Take the path, and be ready for anything

They probably made this deliberately with only one way in, she thinks. If I try to go in any other way, I'm toast. But I know that there's something there, and I know roughly where it is - that gives me an advantage.

There's no way to sneak out there. It's all out in the open, and that's just the way they planned it. I might as well not even try to be stealthy about it... make the men think that I don't know they're there, that I don't know there's any trap. A plan begins to form in her mind - a risky plan, to be sure, but she can't think of anything else. Maybe I can lure them into whatever trap is there, she thinks. But if there's no trap there... or if it only stops one of them... then they've got me.

For a moment, Jade thinks of scrapping the whole thing, but then she notices something else - one of the jugs is only about a third full. I could carry that, she thinks. It's got a handle, and maybe I could even work out some kind of shoulder strap. This bottle they gave me only holds a quart, but that's almost two gallons. I wouldn't need to worry about water again for the next two days!

That settles her. Jade stands up and walks around the clearing to where the "path" begins; now that she sees it from another angle, it's obviously inviting, a seemingly straight and dry path right to the prize. This HAS to be a trap, she thinks. But if I know it's a trap, then I can use it.

She pulls her water bottle, still mostly full, from her pack, With it in one hand and her stick in the other, she starts making her way toward the water, cautiously, looking around, but at the same time trying to look ****. The grass outcropping where she knows the predatory men are hiding is less obvious from here, but she knows where it is. She checks the camera mounted on a tree on the other side of the water... its lens is directed at a spot twenty paces ahead, where the grass is just a little bit higher. That's the place, she thinks, and tries not to look at it again. If the plan is to work, the men have to think that she doesn't suspect anything.

Jade's heart is pounding, and nervous sweat makes the mud fall from her forehead. She shakes it away, and more dried mud cracks and falls off. Good, she thinks. That'll help. It's time to make my move.

She stops, a few yards from where she believes the trap to be. She looks around slowly, deliberately not allowing her gaze to linger on the grassy mound. Then, as if she's satisfied herself that she's alone, she stands up straight, tosses the stick down, and begins to rub off what she can of the remaining mud. The outer layer cracks off and falls away easily, and then she deliberately uncorks her water bottle, leans back her head, and lets the remaining contents cascade down over her face and body, washing away a good part of what remains. Her pale skin shines in the direct sun, and her pink nipples harden as the cool water runs over them -

The grassy mound seems to explode outward as a large, muscular tattooed man bursts out and charges toward her. It takes every bit of Jade's willpower not to turn and run -

"Jackson, you idiot, STOP!" shouts a second man rising up from the grass - but it's too late. When Jackson steps on the bump in the path, he's suddenly jerked to the ground by a snare tightening around his ankle. He lands hard in front of Jade, who spins to pick up her stick, brandishing it in front of her as she faces the man still on his feet.

"Ow, FUCK! I think I busted my knee!" Jackson curses, rolling on the ground and clutching his leg.

The other man ignores him, and approaches Jade slowly. "You're smart," he says to her.

"Smarter than your friend," Jade replies, tying to keep her voice steady.

"That mud you just washed off is smarter than him," the man replies. He stops about twelve feet away from her, looking her over appraisingly. "You know, I was hoping I'd run into you. I liked you the best when they showed us your pictures."

Jade feels herself flush, hating the "ginger curse" which made it impossible to hide when she was blushing. The man before her certainly is appealing, physically; he's tall, Italian by the looks of him, with dark hair and an impressive physique. She can't help but notice the bulge behind his loincloth, which is equally impressive... and exciting.

She shakes her head to try and clear it. Why am I finding him so attractive? she asks herself. I mean, of course he is, but he wants to **** me! Why does it feel like I'm almost looking forward to it? That's not me, that's not what turns me on!

"I want that water," Jade says.

The man gestures at it. "Be my guest," he says.

"Step aside first."

He shakes his head, smiling.

"You're stronger than me," Jade acknowledges, "But I'll bet I can get in at least a couple of good shots before you take me down. How much is a little pussy worth to you?"

"Fuck, this hurts," Jackson grumbles.

"Shut up," the other man says. Then he smiles at Jade. "There's no need for ****, Miss... what do I call you?"

Jade says nothing.

"Just trying to be friendly," he says. "My name is Enrico. In any event, we don't have to fight, and I certainly don't want to **** you. You want the water; I, to be perfectly honest, want you. Let's just agree to a simple exchange. First, you can toss me that stick, and I'll use it to take this idiot out of the equation -"

"Hey, what the fuck?" Jackson shouts.

"And then," Enrico continues, as if not hearing him, "you can come over here, and I'll be happy to hold up one of these jugs so you can have a nice, refreshing shower... clean all that mud off you. After that... well, I think you can use your imagination. I will be gentle with you, of course. A woman such as yourself deserves no less."

Jade barely represses a shiver - not of disgust or revulsion, but from a sudden rush of excitement, as she imagines this man laying her tenderly down in the soft grass, kissing her lips, caressing her, encouraging her to open her legs for him so he can penetrate her virgin sex...

What's WRONG with me? she wonders. This guy could be some psychopath for all I know!

"I won't wait forever," Enrico says, with just a touch of steel in his voice. "And I don't think you're as confident with that stick as you pretend to be. Besides, it won't be long before someone else shows up to claim you. You're right out in the open, and if someone comes up behind you, you've got nowhere to go. I'll be good to you... I don't think you'll get the same assurance from whoever else comes along."