Speechless
By Blodeuedd
The volatility of a human being under duress had always fascinated him. Beneath the layers and years of suburban indolence and glutinous satisfaction was a fiery well of strength, an ancient resource that would remain untapped until the keen press of peril made defensive action an urgent necessity. He had always known it was there. In other people, in himself.
But somehow, he hadn't thought to see that potency in her. He'd thought her weak. Was it the moist lucidity of her eyes? The trembling of her slender white fingers? The frailness of her form against his in the cramped bathroom? Whatever it was, she had not seemed like a threat. Being on his guard around her had seemed a laughable expense, a frivolous waste.
He hadn't expected her to fight back. She'd been the embodiment of teary-eyed weakness, in a skirt and heels. Prey. A hidden violent streak in her was as unexpected and inappropriate as a sneeze in a cathedral. She'd been docile, acquiescent, pliable. She'd been willing to do as he said.
Until that instant when plane had made contact with earth, when his careful plans had made contact with fate. When the wrong end of a pen had made contact with his throat.
There was no way to undo what had been done. He'd underestimated her. He'd made a mistake. And now he was seeing what a massive chasm of determination and aggression he had overlooked. There was no way to go now but down. He hadn't thought to see the fallow strength in her, and now that he did—
Jackson Rippner was at a bit of a loss for words.
The End