Desperate Run

by C.J. Riggs

He raped her that night, but gaslit her to believe she asked for it. He was nineteen, and took advantage of a minor.” I sigh and shake my head as my nostrils flare. “She didn’t tell me, but I knew something was wrong. Days turned into weeks, and my Alyson was gone. No light in her eyes, dropped out of sports, began getting in trouble at school, all the normal joy she brought with her: gone. “I confronted her one day, locked her in my car and demanded she tell me what happened. She told me I wouldn’t believe her… that no one would believe her. I just didn’t understand why she thought that. I had always believed her. Always.” My emphasis on the word is sharp, coming through my clenched teeth. Breathe. “She said she would be fine and would survive it, like I survived everything.” I lick my lips, feeling them drying. “No more than twenty-four hours later, she jumped from the Aurora bridge, right into the strait below.”

She survived the jump, but was in a coma. The brain damage was so severe doctors questioned how her heart was still beating. “My parents put every penny they had to saving her life, but, we know all too well the medical system here. They didn’t have unlimited funds. I think everyone thought the same thing, even if she were to come out of it, she wouldn’t be the same Alyson.” I haven’t cried since that day, and even though I can feel the unfamiliar burn at the back of my eyes, I don’t sense tears building. “I didn’t care. If I could have any part of her there with me, I’d make it happen. I researched, found a specialist in India that seemed to work miracles, but you can imagine the cost.” I take a deep breath and, for my own selfish reasons, reach out to her cheek and gently stroke it. “So… I came here, to the Midnight Menagerie.” Her eyes slowly widen, “Seven…” “Seven years ago. Max, do you know what you win if you beat the final maze?”

She slowly shakes her head. “I’ve heard rumors… A lot of money…” “You get anything you want. If its money, its money. You want someone to disappear? They will.” Her breath escapes softly, and she murmurs breathlessly, “You are it’s only winner.” Gently, I nod. “Yes, Petit Mouton, I am. I won, but barely. Four and five, it nearly killed me but I didn’t care. All I could see was Alyson’s smile at the end of that final exit, but was I so, so wrong.” “I’m sorry son.” “They pulled her life support at midnight, and as strong as my Sunflower was, she barely lasted a few hours off of it.” The sheen over her eyes, threatening to cry for a girl she never met, makes my heart beat faster. “That day, instead of seeing her smile, I saw Death staring back at me in the mirror.” I don’t think she blinked, and with a gentle smile, I lean in and place a kiss between her brows. “They took my heart that day, and weeks later, buried it with her, where it belongs.”

“Tell me again.” “You’ll never be free of me, and it is the only thing I’ll ever take from you.”

“I’ll provide you a loaded gun to end my life, because death is the only thing that will separate me from you.” Her eyes round, and the quick shake of her head was all the confirmation I need that she understands. “And even then, I’ll wait for you to join me in the afterlife where I’ll continue to hunt you, ma proie.”

My cold, dead, heart pounding in my chest so hard that it might burst free. The one I swore I never had. The heart that beats only for him and if it wasn’t him, then it would never beat for anyone ever again.

I might belong to him, but he is just as much mine and there’s nobody else he will belong to. He told me I’d have to shoot him to rid myself of him. The thing is, how can I remove him, when he’s the part of me I didn’t know I’d needed.

Blinking back the heated strain behind my eyes, I’m lost in his gaze as he stares down at me, kissing me once and lowering his head to my chest. I can’t say anything right now. Even though I know

exactly what he’s trying to tell me, but can’t. The only thing I can whisper is… “Ditto,” lifting my head to take his lips into another soft kiss.

I don’t believe in any divine being. Max, however, has become a Goddess to me, one that I will get on my knees for and do what any other devout religious man would do for their God. I’ll praise everything from her annoying tendencies to talk when she shouldn’t, to that perfect cunt of hers. The moment that word, ‘ditto’, came from her lips, she understood freedom from me was impossible and the only way she would be without me, was with my death. She can read my silence, which is all I need for her to do

There is one last thing.” I lift my head to see her looking down at me. “Then you’ll put me down?” “Yes.” “Okay, what is it?” “I want to teach you how to make Shade attack on command.” Her eyes round. “It’s easy, and extremely important. If I am, for some reason, unable to be with you, Shade will be by your side. He will kill for you, as I have.” Her heart pounds against her chest, and I can almost hear it coursing through her veins. “You’ll always be there though, right?” “Unless you shoot me dead,

“Call for me…” Her brows pull together. “Huh?” “Only… if you need me. I’ll come for you. Always. Without question.” It isn’t a request, and my tone emulates that. “I thought you couldn’t go into the—” “When it comes to you—” I take a deep breath, but I shake my head. “I’ll take whatever comes my way. Okay? Don’t hesitate, Max. Promise me.” I'm not just pleading—I'm begging her to listen to me for once. Please, Max…

It's hard to see it as mere coincidence that seven years ago, I lost my reason for living, and at that same time, Max's life was nearly taken from her.

Did Sasha say where she was going to go? I assume you’ve been standing here the entire time, did you catch her as she exited?” It feels like every muscle in my neck tenses up, making my gaze shift slowly toward him. “Sasha…?” “Yeah, you know, Max’s—” “Shut the fuck up, Troy, I know who Sasha is. What do you mean come out?!” I shout, ready to punch him in the face for acting stupid. “When did she go in?” A pit forms in my stomach as realization hits me. How could I have been so blind… I don’t think I’ve ever seen Troy go paler; it pulls out the red splotches on his nose that possibly could be considered freckles. “Twenty—” The tremble my entire body succumbs to makes my bones physically ache. A choice… an impossible choice—why had I not fucking seen that coming!?

“I’m going to

brutally kill him, Max, I don’t want you see what I’m—” “I’m not leaving. Give me your knife…” The fierce gaze in her eyes tells me even if I tried to argue, I’d be losing. “He hurt me… he… he hurt you. I want him to suffer by my hands too, Draven. I told you…” her fingers draw a line up toward my shoulder where I am bleeding, “I once had a guy’s dick in my hand from a motorbiking accident, and—” I lean in and silence her, my lips pressing against hers in a brief, fleeting kiss. “Okay, I get it,” I breathe against her.

I never expected him, but at the same time I feel extremely lucky I have him.

“I was five, the first time my father beat me.”

“He came home from a night out with his drinking buddies, where he lost all of his money in a casino. My mother wasn’t there, she was out drinking somewhere; my older brother was at a friend’s house, and I was the only good punching bag available I guess.

I don’t remember much after that. Just that I woke up in the hospital with a broken wrist and a black eye. I told the Doctors I fell and after that, he never stopped.

“The older I got, the worse the beatings became. Cigar burns were added then, and one time when I was late home from school once—” “Mother?” he interrupts me. “An alcoholic, Draven.” I begin poking the packing gauze into the injury, my eyes flicking to him. His gaze watching me incessantly. I continue working and carry on. “She was rarely home, and my brother was far too busy to notice.”

“By the time I was eighteen, my father had lost everything, and he was about to lose his home too. Gambling, alcohol, and drugs took over his life and nothing else mattered. At that point, my brother was twenty-eight and I’d been living with him since I was sixteen.”

“On my eighteenth birthday, I attended a frat party on campus and ended up blackout drunk. When I woke up,” I pause, swallowing thickly, “I didn’t even know where I was. Turns out my father, to relieve his gambling debt and get his home back, had sold me to someone high up.”

“Three broken ribs, broken collarbone and three broken fingers.” I stick the waterproof gauze over the bullet wound. “Fractured orbital bone and broken pelvis, with a bleed on the brain. Not to mention all the scars where they cut me.” Clearing my throat, I refuse to look at him as I apply the final strip of gauze to his second bullet wound. “The doctor told me I was so messed up the only option was a full hysterectomy or death from infection.” I huff out a laugh. “They thought I was some fucked up crack

whore, all because of the level of opioids in my system.”

“Whatever you need baby, I’ll give it to you on a silver fucking platter.”

“Something about you, and who you are…” I pause, not able to look in his eyes anymore, I drag my gaze from his. Dropping my head, covering my face with both my hands because the fear I have of hiding myself and my feelings is finally filling to the brim. He gently pulls my hands from my face. “Baby…” Just that word, opens every ounce of feeling I could ever salvage. “Never hide from me.” I search his face, the water pouring over us from above. Leaning forward, I press my forehead to his chest. My nerves plummeting to my stomach because I wish I could say those words to better help him understand what I mean, but I can’t. I hate the four-letter word. It wastes time and ruins everything. In this life, people throw it around and never really mean it. Love is supposed to be something that can never be penetrated by the issues and problems of others. Yet no matter how hard

we try; love is forever tainted with the possibility of pain. So instead, I settle for, “Y-you, make me feel a little more alive… and a lot less... lost.”

“You can only wander for so long until you find where you are meant to go, or be found.”

“I’ve really only said those three words to Alyson. Fear has always gripped me from saying it again.” My words a breath against her skin, “I feel like I’d be cursing myself, and you for saying them. Even if it would be how I feel…” Between the lash marks, I place another kiss, drawing more of them up to her neck, and to the back of her head.

Putting my hand onto her good shoulder, I turn her to face me. “Doesn’t mean I won’t show you them. Every day.” I place her towel over her, draping it down her front, an indication I’m not going to be tearing into her perfect cunt at this time. “Crazy how we seem to be on the same page with that…” she mumbles. A soft 'hmm' comes from my lips as I draw my fingers along her throat, bringing them back to the nape of her neck. “Crazy, indeed.”

“Draven…” Yes, I’m staring at her nipples. They are hard, what does she expect from me?

“Mmm,” she hums. “This is perfect. How did you know how I liked it?” “In a social media post you put how much you enjoyed coffee, and commented how you like it.”

You son of a—” “I’m kidding,” I cut her off, rolling my lips and snorting out a chuckle. I don’t think I’ve laughed this much with anyone, ever. “You just seem like the type to not like it super sweet and to think adding cream is blasphemy. So black you can see yourself in it, I imagine is your thought process.” Her lips seal, but her eyes narrow. “I’m still pissed off at you for doing that.

“Slow, please slow this time—” Placing my hand onto her shoulder to keep her down, I pour the cold water down her back: not slowly. “Asshole!!” She jumps but I keep her steady. My shoulder protests the container of water, but as it empties, it feels less strained. “I swear!” I lean down and brush my lips against her ear. “Swear what?” “Swear I’m going to beat your ass when all of this is done!” Oh how I enjoy tickling her nerves.

Max, I’m losing the battle to allow you to do this. Please, let me give you everything you need.” I know he’s just trying to help me, but I don’t need the help. “You can’t. I already explained this to you.” Dropping his hand from my upper arm he grits his teeth. “Just tell me who it was that hurt you. Give me their names and I’ll drop them bloodied and broken at your feet. We can walk away from this, both of us.” “Did your IQ drop while we were walking over here?” I snap, the words coming out a little more disrespectful than I initially planned but I’m sick of hearing the same thing. “Excuse me?” His voice dropping an octave. “No, I won’t. Why are you trying to take this away from me?” I take a step back from him, needing space. Taking my face in his hands, he caresses the skin on my cheeks with his thumbs,

taking a deep breath. “I’m not taking this away from you, I’m trying to—” “Help me?” “No! Save you, damn it.” ”I have to save myself,“ I say while pushing his hands from my face. Pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration he takes a deep breath. I know I’m pushing him right now. I don’t speak this way to anyone, but he needs to understand. “They took everything from me, Draven. Forced me to never speak about what happened and if you do this for me... what was the fucking point of me even coming here?” I shout. “Max, your tone.” The muscles in his jaw clench together. “What are you worried about? I made it this fucking far!” I press my hands to my chest, emphasizing my anger. “You think I’m going to die?” “Yes!” he bellows. The word ringing out between us as the rest of my words fail me. “Yes, Max!” he shouts again. “I’ve wanted to ask you to stop since you came out of Troy’s maze. There is nothing I want more than to see you get your revenge. I, above

anyone, understand that. I understand you and what it is you want.” “You don’t, because if you did, you wouldn’t be asking me to stop.” “You are wrong.” He shakes his head, the flare of his nostrils and flex of his jaw show his anger. Yet, that isn’t what snatches my breath right in my chest. It’s his eyes, the silver glossed over as if he may actually cry. “You are so fucking wrong, Max.” There are no words right now. I’ve seen him kill. I’ve seen his anger when anyone has laid a finger on me. I’ve even seen him what you could call... happy. But this, this is fear, something I wish I hadn’t seen. Because now I really am scar...

“This is me begging you Max, something I have never done, and never will to anyone but you.” Dropping to his knees in front of me, I search...

Mouton. I’ll give you the world. I’d crawl on broken hands and legs to give you it all.” I should say yes. I know it’s in my best interests. After all, it would save me a Hell of a lot of trouble. But I can’t. Shaking my head, I step back and out of his hold. “I… I’m sorry. I can’t.” My eyes burning as I turn from him. My legs carrying me to the final maze so fast. I can’t look at him because if I do, I’ll walk r...

“When you reach the halfway point, you are free to do whatever it takes to make it to the end, the outside if you will. Only one person can win.” Nodding to the neck brace he places his hands in his pockets. “Inside that necklace, is the same high-grade stainless-steel wire that is used in a Gigli saw.” I press my hands to the plastic and my mouth instantly goes dry. “Do you know what that wire does?” “It’s so strong that it can precisely cut anything from the body immediately.” Nodding once, he smiles. “If you don’t make it outside the maze before midnight, the brace around your neck will behead you instantly.” Lifting his wrist, he smiles even further. “And by my count, you have about an hour.” Nodding behind me, I turn. “As soon as you enter that gate, I will notify the other attendee at the opposite gate to start the timer so that you and the other person can compete. Good luck, Max.”

The second alarm screams through the air like the sound for an incoming bomb and I stupidly stop, turning around to look at only God knows what. That’s when I hear them, the sound of their paws hitting the ground my feet were once pressed in. The wind carrying their growling and barking. Turning back round, I begin kicking up dirt again, pacing my breathing as best as I can. I run marathons for fun... but it’s nothing like this. I can hear their paws hitting the dirt even though they’re nowhere near me, and yet, they’re surrounding me it seems. I won’t stop. I can’t stop. I don’t know what will happen if they catch me. Not until it kills me. I don’t want to die, but I also don’t want to be torn apart by dogs either. Their barking gains on me, getting closer, louder, the more I run. I weave around a tree, noticing a small brook ahead. Isn’t water supposed to hide your smell. Tearing the jacket from my body as I run, I drape it over a stump in front of me, praying my scent will keep them occupied

long enough to give me a better chance of running to the halfway point. You can do this Max. Be strong.

She may not want my protection—scratch that, she may not want anything from me other than my cock, but I don’t give a fuck. She’s trapped in my house of horrors for the rest of her life, or mine if I die first, and she’ll come to understand that.

I really don’t want to be bothered, and I couldn’t care less that it’s her best friend trying to get my attention. “She’ll be fine... She can do this.” Even with as strong as her words are, I can tell by the influx she is struggling with the prospect. Sasha doesn’t understand the extent of this maze. She could be running in circles, looking for the exit, and even if she does outrun the dogs, if she doesn’t make it to that door before midnight, she’s dead. Dead… “I’m sorry son, we tried to call you—” I cannot imagine her being chow for hunting dogs or that stunning head not atop her perfect shoulders.

“You know who Patrick Doherty is…” Sasha asks without really asking the question. A dead man. Just like his son. My silence is enough to keep her going, but I’m so numb, caught between rage and blacking out that if I say anything, I might be completely consumed by it. “He isn’t just the Governor of California, he’s the man that made sure everything was redacted from Max’s history. His son, Adam, and his two best friends, did that to Max.” “Where… were you…” I remember the story about the frat party. Where was Sasha? Her friends? Where the fuck was anyone for her?! “I wasn’t there Draven, I would have—” her words cracked through the emotions pouring out of her. “I’d have died to keep that from happening. I saw the pictures of her that she kept. The one’s they took of all of them…”