Almost, but not quite

Thank you, God, Tanya breathed a sigh of relief, panting as she began to walk up the driveway to her home, tired from the exhausting run. No one saw me. No one else told me what to do. Now, all I need to do is just –

“Tanya?” she heard her neighbor’s eldest son gasp. Tears springing from her green eyes, the young woman burst towards the front door of her home.

“Tanya, wait!” he cried. Oh God, the redhead shuddered, halting on the stoop, her fingers just brushing the doorknob. She could hear his footfalls drawing closer, the sound of his breath steadily increasing in volume.

“Tanya, what’s wrong?” the young man asked, standing behind young woman. “What are you doing home? And why are you dressed like that?”

Please, the redhead pleaded, staring at the cherry red of the front door. Leave me alone. Don’t talk to me.

“Tanya,” he said flatly, his voice tinged with irritation. “Turn around and talk to me.”

Damn, she complied with a grimace, looking into the puzzled face and dark blue eyes of Ferguson.

“Please,” Tanya said, finding her voice. “Just – just let me go, Fun-”

The young woman snapped her mouth shut, frightened by the stormy cloud crossing his face at the mention of his high school nickname.

“Don’t call me that,” he snapped angrily. “Ever.”

The redhead nodded fervently, her skin tingling as the command settled into her.

“Now,” his face relaxing, a hard edge still in his voice. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“I have to do whatever I’m told,” she said softly, lowering her gaze to the toes of her black heels. “So – so I came home, to stay away from everyone until this – this wears off.”

“Sure,” Ferguson rolled his eyes. “How could that possibly happen?”

“An old woman in an alley cursed me,” Tanya explained. “Because I wouldn’t give her any money.”

“Do you actually expect me to that?” he arched an eyebrow. “I’ve never heard such bull! There’s no such thing as curses.”

“But there are!” she cried plaintively, looking back up into his eyes. “I’ve – I’ve had to do horrible things today!”

“Oh?” the young man crossed his arms over his chest. “Show me.”

Her face burning scarlet, Tanya untied her blue blouse from around her waist, revealing her cropped pink miniskirt. Trembling at his impassive face, the young woman dropped the garment and, grabbing the hem, lifted the cotton apparel, causing his dark blue eyes to bulge at the sight of her shorn womanhood.

“Holy shit!” he swore loudly, almost causing the young woman to release the garment. “This is – unbelievable. You actually have to do what anyone tells you?”

The quivering redhead nodded, gulping as a fey grin grew across his face. Oh God, she paled in fear. Now Ferguson is going to take advantage of me. Why, oh, why didn’t I give that old woman some money?