Ginny couldn't help laughing at this. Truth was, she almost always picked and Lisa willingly went along. She followed Ginny to the pyramids in Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and to Machu Picchu in Peru. Ginny knew she had a great friend and wouldn't trade her in for anything, even for a better week in Jamaica!
* * *
By the end of the week, Ginny and Lisa were done with a capital D. Although they still had water in their room, they had no hot water. They never got the power back in their room, although the dining room and lobby had power from a generator. It rained most of the time, so they couldn't sun themselves on the beach as a consolation.
Ginny spent most of each day, sitting on their covered balcony, reading her collection of romance novels. Lisa would often venture out to meet up with her “new” friends and begged Ginny to come along. Ginny just didn't have the energy after her food poisoning. Feeling badly about ditching her friend, she knew she would just be a drag on the group.
When the bus came to pick them up to return them to Montego Bay, both Ginny and Lisa had to admit that they couldn't wait. “The potential of a hot shower, along with food that doesn't scare the crap out of me to eat, makes this homecoming especially welcome,” Ginny stated the obvious.
“Since reading those books, you started talking funny,” Lisa commented back.
“Why, Lisa, whatever do you mean? I'm simply expanding my vocabulary to include a wider range of words to describe simple things.”
“Whatever. Although I agree with your current assessment that the situation warrants our immediate withdrawal,” Lisa said with a smile to show Ginny that years in the business world could produce a similarly ridiculous vocabulary.
“Should we leverage our synergies and be more proactive towards solutions?” Ginny spent a lot of time with Lisa and read a lot of Dilbert, so she'd learned the business jargon.
After another harrowing bus ride, they arrived back at the airport to find that it had been cleared and that most flights were finally back on schedule. They were so ecstatic to get on the plane home that even the mostly drunk crew of college guys couldn't dampen their spirits. I get to take a shower in my own bathroom, get to sleep in my own bed and eat food I know won't make me gag , Ginny thought as she reclined back in her seat after take-off. Never had she been so happy to go home.
They arrived on time at Sky Harbor and made their way to the luggage carousel. Lisa looked sullen and wasn't very talkative on the flight. “What's wrong with you? You can't tell me your not happy to be home,” Ginny said as they watched each piece of luggage pass by.
“I feel awful about how this vacation turned out. We spent all that money and you sat around and read a bunch of half-assed books.”
“Every vacation has its problems. Remember when we went to Germany and they lost my luggage? I was wearing the same outfit for a week,” both Ginny and Lisa smiled fondly. Lisa spotted her bag and grabbed it.
“Yeah, it was a very unflattering outfit, if I remember correctly. Which reminds me, have you ever worn it again?”
“After a solid week of it, no. It got burned when I got home.” Ginny collected her bag and they walked outside to catch their shuttle back to the parking lot. “Oh, God, remember when that greasy Italian guy wouldn't leave you alone in Egypt. He latched onto you like a puppy.”
And so it went, story after story got both Ginny and Lisa howling with laughter. They arrived at the lot and got into Lisa's car. Both girls kept coming up with one amusing anecdote after another. “Remember the smell in our hotel room in Spain? It smelled like dead fish and sewage. Remember how the front desk said it was just the restaurant on the first floor? We never did eat there, did we?”
“How about the shark scare in Australia. That woman made everyone freak out over a tuna or something. I wonder if she still feels bad about that?”
Lisa pulled onto the 202 heading east. The stories kept coming since Ginny and Lisa had been vacationing together for over ten years, since they graduated from high school and went to Rocky Point in Mexico. Their friendship had lasted past the easy times of childhood and through the difficult times of high school, especially since they were both too different to be popular. And now, they were occasionally mature women with different lives, but still, the best of friends.
Both girls were having a great time, probably the best time they'd had all week. It was no wonder that neither of them saw the pick-up truck before it hit them.
* Chapter 4 *
Ginny felt a strange pounding in her head. She was vaguely aware of her surroundings, but in a detached sort of way. She heard sounds but couldn't identify them, along with feeling strange movements and inhaling bad smells. What's going on? she thought to herself as the pounding continued.
Taking a deep breath, Ginny tried to sort it out. She could be very analytical about things, which served her well in her job. The last thing Ginny could remember was driving home from the airport. Did Lisa and I get in an accident? Are we okay? Am I dead?
Ginny began to panic. She opened her eyes but everything was dark. She tried to move, but couldn't seem to move her limbs. Ginny had never been so scared. She couldn't move, couldn't see and there was that smell again. Surely this couldn't be heaven, not with that smell , Ginny thought. Of course, this could be hell and I may have overestimated God's forgiveness.
Ginny's head began to clear and she realized that she was slumped over something, with her butt in the air. She knew that no EMT or paramedic would transport her to the hospital in such a position. Taking a deep breath, despite the foul odor of animal and outrageous body odor, she willed her mind to clear.
Okay, where could I be? I'm not in heaven, no St. Peter, no pearly gates, massive headache. This could be a cruel introduction to hell, but I don't believe in hell. She decided to take an inventory of everything she did know.
She couldn't see. Why? Was she blind? No, there was something on her head. Ginny tried to reach up to touch the cloth covering her head, but then realized that her hands were tied together. Dear God, why am I tied up?
Slowly she began to realize that she was moving. Or, more to the point, the thing she was slumped over was moving. A horse , Ginny smiled to herself as she put it together. She was on the back of a horse. Why am I on the back of a horse , she wondered.
Ginny began to think of any possibility for her situation. Was she in some warped Stephen King novel where a deranged nurse was taking Ginny back to her house to make her write the perfect novel? Did she get kidnapped by some Deliverance types who were going to take her back to their lair and make her their wife?
As Ginny kept coming up with the most outrageous ideas, she began to hear men talking and laughing. Ginny listened closely, but couldn't understand them. What is that language? She tried to place it, but it was completely unfamiliar. Ginny's confusion turned to fear. What have I gotten myself into?
All of a sudden, the horse stopped and Ginny heard a large group of people begin to cheer. Oh, great, this can't be good , she thought as she was manhandled off the horse. A quick assessment told her that she was not permanently damaged, no broken bones. She realized that her feet were also tied together.
The cloth over her head was viciously ripped off and for a moment, Ginny still couldn't see. The sunshine was so bright, it overwhelmed her after the darkness. As her vision returned, she squinted to look around. She was in the center of a large group of men, standing on a wooden stage. The men were dressed strangely and looked quite deranged. Ginny's head swam as she tried to take in the situation. Is this some kind of movie set? Is this a period piece from the Middle Ages? Then suddenly, she realized something else. Am I shorter?
Could I be dreaming? Ginny grasped onto that possibility. Maybe I was in an accident and am in a coma, and this is some elaborate dream I'm having. But why do I not feel like me?
Ginny began to look around in earnest. The men, mostly big, brawny types were wearing a variety of animal skins and tunics. There were plaid colored kilts as
well. They were very dirty, with matted down hair and brown streaks on their exposed arms and legs. They were also the hairiest group of men Ginny had ever seen. Wait , she thought to herself, this is just like the book I read about the Highlands in Scotland. Dear God, is my dream based on a romance novel?
It occurred to Ginny that if this was indeed a dream, she should be able to do whatever she wanted with no consequences. Ginny eyes lit up with the possibilities. She would, of course, be saved by some mega-hunk who would then want to marry her. The sex would be incredible, especially after her celibate week in the Caribbean (not that she was all that sexually active beforehand). And she bet she would be able to do things in her dream that she would never do in real life, like fight her way past all these sick, smelly men.
The biggest, hairiest and smelliest of the group stood in front of Ginny, speaking in the same language Ginny had heard earlier, but couldn't understand. For some reason, she could now pick out a few words here and there. Gaelic , she thought to herself. He's speaking Gaelic and for some reason, I know some of the words.
Ginny listened intently and managed to understand a little of what he told the large group of men. She heard something about a new mistress, since the old one was worn out. Could that be right? The men are laughing and leering at her. Uh-oh, am I the new mistress? There were no words in Ginny's mind to describe how foul and disgusting that possibility was. Ginny's face must have demonstrated how she was feeling, because big, hairy, smelly guy started laughing at her.
Ginny began to look around for her escape. She was surrounded on all sides by walls or buildings. The courtyard walls were at least ten feet tall, with ladders intermittently dispersed and a wooden ledge that spanned the walls. At the one end was a large door, or maybe a drawbridge, she couldn't tell. Between her and any wall was at least twenty men, none of which looked at all sympathetic to her plight. Ginny started to fidget when she bumped into something on her leg.
Something was wrapped around her right calf. Ginny started to fidget to try and determine what it is. Could be a sheathed knife , she thought hopefully. Then Ginny realized that one small knife would get her to the first row of men before she was disarmed. Staring at the large wooden door at the one end of the courtyard, she noticed that a man, dressed in a plaid kilt, was trying to climb over the wall. He obviously did not want to call attention to himself.
What's he doing? , Ginny wondered. All of sudden it occurred to her that the kilted man was going to open the gate. I bet there's a bunch of men on the other side waiting to come in here and rescue me. Ginny needed to make a grand diversion and fast.
She was considering her possibilities. If she could get to the knife, she could use it to cut her ropes. Wait , she considered, maybe I can get to the knife with a diversion for her rescuers.
She paused only briefing to consider how humiliating the next few minutes would be. A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do, especially if she doesn't want to be raped by a large group of dirty, smelly men.
With that, Ginny threw herself to her knees and began wailing as loudly as she could. She made an outstanding spectacle of herself, Oscar-worthy indeed.
“Please, dear men, please don't hurt me!” she screamed. “Have mercy on me!”
Curling herself into a ball, she reached under her skirt and found the knife in its sheath. Next came the delicate operation of trying to saw through her ropes. Trying to concentrate on not slashing herself, Ginny managed to cut through enough of the rope to pull free. All the while, she continued to beg for mercy and listen to the crowd laugh at her. Hope you're enjoying the show, boys.
The ropes around the her wrists were easy compared to her ankles. Ginny was bent in half, reaching under her skirt, to try to cut through her ankle restraints. She seemed to have plenty of time, since the gross men were practically doubled over in laughter at her display.
Fortunately, during her tirade, the kilted man had made it over the wall and was ready to open the gate. He looked as though he needed one more big diversion to complete the job. Okay , thought Ginny, here we go.
Ginny stood up and faced biggest, dirtiest and smelliest. He stopped laughing and stared back at her, trying to intimidate her. Smiling and looking him in the eye, Ginny shouted loud enough for everyone to hear, “Hell would be too good for you, asshole.”
He raised his hand as if to strike her, when Ginny pulled out the knife and threw it. Having no experience at all with knife throwing, even Ginny was amazed when the knife not only hit the mark, but embedded right into his eye. The giant dropped like a stone to the ground, kicking up dust and making the stage shake.
For a moment, the crowd was silent. They were clearly stunned at what Ginny did, but not nearly as much as she was. Wow, didn't know I could do that!
There was a loud crash as the doors were thrown open. The men in the courtyard, still stunned at the killing of their leader, turned to see about thirty kilted warriors at the entrance to their keep. Ginny stared at the group, aware that a bloodbath would soon follow. The man in the front of the warriors was huge, bigger than even the head smelly guy. He was also stunning, with wavy reddish, brown hair and muscles big enough to be seen from space.
He's got to be my mega-hunk, Ginny thought. Oh, the sex should be spectacular!
With a roar of animal proportions, the head warrior raised his sword and started running into the keep. All the men behind him raised their swords as well and began screaming. Most of the men inside the keep were not prepared for the battle that was about to begin and many of those closest to the gate doors were mowed down in no time. Not wanting to be in the middle of the action, Ginny turned around trying to find someplace to hide.
Jumping off the stage, she ran to the nearest ladder and began climbing it. About half way up someone grabbed her ankle. Ginny turned to see one of the smelly guys trying to pull her down. “What the hell?” she asked to no one in particular.
Turning on the ladder, Ginny used her other leg to kick the dirty guy in the face. He dropped for a moment, giving Ginny just enough to time to scale the ladder. He climbed up after her, but didn't realize that there were several heavy objects at the top of the wall. Ginny began throwing buckets and sacks of grain until he finally fell to the ground.
Ginny turned to see who was winning, although she was fairly certain who was on top. She looked around to find something she could use to help, but there wasn't much. Twenty feet along the wooden pathway, she spotted what she was looking for: a bow and arrows. Ginny had never used a bow before and it stood nearly as tall as she was, but she picked it up and started to string an arrow into it. As she got the arrow loaded and ready to fire, she looked down and noticed that her boobs were smaller. Who am I? Before she could consider the possibilities, Ginny turned to the mayhem and carefully aimed at a bad guy.
Suddenly, a bad guy went down, with an arrow stuck out of the back of his head. “Whoa, did you see that?” Ginny screamed at no one in particular. She was beginning to like this dream. It was becoming like a video game, with the killing unreal and detached. If necessary, she could reason it as justifiable, since these same men wanted so badly to violate her in unimaginable ways.
Ginny picked up another arrow and started shooting at a different bad guy. She was contributing to the battle, not just standing around to be rescued. Now that ladies, is how it's done , she thought happily, not wanting to fall into the romance novel, saved from the villain, damsel in distress crap that she had read over and over again.
She noticed that the her mega-hunk was watching her and not paying particular attention to the battle. For a brief moment, their eyes locked and Ginny could feel something between them. Electricity, maybe? She didn't know, but it was palpable. Ginny also noticed that a bad guy was about to come up behind him and make him into mincemeat. Before she could think about it, she picked up another arrow and fired it at the bad guy, only to notice that mega-hunk knew he was there all along. With a loud clash, mega-hunk raised his sword up in time to thwar
t the blow from behind, at the same time Ginny's arrow met its mark by embedding in the guy's chest. Mega-hunk slowly turned to look at her, not looking at all pleased.
Searching around her, Ginny realized she had no more arrows. With nothing else she could do, Ginny ran along the wooden ledge toward the building that was directly across from the gate. Just as she reached the next ladder, she remembered something the big, smelly guy had said. The old mistress is worn out , Ginny thought for a moment. Where is that poor girl?
Ginny climbed down the ladder and made her way to the building. Without a doubt, she knew she needed to find and save that girl.
* Chapter 5 *
The building was menacing, made of large, gray stones, slick with humidity. Men were being slaughtered around her, but Ginny cared little about them. After all, they had asked for it. However, there was some poor woman somewhere who needed help. She raced into the building and started to panic. Where could she be? she wondered. What if I can't find her and these new guys are up to no good as well?
With that, Ginny stopped herself, took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. First, this has got to be a dream, so just go with the flow. Second, think logically... where would they keep a prisoner? Wasn't it always in some underground dungeon? Find a door that leads down! Getting it together, Ginny started her search.
After a few minutes she found the door. There were stone steps, quite steep that led down into shadowed darkness. The steps were damp and slippery, so Ginny took her time to avoid falling. The torches on the wall cast only enough light to see a few steps ahead. The smell was bad before, but now it was nearly overwhelming. This must be what crushing terror smells like , she thought to herself as she finally reached the bottom. The floor was covered with hay and there were many non-human inhabitants watching her as she walked by. Tiny feet scurried in every direction as she passed. Ginny didn't know if she could take much more of this place so she hurried along the cells to find what she was looking for.
A Lesson in Passion Page 3
