Jamie

 

I must have drifted off to sleep at some point, strange as it seemed. The last thing my body wanted to do was relax, but my brain must have needed to shut down for a little while. Maybe it tried to escape the horror all around it. I didn’t know.

 

I dreamed I was with my parents. It was natural, too. I didn’t think anything of it. In the dream, they were still alive, so it wasn’t a big deal. We ate dinner together like we used to, laughing and talking.

 

Gigi was there, too, and Lance. We sat around the table, just like a normal family. It felt so good, so right. I didn’t understand why it felt significant, too, but it did. Like it shouldn’t have been happening. Like there was some reason this was strange or odd.

 

Mom smiled at me. “Honey, Daddy and I are going to a movie tonight. Do you want to go with us?”

 

I stopped smiling. I looked around the table. Why didn’t anybody understand why this wasn’t a good idea? I was horrified. Why weren’t they? Gigi was still telling a story about how acid makes pancakes fluffy. Daddy and Lance were listening, asking questions.

 

“You can’t go,” I said. “Don’t go. Stay here, with us.”

 

“Honey, there’s nothing to worry about. You always worry when there’s nothing to worry over. Doesn’t she?” She looked at my dad, who nodded.

 

“You always did. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Why do you think we shouldn’t go?”

 

“Because I know you shouldn’t. I know it. I don’t know how I know.” I was so important to stop them, but I couldn’t tell them why. I wasn’t sure myself. All I knew was they couldn’t go.

 

They laughed. Gigi and Lance laughed with them. I looked at Lance, panicking. His gray eyes gleamed at me. “Why are you so upset? You always think the worst. You can’t save everybody, you know.”

 

“I can! I can, and I will! I have to save you! You can’t go! Please!”

 

“Come on,” Dad said, pushing his chair away from the table. “We’ll be late if we don’t leave now.”

 

“Can I go, too?”

 

“Sure you can, dumpling!” That was what Dad used to call me. But she couldn’t go! They were…they would…

 

“You’re going to die!”

 

My eyes flew open, my words still echoing off the walls of the motel room. The Scarecrow was staring at me from the foot of the bed.

 

“What?” He laughed.

 

“What did I say?”

 

“You’re going to die.”

 

“Oh. I was dreaming.” I sat up slightly.

 

“Some dream.” He chuckled, still focused on the TV. I made a face at the back of his head.

 

Gigi was waking up, too. She was sleeping a lot. I thought it had to be the stress. She couldn’t handle it, just like I evidently couldn’t. Why else would I fall asleep when I needed to be on alert, keeping her safe from him?

 

“I’ve gotta go to the bathroom,” she whispered. My heart sank, and my nose wrinkled at the thought of what the bathroom had to be like. The room itself was bad enough.

 

“She’s got to go,” I said, louder. He shrugged without turning around. “Hey. Unless you want her to pee all over the bed, you’re gonna let her go to the bathroom.”

 

“Go, if you want to. But I’m gonna count to thirty. If you’re not outta there by the time I’m finished…”

 

I snorted. “You’ll what? Didn’t you already say you won’t touch the merchandise?”

 

He swiveled, glaring at me. I told myself it might not be the wisest idea to laugh at him. He didn’t look like the type to let it roll off his back.

 

“Come on.” I stood, stretching. My back ached from the position I’d been in, wedged up against the headboard. My arms ached from holding Gigi so tight, though I wouldn’t have let go for anything in the world. I took her by the hand, leading her to the bathroom.

 

It was just as disgusting as I’d imagined. “Oh gosh,” Gigi moaned, holding her nose.

 

“You gotta go, you’d better go.” I closed the door behind us, cutting off The Scarecrow’s words. He was worse than a wild animal. There went any attempt at an escape—I could hardly breathe in the filthy bathroom, much less take the time to plot.

 

I couldn’t let her sit on the seat, so I held her up over the bowl while she squatted with her feet on the seat. I heard him counting outside the door, loudly. I urged Gigi to hurry as she went. “I’m trying,” she whispered. I felt so sorry for her. She was panicked, but trying to keep it together. I knew how she felt.

 

We were out of the bathroom by the time he hit twenty-nine. “Good thing,” he muttered as we climbed onto the bed. “I would’ve had to come in after you.”

 

“You’re a pig. A filthy pig.” I didn’t care how he glared at me, or how angry he was. It didn’t matter anymore. He wanted to play head games with me, intimidate us both. I had to show Gigi I wasn’t afraid so she would take a little strength from me. It was all I could do for her since I was such a helpless failure at rescuing her.

 

I sat beside her on the bed, running my fingers through her tangled hair. I hummed a song my mom used to hum while she brushed my hair after a bath. I never knew the name of it, but it had a pretty, lilting melody.

 

“Stop humming,” he muttered, face to the TV. I stared at his back and hummed louder. “I said stop.”

 

I didn’t stop. I kept going, even louder than before.

 

“What the fuck is your problem?” He wheeled around, glaring.

 

I held his stare. “Nothing. I wanted to hum, that’s all. I thought I would make Gigi a little more comfortable.”

 

“Yeah? It’s making me uncomfortable.”

 

“Sorry. You can let us go if it’s such a problem.”

 

“You know it ain’t gonna happen, so stop talking about it.”

 

“Then I’m going to have to keep on humming.” I went back to my business of getting the snarls out of Gigi’s dark, wavy hair, humming as I worked.

 

“Bitch.” In an explosion of movement, The Scarecrow lunged at me. I pushed Gigi away while he took me by the throat. “I’ll make her watch me snap your neck. You want her to see me do it?”

 

“No.” I shook my head. He wasn’t strangling me, only holding tight enough for me to know he meant it.

 

“You.” He looked at Gigi. “You wanna see me snap her neck?”

 

“No!” She wept.

 

“It’s okay, honey.” He had my arms pinned between our bodies. If only they were free, I could hit him, claw him, get us out of there. His weight made it impossible for me to pull them out.

 

Then I felt something even more menacing than his hand at my throat. His dick started getting hard, pressing against my thigh. I turned my head in disgust, my stomach roiling. He snickered. “What, you like that? You want it? Huh?

 

I opened my eyes to find Gigi staring at us in complete terror, tears streaming down her face. The thought of getting raped while she watched was a very real threat for a split second. I couldn’t let that happen. I owed it to her to stay calm, to protect her as I protected myself.

 

I made eye contact with her and smiled. “It’s okay,” I said.

 

“What?” He pulled back.

 

“I said, it’s okay.” I sat up, disentangling myself from him. “Thanks for the offer, but no thanks.” I held out my arms and Gigi tumbled into them. I focused on calming her, ignoring him. I could tell it made him crazy that I wouldn’t crumble in front of him. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of looking shaken up, even as my insides quaked.

 

***

 

Headlights outside the window. I froze, staring at them. In my heart, I prayed it was Lance coming to save us. Something told me my prayers weren’t going to be answered so easily.

 

Gigi had drifted off again, and my arms tightened around her. Like hell would I let anybody take her from me. They’d have to kill me first. I would protect her to my last breath.

 

I looked down at her, kissing her head, holding her as tight as I could without scaring her. I gathered her in my arms until I was nearly on top of her, my back to the door. That woke her up.

 

“What’s happening?” she whispered, her voice thick with sleep.

 

“It’s okay, sweetheart. It’s okay.” I didn’t know who I was trying to convince, her or me. “I’m gonna hold you really tight, okay? Don’t let go of me no matter what. I’m gonna try as hard as I can to keep you with me.”

 

“Okay.” Her voice was strangely calm. She trusted me. Poor thing. I didn’t even trust myself anymore.

 

“But listen to me. If they get you away from me, I want you to fight as hard as you can. Got it? Kick, scream, punch, do whatever you have to do. Hurt them. Kick them between the legs if you can. I mean it. Hard, baby.”

 

“Okay.” She looked up at me. “Are they going to take me?”

 

“Not if I can help it.” The door opened, and I flinched at the sound. Gigi gasped. I pressed her head to my chest. It was only The Scarecrow going outside to greet his guest. I heard their voices.

 

Lance, Lance, where are you? The two men came in, The Scarecrow and the buyer. Gigi started to shake. I reminded myself to be strong for her.

 

“Let’s go,” the other man said. His voice was deep, resonant. I had hope, though. If it was only one person, Gigi might be able to claw at him. Or me. One of us.

 

“Remember,” I whispered. “Do whatever you have to.” I felt her head nodding against my chest, and kissed it. “I love you.”

 

“Come on!” The Scarecrow pulled at my arms, but I wouldn’t let go so easily. He rolled me over onto my back, Gigi in my arms. I screamed, kicked out, but kept my arms locked around her.

 

“No! No! You won’t! Get off me!” I did whatever I could, while Gigi screamed in my arms. I felt like a wild animal, adrenaline pumping through me. The other man, a short, squat little person, pulled at my feet until I fell off the bed, landing on my tailbone. I had the brief flash of knowledge that it would hurt like hell once all was said and done, but I didn’t feel it in the moment. Nothing mattered but fighting.

 

I kicked at him, losing a shoe but making contact with his arm, then his head. He reeled back, cursing and sputtering. I saw murder in his eyes when he came for me again.

 

“Let her go,” The Scarecrow growled, working at my arms again. He took one, the buyer took the other. Gigi clung to me, still screaming.

 

“No! No!” I screamed, twisting, kicking still, trying to bite their arms, their hands. I didn’t think about what I was doing—it was all instinct. I tried to roll away, on top of Gigi, but they held me down.

 

“Let go!” The buyer finally pulled back and punched me across the jaw. I saw stars. It was just enough to stun me, just enough to get me to loosen my grip for a split second. It was all they needed to pull my arms away from Gigi.

 

“No!” She shrieked as the buyer took her in his arms.

 

I came to in an instant. “Fight him!” I screamed, struggling to get to my feet. The Scarecrow tried to stop me, leaning down, pushing me to the floor. I took a piece of my own advice and punched him in the balls. He cried out, falling back onto the bed.

 

I jumped to my feet to find the buyer opening the door. Gigi screamed and kicked, clawing at him. It made no difference. She was too small. I lunged for him, pulling him back by the greasy collar of his jacket.

 

“Fuck!” He choked, falling back a step or two. It was enough for me to grab for Gigi, sliding my hand between her body and his. With my other hand, I clawed at his face in desperation.

 

“Let go of me, you bitch!” His scream mingled with ours, the three of us struggling. Gigi kicked, pummeling him, but it didn’t seem to matter. I had one arm around her, pulling her to me. He wouldn’t let go, his arms like steel.

 

“Let her go! Give her to me!” I shrieked, going for his eyes with my nails. He roared in fury.

 

I had her. He loosened his grip to reach for his eyes. For a split second, I was victorious. I felt her moving toward me as he let go.

 

Then, everything went black.