She doesn't give you much choice.

She just drags you off, guiding you by the arm as she pulls you into a maze of books. Your head is still full of fear and panic, so you don't notice where you're headed until she pulls you to a wall of outdated erotic magazines in the adult-only section. She picks up a few, holding them up in a spread.

"Which one do you think would look the best on me?"

Whether on accident or on purpose, each of the magazines depict a woman in a powerful pose, one in a corset, one in a suitjacket and slacks, and one in a cowgirl getup. Your mind grasps desperately for something, anything it can make sense of, and instead of answering Emma's question, you try to ask her one of your own. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

Emma furrows her brow. "That's a weird question. I'm here because I'm bored." Her face almost immediately brightens. "Aren't I lucky I bumped into you? Now, come on, pick. Your answer will decide what the theme is when we end up having our fun."

The edges of your vision darken as you struggle to control your breathing. "What if I don't want to?"

Emma rolls her eyes. "Then I'll pick for you."

You watch silently, your clouded mind holding you at attention as you watch her consider the magazines in question. After a moment of deliberation, she sloppily puts all but the cowgirl magazine back on the shelf, rumpling the other covers slightly. She waves the cowgirl magazine flashily. "Looks like I'll be playing with a lasso! I remember that you're so much fun with a rope."

For some reason, your mind has fixed on the rumpled magazines stuffed into the shelf, and it's all you can look at. Tossed aside. Carelessly.

Like you.

A shiver runs down your spine as tears build in your eyes. You look back at Emma and try to speak. "I don't want-"

Emma plants a finger on your lips, silencing you. The magazine absently slaps against your cheek, held with the rest of that hand. "Hush, Chris. We're going to have so much fun."

She reaches up and grips your collar, pulling you down until your face is level with hers. She withdraws the hand on your face and presses her lips to yours, sucking gently before pressing her tongue against your mouth, worming her way past your lips and exploring the inside of your mouth. She pulls back after what must have only been a moment, but felt like so much longer. She's wearing that knowing, mischief-filled smile of hers as she drags you by the collar to the front desk. The librarian takes one look at you and your flushed face and smiles, clearly seeing something adorable about your situation. She takes the magazine in Emma's hand, somehow already having Emma's library card, and checks it out to her, waving at you encouragingly as Emma is suddenly dragging you away.

You barely manage to keep from tripping on the front steps as Emma continues to drag you away from your beloved library, without your phone, backpack, or notes, and guides you to a car parked next to a meter. She opens the back seat and almost shoves you inside, closing the door behind you, before getting in herself on the driver's side. She smiles back at you in the rearview mirror, putting the magazine on the passenger's seat, which is inexplicably filled with boxes of costumes.

Your head spins, and the corners of your vision continue to darken. You desperately struggle to control your breathing, but it's just all so much. You feel so powerless and helpless and why did Emma find you why couldn't she just forget you why won't anyone save you why can't you save yourself whycan'tyouevensayno-

Suddenly, the car isn't moving anymore, and Emma is dragging you out from the backseat to a two-story home. You stumble as you recognize it, almost. In your dreams, it's much more imposing, but in reality, it looks like any upper-middle-class home from a few decades ago. She brings you inside, brings you up some stairs, and sits you down on a bed you recognize by touch alone. You register distantly that she says something as she plants another kiss on your cheek, and giggles, leaving.

You've never before felt so very powerless and very alone. It's all you can do to stay conscious as your head continues to spin and your chest tightens. Your vision flickers, and you look up just in time to see... Ashley?

What is Ashley doing here? And how did she get here?

You look up at her, and the world is **** to steady a bit. She's breathing heavily, and her face is flushed as if she's just run a great distance. She looks you dead in the eye and asks, "Where is that bitch?"

It takes you a moment to register her words. "Wh-who?"

Ashley takes a deep breath, visibly steadying herself. "I heard that someone hurt you, and was going to hurt you again. Where is she?"