aldersprig | R is for Running, Really, a continuation of Tir na Cali for the Giraffe Call

For rix_scaedu's commissioned continuation of R is Running Away, itself after R is for Runaway

If you dislike the Tír na Cali setting, this is going to be everything you dislike and more.

The bolt cutters were proving to be a bigger problem than Rique had anticipated.

"What do you mean, not without a permit?"

"Well." The hardware store owner was about a hundred and thirty years old, and spoke like he'd lived that long by moving really, really slowly. "We couldn't have..." He played with his mustache while Rique bounced and tried not to twitch. "...runaway slaves... just cutting off..." He made a very slow chopping gesture. Slow enough that he could have been doing the wave. "Their collars." The look he gave Rique was a lot more piercing than he had any right to be.

"Right, right. Of course not." Rique shrugged. He'd steal them from a jobsite, then. "Thanks for your time."

"Always willing." He scratched his nose. "To help."

Right. Rique ambled out, then took off the moment he was out of sight of the store. The old man might be willing to help, but Rique was willing to bet it wasn't him he wanted to be helpful towards.

He was looking where he was going. He always looked where he was going when he ran. He still ran right into the girl.

"Woah, woah." She was laughing at him as she grabbed his arms. "Easy there." That was all it took for him to realize - shit, shit! - it was the same girl as the one, back home, with the hot dog.

"Just leaving!"

Not moving. Her grip was stronger than it looked.

"You're quick. Faster than I expected."

She was grinning at him. Grinning. Rique tried to jerk out of her grip, but even that failed.

"You were expecting me?" He thought about shouting, but he had a feeling the cops wouldn't be on his side.

"Well, I didn't leave you in an unlocked apartment because I'm stupid. Come on." She tugged on his arm. Rique, rather attached to his arm, followed.

"Where are you taking me... wait, what? You set me up?"

She turned back to him, still grinning. Grinning even more, if that was possible. "I wanted to see if you'd run, and what you'd do. You're a runaway, right?"

He resisted the urge to tuck his arms around himself. Instead, he stood up taller, made himself bigger. She was small, this lady. Rock-solid and stronger than she had any right to be, but tiny. "Yeah. What of it?"

She shrugged, the grin sort of slipping off her face. "Nothin. I just like runaways."

"'Cause no-one's going to miss us? Or are you some sort of sadist who likes running mice through your mazes?"

"Well, a little of A, a little of B." He shouldn't have been surprised that the insult didn't faze her. "But mostly... well, mostly C. Come on."

"Like I can do anything else. Where are you taking me?" The tugging seemed to be leading into a back alley, which really didn't seem like a good idea. Back allies were never a good idea.

And the grin was back. This woman was terrifying. "Back to my place." Her other hand darted up and grabbed the collar around his neck. "You're mine now, runaway."

And, taking a page from Rion's book:
If you want to see more of this scene (And there's more just itching to be written), it can be unlocked for a $5 donation!