Monsters at the Door 3 of 9

Nice going, Dawn. NOW you've done it! The familiar phrase echoed inside her little blonde head as she found herself in a very precarious position. She was slung over the shoulder of some sort of ghastly creature... some sort of GOBLIN! And to make matters worse, her slender wrists were lashed together by scratchy ropes. Currently she was pounding against the brute's back, for all the good that did! Top it all off, she was gagged by a familiar item: a pair of coffee colored pantyhose. She was unfamiliar however, with the taste of pantyhose; never having the indignity of being gagged with them. Especially not a pair as wretched as these. They tasted awful and were in a terrible state of disrepair. She tried not to think about what had happened to the original owner!

How did I get myself INTO this mess? Thought Dawn. I make contact with this informant, this girl, who claims she is from some place called Ravenport... and she's talking up these crazy stories about how she's some sort of guardian for the "bridge between realms?" We're supposed to meet at the Museum of Natural History, and she needs to give me an artifact. Tells me I'm the only one who can ensure its safekeeping. That I "have the resources" to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Next thing I know, I'm being tossed around like a sack of potatoes over the back of ol' "Grumpy Green" here and he didn't even offer to buy me dinner! But he sure is helping himself to generous servings of my stocking bearing legs! Where are all the gentlemen in New York City???

I hope this is not the ONE time that my cousin Becky is late. The girl is so punctual, and I could really use a rescue right about now. Who am I kidding? Becky wouldn't even be late to her own funeral. She'd have the whole thing scheduled, organized, and running like a Swiss watch! Dawn grimaced as she was carried along, feeling the creature's bony shoulder grind into her soft tummy. The jostling had a nauseating effect. Or was that the grimy coffee pantyhose on her tongue? And just WHERE is this monster taking me!?

Dawn twisted and turned, trying to get a preview of where she was being carried, and she instantly wished she didn't. OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!!! The repeating exclamation flooded her mind and every thought. Her emerald eyes spied a large stone cauldron with an unencouraging healthy steam rising off the surface and the sounds of bubbling broth promising of its contents.

But the true living nightmare was the pair of slender legs dangling out over the rim of the cauldron. A coil of rope wrapped around one ankle, conveying a point of previous bondage. Whether the ropes had been cut or broken from furious struggle remained unknown. A single ballet flat adorned one of the feet, charcoal in color, with a red bow for accent. The other foot was bare, sheathed only in the reinforced toes of the nylons. And speaking of the nylons, Dawn recognized them instantly: Bargain priced, but an admirable quality make of the garment. The best pair of tights for a girl on a budget.

Oh, God... Becky! Her cousin worked hard as a reporter for the Manchester Daily Times, and took great pride in making herself look nice on the modest income she brought home. Seeing her pantyhose clad legs draped over the side of the cauldron, and the rest of her in... beneath the... the... Dawn averted her eyes, squeezing them shut.

Why did I say Becky wouldn't be late to her own funeral!? Darn it, Dawn! And is it too late to request this guy NOT take me to dinner!? Would he believe I'm on a diet!? Her heart began hammering against her rib cage, and the beast grunted in reaction. She wondered if he could feel it against his back.