Paige's Rescue

Her heart was beating fast. Her every sense was strained, pushed to the very limit. Paige swallowed, trying desperately to listen to her surroundings over the racing of her pulse and the distant booming of the music. The Final Countdown was blurring, it seemed loud enough to shake the house.

Her face was flushed and red; her breath was fast, quick, stabbing gasps which kept her on the very edge of passing out. She felt like she wanted to be anywhere but here, and yet here was where she was and now she had to get away.

Panic, stress, tension broiled inside of her. The cold air brushed against her naked skin, sending shivers skittering across her body. She was wearing nothing. Absolutely nothing at all. Her throat was dry, her face was red. At any moment, she was waiting for someone to turn the corridor and see her, to shout out, to let the whole party know.

Paige was prowling through the corridors naked! That's what hey would shout, and then everyone would come. There would be crowds, pictures, people shouting over her as she desperately tried to explain herself.

Fuck, fuck, fuck! How had she ended up like this?

---

"A party?" Paige had said. "You're sure?"

"Paige, do I look like the kind of girl who wouldn't be sure? Must have been called to that place a dozen times last year around now. This time, they're trying to get on my good side. Give me an invitation. Can you believe it?"

"I guess I can," Paige answered. "You're pretty scary sometimes. They probably want you on their side instead of coming to get them again."

Her friend laughed, though it was a somewhat unpleasant laugh. "Just goes to show you that they're smart, doesn't it?"

Paige smirked as well, shaking her head only a little. She had reinvented herself many times over the course of her life now, constantly chasing the social power and grace that she felt belonged to her by right. Paige was a woman on a mission, and she'd learned very early on that she liked to be in charge.

Maybe that was why she got on so well with Diana Briggs. The two shared that core component. Neither liked to back down, and both strived to always be in control. They could have been enemies except for the fact that they had a single critical difference. Paige looked for social dominance, Diana looked for physical dominance. They had found in one another kindred spirits of a sort.

Besides, it was always a good idea to have a cop on your side.

"I get why they invited you," Paige said. "But why do you want me to go? And why are you even going anyway? Parties aren't really your thing."

"Too true," Diana grumbled.

The two were sitting in a coffee shop, a steaming drink laid out on the table before them. Some soft music buzzed distantly, but neither paid much attention to that.

"Usually I would't give a crap," Diana admitted. "In fact, I'd probably give them a rough time for bribery. But there's something else. There's someone at the party I want to check out."

"Didn't think you were the type to need a wingman," Paige observed.

"Not like that!" Diana snapped. "Someone I'm pretty sure is guilty of something. Hell if I know what, though. I just have a feeling."

"No proof?" Paige stirred her coffee absently.

"If I had proof, I wouldn't bother with all this hiding stuff," Diana growled. "I'd be straight in. But I don't have anything except my gut. They're the ones who own the property the party's going down at. So we get in and I get to do some snooping around. You on the other hand get to do what you always do best. Be the life of the party and remember to tell me anything later that you think is particularly important."

Paige nodded. it wasn't an unusual demand. Paige and Diana shared a strange friendship, you might have termed it ''mutual use''. Paige used Diana as a way to have her ear to to the ground, as a way to know things that weren't always publicly available and ultimately as a way to keep herself ahead of the game.

Diana on the other hand knew far too well just how good Paige was at playing the social manipulator. Diana was brash, crude and blunt. But she could always appreciate someone who was able to talk anyone into revealing their secrets for her.

So they had used each other. At first begrudgingly, but as time had gone on both had started to respect the other in a strange way. Like two jungle cats passing each other in the night. Neither wanted to a pick as long as there was mutual respect and if there was bigger prey around, well, why not cooperate?

"Why not?" Paige said. "It's been a while since I hit the party scene. You have to be visible, you know so I could use another turn in the spotlight. When're we going?"

"Tonight," Diana said. "So get dressed up in your sluttiest dress because I want you to catch eyes."

Paige grinned.

"I've never been bad at that."

---

The party was booming when they arrived; Diana's squad car caused a bit of a commotion as it drove up, but she refused to travel in anything else. Stepping out onto the street, Paige saw that the party was already well under way. The house was a large and located on the very edge of town. It was practically a mansion even including a surrounding forest! The kind of place only rich people could afford to live in. There were swimming pools, and gardens, and she felt a sort of seething envy as she beheld it all.

Diana snorted.

"You see all that?" She gestured. "What a fucking waste. People like this cause nothing but trouble that we cops have to clean up later."

Paige didn't comment on that. As far as she had ever known, Diana could be best termed an equal opportunity oppressor. She didn't care if you had bags of money or none at all, if you were in her way you were getting run over.

Wisely, she kept her mouth shut on that score.

"You look good, though." Diana said. "Perfect for the role."

Paige smiled, giving a little twirl. As someone who had worn a dozen looks over her life, Paige was very good at dressing up. Today, she'd gone with something a little bit different from her usual style. She was wearing a form-fitting black dress, the contours matched the outline of her body perfectly. Black tights rose up her upper thighs, and she'd completed the whole thing with a white ribbon that she was wearing around her slender waist. The chest section was padded, of course. Just to add to the look of the thing.

Diana nodded approvingly as Paige finished her twirl.

"Very Gothic," Diana said.

"I had a phase," Paige laughed.

"You are a phase."

"And that's why I am so useful to you," Paige answered without batting an eye. "Now let's go. I have people to meet and you have creeping to do."

"You don't have to describe it like that," Diana muttered.

But they did go, moving towards the front entrance to the massive house. People stopped to look, most of them gazing at Paige. She bathed in it, soaking up their attention. This was where she was at her strongest, this was her true home. The buzz of attention, the crackle of softly spoken words, that was what she lived for and why she had changed herself again and again, chasing each trend until it could carry her no more.

Inside, the place was crowded. There were so many people. She could already hear Diana muttering about ''crowd violations'' but she blocked that out. Music was blurring and people were dancing. Diana gave her one last look and peeled off while Paige moved forward to the table where drinks had been set out.

People were celebrating, laughing and dancing to the music. It was chaotic, confusing, but oh, she loved it. Paige snatched a drink from the table and quickly downed it, moving to the floor to dance and to watch. Already, she was gathering a crowd. One of the first lessons she'd learned was how to command the scene.

Time passed; she danced and drank a bit more - careful not to take too much. She also talked. It was funny just how much guys - and a few girls as well - were willing to spill while talking to a pretty face in a tight dress.

The house was owned by a man called Blake. Thomas Blake, to be specific. He'd been away for a long time, but he was back now. He was about twenty five years old, and very rich. No one she'd talked to had seen him all day, though he was supposed to be at the party somewhere.

Paige looked about, seeking any sign of her companion but Diana also had vanished. She guessed the cop had slunk off to the other rooms, seeking some sign of the evidence that she expected to find.

Little did she know, even then, that she was being watched.

---

Heart beating in a mad rush, Paige knelt by the long, wooden stairs. They spiralled upwards towards the upper floors of the mansion. They descended lower as well, towards the party below. They were the only way to get down but she could hear people chatting around them and even on them. Her face flushed, and she felt beyond humiliated. She didn't even have a sheet or a blanket to wrap around herself! Her skin tingled, creeping phantom limbs caressing her as she desperately considered her options.

She tilted her head upwards. She could definitely follow the stairs that way. She doubted there would be anyone on the upper levels. Below, it was crowded so thickly that she'd be sure to be spotted.

Paige swallowed; her throat was beyond dry. She wanted to curl up, to hide away, to wait until the party was over and sneak out when no one was around.

But she couldn't do that, could she? Not if she wanted a chance to save her friend. She swore to herself, glaring down the stairs as if they had personally offended her.

And then she started to run, picking up speed, moving faster and faster as her mind screamed at her. What was she doing? She was naked! She was going to be seen! But she had to move, she had to go fast or else she'd be recognised. It was so hard, her feet didn't want to move, her arms and legs pumped, forcing herself forward and downwards.

"What the hell?" Someone caught sight of her, the words speared into her side like a lance, but she plunged onwards. There were tears in her eyes, she just wanted to hide! She just wanted to vanish!

But she had to keep going.

Two more people turned in surprise, their eyes playing over her naked body, seeing her long legs, her dark hair cut short. Paige always struggled to be easily recognisable, but right now she wished to be anything but!

She came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs before hurling herself sideways through a small corridor. Half running and half staggering as confusion came on in her wake.

"Was that a naked chick?"

"Who the hell was that?!"

Please don't know me by name, please don't know me by name!

"I don't know, man. Should we go after her?"

She moved more quickly then, ducking through the back rooms. Sweat beaded her body, her lungs felt so empty. She needed to find a way out, or failing find, find something to wear! But the corridor was annoying clear of conveniently discarded clothes, easily torn curtains or random towels just about the right size to preserve a woman's dignity.

Something moved on the other end of the corridor and Paige flung herself into a side room; her heart raced and she slammed the door behind her.

"Is someone there?" A voice came down, and she heard a heavy footstep treading down the corridor. She turned, looking around, seeking some way out. She was in a storage room of some sort, but there were no other entrances or exits.

"Come on," she muttered to the unknown guy. "Move on. Go somewhere else. You just imagined it."

He didn't. He was looking around, almost prowling. Paige knew she didn't have much time. She'd wasted so much already! It was a choice between her dignity and her friend.

"Fuck," she swore. "Diana, if we get out of this you owe me so much more than one!"

She threw open the door and bolted, the man turned in shock. His eyes played over her naked body and a look of surprise came across his face.

"Paige?"

She ran even faster, hurtling down the corridor. A horrible spike drove through her gut. She'd been recognised! But as long as there weren't pictures, she'd live. Desperately, she tried to figure out where she was now. She had to be near the back of the building, right? That meant that there had to be a kitchen nearby. That would have to connect to the outside, wouldn't it?

She twisted and turned, moving at a sprint until she was finally **** to slow down. There was no one around here, so she allowed herself a little bit of rest. Her body burned; her face was flushed and humiliated. How many people had seen her naked already? Oh god, why did it turn her on just a little bit? She shivered, one of her hands moving to nipple to find it erect and proud. She was feeling decidedly wet between the legs. She closed her eyes for a moment, as if trying to deny the reality of this betrayal.

But she was getting turned on.

Distracted, she stumbled finally into the kitchen she was looking for. it was large, of course. Far bigger than any kitchen had a right to be. Just beyond it, she saw a door leading to the backyard and her heart soared!

But just she reached for it, someone hit her. Hard. Pain exploded through her and Paige crashed to the ground. She rolled, gazing up at the man who'd come up behind her.

"Thought you could get away, bitch? You should have been glad to stay in your room. At least that way we could have let you go once the party was over. Now I'm going to have to supervise you personally."

He grinned at her, his eyes leering across her naked body. An erection was poking at the inside of his pants. Her body felt weak, and she tried to crawl away, but he loomed, a massive figure of muscles and power.

"Don't worry," he said. "I'm not going to hurt you. Just going to tie you up again and maybe take some photos to enjoy the moment. It's your friend the cop who's in real trouble."

"Where is she?" Paige asked, shaking her head to try and clear it. "What did you do to her?"

"Mister Blake had some unfinished business with her," the thug shrugged. "Took her out into the woods. She fucked him over at some point and he never really forgave her. Looks like even cops aren't immune to payback, eh? But that's not for you to worry about. Like I said, you're going to be absolutely fine. Just as long as you don't cause trouble."

He closed on her, Paige looked around desperately, trying to find some way to ward him off. There was no use in fighting. He was too big and too powerful. She couldn't get away either; not lying on the ground like this. He was going to capture her again! He was going to drag her off and then she'd never be able to help Diana!

And then something smashed into the back of his skull. There was the sound of shattering glass and the man's eyes went wide. He spun, but he turned just in time for his skull to rock back as someone hit him as hard as he could. He grunted and then folded, collapsing to the ground where he lay alive but unmoving.

Paige could barely believe it. Slowly, she looked from his from to the person who had come to her aid. A blond, athletic young woman.

"Are you all right?" She asked, extending a hand to her. Paige gripped it and was hauled to her feet.

"Thanks," she mumbled. "I...I think I'm fine. He hit me, but I'm good. Why were you even here?"

The blond woman flushed.

"I felt a bit sick so I came to the kitchen. I'm, uh, not really a party girl. Is it true what he said about your friend? She's some kind of cop?

"And she's in danger," Paige nodded. "Can you help me? Please?"

For a long moment, the blond said nothing. Then she sighed and gave a nod.

"Yeah, I suppose I can. What's your name? I don't think I've seen you around here before."

"I'm Paige."

"Nice to meet you, Paige. My name is Liliana Knite."