Disclaimer: Victorious and its characters are the property of Schneider's Bakery and Nickelodeon. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. No profit is intended or wanted for this story.

Note: There are descriptions of violence and enforced servitude. Please be warned.

Chapter 4

Escape From New Jersey

The drive back to Jersey was a lot quicker than Jade's trip into the city. Using the Holland Tunnel, the driver had her in New Jersey before the train, which she'd have missed anyway, had even pulled out of the Pennsylvania Station.

Still, it didn't seem quick compared to her descent to the life she had lived. And definitely not how quick it seemed her life had suddenly turned around.

Then the image of Tori Vega appeared. The former Goth felt a warmth inside as well as a feeling of happiness. All the way to the club, Jade had been second-guessing her choice to go there but it turned out to be the best decision she'd made lately – if ever.

Who'd've thought I'd be happy to see Tori freaking Vega? Tori's always been Glinda to my Theodora. But still… It'll be good to see her again tomorrow night. Wait, tonight.

Jade sat back and smiled. Then she pulled the envelope from her purse and gave into her curiosity. There wasn't four thousand dollars in the envelope – there was five thousand!

And a note:

A little extra, just in case. If you don't need it, use it to get food and other things you'll need like clothes.

I'll pay you back, Bea, Jade promised.

Don't worry about paying me back. This will be my good deed of the year.

I'm still paying you back.

Following Jade's directions, the driver pulled up to the no-tell motel where she lived. All the way, Jade debated whether to stay in New Jersey or head back to Manhattan. Glancing at the autographed cds, she decided to stay. But she would only go back to that hellhole to pay off the bastard.

"Terry, right?"

"Yes, it's Terry."

"Thank you for the ride. I'll be okay from here."

"I'm not so sure. This is a pretty dicey area. I may just stick around."

"I've lived here for almost a year. I'll be fine."

"Very well, ma'am."

"Ma'am?" Jade asked, her voice knife-edged.

The big blonde laughed, "Just being polite."

A long moment then Jade finally laughed as well while she got out. Once in her room, she began to get the few things she wanted to keep. Mainly a few articles of clothing and her old PearPad. She wrote a short note telling whoever got this room next ownership of anything she left behind.

Then Jade went to the office. The owner was seemingly always there so she was pretty sure she could pay him off, leaving her one less thing in the later morning.

She didn't notice Terry sitting in his car in the parking lot of the burned-out, boarded-up IHOP across the street.

"Hey! Chester the Molester! Wake your sorry ass up!"

The balding man in the stained dago-t slowly sat up. He reeked of cheap booze as he turned bleary, blood-shot eyes to Jade. "Wha'd'ya wan'?"

"I'm settling my bill. Time to check out of this cockroach's garden of paradise."

"Y'can' do tha'. Mickey ain't gonna like it."

"Screw Mickey!" Jade said, slapping the exact amount on the counter. Mickey gave each girls an itemized list so they would know how much they owed him.

She wasn't surprised that the counter shook like a poorly assembled IKEA desk. "Mickey's a fucking douche bag. He takes girls and… He's a fucking bastard! And you're his ass monkey!"

With that, Jade left the ratty office and headed to her room for the last time. On the way, she passed April's room. Jade paused and glanced at the packet of autographed pictures and cds she still carried, I want to get the hell away from here as soon as I can. Screw work tomorrow but I did promise April these.

Like most of the units. the door to the unit was loose in the frame so she lifted it an inch and slid the signed pictures and cds under.

Back in her room, she sorted through her few possessions. In the end, she grabbed her few normal clothes she had already set aside and her old PearPad. The 'recycled' TV, the hot plate and the other junk could stay in the hovel. Then she wrote a short note to April, explaining why she was gone.

After slipping the note under April's door, she again returned to her room. Jade decided to get some sleep before heading back to Bea's. Spotting another cockroach on the wall, she said, "Hey, Cockie! I'm outta here! You and your filthy chums have the place all to yourself. High five!"

She slapped her hand against the wall. "God I love squishing them!"

As she got ready for bed, the sound of a car racing into the lot and screeching to halt right outside her 'room' came through the door.

Some guys just can't wait to get their rocks off, Jade thought. Guess a hummer wasn't enough. Hope something bad happens to that john's car since he's stupid enough to come to this corner of…

The door crashed open. Mickey filled the frame. "Wha' da FUCK do you think you're DOIN'?! You're just gonna to walk out on me?! ME?! WHO DA FUCK D'YA THINK YA ARE, BITCH?!"

Just as her internal organs shrank into a small, hard ball in the middle of her body in fear, Jade knew she was going to die. Surprising to her was the thought that she'd never be able to tell Tori what happened.

"Got nothin' ta say? You got a smart mouth mosta da time. What happened?" Mickey walked up and ran the back of his fingers down Jade's cheek tenderly, "Did I scare ya? I'm sorry, babe. I didn't want ta scare you.

"I want ta fuckin' KILL YOU!"

Suddenly, Jade fell back as Mickey backhanded her hard. The coppery taste of blood filled her mouth and flooded her senses even as she struggled to stand.

Mickey gently helped her to her feet. "Don't worry, Jade. I t'ought about it. Yer worth too much ta kill. Yet. I think I'll…let a coupa my special customers have you. Then, if yer still decent lookin', I know an Ay-rab who loves white girls. Especially American white girls. I don't know details but he's one really nasty muddafuckeh!"

"Mickey, I got your money. With interest."

"Don't matter. You insulted my friend and impugned my good name."

Jade had enough. She was dead but she wasn't going to kowtow to this son of a bitch anymore. "Your good name? What good name? You were named after a goddamned cartoon rat!"

First, his fist buried itself in her stomach, causing Jade to double over in pain and shock. She gasped, trying desperately to suck air into her lungs. Finally, she managed to groan, "Where did a mud wallower like you learn a big word like impugn?"

Enraged because of his secret shame at dropping out of eighth grade when he was fifteen, Mickey jerked her upright and back handed her again. That back hand sent Jade across the bed and into the dividing wall, cracking the particle board. She lay against the wall, the breath knocked out of her again. She wasn't about to get up yet anyway, her brain was doing an imitation of a helicopter rotor in her head.

Mickey didn't care. He walked up, grabbed her hair and jerked Jade to her feet. His fist slammed into her left cheek as she turned her head slightly to the right, trying to avoid the impact. Then he cocked back to punch her face again when another voice intruded.

"Don't!"

Without releasing his hold, Mickey turned, "Don't? Fuckin' 'don't'?! Why da fuck not?!"

"I said so."

Jade's blurry eyes tracked to the familiar voice. In a small voice, she muttered, "terry?"

"AND WHO DA FUCK ARE YOU TA TELL ME NO?!"

"A concerned citizen."

Mickey dropped Jade to the floor, reached into his coat and suddenly found himself slammed into the wall, cracking the particle board again. A minute later, a .38 fell to the floor.

Jade looked up, shaking her still clearing head. She saw Terry slap Mickey once. Twice. Open-handed slaps that echoed in her room.

Terry raised a finger to Mickey's face. "You will not remember Jade after this! You get me? You will not even acknowledge her existence if you happen to pass her on the street. You understand?"

One of Terry's hands was now clenching Mickey's crotch. Each sentence was accompanied by a crushing grip. "I asked you a question Do. You. Understand?"

This was followed by two more slaps from Terry's free hand as he jerked down on what he had a grip on between Mickey's legs. This actually drew the loudest squeal yet out of the Irish mobster.

"Do. You. Understand?" Each word emphasized with a combination of an open-handed slap and a jerk at the man's crotch.

Mickey shook and began to sob. "I…understan'… I won't… I swear! On da Blessed Virgin!"

Terry patted Mickey's cheek, "Good boy. Make sure this wasn't just words to get me to stop. I have my own white slavers I can contact. They love wiseguy wannabes."

Dumping Mickey on the floor where he lay limp as an old ragdoll, Terry gently pulled Jade up. "You okay?"

Jade managed to nod, wiping the blood from her mouth. She managed to inhale enough to gasp out, "I…I'm… Yeah…"

Terry nodded, "Okay, good. Get your stuff. We're out of here."

Nodding, Jade grabbed the backpack and her PearPad. "I'm ready."

They left a now sobbing Mickey on the floor of her former home. Jade was almost to the car, the limo gleaming in the overhead streetlights against the dingy sedan Mickey drove.

"Wait! My friend April! He might…"

"Okay, we'll get her. She live here?"

Jade led the way back to another room. "Yeah but she's probably still at the club. This is her room."

Terry nodded and easily shouldered the door open. Jade grabbed the pics and cds then filled a large cardboard-sided suitcase – I thought these went out after the war - with April's clothes and few possessions. Terry grabbed that, threw it in the trunk with Jade's stuff and opened the back door for Jade. Moments later, they were on the road.

"Where is this club?"

"Huh?" Jade asked, her head still spinning from the assault.

"Obviously we're getting April. I need to know where to go."

"Yeah, right. Sorry, I'm still…" Shaking her head, Jade directed Terry towards the club. Then she had to know, "Why?"

"Bea asked me to keep an eye on you. I was happy to do so."

"But why?"

"Why? Ask Bea. I… Just know that I would do anything for her. Or the people she cares about."

"Thank you. I don't know what would've happened to me… Floating in the Raritan or the Passaic or even the Arthur Kill… God, that's badly named," Jade laughed even as she shivered.

"It's not that bad. Kill means 'water channel' in Dutch." He pulled up in front of Jade's shame. "We're here. Want me to go in?"

"N-no. I'll do it. April doesn't know you but she's not as naïve as Ca… I'll go."

Jade walked in the front door. She nodded to Marko and walked backstage. April was getting ready for her next set when Jade came in. "Hey! Get dressed! We're out of here!"

"Jade! What happened to you?! Was there an accident?"

"No. Mickey... Doesn't matter. Now come with me. We're getting away from these assholes. I already have your stuff from the motel. But we have to go."

"I can't! I've got to…"

"April, I don't have time. And I can't leave you here so we don't have time. Just get dressed and come with me!"

The girl was about to protest again but something in Jade's demeanor stopped her. Quickly she shed her stripper gear and pulled on her Cuddle Me Cathy shirt and blue jeans.

In a small, worried voice, she said, "Jade, you better be right about this."

"I am. Now come with me."

On the way out, Jade kept looking around for Mickey. Or some sign his goons knew what was going on. Terry was outside but could he take on several mooks at once? Jade didn't want to find out.

She stopped at the bar and handed the bartender the envelope. "Give this to Mickey. He knows how much is in there so I'd make sure he gets every dime. The extra is for April. I'll cover the balance later."

The sweaty, balding man nodded quickly and stashed the small parcel under the bar. Jade knew Mickey would see every bill. Not that he deserved it but she always paid her debts.

Jade led April to the limo and got in the back seat with her, sitting directly behind Terry. As the car pulled out, Jade introduced the two and then handed April her signed goodies. The girl was so excited by that, she forgot her uncertain future.

Terry pulled into the nearly empty parking lot of a 7-11. He came out with a bag of ice, a box of zip-lock storage bags and a couple of chamois cloths. He broke up the nearly solid block of ice by banging it on the sidewalk several times. Grabbing a storage bag and filled it with ice chips. This was wrapped in both chamois, then he handed the bundle to Jade when she opened the window at his gesturing.

"Here, press this against your cheek. It'll help with the swelling."

"I know what to do!"

Terry barked a short laugh and got back in the car. As they pulled out, Jade idly noted the rest of the zip locks and the ice were still on the curb near the convenience store entrance.

"Press it. Against your cheek," Terry repeated, staring at her in the rear view mirror.

"I know what to do!" Jade nearly shouted even as she pressed the ice to her face. The cold was numbing and, after the initial shock, actually soothing.

Jade thought about what had happened in the previous… Had it only been fourteen hours since this all began? How was that enough time to fix her life and her friend's? And to meet Tori Vega again?

Even as she thought about how much things had changed, she sat back to relax, Jade noted that the driver and the dancer seemed to be exchanging looks in the readjusted rearview mirror. With a smile, Jade let sleep claim her as she leaned against the window, the bag of ice held in place. A certain singer was there in her dreams.

Sometime later, Terry stopped in front of Bea's building. Jade woke up as the back door opened and the driver gently shook her awake. "You're home, Jade."

Jade glanced out the window and saw the club was still lit but the place was undoubtedly about to close. It was nearly 2 AM. It was then she realized the bag, which was only about sixty percent ice and the water, was oozing out wear it fell onto her lap.

"We're here already? Wow. Thanks…Terry. For everything." In the night air, Jade felt the cold where her shirt was damp as well as the left leg of her jeans from the melted water. "Couldn't have sprung for the name brand?"

Terry shook his head good-naturedly. He was getting to like this hard-ass, caustic girl.

"Hey, it's what I do." Ignoring the barbed comment, the chauffeur chose to respond to Jade's thanks instead. With a smile, he added. "Anyway, it's kinda fun to mess with low-level wise guys like that."

Jade nodded and turned to April, "C'mon. I have a big couch for you. Tomorrow, I'll see if Bea has an opening for you. Or we'll find you a good job somewhere."

Terry went in first, with their bags. Jade and April followed into the entrance to the upper floor apartments, next to the club's front door. Jade watched as Terry took their things out to the old wooden back porch and opened them to the elements. "Why?"

"It'll drop below freezing by early morning. Cold enough that any hitchhikers from that pit you lived in will die by morning."

"Thanks Terry. I don't think I'd would've thought of that."

"Not a problem," was the reply as he headed back through the apartment to the front door.

"What about your car? Unwanted passengers?"

"Not mine. Anyway, I park it outside. I'll vacuum the trunk tomorrow."

"Bye Terry!" April said as she stood in the living room.

"Bye April," Terry said returning her smile. Downstairs, he got in the car and pulled out. He was already calling Bea to briefly report the events of the past few hours.

With the melting ice still pressed to her face, Jade took the time to explore the apartment. It was pretty good-sized for a flat in Manhattan. Must be worth a couple, three thousand monthly rent at least, she thought.

Once inside the front door, which opened on the right side of the living room, about five feet from the front wall/window of the apartment.

The large living room opened out from there. Between the front window, which overlooked the street, and the front door, a widescreen plasma TV, mounted on in the perfect position that early morning sun shouldn't shine on it for long, if the drapes were left open. Before that was an L-shaped sofa and a large, low coffee table.

The long end, along the window, opened out as a sleeper, the shorter section ended with a built-in recliner. Across from the window was a matching solo recliner. Behind that was a four-chair dining room set.

The short end of the sofa was set so that there was enough room for a pair of tall bookcases against the east wall of the building.

Beyond the living room and the dining room, a short corridor led back into the rest of the apartment. To the left was the master bedroom with a king-size bed and end tables, a dresser across from the bed. The west wall had a good-sized window with a fair view of the western ends of Lower Manhattan, the Hudson and the Jersey shore. In front of that was a desk with a chair, a make-up desk also with a chair and, in the corner, another comfortable chair, not a recliner though. There was also a flat screen TV on the dresser set so it was facing the bed. Between the TV and the door was a large, walk-in closet.

Further along on that side of the corridor was a slightly smaller, similarly furnished bedroom across from the kitchen. It had only a single desk/makeup table. The closet was near the west wall to mesh with the master bedroom's design. There was also a wide-screen TV in the room across from the large bed.

"Hey! April, you don't have to sleep on the couch!" Jade said as she came back in the living room. Her friend was already curled up asleep on the couch. She smiled and used a blanket draped over the back of the sofa to cover the girl.

Across from her bedroom – Jade naturally claimed the master bedroom – was a full bathroom nestled between the dining room and the kitchen. Jade shook her head, Odd floor plan…

The bathroom had the standard compliment of appliances but it also had twin sinks, a full bathtub and a separate, walk-in shower with a clear glass door. She upped the imaginary rent by another five hundred.

Just past the kitchen wraparound kitchen counter was the casual dining area. At the far wall was the back door that led out to a small porch and the open stairwell. That led down to a postage-stamp sized yard then the alley beyond a security gate. Like the living room and bedrooms, large windows would let in plenty of light.

Between the second bedroom and the back porch, across from the casual dining area, there was a small closet that contained a washing machine/dryer combo. The single unit had the dryer on top of the washer. Pretty convenient.

None of the buildings adjacent to theirs was more than three stories so they had a view from every side. Jade upped her estimate of the monthly rent again. Gonna have to discuss this with Bea before too long…

She tossed the last of the ice bag in the sink before she went to check on April.

As Jade again returned to the front room, there was soft knock on the door. Startled, she was apprehensive as she pressed her eye to the peephole and saw Bea. Relieved, Jade opened the door.

"I hear there was some excitement in Jersey." Bea closed the door behind her and gently held Jade's chin. "Oh my dear… Are you alright?

Rubbing her still-sore belly gently, Jade nodded. She led Bea back into the kitchen. "Let's talk back here."

"Sure. No need to wake your friend. That's April?"

Surprised Bea remembered, Jade simply nodded.

"Think she'd be a good waitress?"

"I'm sure of it."

"Good. If she's interested, I can use someone at the Crypt."

"You own the Crypt?" Jade asked, surprised. She was amazed she didn't shout that.

Bea nodded. Again, she gently took Jade's chin in her hand, her fingers avoiding the growing discoloration, and turned her head left and right to inspect the damage, especially the left side. "You really okay?"

"Thanks to Terry, yeah," Jade replied.

"You might have a concussion. I can take you to the emergency room."

"Uh-uh! I'm fine. I barely have a headache," Jade lied.

"Fine. Stubborn. Must be the Irish in you…" Bea said with a small smile. Pulling a fifth of scotch from her bag, Bea said, "Here, I figure you can use a jolt. There're glasses in the upper cabinet, right side of the window over the sink. Unless you'd rather sleep."

As she pulled two rock glasses out, Jade shook her head, "No. Fell asleep before Terry even got to the tunnel. Even with the impromptu ice bag. I'm good for a while."

Bea gestured to the kitchen table and they sat as she poured some of the nearly clear liquor into the two rock glasses.

Jade took her glass but didn't take drink yet. "Terry saved my life. Literally. Mickey may not have killed me but what he had planned..." Jade shuddered before continuing, "I really owe Terry. What's the story with him? At the no-tell, I told him to take off but, fortunately, he ignored me."

"You owe Terry nothing." Bea smiled, "Well, maybe a thank you card would be nice…

"Anyway, Terry used to work for me as a bartender. Left to join the Marines. He was in Afghanistan for two tours. When he came back, he took the money he'd saved when he worked for me, as well as his Marine pay, and bought a limo."

Jade laughed, "He lied to me! He did own that car!"

Bea smiled and nodded before going on, "I hire him to ferry musicians from wherever they stay to the clubs. And I recommend him to other club owners.

"He grew his business and took on more drivers. Half his staff are men from his old unit. The rest at all Afghan or Iraqi vets. He's got one of the most successful limo companies in south Manhattan. Soon, probably the whole damned island!

"But he still keeps his fighting edge. Think Fight Club in real life. Better yet, think the old Edward Woodward series The Equalizer or Person of Interest without Colossus."

"Colossus?"

Bea laughed, "The Machine? What Finch built? It was like The Forbin Project… Never mind. Old sci-fi. Basically a supercomputer AI.

"Anyway, I called him when I knew you had to go back. I asked him to stick around and make sure you were safe. I was willing to pay extra but he wouldn't hear of it. Just the standard fee."

"Bea? Why? I mean, I'm grateful and everything but… You just met me. Why do all this?"

"I'm a pretty good judge of character. I've rarely been wrong and I don't think I'm wrong about you. Even if I am, I couldn't let you go back to that life. No one deserves that. As for April? Your word is good enough for me.

"So, to your new life!"

Bea chinked her glass to Jade's and downed the scotch. Jade did likewise, gasping a bit but enjoying the taste.

"This is good, Bea."

"Yeah, twenty-year old, unblended scotch. Not even dyed that lovely dark amber color. I brought a case back from Glasgow a few years ago. Got it directly from the distillery. Can't get it here in the states normally. It's one of the last bottles of the case. So, enjoy it."

She stood up and set her glass down, "I'm going to head out, still got to go over the receipts from tonight. I usually come into the club around noon so bring April down with you about mid-afternoon.

"Oh, and if you guys want breakfast, there's a great diner around the corner to the west. You still have some of the money?"

"Yeah, I hung on to about a hundred. I paid off that son of a bitch even after…"

Pouring another dollop into Jade's glass, Bea smiled, "I knew you would. More than you owed? Well, he can apply that to April's account."

"That's what I told the bartender."

"I'll cover the rest. See you in the afternoon."

Jade followed Bea to the front door. Uncharacteristically, she pulled the older woman into a tight embrace and kissed her cheek. "I don't know why you're doing this but… Thank you. Thank you so much!"

Bea kissed Jade's temple and left the apartment with a wave.

Returning to the kitchen, Jade sat at the table and sipped her scotch. After a half hour, she poured a little more into her glass then placed the bottle on the counter, deciding she'd find a place for it tomorrow. She took the glass and went into her room. After getting ready for bed, she went around and turned out the lights, except for a small lamp next to the couch where her new roomie was sleeping.

For a moment, Jade admired the view from her front window. Her building was the tallest in the immediate neighborhood and was situated on one of the low hills left in Lower Manhattan. Across the street, beyond the roof of the facing building, she could see some of the towers down near Wall Street and, to the left, the bridges across the lower stretch of the East River, lit up like Christmas. In the distance, Jade could make out the lights of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge between Brooklyn and Staten Island, through the thickening fog. She whispered, "Wow!"

After admiring the view, Jade quickly checked on April then went into her bedroom. She flipped the TV on and settled back on the bed with her PearPad. As the old, Dingo, young adult show about sorcerers in New York played, she tried to update her journal.

And that's the weirdness that occurred since I decided to see Tori perform. Funny thing, I don't know what's more important – I'm getting my life back but I also reconnected with Tori Vega. Seeing her live and in person, I felt like a hole in me was filled in.

I can't believe I'm even writing this. But, fortunately, no one will ever see this. Especially since I'm going to admit that I really like Tori Vega. I think I have for a long time – even before Beck and I broke up the last time but now…

Anyway, I'll see how things go tomorrow. Well, today. Being the ultimate pessimist, part of me can't help but think Bea is setting me up for a fall. I hope I'm wrong. I really think I am but, after the past few months…

Weird being here anyway. No roaches. Keep looking around for those fukking parisites but non too be found!

Weeird too that I'm not tiired. Gues that nappp in the limmmooo did theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

A scream jerked Jade awake. It took her second to realize where she was. Then she was up and out the door. In the living room, April was sitting up, staring at nothing. "April! What's wrong?"

By this point, Jade was sitting next to her friend, hugging the girl. "What happened?"

"I…just woke up and… I didn't know where I was and I was scared!"

"Okay, let's go to bed and get some more sleep. That okay?"

"Sure, Jade."

The two settled in the big bed, watching an old romcom movie on TCM.

Just before she fell asleep, April said, "Jade? Thanks for getting me out of there."

"You're welcome, April."

Jade fell asleep only a few minutes later.