As she walked, Lux noticed the décor was so in variance to the room she awoke in that it caught her attention. The floorboards were bare rough planks that stopped just shy of creaking as she made her way over them. The walls were nothing but plasterboard that had old peeling flakes of wallpaper still attached in the odd place.
Coming to a corner, Lux stopped long enough to draw in a calming breath. Hugging the wall she made ready to take a quick look at what was around the bend. Immediately the song from the movie Pocahontas sprang into her mind. It was something or other about just around the river bend. Shaking her head, Lux did her best to dismiss the inane thought in an attempt to concentrate. She had no idea what she would do if confronted by some of the goons from the path, but she decided not to borrow trouble and dismissed the thought.
Reaching behind her back, she gathered up her braids and tied them in a knot at the back of her neck. Edging forwards, she stuck her head out only long enough to take a quick look into the unknown. Nothing, the hallway was clear of bodies, which as far as she was concerned was a good sign. What wasn’t so good was the hallway was a dead end.
Blowing out a long silent breath, Lux again considered whether the woman was setting her up. If that were the case, she was about to find out.
Finally ready, she ventured forward her back pressed flush against the wall. Reaching the first of two doors, Lux placed her ear against it and listened. Hearing nothing, she turned the handle and slowly pushed it open.
The room appeared to be some form of junk room strewn with old furniture and enough dust it tickled her nose. Looking around, a piece of wood caught her attention. Thinking it made sense to have some form of weapon, she ventured further into the room and tried to pick it up. That was her mistake. The wooden plank was a prop for a whole stack of other debris that came crashing down.
Two things happened at once; she let out an almighty sneeze from the disturbed dust, and the door banged against the wall. Unable to withhold a yelp, Lux jumped and turned sharply at the sound. In the doorway stood a dangerous looking man who appeared to be royally pissed off.
“Seriously, you need to fire your cleaner without a reference. If the condition of this room is any indication of their work, dude, you’re being ripped off!” Lux advised with a shake of her head.
“Lady, are you for real?” The man asked with a confused look.
“Of course I’m real,” Lux responded in an attempt to buy time. “You’re not very bright are you? Don’t answer that,” she said holding up her hand to silence him. “If it helps you to think I’m a figment of your imagination that works for me. That way you won’t get what little sense you have knocked out of that big head of yours by a girl.”
“Did you just insult me?”
“Lord protect me from morons!” Lux mumbled loud enough for him to hear.
Her last comment had the desired effect as the goon rushed her. Sidestepping his outstretched hands, Lux raised the piece of wood hidden at her side. Swinging it with as much force as she could manage, she connected with the side of his head. He dropped so hard and so fast Lux worried she might have killed him.
Dropping the now offending weapon, she bent over the prone man to check he was still breathing. Satisfied that he was, she thought better of discarding her only protection. Reaching for it, she just managed to retract her hand to save her fingers from a size sixteen foot.
Before she could react; an arm hooked around her throat and restrained her. Stiffening her body, another movie came to her aid, and she thanked God for Gracie Lou Freebush, as she remembered, S.I.N.G.
Thinking it was worth a try, she rammed the man in the solar plexus with her elbow, stamped on his instep and threw back her head and connected with his nose. As she was reaching for his groin, he maneuvered his body away. Changing his grip, he held her around the waist. In the same move, he managed to capture her arms and pinned them to her sides. He then tightened his clasp and almost squeezed the breath out of her.
“My girlfriend loves Sandra Bullock, and I’ve seen that movie way too many times not to recognize the move,” he sniggered.
Gasping for air, spots of colored light floated before her eyes. Lux knew if he didn’t let up soon, she was going to lose consciousness. He too must have realized her predicament as he loosened his grip and she drew in a deep breath.
Still feeling lightheaded, Lux could do nothing when he turned with her still in his arms and left the room. As he swung open another door she saw six men. Two were her husband and brother, both of whom were tied to sturdy looking chairs. The other four men she wasn’t certain she had ever seen before.
Ignoring them, Lux looked over at Josh and Sam. “Well,” she drawled, her voice loaded with sarcasm. “Whoever tied you two up did a much better job than they did with me!”
****
Josh dropped his chin to his chest and closed his eyes. The situation had just got a whole lot worse. If he knew his wife, she was going to find it impossible to keep her mouth shut.
“Put me down this minute!”