Fighting Chance Read Online Free Page B

some clothes,
then she would be ready to escape. She had no idea where she was or what had
happened, but she knew without a doubt that she hadn’t come here willingly. Her
mind was full of snarls and twisted memories, but she knew there was something
important she was forgetting.
    The only way she would remember was to empty her mind.
Mindful of her near nudity, she dragged the bedcovering off the bed and folded
it until it was small enough to provide padding for her bottom and placed it on
the floor. She lowered her body until she was sitting on the blanket and
arranged her legs in the lotus position. Bringing her body to perfect
stillness, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, filling her lungs to
capacity, and then slowly exhaled. She repeated this exercise over and over as
she emptied her mind of all thoughts. It took longer than normal, thanks to her
current circumstances, but eventually, she reached that place where nothing
existed but breathing in and then exhaling.
    Like pieces of a puzzle being snapped together, memories
began to flare to life in her mind. She was on a motorcycle making the jump
for the movie stunt. She was standing in front of Bruce waiting to be let into
the trailer. She was agreeing to teach Jessica self-defense lessons…Jessica. Her mind stuttered over the picture of her friend in her mind. She let the
feeling pass and continued to allow her memories to resurface. A commotion
was occurring outside the trailer. She was snapping off the end of a broom
handle. The door was opening and a strange man peered inside. She was planting
her boot in his face. Three huge men were facing her as she brandished her
staff. She was stabbing a man in the shoulder with the handle. She was facing
one man alone. She was striking his hand to disarm him. He was speaking, “I
will be taking you, too.” Too.
    With a gasp of pain, she launched to her feet. “Jessica!
They were there for Jessica,” she murmured aloud, her blood pumping with the
need for action. “Computer, where is my friend, Jessica MacGregor?”
    “The human female named Jessica MacGregor is located inside
the living quarters in room 268-B,” it answered her readily.
    “Is she okay? Has she been hurt?” Mahoney demanded,
clenching her fists in anger.
    “Jessica MacGregor is unharmed and in pristine health. She
continues to sleep at this time,” came the answer.
    She stalked over to the door panel at the front of the room.
“Computer, open this door and direct me to where Jessica’s room is located.”
    “Access denied. Access denied.”
    “Shit! Shit, shit, shit!” she snarled, twirling around to
deliver a roundhouse kick to the door. The only purpose it served was to leave
her foot throbbing.
    The panel to the bathroom opened again and Mahoney stared at
it in confusion. “Why did you open the bathroom door?” she wondered aloud.
    “User requested access for defecation,” the dry male voice
responded.
    Mahoney rolled her eyes as she realized that computer took
her cursing literally. “Very funny, Jarvis. I didn’t realize that computers had
a sense of humor.”
    “Being named Jarvis unknown. Computerized vocalization
module model number 874G9 is not equipped with humor or emotion upgrades,” it
replied.
    Mahoney rubbed her temple where a headache was starting to
bloom behind her eyes. “You can say that again,” she mumbled wearily.
    ““Being named Jarvis unknown. Computerized vocalization
module-“
    “Shut up! Not another word from you unless I address you
first. If I say the name Jarvis, then that means you can speak, but otherwise,
I don’t want to hear it!” she snapped.
    Blessed silence descended on the room. Mahoney began to pace
the length of the room while her mind raced to figure out an escape plan. She
replayed the memories in her head over and over again, but the only thing that
kept coming back to her mind was the bearded man with the hauntingly pale green
eyes.
    Looking up to the ceiling, she called, “I