Obsessed by Bella Maybin Page A

back was him. When she came in, she went straight to him. He had been watching her the whole time. That’s not a crime is it? Should she have to deal with those kinds of consequences for something as simple as that?
     
    James sat down on his bike, facing the rear, and looking toward the sunset. He traded his water for whiskey and started planning his next move.
     
    ***
     
    “Hey...wake up. Are you awake?” The voice was female and unfamiliar. “Sit up, I need to get you ready.”
    “ Wha...ready for what?” It was the first time I had heard myself speak in longer that I could remember. The words felt like they had to fight to escape my lips. My mouth was dry, like cotton.
     
    “Ready for the big man, darlin’. Duane wants you soon.”
     
    “Who...who is Duane? Who are you? ” Memories were coming in flashes. I could see an argument, or a fight, or something...then, darkness. Unfamiliar faces. A clouded reality.
     
    “Aw, c’mon little Katie. You know who I am.” The voice snickered and I felt a feminine hand grip my shoulder. I was too confused to recoil.
     
    “Was I in an accident?” I asked.
     
    “An accident? You don’t look like you’ve been in an accident. In fact, you look great!” She cackled again. “Wanna see?”
     
    Before I could answer she threw the light switch. Blinding white invaded my field of vision. I curled my knees to my chest and tucked my head. The change in extremes, from pitch black to bright was excruciating.
     
    “Ahhhh, shi-,” I shut my eyes tight and shielded myself with a raised hand.
     
    “Be quiet,” said the voice. “You’ll get us both in trouble if you don’t shut up.”
     
    Gradually, the intensity dulled. At first, I could only make out shapes. There were four empty walls. There was something which looked like a dresser pushed into the corner.
     
    “Put this on,” the voice demanded. For the first time I could see her face. Blonde and about ten years older than me, she was holding a short, flowered dress out.
     
    “We don’t have all day, little Katie,” she said, throwing the dress in my face. “Put it on, or he’ll get mad.”
     
    “I’m not putting anything on until you tell me where the hell I am,” I said.
     
    “You really don’t remember, do you?” she said. “I guess that “H” can really keep a girl down if she’s not used to it.” She grimaced and let loose with another awful laugh. She wasn’t ugly, but her face was obviously worn on by poor decisions.
     
    “What’s “H?” I asked.
     
    She stopped laughing and gave me a confused look. “Hmm, don’t know about “H,” huh? What kinda party girl are you?”
     
    I stared blankly, waiting for my answer.
     
    “Heroin…” she said, finally. “You must be new...and I’m Jackie. Everybody just calls me “Lady J.”
     
    “Heroin? I’ve never done heroin in my life?”
     
    “Oh yes you have,” she said, her laugh returning. “And you’ve done a lot of it.”
     
    Then it hit me. Everything came flooding back like a tidal wave. Going to the bar alone, the fight, James…
     
    Someone took me. Kidnapped. The realization caused my stomach to sink to the floor. They had been drugging me. But how long had I been here? What were they doing with me?
     
    Tears streamed down my face. “Please...I wanna go home.”
     
    “You are home, honey.” she said as she pulled my shirt up over my head. “Now put the goddamned dress on before we both get punished.”
     
    ***
     
    The air was heavy with smoke. Two big bikers sat at a table handing a joint back and forth.
     
    “Ohhhhh, look at her tonight. Pretty, isn’t she?” said the one with the red bandana tied around his head.
     
    “I like the dress,” said the other.
     
    I walked hesitantly into the room. Jackie shoved me hard from behind. “Get in there.”
     
    Their faces were familiar. I must have buried them somewhere in the back of my mind during my fugue state, but I knew they were bad men. Either