The Torturer

[Britwitch]

<<Closed for poohlive and myself>>

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The newspapers were calling him the ‘Tarot Card Torturer’.
A rapist, as yet uncaught and unidentified, was stalking the city. Trapping women in their own homes, for days at a time, using a deck of tarot cards to determine how he tormented and abused them. He would shuffle the Major Arcana cards and begin turning over the cards one by one, giving them a tarot reading of his own, until such time as ‘The Lovers’ card was drawn whereupon he would viciously rape them for hours and then leave them, bound with the card inserted into their sex, and their door left unlocked to allow their discovery. For some the card was the first he turned over for others they had to endure days of humiliating acts before the card was drawn. The victims, the police believed, were watched for days, even weeks in some cases before The Torturer made his move. Their only warning was the appearance of a tarot card, ‘The Emperor’ in their home, usually only moments before they found themselves being drugged and prepared for his 'reading', the only thing victims could recall clearly were the cards drawn, the acts they were subjected too and the large black bag that he would delve into to retrieve the instruments, toys and other items he would use upon them.

Katrina shuddered as she read in the newspaper about the latest victim. The 32 year old nurse had been found by her fiancé, who’d been away on business. She had been held for over a week by The Torturer, her first card in his reading had been the Empress, a card he seemed to associate with pregnancy. She had been given drugs and had been stimulated for several days until her breasts had begun to lactate. Then he had made her take pregnancy tests regularly during her ‘capture’. She was in fact pregnant, although she vigorously denied being so to him, leading some experts to believe his study of his victims was incredibly thorough and that the cards his victims were given weren't as random as many thought. Luckily, or unluckily, for her, he didn’t proceed onto her next card until he discovered her pregnancy and the next card had been ‘The Lovers’, bringing on her rape and his disappearance from the scene.
Psychologists and experts on the tarot believed he knew little about the cards true meanings and was simply using them as a game, as a way of making his crimes less predictable and less easy to follow. They surmised he was merely using a ‘Beginner’s Guide’ style book of meanings and a new set of cards for every victim.

Katrina shut the newspaper and finished off her coffee, dumping the paper into the trash. It was a case she knew more about than most. Her own sister had been the first of his victims. At first the police had warned her that she should be extra vigilant in case she became a target but his following victims seemed so far removed from her that she hadn’t worried much since. Putting her empty coffee cup on the sink, she picked up her bag and keys and left her house, giving herself a quick glance in the mirror on her way out. At 24, she was single although had a few interested parties offering to wine and dine her that she was debating accepting. With long dark brown hair, hanging down to the middle of her back and bright, intelligent blue eyes, she knew she wasn’t bad looking. She’d been blessed with her mothers curves but her father’s petite frame, meaning her bust and hips seemed almost too much for her tiny frame and waist. Fair skinned, with freckles dusting her nose, she looked younger than her years and very different from her sister. Blonde haired, green eyed, tall and strong, her sister Susan was of the sporty persuasion, her body toned and oh so very slim, almost boyish. Another reason Katrina argued she wouldn’t be targeted. If The Torturer preferred that kind of figure, he would never consider her with her ample cleavage and rounded behind.

Katrina walked towards a local coffee house to pick up a cup of her favourite blend before heading towards the library to do some research for her book. A project she’d been working on for years but that was finally coming towards being something she might be able to submit to a publishers. She’d had short stories published before but this, this was her baby, her dream. Smiling in the morning sunshine on the way, once at the library she soon found the books she wanted and moved to a table in a quiet section, pulling out her notepad and beginning to work. Absent mindedly twirling her hair while she read, occasionally scribbling notes down on the pad. Her mind mainly focused on the texts on the table before her but every now and then she found herself glancing around, trying to dismiss the sensation of being watched.

 

[poohlive]

Jack only slight cocked his head to the side when he finally decided to make himself known. He'd been standing near for for a while now, and could see her move her head around, almost consciously. It was as if she could feel her eyes on him, a weight like water dripping off her skin, soaking her clean through the bone.

He smiled, when her eyes focused on him, indeed her true thoughts right about being part of some voyeur. He smiled, looking down at one of her books.

"I was waiting for that one," He said, his finger trailing one of the thicker books she had picked out for herself. A rare volume, by any library's standard. Sought after, by at least two people inside the same library.

"The librarian said I should just come back some other time... but we're both adults here, I think we could share."

He sat down in the chair opposite of hers, his legs tall and slender sliding under the table. His hair was a mess of brown curls atop his head, his hands were large and strong, and in the instant when one finger brushed up against hers, he gave a small gasp.

"Electric," Words pooled from his mouth, when he spoke it was as if he were dictating. Perfect pronounciation. Each syllable stressed, each consanent said. His lips playing with his tongue, flirting with her just with the words alone that he used.

"So... why is it you are here alone by yourself, doing such torturous study?" He eyes the other books she had taken. Indeed, this was no light reading.

 

[Britwitch]

Katrina jumped slightly as, on one of her sweeps of the area around her, she found eyes meeting her own. Set in a slightly smiling face they remained focused on hers as the tall owner drew nearer before dropping to one of the books before her.
"I was waiting for that one,"
"Oh...oh I'm sorry..." Katrina replied earnestly, beginning to lift some of the other books from upon it, ready to hand it over. She had many, many, many other books to get through before getting to that particular one and she was unlikely to achieve that goal today. Not when it was so lovely outside and all she wanted to do was go and sit in the park, and wait with her notepad for inspiration to strike, people watching and enjoying the fresh air. It was one of her favourite pastimes and the most persuasive of distractions.
"The librarian said I should just come back some other time... but we're both adults here, I think we could share."
Before she could respond he was sat opposite her,
"Well, here...you can have it first, I don't think I'm going to get even close to starting that one today..." She smiled once more, pushing the large volume across the polished table top towards him. Glancing up slightly as she thought she heard him gasp as their fingers brushed for a moment.
"Electric,"
Katrina felt herself blushing and looking down at her notebook intently. All he had said had been 'electric' but it was the way he had said it, his tone, his manner of speech. He might as well have spouted a sonnet at her for the way she was being affected by it. She coughed lightly, forcing herself to get over her giddy, girly reaction to the stranger and began to read once more.
"So... why is it you are here alone by yourself, doing such torturous study?"
Katrina glanced back up,
"Research..." She said with an overly unenthused tone. "But it's got to be done and it won't do it by itself...believe me, I've tried..." She added, smiling brightly once mroe before forcing herself to look back at the book and her notes. She couldn't believe herself, she was actually flirting with this stranger. Surely she wasn't that bored with her work already that she felt she needed a distraction. Although she had to admit the potential 'distraction' that had taken a seat before her was more than a little good looking.

 

[poohlive]

"Research, on such a beautiful day? Hmmm... research should be done on some rainy blistery day, you stay inside make a nice pot of chili and curl up in your favorite sweater to do what you need to. Today?"

He looked outside, a window to the real world as it passed.

"Today is for being outside, and enjoying yourself."

He took one look up and down her body, what he could tell from above the table. A way of eyeing her up and down, similiar to the way a butcher might right before he started to work on a carcass.

He was finding where to make the first cut.

"What if..." He came in closer, his voice dropping to barely a whisper, "I took you away from your laborous study for an hour or so. I took you out for a pleasent walk, I bought you some ice cream, and we giggled and talked of silly things for awhile?"

The warmest smile one ever did see emerged from his lips.

 

[Britwitch]

"Research, on such a beautiful day? Hmmm... research should be done on some rainy blistery day, you stay inside make a nice pot of chili and curl up in your favorite sweater to do what you need to. Today?"
Katrina frowned ever so slightly as his gaze drifted to the window, chili was one of her comfort foods, usually reserved for extremely rainy or even better, snowy, days when going outside was too nasty a prospect. But then again, she was probably one of hundreds who enjoyed the spicy food as a comfort during cold weather.
"Today is for being outside, and enjoying yourself."
Katrina let her own eyes wander to the window, the bright sunshine almost calling to her.
"It is a beautiful day..." She sighed, looking back and finding his eyes on her figure.
"What if...I took you away from your laborous study for an hour or so. I took you out for a pleasent walk, I bought you some ice cream, and we giggled and talked of silly things for awhile?"
Katrina returned the bright smile he flashed at her but lowered her gaze after a moment or two.
"Well, it does sound more than a little tempting but...but I should probably get on with some work..." She said quietly before adding, in an attempt to prevent any awkwardness. "After all, you're not supposed to go for ice creams with strangers now are you...?" She winked before she could stop herself.

 

[poohlive]

"Yes, you're right of course. You need to work, and study, and learn and grow. I would only distract you... what a fun distraction it would be though."

His laugh was light and airy, a fun laugh. The kind of laugh a child would make, care free and innocent in the world.

"Well, in case you change your mind, there is an Oak tree right out there, right next to the water. I will be sitting under it, enjoying myself, and pretending I do not have to endure the elements of this..."

He hefted up the book they had both wanted to read,

"reading material."

He winked back at her, "Double fudge rocky road? I'll buy two... in case I see you."

By the time he sat down at this special spot, two dripping waffle cones of ice cream in his hand, he could do nothing more than sigh at the waterfront. The view was spectacular, almost breathtaking, the way the pond lapped near his feet and the wind played circles around the tiny waves.

It would be time soon...

 

[Britwitch]

"Yes, you're right of course. You need to work, and study, and learn and grow. I would only distract you... what a fun distraction it would be though."
Katrina looked up curiously as his laugh danced down to her.
"Well, in case you change your mind, there is an Oak tree right out there, right next to the water. I will be sitting under it, enjoying myself, and pretending I do not have to endure the elements of this...reading material."
"I'll...I'll bear that in mind..." She said quietly, part of her wanting to go with him, part of her knowing she should not.
"Double fudge rocky road? I'll buy two... in case I see you."
Katrina's mouth dropped open slightly as he talked about buying her favourite flavour but he was out of sight before she could gather her thoughts enough to say anything.
For a few minutes she sat thinking about what to do next. She didn't want to believe that this mysterious man was now heading to sit under a tree with an ice cream for her, just waiting for her to arrive, and yet he had spoken so earnestly what else could she think.
She should go out...no, no she should get on with her work...
The dilemma moved back and forth in her brain, like some bizarre tug-of-war.
But soon enough she found herself walking out of the library and heading for the large Oak tree, a recognisable figure sat at it's base. When she reached him she felt a twinge of uncertainty about what she was doing, not entirely sure how to continue. As she looked down at him and caught his eyes, she smiled, a little embarassed,
"Well...my mother told me never to accept an ice cream from a stranger...but I think I can solve that problem..." She grinned, carefully moving to sit on the grass, not too close to him but not too far away as she held out a hand towards him. "Hi....I'm Katrina...nice to meet you...?" She tailed off, hinting for him to respond with his name.

 

[poohlive]

"Jack," he said, handing her the ice cream. It just started to melt, dripping onto her hand. He smiled, licking hiw own cone, tongue coming out to dance along the ripples of dark fudge which slowly ran their way to the ground.

"Nothing like ice cream on a hot day like today. Oh, but isn't it perfect so? Distracting you can be fun, can't it?"

He had such innocence, his laughter so pure, but the words themselves. So cleverly spoken, an undetone almost. As if he himself were playing with subltety, tone changing like a chameleon.

"What is it you are researching for... if I might ask?"

 

[Britwitch]

"Jack,"
"Nice to meet you Jack..." Katrina smiled, taking the cone and quickly licking at the melting ice cream, catching the drips on their way towards her hand. Giggling a little as she did so, knowing she probably looked anything but elegant.
"Nothing like ice cream on a hot day like today. Oh, but isn't it perfect so? Distracting you can be fun, can't it?"
"It is so far..." She admitted, almost shyly, her tongue slipping between her lips now and then to taste a little more of the sweet tasting treat.
"What is it you are researching for... if I might ask?"
"A book...a novel, really...or at least I hope it will be...when I eventually send it off..." She sighed, taking a long lick from the cone before continuing. "It's something I've been working on for a long time now and I just want to make sure everything I've written about is as accurate as I can make it, so if it gets sent back to me...I'll know it was the writing and not the subject matter that let me down..." Katrina grinned, licking her lips slightly. "And then, that'll be the end of my dream of becoming a writer and I'll find a new dream to set my sights on..."

 

[poohlive]

"Would you so easily throw away a dream?" His tongue swirled around the ice cream, each time eroding just a little bit more, the drops of dark chocolate running down the waffle cone were too tasy to give up. He would snatch them before they got to his hand.

Sometimes after.

"You know... I had a dream too, and at first I was not very good, almost sloppy you would say. If I had people judge me based on my first time, I would dare say they'd call me a fool, or insane. But, I continued to practice, as often as I could. I would work at it, perfect my technique... and I daresay now I am almost perfect in the matter."

He followed her contours, simple and elegant. She was not too fancy, not too demure... but a far cry from a trailer park. She was casual, that would be the best word for her, simply casual.

"You seem to have so much inside of you... like beneath this calm and sensual physique lies the passion of a real woman. I see it... I see it in your eyes."

He moved closer, to look at her, his eyes studying hers, finding them, looking upon her as one might a great piece of art.

"I can see so much beauty."

 

[Britwitch]

"Would you so easily throw away a dream?"
Katrina paused in her licking, his words striking a chord within her.
"Well...I probably wouldn't throw it away...but I would try something else before trying writing again I think..." She admitted, writing had always been there. She had written stories as a child, growing lengthier and more involved as she grew older. She couldn't really think of anything else she wanted to do.
"You know... I had a dream too, and at first I was not very good, almost sloppy you would say. If I had people judge me based on my first time, I would dare say they'd call me a fool, or insane. But, I continued to practice, as often as I could. I would work at it, perfect my technique... and I daresay now I am almost perfect in the matter."
"I admire your persistance..." Katrina smiled, taking some more of the chilled sweetness into her mouth. Letting it melt on her tongue before swallowing it. "I can only hope I'd have that kind of inner strength and determination..." She glanced back and blushed a little to see his eyes roving down over her form. Suddenly wishing she'd made more of an effort, worn something a little more sophisticated than her jeans and a fitted blouse.
"You seem to have so much inside of you... like beneath this calm and sensual physique lies the passion of a real woman. I see it... I see it in your eyes."
Before she could reply, he moved closer. Not so close as to alarm or to give her cause for immediate concern. But definitely closer, his gaze openly looking over her. Almost examining her.
"I can see so much beauty."
Katrina looked down at the grass before looking back up shyly, her eyes meeting his through her long, dark eyelashes.
"You're very sweet to say so but...you don't..you don't have to say that..." She said eventually. "...I'm very flattered that you think so..."
She tentatively licked at her cone once more, vaguely aware that he was watching her tongue as it slipped between her lips as much as he was watching everything she did.
"So what...what do you do...?" Katrina asked, trying to steer the conversation away from her slightly.

 

[poohlive]

"I kill people for a living."

He leaned in, threateningly at her, preparing to strike. He would rape her here and then toss her into the pond to die...

Smiling, he let out a tremendous laugh. His hand went to hers, taking a small drop of ice cream that was slowly falling down her hand. He brought it up to his lips, licking it, daring her with his eyes.

"I'm sorry, not a very funny joke, is it?" He laid down next to her upon the grass, staring up at the tree. Its broad branches coming out, filled to the brim with leaves.

"Actually, I'm somewhat of a writer myself. I work for the local newspaper. All I do are horroscopes and obituaries. You know, the silly stuff at the back of the paper, but I'm making a name for myself."

 

[Britwitch]

"I kill people for a living."
Katrina's mouth parted in a silent expression of confused fear, surely he wasn't serious. And yet as he leaned closer, his eye capturing hers there was something almost genuine in the threatening words. Her muscles tensed ready to move, move away as fast as she could. Wanting to hurl the ice cream into his face, paranoia rising sharply that he could have put anything into it and she would not have known.
She jumped as he laughed, feeling a sudden rush of relief. Then watching as he took the melted ice cream from her own hand and took it to his lips, she had to look away.
"I'm sorry, not a very funny joke, is it?"
"Well, it's not the answer I was expecting..." Katrina replied honestly when she finally trusted her voice not to tremble and give away just how terrified she had been.
"Actually, I'm somewhat of a writer myself. I work for the local newspaper. All I do are horroscopes and obituaries. You know, the silly stuff at the back of the paper, but I'm making a name for myself."
"It's not silly stuff," Katrina leant back on one hand, tilting her face up towards the sky a little. "Every newspaper needs it, and I bet I'm not the only one who always reads their horoscope before reading the front page news..." She giggled looking down at him. "So...you tell fortunes do you...? You know the future..." She licked at her ice cream, taking a bite of the cone with it this time. "Can you tell me mine...? Or do I have to wait for tomorrows edition of the paper to find that out...?" She teased a little. Doubting he'd even guess her starsign correctly.

 

[poohlive]

"You want me to read you?" A sparkle rose through him, as he sat up, right next to her, taking her hand in his.

He noticed another drop of ice cream, bent down to her finger and licked at it, a devilish smile coming up to him.

Her palm out flat in his hand, as he read it. His finger trailed along one of the lines running through her palm, his eyes widening as he did so.

"Leo... A lion? Oh, they are very strong, and very brave. Very committed to what they do."

He stopped, when one line crossed another, "Don't get blindsighted. I know your job is important, but sometimes you need to stop and look around. If you get so wrapped up in your work, you'll miss all the obvious signs."

Again, he trailed another line, this one shorter, and smiled when it stopped all by itself.

"You'll meet someone. A mysterious stranger coming into your life, sweeping you off your feet, helping you do things you've never done before. This man will change your life."

He looked up at her, leaning in, his kiss light upon her lips. She tasted of chocolate, delicious and edible.

 

[Britwitch]

"You want me to read you?"
Katrina smiled widely as he sat up almost instantly, biting her lower lip as he licked a drop of ice cream off of her skin, the touch of his lips sending a shiver through her.
"Leo... A lion? Oh, they are very strong, and very brave. Very committed to what they do."
Her mouth dropped open as he identified her star sign immediately, something she definitely hadn't expected.
"Don't get blindsighted. I know your job is important, but sometimes you need to stop and look around. If you get so wrapped up in your work, you'll miss all the obvious signs."
"Oh...ok..." Her voice was barely above a whisper as she nodded slightly, listening intently to his softly spoken words.
"You'll meet someone. A mysterious stranger coming into your life, sweeping you off your feet, helping you do things you've never done before. This man will change your life."
Katrina wanted to speak, to say something but his lips pressed gently against hers before she could. The kiss was tentative and soft, she could feel his tongue against her lips, tasting her and the ice cream. She kissed him back, vaguely aware that the remains of her cone had long since fallen from her free hand, the other still held palm up in his. She leant towards him a little, parting her lips, inviting him to deepen the kiss that was already taking her breath away.

 

[poohlive]

The palm he held was gently guided to his body, letting her hold him. Indeed, he dropped his own ice cream to put his hands around her waist, bringing her up to him, feeling her head tilt just so, and her lips so soft and cold on him.

He licked at them, the ice cream tasting delicious. A small giggle as he returned her kiss, harder this time, more forceful, a passion filled kiss. His tongue gentle and permissive, coming out to lick at her lips, probing in deeper. The softest of touches between their tongues, and then even more.

He laid her, gently upon the grass, slowly falling over her, on top of her, his mouth an agony of pleasure, kissing her over and over again, his hands beginning to roam...

Not too far, no, this was still a public place, after all... but they ran slowly down her sides, and gripped her hips.

 

[Britwitch]

Katrina's arms draped around his shoulders, finger tips stroking through the curls of hair at the base of his scalp as their mouths and tongues danced a time old dance together. The chill of the ice cream fading from both their lips as their kiss intensified.
She was vaguely aware of being laid down, Jack's body moving to cover hers slightly, the kiss not stopping for a second. Then she felt his hands, dragging down her side towards her hip and she realised where she was and how little she knew this man. She moved her own hands to push against his shoulders slightly, her voice breathless and eyes bright when she managed to find some intelligent words to say.
"Well...you were right about the mysterious stranger sweeping me off my feet, helping me to do new things..." She smiled shyly, "But before we get a little carried away...and possibly arrested...perhaps we should catch our breath a little..."
Katrina made to sit up but he was still laid almost on top of her, his hands holding her hips firmly, their bodies aligned.
"Please..." She asked softly, meeting Jack's gaze a little hesitantly.

 

[poohlive]

She looked so perfect under him, so delightful. He smiled, bending down to taste her lips once more.

"You are right," He whispered, helping her back up, defending some decency they still had between themselves. Not that anyone was watching, or anyone cared, for that matter, but still. In her heart she needed to wait a bit. So, in his heart he would as well.

He took out a piece of paper, writing something down on it, and then folding it up. It looked as though it had a card inside.... but she couldn't tell what it was.

"I want to go out with you, tonight, a restaurant, nothing fancy. We'll spend some time together, get to know each other. If you have plans, break them... please. I want to see you tonight."

He gave her the folded piece of paper.

"Don't open it until you get home. It will be bad luck if you do. When you get home, take a nice long shower, get changed into something pretty, hair done up, makeup, everything. And then, when you are finished, and ready for me, take out this piece of paper and read it carefully. I will be waiting."

He bend over, giving her another kiss, and then getting up, "Remember, don't open it until you're ready. Bad luck."

 

[Britwitch]

"You are right,"
Katrina ran a hand through her hair, knocking out a few blades of grass that had gotten caught. Watching curiously as he began to write something on some paper he had mysteriously produced from somewhere. One of her eyebrows arched, her curiosity peeked as he folded it over, hiding the contents.
"I want to go out with you, tonight, a restaurant, nothing fancy. We'll spend some time together, get to know each other. If you have plans, break them... please. I want to see you tonight."
"I...I'd like to get to know you too...and I don't have plans..." She added almost shyly, taking the paper carefully from his outstretched fingers.
"Don't open it until you get home. It will be bad luck if you do. When you get home, take a nice long shower, get changed into something pretty, hair done up, makeup, everything. And then, when you are finished, and ready for me, take out this piece of paper and read it carefully. I will be waiting."
Another quirk of her eyebrow but she dutifully put the folded up paper inside her bag.
"I promise, I won't look at it until I'm ready to go out..."
She accepted his kiss, feeling a tingle run through her as he stood.
"Remember, don't open it until you're ready. Bad luck."
She smiled, nodding her agreement. Watching as he walked away, leaving her beneath the tree.
For a few minutes she could hardly believe what had happened. She had left her home intending to get a few hours research done at the library and here she was, breathless and excited, having shared an ice cream and more than innocent kiss with a stranger. A stranger she was meeting for dinner. Suddenly she panicked, wondering how she would find him, or how he would find her, but then she realised their destination must be written upon the paper.
The desire to open the paper was strong but somehow she resisted. Wanting to keep the oddly mysterious nature of their meeting around her for a little longer.
She got up, brushing down her clothes and headed home, all thoughts of the library gone from her mind, her thoughts already focused on what she might wear for her date.

 

[poohlive]

He would have followed her home, but there was no need. He knew how to get to her place, and he knew the route she usually took. If anything, he could have led her back to her place.

He arrived 15 minutes later though, in his usual outfit. Black, completely black... the only difference is he did not have the ski mask this time. Usually he wore it, because the women did not need to see his face.

This time, she would know who he was, and would know what he was about to do to her. The ski mask would be silly at this point.

The note read simply: It is called potansium benzoite. I put it in your Rocky Road ice cream. You should feel a little weak and sleepy, that is all. You'll still be awake, and you'll still be able to feel everything. I'm at the front door... I'm coming for you."

And... the Emporer card, wrapped up in the note for her. She would see that first, as it spilled out into her lap.

Jack waited by the front door, gloves on, his bag of tools by his side... waiting... and wondering.

Soon.

Oh, it would be soon.

 

[Britwitch]

Katrina was home within minutes, somehow the excitement of seeing the stranger again seemed to put wings on her heels.
She showered and dried her hair, pinning a little up around her face but leaving ther rest to hang down her back. After a little deliberation she selected a simple dress. Nothing too fancy but definitely girly. Pale pink, with a sweeping neck line that curved perfectly around her cleavage, it reached to just above her knees. She put a matching set of underwear underneath, almost exactly the same shade of pink. Twirling a little in the mirror, she knew she looked good.

Katrina held her head for the briefest moment after her twirl. Feeling a little giddy, but certain it was just nervous excitement, she bent to fasten her shoes, delicate pink heels, as she stood back up she almost swooned.
"Probably just hungry..." She said to herself as she sank down into one of the chairs, taking her handbag with her, grinning like a child on Christmas morning as she pulled out the note. "Alright, mysterious Jack, let's see what you had in mind..."
She opened the note and for the next few seconds the entire world seemed to stop.

A card fluttered down into her lap, landing face up as if carefully choreographed.
The Emperor.
Her lips parted in a scream that never seemed to come, her body tense and her heart thundering in her chest.
Praying she'd see a joke or a rhyme, something on the paper to relieve the terror that was quickly descending over her.

"...It is called potansium benzoite. I put it in your Rocky Road ice cream. You should feel a little weak and sleepy, that is all. You'll still be awake, and you'll still be able to feel everything. I'm at the front door... I'm coming for you."

"Oh...oh god..." Katrina's body felt as if it was made of lead, uncooperative and stiff. Surely it was just a joke, it couldn't be real...
She stood up, swaying as her head swam, trying to get to the front door, to lock it, to try and prevent the seemingly inevitable. For she knew none of the other victims had escaped once they had seen the card. Her heels clicked across the floor unevenly as she moved forwards, her arms reaching out to the lock, only a few more steps and she'd be able to lock it and then call the police. But the door opened a fraction of a second before her fingers could make contact with it.
"No...no please...please don't do this..." She began to stumble backwards as she saw Jack framed in the doorway. Her tone desperate but her voice quiet.

 

[poohlive]

"Oh sweetheart," He dropped his bag, coming to her aid. For a moment he saw her flittering across tile, and then her legs gave out, body coming to crumble. He grabbed her just in time. The bag of goodies dropped heavily to the floor, many things inside jittered to a stop.

Many things...

"Shhhh.... shhh," He stopped her sobbing with a kiss, smooth and simple as their first one under the tree. The kiss of some anxious new lover, desperate to touch for the first time.

"You know... you've been following the stories haven't you? Oh, good girl. I was hoping you had. I wanted you to know, just as I've been watching you, you've been watching me."

He helped her to the kitchen table, sitting her on one of the sturdy wooden seats. He smiled, setting her up nice and prim and proper, as he looked around the house.

"Now... to make sure we are not disturbed," He grabbed the phone, yanking out out of the wall. It skittered to a halt in the living room. He went through the house, locking all of the doors, shutting all the curtains, closing all the windows.

By the time he got back to table, his bag in hand, it was just the two of them. The world had mysteriously gone away in some haze of wall and cloth. Only they remained.

"You can still feel everything, can't you? I've found, that when I use the drug with chocolate, it creates a strange side effect..." His hand came out, fingers caressing her skin, "It sensitizes every touch, making you feel each caress. I hope you feel that now."

He reached inside of his bag, fumbling for the best toy he could find. The first toy, first and foremost.

Out came a small weathered, dog eared deck of tarot cards. He began to shuffle them on the table, looking over at her as he did so.

"This is your reading, dear... you must cut the deck. Come now... make your own fate Katrina."

The deck slid slowly over towards her, in the middle of the table, ready to be used, waiting to be turned.

"Cut the cards, and we'll see what is in store for you."

 

[Britwitch]

"Oh sweetheart,"
Katrina wasn't aware she was crying until she felt him take her in his arms, stopping her from crashing down onto the floor. She struggled, she tried to push him away. At least she did in her mind, her body laying limply in his arms as his lips pressed against hers.
"Shhhh.... shhh...You know... you've been following the stories haven't you? Oh, good girl. I was hoping you had. I wanted you to know, just as I've been watching you, you've been watching me."
It felt as through a trickle of icy cold water had been poured down her spine at those words. All the warnings, all the advice of the police, all ringing in her ears. Followed sharply by anger to know that the man who had imprisoned her sister, defiled her and abused her, was here, holding her as if she was his.
Katrina could do nothing but move where he took her, leaning back against the support of the high backed wooden chair. Trembling, wanting to cry, feeling more than a little nauseous.
"Now... to make sure we are not disturbed,"
He vanished from sight but the sounds of his actions bounced back to her, she saw the phone shoot across the doorway, it's cord dragging uselessly behind it. Locks being shut, curtains and blinds closed. Trapping her inside, alone, with him.
"You can still feel everything, can't you? I've found, that when I use the drug with chocolate, it creates a strange side effect..."
Katrina shivered as his fingers danced across her skin.
"It sensitizes every touch, making you feel each caress. I hope you feel that now."
The cards, she knew they would appear at some point, but to see them before her, resting on the table was terrifying. She looked up, meeting his gaze tentatively.
"This is your reading, dear... you must cut the deck. Come now... make your own fate Katrina...Cut the cards, and we'll see what is in store for you."
She wanted to pick them up and fling them at him, rip them to shreds and shower him with his precious cards. But she knew the man before her was dangerous and clever, oh so clever to have done what he had without leaving a trace to link him to the crimes. Better to obey and hope for 'The Lovers' to appear first.
Rape would be horrible, something that she didn't doubt would scar her for a long time. But to have to submit to his strange, twisted reading before it culminated in her total defilement at his hands, that was what she was so scared of.
Slowly, with a shaking hand, she reached towards the deck and, splitting it almost exactly in the middle, she cut the deck. Laying the top half alongside the bottom half before moving the bottom to become the top. Withdrawing her hand she suddenly realised she was holding her breath.
Her fate, her future, her life were now written in the cards before her.
Holding back a desperate cry of anguish, she watched as he reached out to the cards.

 

[poohlive]

"This," Jack said, picking up the deck, "Is your future. A simple reading... the first card will tell us who you are, the present state of you Katrina. The second will tell us who you want to be, the near future, and the third... the third will tell us how to get from where you are now, to what you will become."

The first three cards set up, ready and willing to lay themselves down for her.

He flipped the first card, revealing it to her, placing it on the table. The Fool, it looked up at her, reversed. This daring little fellow dancing around with a drink in his hand.

The second card, the devil, also reversed. A man sitting atop a throne, with two chained women beside him, kneeling before him, ready to serve his every whim.

And the third, her destiny, her transition, was the Tower. The long road of the tower standing before her.

"Now this is interesting. You are the fool, are you not?" His movements were slow and silken, as he got up, moving over next to her. Fingers trailed along her skin, slowly, watching her shudder from the new touch, the drug doing wonders in her body.

"Perhaps in this state you are. You've never had much of a love life, have you? Never been too experienced..."

Dropping down to his knees behind her, his lips trailing against her neck, tongue on her ear. One finger trailed up her leg, both of them watching as it disappeared under the hem of her dress, continuing upward.

"This will feel like nothing you've ever felt before, my love," His finger brushed against the confines of her sex, sealed against her panties. Hungry needy fingers playing just beyond the silk of it.

 

[Britwitch]

"This...Is your future. A simple reading... the first card will tell us who you are, the present state of you Katrina. The second will tell us who you want to be, the near future, and the third... the third will tell us how to get from where you are now, to what you will become."
She watched, frozen in place with a strong combination of the drug and sheer terror at what the cards would reveal. Katrina exhaled, her body tensing as the first card was revealed and it was not 'The Lovers'.
Instead, 'The Fool' grinned back up at her, followed by 'The Devil' and 'The Tower'.
He had been right when he had spoken of her following the stories about him. After her sister's 'adbuction' she had devoured every article. Part of her hoping she'd somehow spot the clue that everyone else had missed and that she would be able help put him away where he belonged. Now, all her listening to the news bulletins and reading every inch printed about him in the papers had done was to let her know some of the things he might have in store for her.
"Now this is interesting. You are the fool, are you not?"
Katrina shivered once more as his fingers traced across her skin, her eyes watching him move closer, move around behind her. The drug was transforming even the lightest of his touches into a million thrills of what felt like electricitiy coursing throughout her terrified body.
She wanted to speak, to ask why, how long he had been watching her...what he hoped to do with her now that he had her. But she felt so weak and tired, whenever she opened her mouth to attempt to speak all that came out were whimpered sighs, untelligible moans.
"Perhaps in this state you are. You've never had much of a love life, have you? Never been too experienced..."
She felt herself blushing, unable to stop her body's reaction to his words. She wasn't the most worldly of women. One ex-lover had even bought her a surprise present one day, an adult set of cards, each one featuring a different sexual position or technique, most erring on the darker side of things. It had been a set of tarot cards she realised as her memory replayed her response, a blush and a shy smile, a kissed thank you and then the cards had been put in a drawer, never touched again. She hadn't thought about them since then and now, she could only pray that Jack wouldn't somehow find them.
She felt his lips against her neck and she tried to cry out, wanting to pull away, make a run for it but her body resisted her pleaded instructions to it. Sitting still, her skin rippling with a thousand and one sensations as his tongue fondled her ear while his finger began to trail up her leg. Katrina attempted to close her legs but to no avail, she felt his fingers stroking her pantie covered crotch, drawing more whimpered protests from her, her sex tingling in response to her profound concern.
"This will feel like nothing you've ever felt before, my love,"
'My love'. Why call her that? She hadn't read in any of the reports of victims saying he'd called them anything other than their name. It had been almost chilling they had said, to have a stranger saying their name over and over while he committed his dark deeds. Her stomach erupted with fresh butterflies as her paranoia grew tenfold. Perhaps the police had been right, she had been a target all along. Perhaps even before her sister was taken.
"...please...no..." She managed to murmur, although her voice was barely above a whisper, taking extreme amounts of focus and her limited energy to achieve those two little words that he would probably only ignore anyway.