Money talks

Dylan held out the dreaded Care Bear uniform, his eyes gleaming with a mix of triumph and anticipation. The sickeningly artificial aroma of synthetic fur filled the air as I reluctantly approached, eyeing the pink monstrosity laid out on the bed.

Dylan was smiling, tight lipped. "Get in, Felicia. Just for a minute."

Felicia met his gaze defiantly, "Fine sicko, but no pictures, and don't you dare touch me."

Reluctantly, I stepped into the over-sized, stifling costume. The interior was like a furnace, and the fabric scratched against my skin as Dylan zipped up the back. As he stepped away, I could feel the claustrophobia setting in.

Just endure it for a minute. One minute, and then I'm done with this asshole and his fantasies forever.

A minute dragged on, each second feeling like an eternity. Sweat formed on my forehead, and the tight confines of the bear head made it hard to breathe. When the minute finally passed, I attempted to unzip myself, only to realize my hands were trapped in over-sized, clumsy pink gloves.

"Goddamn it. Dylan, help me get out of this thing."

Dylan approached, a strangely serious expression on his face. Instead of reaching for the zipper, he muttered something unintelligible, and to my gut clenched the synthetic fabric encasing me rippled with strange energy. My hands searched for the zipper. It was gone.

"What did you do!?" I screamed, but my voice was muffled by the stupid costume.

Dylan still looked solemn, but satisfaction was growing on his face. "Just a little magic, Felicia. Looks like you're stuck."

"This isn't funny, Dylan. Help me!"

Dylan chuckled, leaving me trapped in the sweltering, uncomfortable confines of the Care Bear uniform. The realization sank in – I was at his mercy, and the one-minute ordeal had turned into something much worse.