“Mmmppggghh! MMMPGGGHHHH!”

“Nnnnggghh, mmmppggghh! Mmmmppppggghhh!”

Nothing sounded outside of the old storage room in response to their gagged cries, and wedged in-between the piles of old boxes and cleaning supplies, Sakura Minamoto felt her spirits sink, the absence of any rescuers yet another misfortune on a night rife with them, and one that seemed to have dragged on for years. Lithe figure squirming in her bonds, the beautiful Japanese accountant turned to her left to see how Bethany was faring. “Mmmpggghh?”

“Mmmmpggghhh!” Bethany Shaw grunted in answer, long blonde hair flapping around and caressing her friend’s pale, lovely features in her struggles. The storage room was little more than a janitor’s closet, a place for the employees of FutureHome Enterprises to stash some documents and excess supplies, and in their private investigation against Mr. Ryan, they’d come her more than once to follow the paper trail left behind from their boss’ corruption. Yet it was never meant to house people, and thus the two bound accountants were left crammed together side by side, bodies brushing up against one another as they writhed and strained against their bondage, the air alive with the sound of muffled grunts and squeaking leather. A fresh set of helpless tears sprang to life in Bethany’s blue eyes, and Sakura felt her own grow damp in answer, her hopes growing dimmer by the moment.

For it was bad enough thar Mr. Ryan had left them bound and gagged after absconding with a significant amount of money he’d stolen from FutureHome’s investors over the years, but the gang of thieves who’d broke in several hours later to access the company’s safe were hardly the heroic type themselves. Any hopes Sakura and Bethany possessed that the newcomers might take pity on them and see to their release were quickly dashed as the larcenous pair elected to stuff the bound young women into the storage closet while they looted the rest of the building… but not before making their bondage even more strict, of course. The cleave gags that once parted their pretty lips and stifled their cries were gone, replaced by firm sponges filling their mouths, while a roll of packing tape had been wrapped around their heads to keep them in place. Likewise, the ropes binding their ankles, thighs, beneath their breasts and their wrists in front of them were further augmented by their hands being taped into fists, ensuring there’d be no picking at their bonds. In a final indignity, the thieves had torn open their white satin blouses to expose their bras to the cold night air, and Sakura recalled the hungry look in their eyes with a shudder, the way they drank in their bound forms, still clad in mid-length pencil skirts, sheer pantyhose and knee-high black leather boots adding a new, unpleasant dimension to this horrid night. At her side, Bethany gave a choked sob, her fears likewise taking hold, and the Japanese woman pressed her gagged lips against the blonde’s forehead to try and offer some small comfort in the face of their mutual peril. “Mmmpgghh, mmmppppghh…”

Then heavy footsteps rang out just beyond the storage room, joined moments later by the creak of the door swinging wide, and the beautiful prisoners were rigid with fright as one of the thieves loomed over them with a nauseating grin. “So, seems like we have a problem here, ladies,” he remarked, unperturbed by their defiant glares. “Looks like that bastard Ryan cleaned out the safe before he left, which means the only valuable things in this damn place are the pair of you.” A gloved hand traced its way up Sakura’s legs. “And valuable things deserve better than to be locked inside a closet.”

“MMMPGGGHH!” Bethany screamed in outrage, ever eager to come to the defense of her friend. “Nnngggh, mmmppggh, mmmppppggghh!”

“So here’s what I propose,” continued the thief, weathering her anger without pause. “We’d be happy to take you out of this place, provided you agree to stay as our… guests for a little while. You won’t be hurt, of course, but it’s rare we meet ladies as lovely as you in our line of work, and it might be nice to… get to know each other a bit better.”

Sakura went white as a sheet at the implication, and it was all she could do not to retch in disgust. “Or if you think you’re too good for us, we’d be happy to leave you here for your co-workers to rescue come Monday. Of course, that means spending the whole weekend like this, and who knows who else might stumble upon you? What do you say?”

As ever, it was Bethany who responded first, and the thief gave a yelp as her high-heeled boots connected with his ankle, the pain sending him staggering backwards. “Stupid bitch!” he snarled, all civility forgotten. “Fine then! Enjoy your time locked inside a closet! God knows you deserve no better!”

The door to the storage room slammed shut behind him, and Sakura felt her heart pounding fearfully at her breast, the thief’s heavy footsteps becoming distant then vanishing all together. Sighing, she permitted herself to rest on Bethany’s shoulder and tried to gather her strength for another attempt at freedom.

And if they were forced to remain until Monday brought rescue? Well, there were certainly worse things than to be locked up in a closet with your best friend…