeless. The zipper climbed steadily, closing her in darkness.

Moments later, two giant teddy bears sat innocently on the cart, impossibly still, save for the faintest rustle of stuffing and the muted hums of two gag-choked snoops squirming helplessly inside.

Kayla could hear Molly giving the thugs directions from inside the bear.

“Let’s get them out of here before anyone asks questions. You know where to take them. I’ll meet you there shortly.”

The inside of the teddy bear was stifling. The air was thick and stale, Kayla’s skin already slick with sweat thanks to being engulfed by all the stuffing. Her jaw throbbed around the wad of socks, the clear tape beneath her hair sealing them so tightly in place she couldn’t even move her tongue.

“Mmmphhh… mmmnnnngggh…” She shifted her body, or at least tried to, but there was hardly any space to move around at all.

Next to Kayla, in her own bear, Iris groaned as she shifted around, a bead of sweat falling from her brow.

“Hhnnrrmph nnnngggmmph,” the wad stuffed between her lips made every noise a wet, garbled hum, her jaw stretched wide and aching beneath the glossy wraps of tape.

Soon enough the cart began to move, wheels creaking softly beneath them as the goons pushed both bears toward the front of the store. Kayla rocked slightly with each bump. Through the thick fuzz, Kayla could hear faint snippets of mall ambiance, background music, footsteps, idle chatter. Shoppers passed by casually, oblivious to the fact that the giant bears held two bound and gagged snoops within them.

They were paraded like that through the mall. A few folks even commented on the display, Kayla could just barely hear their comments through the bear.

“Wow, those bears are huge!”

“MMMMGGMMMPH MMMMRRMRMMPH!” Kayla roared and wriggled her body as much as she could to try and get their attention, but it was useless.

Eventually, the squeak of the cart’s wheels changed to the heavy clunk clunk of a loading dock ramp. Kayla felt herself tip back slightly as the cart was maneuvered over a lip, then brought to a stop.

From inside the fluff, she heard voices, grunting, metal creaking, and then felt herself being lifted and then tossed inside. She felt Iris’ bear crash next to her. The temperature was soaring inside the bear, sweat beading at Kayla’s brow as she sat there in silence in the dark.

But then all of the sudden she could hear a commotion outside. It sounded like shouting.

“Hazeldale PD! Step away from the truck!”

Kayla froze. The cops had shown up? What the hell was going on?!

There was more yelling. The unmistakable crackle of a police radio. Then something that sounded a lot like someone being thrown against the side of the vehicle.

From inside the bear, she and Iris both began thrashing violently. The bears rocked side to side on the truck floor, squirming and jerking as the two bound women inside screamed into their sock-stuffed gags.

“MMPHHH!! HHHMMMPHHHH!”

A moment later, the back doors of the truck flew open.

“Whoa…what the hell…?”

Boots clanged on the metal floor, a zipper was tugged. And then all of the sudden light and the cool breeze of fresh air as the zipper of the bear was peeled down and the stuffing was pulled away from her flushed, sweaty face. A pair of wide-eyed cops stared down at her.

They helped cut the tape away from Kayla’s body as a few other cops did the same for Iris. As soon as the tape was peeled away from Iris’ face she spit out her socks that had been jammed in her mouth.

“Bleh,” she groaned, flexing her jaw.

Kayla spit out her own socks before turning to Iris.

“You okay?”

“Yeah,” Iris replied, “I’m fine. A bit sweaty, but I’m fine.”

“How the hell did they find us?” Kayla asked.

Iris smiled, then motioned with her head. Not far away stood a girl, about Iris’ age with medium brown hair and a concerned look on her face.

“I managed to get a text off to Jordan right before they stuffed me in the bear,” she said. “Thank god they didn’t realize I had my phone stuffed in my skirt.”

“That’s for sure. Nice work.”

“Thanks,” Iris replied with a warm smile.

Iris and Kayla were gently helped off the truck and down onto the pavement. As their nylon-clad feet touched solid ground, both girls stood wobbly for a second, barefoot now, their boots still god-knows-where.

Jordan rushed over the second she saw them free, skidding to a stop in front of Iris and grabbing her in a tight hug.

“Oh my god, Iris!” she shouted, hugging her fiercely. “You scared the hell out of me!”

“Ehhh, all things considered that wasn’t so bad,” Iris said, hugging her back with her still-sore arms. “But your timing was amazing. Thank you.”

Jordan pulled back, her eyes darting to Kayla. “Oh my god, Kayla Grace?”

Kayla smiled and waved, “Hey, Jordan. Sorry that I roped Iris into this mess.”

“Please,” Iris scoffed, “I think I was the one who roped you into things.”

“Either way,” Kayla replied, giving Iris’ arm a reassuring squeeze, “I’m just glad things worked out. Although I must say, being bound and gagged and stuffed in a teddy bear…that’s a first for me. Can’t say I liked it…zero stars.”

Iris laughed, “yeah that was pretty bad. I’m like drenched in sweat now.”

“Well if you want, you’re welcome to come back to my place and clean up. Mads and Andrea are coming over later for dinner. You both are welcome to join us if you’d like.”

Iris perked up. “As long as there’s no more peril, I’m in.”

“Oh god,” Kayla sighed, “I sure can’t make any promises but hopefully not. Before we head out though, I’m going to need my shoes back.”

“Literally same,” Iris moaned, glancing down at her bare, nylon-clad feet.

A nearby officer, overhearing them, held up a clear evidence bag containing two pairs of boots.

“Ladies,” he said, trying very hard not to laugh, “are these what you’re looking for?”

Kayla and Iris exchanged a look, then burst out giggling.

Their laughter was cut short by a sharp, furious voice nearby. Both turned their heads in time to see Molly being marched toward a squad car, her wrists pinned behind her in shiny steel handcuffs. Her hair was a mess, eyes blazing with rage as two officers shoved her forward.

“You don’t know who you’re messing with!” Molly spat, her voice carrying across the loading dock. “You think this is over? You’ll regret this! All of you will regret this!”

The officers didn’t slow, forcing her toward the open car door despite her thrashing. One gave Kayla and Iris a reassuring nod before ducking Molly inside the back seat and slamming the door. Her voice still rang out from within the car, muffled now but no less venomous.

Kayla let out a long breath, tension finally easing from her shoulders. “Well,” she muttered, brushing a loose strand of hair back from her damp cheek, “of all the reasons to hate malls, I think this afternoon gave me another.”

Iris chuckled, nudging her gently. “At least we didn’t let Molly get the best of us though. I mean it was close, but seems like things all worked out in the end.”

“They sure did,” Kayla smiled back, “but that’s all thanks to you two. Seriously though, that was some pretty killer backup y’all provided. So thank you.”

Kayla gave Iris a hug from the side, squeezing her tightly despite the soreness in her arms. Iris leaned into it with a weary laugh.

“Don’t mention it,” Iris said, smiling faintly.

“By the way, we should totally hang out again,” Kayla said pulling away from the hug.

“Oh for sure,” said Iris, “though next time, maybe something a little less intense…like bowling?”

Kayla chuckled, shaking her head. “Trust me, I’d love nothing more than a boring Friday night. But… this is Hazeldale. We don’t really do boring here.”

Iris giggled, “I sort of figured as much.”

Kayla stretched her sore shoulders, then glanced at the other two with a grin. “Alright, friends. You ready to get out of here?”

“So ready,” replied Iris, linking arms with Jordan.

And with that the three girls headed off, thankful to have that entire ordeal behind them. Although knowing Kayla, it wouldn’t be that long before trouble found her again…