WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE! READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!

Oh boy, do I feel messed up after this chapter.

Title Song: "Ready As I'll Ever Be" from "Tangled: the Series"

Tina couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe that the sweet, helpless little canary in rags she had found on the streets seven years ago had been the wife of the man she'd killed. Even harder to believe was that said canary had been plotting against her all this time.

There were a million questions swimming in her head. But thanks to the threads, Tina was forced to be silent.

"I think Twinkle Toes wants an explanation," Vox said.

"See, Tina baby, this is how it went." Ethan hugged Carrie to his side. "Some years ago, I was in a meeting with the Vs, when who should come barging in crying for protection? But my dear sweet Caroline." He stroked her hair. "Knew who she was right away with her pathetic, stuttering pleading. She was there to strike a deal with the Vs, but I knew she wouldn't wanna be their little fuck toy. So, I convinced 'em that my Carrie could be useful in our plan to get back at you.

"After all," he said, twirling her around, "she's the kind of person you'd least suspect to be up to no good."

"When we heard the history these two had with you," Vox said, "we just had to collaborate. Revenge is much more entertaining when it's more personal. Isn't that right, Birdie?"

"Yeah." Carrie sighed as Ethan slithered his arms around her waist and began kissing her neck. "To think, Miss Twinkle. Thirty years, I'd been waiting for my husband to fuck me the way he fucked your slutty ass. And you know what? It was…"

Her face morphed into a bored expression. "Underwhelming." She pried off the chameleon's arms. "Okay, fellas. I'm done with this bastard."

Ethan blinked. "Wait, what?"

"Finally!" Velvet grabbed Ethan's middle from behind. "Been hankering for some action since I watched your action!"

"What? No!" Ethan tried to wriggle free, but the ragdoll was stronger than she looked. "What's going on? I thought only Carrie and I were supposed to—"

"Did you forget?" Vox said. "Our deal was you sell your soul to me, we help you get revenge on Twinkle Toes. And my partners and I have an agreement that any souls we collect individually are fair game to all three of us."

"Hold on a second!" Ethan cried as he was dragged towards the bed. "I delivered the bat to you! I did everything you asked!"

"Yeah, but the thing is, we made another deal, way before you even considered coming to us. The terms included your eternal suffering under our ownership."

"What?" Ethan was pushed onto the bed. "Who the hell would make a deal like that?"

"What's the matter, honey?" Carrie turned to him with a big, innocent smile. "I thought you wanted to screw slutty whores. No offense, Miss Velvet."

"None taken," Velvet said as she tore through the chameleon's pants. "I know what I'm all about!"

"Wait, stop!" Ethan squirmed as he was pinned to the mattress. "E-Even if I w-wanted to, I ain't even ready!"

"Really?" Carrie crossed her arms. "Funny. That never got you to stop." She turned back to the prisoner on the St. Andrew's Cross. "See, Miss Tina, he didn't treat me that well in bed either."

What Velvet did to Ethan on the bed made Tina want to throw up. As much as she despised the chameleon, she would never wish sexual assault on anyone. Even if he had done the same to her.

Carrie, ignoring Ethan's screams, said to Tina, "What? You didn't think Ethan was the brains behind this operation, did you? That dumbass could barely keep his club on the surface afloat. I made more than enough from my Broadway career to support us both. But oh my Satan, when he died?"

She hung her head back with a groan. "The amount of debt he left me! I had to sell the club and downsize from a penthouse to a lousy two-bedroom apartment!"

Tina rolled her eyes. Rich white people problems.

"But I'm getting off-track. Where were we? Oh, yeah."

Carrie raised her palm and smacked Tina across the face. It stung not only her cheek, but her threaded lips.

"You have no idea," Carrie said, flipping her hair, "how long I've wanted to do that."

Why was Carrie so mad at her? She'd gone on and on about how abusive her husband was. Surely she knew Tina had killed Ethan in self-defense and that it was he she should be mad at. They were both victims here.

"I was never really working for my ex-husband," Carrie said. "I made him think that. See, he didn't understand how much I'd changed. Like you, he believed I was down here for something as lame as hanging myself."

She tugged on her choker, revealing a dark, gray imprint around her neck. "Actually, I was strangled. By one of my marks."

Marks?

"That's right." Carrie paced in front of Tina, who had to follow her with her eyes to avoid seeing the criminal act on the bed. "When I was with Ethan, I was weak and helpless. Much like how I acted working with you. Couldn't say no, couldn't fight back, couldn't even string a sentence without," she returned to her timid voice, "s-stuttering like a r-retard."

She narrowed her eyes as her tone became cold and bitter. "I knew he was cheating on me, but spineless little canary that I was, I did nothing. And then when you killed him, well…" She scoffed. "I had never felt so relieved. And yet, at the same time, so…enraged."

She stopped in front of Tina, thankfully blocking the view of the bed. "You did what I never could. And fought back. And that…" She stuck her beak into Tina's face. "Is something I can never forgive."

So, Carrie wasn't angry that Tina had killed Ethan, but rather angry that Carrie herself hadn't? This was the most confusing villain's monologue ever. Too bad Tina couldn't retort this.

"I was finally free of my husband, but," Carrie said, clenching her fists, "I wasn't responsible for any of it! And when the debt grew, and so did my age, making me too old for the good parts on Broadway, I knew I had to step up and put my acting skills to a more…practical use. I conned rich guys looking for a good time. Seduced them, drugged them, and once they were out, robbed them. Worked well for a while. Until…well."

She massaged her neck. "Guess I didn't give a high enough dose, cuz he caught me red-handed."

Carrie shrugged. "So, around seven years ago, I ended up in Hell. I knew you and that asshole had to be around here somewhere, and if I was gonna survive long enough to get my revenge, I had to find friends in high places."

"Imagine our luck," Vox said, placing his hands on her shoulders. "We'd been looking for a way to bring the Radio Demon down a peg, and someone with a vendetta against his wife breaks into our office with a proposition. It should've been easy, since you and Radio Boy had split, but it was obvious he wasn't over you."

"So," Valentino said, "we needed someone on the inside." He jerked a thumb towards the bed. "Only reason we got the chameleon involved was cuz Canary wouldn't fork over her soul unless we screwed him over too. But after she put on the innocent act and knocked out our guards, we knew she would be a more valuable asset."

"P-Please." Carrie made her eyes big and clutched her hands to her chest. "I'm just a p-poor little b-birdie looking for h-help."

Vox and Valentino laughed.

"I d-don't b-belong here." She put a hand to her forehead in a fake swoon. "P-Please, s-save me!"

"You're kidding me!" Ethan screamed from the bed. "You mean to tell me that you throwing your feet at Valentino begging for mercy was an act too?!"

"Duh." Carrie broke character and rolled her eyes.

"What about all those times we boned? You were crying and pleading!"

"That was also an act, idiot." She spun on her heel to face him. "I had to act like I was still the weak and helpless little wife you knew, or you'd get wise to the fact that this was my revenge plot. And, you know, I went and got some outta it too. Though really," she said with a huff, "I've conned grandpas who were better in bed."

Damn. And people had called Tina cold. But this bird's heart had been frozen and shattered into millions of sharp icicles.

"But," Carrie said, turning back to Tina, "that dickhead's abuse was nothing compared to listening you go on and on every day with your fake-ass, hypocritical altruism." She switched to an exaggerated Alabaman accent. "'Just cuz we're in Hell, y'all, doesn't mean we can't improve ourselves, y'all! Instead of steppin' on other people's toes, y'all, we can get by on our own merits, y'all!' Oh, it was so annoying!"

She threw up her arms. "This is Hell, bitch! No one fucking cares if you are nice to them! We're all trash here, so why pretend otherwise? I mean my sins are just as bad as yours, but at least I don't go around acting like fucking Mother Teresa!"

She gestured to Ethan, who by now was in a heap on the mattress. "Sure, Ethan was the one who cheated on me, but you weren't totally innocent either. It takes two to make an affair, after all. Even if you didn't know about me, you still slept with him for a job. And he wasn't the first, from what I heard. Oh, yeah. And don't forget that you did the exact same thing he did once you got married."

Tina winced.

"You'd think after that, it would've been easy to get the Radio Demon off your tail. But no!" Carrie hung back her head and grunted. "He kept calling and calling and sending letters and showing up at the club! Fortunately, you'd already painted a terrible picture of your ex, so it didn't take much to convince security to shut him out. They didn't tell you, cuz you'd done so much for them, they didn't wanna upset you.

"When none of that worked, I tried to get you to move on. Set you up with some dates, sent you fake secret admirer notes, and then those creepy Valentine gifts to make you reluctant to go forth in your relationship. Wasn't hard to copy your handwriting, after handling your paperwork for seven years."

So it had been Carrie who'd sent Alastor those photos. And she'd really been doing all this behind Tina's back? Even that secret admirer note from the gay musician?

"Ugh, but somehow, despite all my efforts, you still wouldn't get over him!" Carrie went back to her Tina impression. "'Oh, Al drives me crazy, y'all! But I can't stop thinkin' 'bout his hot bod, y'all! But he doesn't deserve me, y'all! But I want him so bad, y'all! But I can't, y'all! Oh, woe is me, y'all!'"

She made a crying motion with her hands. "Waa, waa, waa! Grow up, will you? Can't believe you're the same cold-blooded whore who murdered my husband."

"Well, your efforts weren't in vain," Vox said. "Now that the Songbat's finally ditched the ring, Radio Boy's got no way to find her. And by the time he does find her." He sneered. "It'll be too late."

"So," Carrie said to the Overlords, "can I kill her now?"

"Slow down, birdie." Valentino snaked a hand around her waist. "We've all waited decades for this moment. Let's savor it. Besides," he said, moving his hand further down, "there's still that other part of our contract you're obligated to fulfill. And I'm sure having the little bat watch will be absolute torture."

After what happened to Ethan, Tina was sure Carrie would resist. But the canary simply sighed as she began slipping out of her dress.

"Fine, just remember to avoid licking my feathers. Unless you wanna knock yourselves out."

She didn't care. Carrie had sold her body and soul to the sleaziest demons in all of Hell, and she didn't even care.

"I'll join you for this one," Vox said. "Velvet, how 'bout you?"

Velvet stretched as she rose from the bed. "I'll take a break and make sure Bat Bitch is watching."

Ethan, who was limp from the forced entanglement, tried crawling away, only for Vox to grab him by the tail. "Nuh-uh. We ain't done with you yet."

The ballroom at the Hazbin Hotel had been converted into a war room. Moving the buffet table to the center of the room, Alastor laid out a map of Pentagram City. Charlie, Vaggie, Husk, Niffty, and Angel Dust gathered round. A few of the staff lingered, eager to learn what the plan was to retrieve their boss.

Alastor scanned the map. "Now to find where those bastards are hiding my darling."

"Can't you use your Voodoo to find her?" Vaggie asked.

He shook his head. "The Vs set up defenses against my magic. I cannot enter any of their properties by any magical means. Not even send my shadows to spy on them."

"What about when you rescued her last time?" Husk asked. "You had no problem breaking through their barrier, or whatever you call it, then."

"Think of it as vampire rules. I cannot enter without an invitation from within. That time, Tina had her engagement ring to summon me, but…" Alastor took the very ring from his breast pocket, to remind everyone why that wasn't possible. "This was the only direct link between her and me."

"So, what should we do?" Charlie pointed to a pink spot on the map. "Break into the porn studio?"

"Nah, too obvious." Angel Dust waved a hand. "Val wouldn't hide a hostage in the first place his enemies would think to look."

"For once, the whorish spider is right," Alastor said. "Last time, the Vs took my Tina to a warehouse. I'd check there, but I doubt they'd be stupid enough to hide her in the same place twice."

"Unless," Niffty said, standing on her tippy-toes to be seen over the table, "that's what they want you to think! And while you're busy checking other places they actually have her in the place you think is too obvious and by the time you've gotten there they've moved her to someplace you've already checked unless they've already erased her but they want you to think she's alive and—"

"Niffty." Husker grabbed her by the shoulders. "Breathe."

Niffty did a slow inhale and exhale. "Sorry. I'm just really, really worried for Mrs. Tina."

"We all are," Charlie said. "But if she's not at the studio or this warehouse, where are they keeping her?"

"Okay." Angel cracked three sets of knuckles. "I've worked for Val long enough to know all his favorite hideaways. Good news is if he's got a real beef with someone, he ain't gonna kill 'em right away."

Vaggie narrowed her eye. "How is that good news?"

"Means that Tee might still be unalive and kicking. Bad news is that means he'll be makin' her second death slow and painful, which means torture." Angel rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced at Alastor. "And given how Val is…"

Static rose as dials replaced the Radio Demon's eyes. "HE WILL NOT TOUCH HER!"

Charlie held up her palms. "She's probably fine!"

Angel cringed. "Actually—YOW!"

Husk silenced him with an elbow to the ribs and sent him a warning look.

"Right. Anyway, Val's favorite sex dung—" Angel paused as the static grew noisier. "Err, torture chambers, I mean, can be found here." He pointed to various spots on the map. "Here, here, here, here, and here. Oh, and a few here, though not sure if they're still in operation."

As the spider was running out of fingers, Alastor snapped his own to mark each location with a glowing red X. "Well, what do you know? Turns out you're not completely useless after all."

"Al!" Charlie said.

"What? It's a compliment."

Deciding to let the comment slide, Charlie glanced at the various Xs on the map. "So, we split up, check all these buildings—"

"We can't just go busting into all these places," Husk said. "Soon as word gets to the Vs we're looking for 'em, they'll move Tina somewhere else. Or worse."

"Besides," Vaggie said, "investigating each area one by one, even with Alastor's teleporting, will take time, which we don't have."

Charlie frowned. "Then what do we do?"

"We'll have to narrow it down to one location." Alastor rubbed his chin. "I can send a shadow to each one, but they can only observe from the outside."

"Maybe they can spot some sort of clue?" Charlie suggested. "Like maybe whatever building Tina's in will be guarded?"

"They'll all be guarded, toots," Angel said. "All the Vs use these spots. Chances are Tee ain't their only hostage right now."

"But they went through a lot of trouble to get her," Alastor said with a snarl. "I'm certain they'll all want to take care of her personally."

"Ooh, ooh! I know!" Niffty raised a hand. "Why don't you get your shadows to knock on all the doors?"

Everyone raised their eyebrows at the cyclops.

"What the fuck for?" Husk asked.

Niffty rolled her eye. "To see who answers, of course! If the door is answered by one of the Vs, that must be where Tina is!"

"That…" Vaggie thought about it. "That actually makes sense."

"Yes." Alastor nodded. "Luring them out might be just the thing to do."

"Except for one thing." Angel held up a finger. "None of those high-and-mighty snob-lords are gonna answer their own fucking door. One of them goons will answer it. If none of 'em are outside standin' guard, that is."

"Then we lure them out another way." Alastor went back to rubbing his chin. "Something that'll grab their attention. Normally, my very presence is enough, but we don't want them to know I'm coming."

"Well, the only thing I can think that would get Val's attention is…" Angel paused, then slumped his shoulders. "Aw, fuck."

"What?" everyone said.

The spider ran a hand through his hair. "Me, okay? I can get Val's attention."

"Fuck no!" Husk slammed a fist on the table. "You just got rid of that guy! No way are you gonna—"

"Kitty, it's okay." Angel took a breath. "Bat Girl helped set me free. Now I'm gonna do the same for her."

Angel Dust's heartbeat quickened as he waited for the low ringing on his hell phone to stop.

"How can we be sure he'll pick up?" Vaggie murmured. "After what happened tonight?"

"Trust me," Angel said. "Val will take any opportunity to win my soul back. Now everybody shut it."

Valentino's voice cut through the phone. "WHAT?!"

Angel stiffened. He sounded longwinded. And in the background, there were groans and whimpers that were all too familiar to the former porn star. He had planned to put this conversation on speaker, but didn't think Alastor would be able to keep his cool. Angel only hoped that Tina wasn't involved in whatever Valentino just broke away from.

Using the most innocent tone possible, Angel said, "H-Hey, boss." He twirled a strand of hair to get into character. "Are you still angwy with me?"

Valentino's voice softened, likely realizing that this was his favorite star begging to come back. "Aw, Angel Cakes. You know I don't hold grudges."

That was a complete lie, but it was just the confirmation Angel needed that Valentino still wanted him. Why else would he act so lenient? The spider nodded to Alastor.

"What was…?" Angel's voice cut into static. "You're breaking… Bad connection!"

Angel gave the Radio Demon a thumbs-up for the voice effects.

"Damn basement." Valentino cursed. "Gotta take this upstairs. Vox, you want a turn with the birdie?"

So, it was the canary who was…being worked on. Even the sex-driven spider wanted to puke. But if Alastor had been right and Carrie had sold Tina out, it was hard to feel sorry for her.

Covering the phone, he whispered to the others listening, "Okay, he's gonna go upstairs to get a better reception. Your shadows in place, Bambi?"

Alastor nodded and closed his eyes. "Just keep the insect talking."

Their plan was to lure Valentino upstairs, so that the shadows, stationed in front of every one of the Three Vs' known hideouts, would spot him through the windows. Unless Angel managed to get the pimp to spill their location first.

Angel raised the phone back to his earhole. "Boss? Can you hear me?"

"Yeah." Valentino sounded annoyed from walking up the stairs. "Now, what was so important that you had to interrupt me during a meeting?"

Angel knew what he meant by "meeting," but played dumb as he put on the innocent air again. "I, err, just wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier." He curled his lip into a pout. "You were right about everything, Val. This shithole hotel ain't the place for me."

A chuckle came through the speaker. "What made ya change your mind, Angel Cakes?"

"The thing is…" For added effect, Angel began wheezing. "I really…I really, really, really need a…a…"

"Hit?"

"Uh-huh." He sniffed. "I tried to go clean, but…I can't do without the good stuff, ya know, boss? And these broads don't got any of that here."

He glanced at the Radio Demon, who still had his eyes shut in concentration.

"On top of that, they…they won't let me fuck anyone! Not even for free!"

There was a pause. "What about that catty bodyguard of yours?"

"Oh, uh, him?" Angel bit his lip as he looked over at Husk, honestly embarrassed to be discussing this in front of him. "He, uh, doesn't want me. Like ya said, I'm nothing but a piece of trash. He…he felt sorry for me, is all. But too good or proud or whatever to be interested in a slut like me."

To his surprise, Husk placed a paw on his shoulder. Angel sent him a confused look, getting a sympathetic one in return. There was so much they both wanted to say, but couldn't do so while the pimp was still on the phone.

"Told ya, Angel Cakes," Valentino said. "I'm the only one who can give ya what ya need. Fortunately for you, I'm a forgiving guy."

Another lie. One Angel wasn't going to fall for again.

"So, uh, can we talk? About renewing my contract?"

He could imagine the satisfied grin on that bastard's face. "Sure. Come by the studio in the morning. I'll have my new secretary pencil you in."

Best not to ask what happened to the old secretary. "Morning? Can't we meet now? I, uh, can't exactly stay in this hotel for much longer. That Mexican broad found my secret stash."

Vaggie was about to blurt out that she was Salvadoran when Charlie covered her mouth and shook her head. This was not the time to be politically correct.

"I'm busy right now. You'll just have to wait till morning."

Angel looked to Alastor, who motioned for him to continue. "But I got nowhere to go!"

"Ain't my problem."

"But you said you were the only one—"

"Should've thought about that before ya decided to bail on me, bitch!"

Angel flinched, but swallowed his fear at the thought of Tina. "I-I'm sorry, Mr. Valentino. I've learned my lesson. It won't happen again."

"It better not."Valentino breathed. "And when ya get back, Angie, I'm expecting you to show me your gratitude. Catch my drift?"

The spider shivered. Then Husk gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

Sending him a small smile, Angel said, "Of course, Mr. Valentino. Whatever you say."

"Good. See ya in the morning."

"Wait." Angel kept his eye on Alastor. "Ya sure I can't, uh, come over right now?"

"I told you. I'm in a meeting."

"I can just come over and wait till you're done." His tone became sultry. "If it's that kind of meeting, I can…join in on the fun."

Valentino paused, as if he were considering it. "Nah. This one's too…sensitive, for you to get involved."

"Ya sure? I don't mind just waiting outside. You at the studio, or—?"

"None of your business, Angel Cakes."

"W-What was that? Can't hear ya. Can ya come to a window or—?"

"Whaddya mean? I can hear ya just fine."

Shit. He forgot to ask Alastor for more static. "Seriously, where are ya? One of your abandoned warehouses? Cuz the reception is really—"

"Look, Angel." Valentino was growing impatient. "I ain't got time for this right now. I'll see you at the studio in the morning. No later than seven. Got it?"

"I…"

Angel looked around in panic. Then the Radio Demon opened his eyes and gave a thumbs-up.

The spider smirked. "Got it, Mr. Valentino."

"Don't bother me till then."

The line went dead, and Angel released the air he'd been holding in. "Damn, that was anxiety-inducing!"

Husk patted him on the back. "You did good, kid."

"Yes, yes!" Alastor clapped his hands, playing an applause track. "A performance worthy of the Oscars!"

"Did you figure out where they are?" Charlie asked.

He nodded and stuck his finger on one of the many Xs on the map. "It wasn't easy peering through ten different shadows at once, but I caught him through the window of this building."

"Then that's where we're going." Vaggie whipped out her spear.

"I appreciate the sentiment, Vagatha," Alastor said, "but I can handle the Vs on my own."

"Right." She placed a hand on her hip. "And when was the last time you actually won a battle against them?"

He stiffened. "This isn't some meager territorial dispute. This is my wife we're talking about."

"She's also our business partner. And Charlie and I made a promise to protect everyone in this hotel. So, like it or not, I'm going with you."

"Ooh, ooh!" Niffty lifted her skirt and drew a pair of knitting needles from her garter. "Me too!"

"And me," Husk said.

Angel raised a hand. "Count me in too."

"What? Hang on a sec." Husk put the spider's hand down. "You've stood up to that asshole already. Ya don't have to fight him."

"I do."

"But if ya get hurt, or freeze up—"

"Hey." Angel took him by the shoulders. "It's cute that you're worried 'bout me, kitty, but I know my way around a gun. I gotta do this. Not just for Tee, but for me. Okay?"

Husk blushed as he glanced down at the hands on his shoulders. Angel expected him to shove them off, but he didn't.

"Fine." Alastor sighed. "You can tag along, if you wish. But no machine guns." He glared at Angel. "Too many bullets flying. You might hit Tina."

"Aw!" The spider hung back his head. "And here I thought we were finally gonna have some fun here!"

"Vaggie," Charlie whispered as she took her girlfriend by the hand. "I know we gotta go save Tina, but…I can't go with you."

"What?" Vaggie said. "Why?"

"I wish I could, but…" Charlie shook her head. "As Princess of Hell, I'm not allowed to directly intervene in the affairs of Overlords. Dad says the royal family must be completely neutral with sinners in power."

Alastor huffed and rolled his eyes. "Given how much your father has intervened in my affairs, I doubt he takes that rule to heart."

"And besides," Charlie said, patting Vaggie's hand, "someone has to stay behind and protect the hotel and everyone here."

"I get that," Vaggie said, "but who's gonna protect you. No offence, hon. I know you've got powers of your own, but if someone should attack while we're away—"

"No worry."

From the sidelines, Hildegard stepped up. Along with the other staff members who had remained in the ballroom.

"We can protect hotel," the hellhound said. "Like we protect club."

The others nodded and murmured in agreement.

Vaggie was amazed at their resolve. "You sure you're up to the task?"

"Of course," Rosemary said. "You think Miss Twinkle hired us for nothing? I was an eco-terrorist before I worked in the kitchen."

"And while I'm more on the thieving side," Proxy said, drawing a switchblade from her apron, "I did pick up a few tricks from the hood."

"You just tell us what to do, Princess." Hildegard pounded her fists together. "We will do it. It what Miss Twinkle would want."

"Wow." Tears welled up in Charlie's eyes as she smiled. "I…I can't believe this. I didn't think…that so many of you would want to…and not for yourselves, but…" She covered her mouth and squealed. "I'm so proud of you all!"

"Yes, yes, yes." Alastor summoned a handkerchief for her. "It's real heartwarming and all, but don't go thinking this courageous rallying towards a common goal is going to win us all free tickets to Heaven. Alright?"

"Still," Charlie said as she blew her nose, "this is a step in the right direction."

Although the Radio Demon wouldn't admit it, he was glad to have the others along for this rescue. Not that he needed the support, but the company was greatly appreciated.

He only hoped that all this wholesome comradery hadn't wasted their precious time, and that they were not too late to save his beloved.

"Very well." Alastor straightened up and smoothed out his jacket. "If you're all coming, you're going to need these."

A snap of the fingers, and in the hands of Angel, Husk, Niffty and Vaggie appeared what looked like a pair of tiny red marshmallows. Niffty popped them in her mouth, then quickly spat them out.

"Earplugs?" Vaggie held one between her thumb and forefinger. "What are these for?"

"Trust me." Alastor ran a hand between his ears. "If this rescue mission is anything like the last one, you won't want to be without them."

As the four volunteers reluctantly inserted the plugs into their ears, the Radio Demon patted the two rings in his left breast pocket. Hang on just a little longer, my love. I'm coming for you.

Damn, why are climaxes just so hard?

Carrie went through a whole series of character changes. She started out as just an innocent victim manipulated by her husband, and I struggled to think whether she'd be redeemable or not, but...I decided to get a bit more creative. Plus I had to up the psychological torture for Tina. These are evil people that have her, after all.