After Midnight

“No catch. There will be an audition, though.”

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t know what an audition is?”

“Of course I do. But I don’t see the point. I mean, you’ve already seen me in action.”

“My dear, I’ve felt you in action.”

“So why do I have to prove myself?”

“It’s simple. You’re not the only sweet young thing interested in the role.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Judy.”

“Judy?”

He laughed. “Of course! Who else would it be? Marilyn? Marilyn’s a looker, but she’s much too stiff for the part. Of course it’s Judy.”

“She really is alive?”

Steve had claimed, before, that he hadn’t killed her. But I’d figured he must be lying. Now I believed him. Now that I’d have to be going up against her for the “role” of Steve’s partner.

It made me feel strange, somehow, to find out she wasn’t dead. Relieved, I guess. Nervous. Excited.

I felt dread, too.

Because I would probably have to kill her, this time.

“What makes you think Judy wants to be your partner?” I asked.

“Told me so, herself. Fact is, until you came along shouting all that shit for the whole world to hear, I’d say that Judy pretty much had it in the bag. I don’t think she’ll be very pleased to find out she has competition.”

“She’d make a lousy partner for you,” I said.

“Oh, I’m not so sure of that. I happen to think she’ll make a spectacular partner. Better than you, in some ways. She’s younger than you, certainly more beautiful. Though she’s lacking your magnificent figure, she has a certain innocence that I find very appealing, tremendously sexy.”

“Yeah, well, that’s her problem. She can’t be partners with a thrill-killer. She’s a fuckin’ goody-two-shoes.”

“Which is why we need the audition,” Steve said. “She’ll have to prove that she has what it takes.”

57

SEARCHING THE DARK

“Let’s head over in that direction,” Steve said. Stepping up close behind me, he pointed to the right with the saber. “We don’t have much farther to go.”

I could see nothing over there except more dark forest. I stepped off the trail, though, and started hiking through the undergrowth. The ground was rougher, littered with rocks and fallen limbs. There were also plenty of unexpected dips and rises. I walked very carefully. I’d already had too many falls, and sure didn’t want to go down with my hands tied together.

As I made my way along, low bushes clawed at my skirt and pushed at my legs as if trying to keep me back. Higher limbs slid their moist leaves against my bare arms and breasts and face. Some limbs scraped across my skin like dull claws. Others poked and scratched me, drawing blood. I couldn’t see the blood, but felt it dribbling down my skin, here and there.

Every so often, Steve gave me instructions about which way to turn. I tried to do what he said. Sometimes, though, I displeased him. Either I didn’t move fast enough, or my turn wasn’t exactly what he wanted. He’d jerk the cord, hurting my wrists and twisting me around. Or he’d smack me with the flat of the saber blade. Once, he even jabbed me in the right buttock hard enough to make me bleed. The seat of my skirt got so wet that it stuck to my rump, and I felt blood trickling down the back of my leg.

After he did that, I said, “I’ll make you a better partner if you don’t wreck me.”

“But I enjoy wrecking you. Anyway, I need to soften you up a little for Judy.”

“What do you mean, soften me up?”

“You’re bigger and stronger than she is.”

“So?”

“We need a level playing-field.”

“What for?”

“The audition, of course.”

“What’re you gonna do, have us fight?”

“Among other things,” he said, sounding very chipper. “Winner becomes my partner. Loser loses.”

“But I’ve got to be ‘softened up’?”

“Exactly.”

“That’s not fair.”

“We’ve got to be fair to Judy, don’t we? You have all the natural advantages. Besides, she’s been through a lot.”

“I’ve been through a lot.”

“Not as much as Judy. She was rather roughly used by Milo, myself and you. In her present condition, she wouldn’t stand much of a chance.”

“Then let’s just skip this ‘audition’ crap, and you can declare me winner by default.”

“Not a chance. I think you’d better hang a left about now.”

“If I’m so much better than she is…”

He jabbed my other buttock.

“OW!”

I turned left and kept on walking.

He kept giving directions.

After a while, he kicked one of my feet sideways, tripping me. As I stumbled forward out of control, he said, “Oops!” Then I fell. With my hands bound together, I couldn’t catch myself. I struck the ground hard.

“What a klutz!” he said, and laughed.

I pushed myself up, and we continued through the woods. Finally, Steve took the lead. He stayed well ahead of me, pulling the cord so it stayed taut between us. This went on for a while.

“Are we lost?” I asked.

“We’ll find it. I know we’re close. I had no way to keep the fire going, though. I was gone most of the day, and Judy was certainly in no position to add any wood.”

“How’ll we find it if there isn’t a fire?”

“I know the area pretty well.”

“Not well enough, apparently.”

He gave the cord a rough tug. It jerked my wrists, stretched my arms, and made me lurch forward, staggering. This time, though, I didn’t fall.

We kept walking.

After a while, I said, “Do you mind if I make a suggestion?”

“Suggest away.”

“Not if you’re gonna hurt me for it.”

“What have you got in mind?”

“Maybe you should try calling out to Judy.”

“I don’t think she’ll answer.”

“What kind of partner is she?”

“I left her with a gag on.”

“Maybe she got it off. Why don’t you at least try calling her? These are big woods.