Chapter 3

Mawx

Grabbing the small bag of money, I run. I'm almost to the market when a small zoomer settles next to me. "Hey there beautiful. How goes the first day of combat training." Turning I smile weakly at my boyfriend Mawx.

"Wretched, that's how. First he's a jack ass and keeps me standing outside after not answering his door. Then he gives me this little thing to wear and tries to cut my hair even though his hair is in dreads. And to top it all off he punches me in the face and busts my lip right after pulling his knife on me. He's a complete head case."

"Sounds pretty bad, though I do like his taste in clothes for you. So is he some fat old pervert?" I know he's not worried about my lip, not because he doesn't care, but because I'm not making a big deal out of it.

I shake my head chuckling grimly. "You're gonna love this. He's about my age and practically nothing but sleek hard muscles. I can't compare to that."

"Wait a minute. He's your age, as in our age, and he made you put on that outfit. Oh, I'm gonna kill the bastard." The zoomer's engine revs in preparation of speeding off.

"Mawx wait!" He stops revving his zoomer and looks at me patiently. "I don't want you to go near him. Bad enough I have to endure the guy, but having to watch him hurt you…I don't think I could take that. Promise me you'll stay away from him. Stay out of that whole section of the slums." He looks at me hesitantly. "Please Mawx, for me."

"Alright, but only because you asked me. Can I give you a ride?" He looks reluctant but then hopeful.

I smile with a slight wince. "No, I'd rather take as long as possible getting back to him. Tell grandpa to try and hurry with the money though. This guy's completely broke and I don't want to starve on top of everything else."

"Will do. Be careful beautiful!" He revs the engine once and then he's gone. While shopping I think about visiting Onin, but decide not to. A rebel contact gives me an extra good deal on some melons and softer fruits. The trip back is uneventful and I return to Torn's little apartment about sunset.

"What kept you?" Torn is working out in one corner.

I make my way over to the tattered little hammock. "You said we were done for today so I took my time. Is that a problem?" He continues lifting weights as I sit down in the hammock to eat.

"I expect you to be faster in the future and not talk to anyone." I bite silently into one of the softer fruits. "I'm guessing that was your boyfriend on the zoomer."

I swallow my bite of fruit choking a moment in surprise then glare at him as I stand up. "Were you following me?"

"As a precautionary measure." He answers with a definite tone of smugness.

"Precautionary measure against what? Me enjoying myself?"

He drops the heavy weight and stalks towards me speaking only when we're toe to toe. "Against you being attacked with my money on you." Without warning he snatches the fruit from my hand and takes a bite out of it. After he's done chewing he speaks again. "Don't talk to anyone again unless I'm around."

"I really don't think that's going to happen." My eyes narrow as I speak.

He leans forward forcing me to lay back in the make shift hammock. "Yeah? Well I do."

"Who said you got control of my entire life?" He pushes the soft fruit into my mouth hurting my lip.

"Your grandfather and me. If I were you I'd start getting used to the idea because for the next six months you'll be doing what I say, when I say, and how I say." Gently I take the fruit out of my mouth.

"I'm not your slave Torn, and if I want to spend my free time with my boyfriend that's my choice. And I don't appreciate you following me around after nearly killing me."

"Is that so?" He turns back around to glare at me and I nod slowly, wondering if he'll hit me again. "Well let me clear this up for you right now." His hands grab my arms dragging me out of the hammock and slamming me against the wall. "If you don't do exactly what I tell you to do things will be very unpleasant between us and depending on what you do when you think I'm not watching will decide how many distractions I have to eliminate to get my point across to you. That includes your boyfriend. Do we understand each other now?"

"Yes." I swallow trying not to let too much terror show.

"Good." He stalks away and I slump to the floor still too petrified to move. Outside the sun vanishes along with any hopes I had of enjoying myself for the next six months.

Torn is covered in sweat before he finally stops working out. I stay by the wall leaning against it in vain hope of waking up from this nightmare. My lip is still throbbing when I finally fall asleep sitting there.

A/N: Next Chapter, a very rude awakening. O.o