Posted by PK on October 23, 2001 at 16:53:46:
"And you were doing so well. Drat, that's from 'The Silence of the Lambs' isn't it? I've lapsed
into cliche again. No, it isn't about justifying at all. It's foreplay."
Suspicions confirmed. Cat and mouse. Not intentionally cruel, just playing with her prey. One
difference: Amanda wanted her to enjoy it too. How kind of her. Carol reviewed the options
quickly: Hate Amanda, fight her, lose, die miserably. Love Amanda, cooperate, die happy. It
would be nice to have an option on survival but there didn't seem to be one on offer. Last
chance.
"Let me live. Please?" Delivered with a wry grin. Wouldn't do to seem too needy.
"No, sorry, not an option. Tigger has to eat. Or is that Antonia the tigress? You're much
tastier than Frosties. Take your halter off, please. Or I will. Let them meeces bounce."
"They offered me a lot of money to do this," Carol commented conversationally as she pulled
the doeskin over her head. Her breasts felt the open air and sighed with relief. "Not that
they're going to have to pay me now. What did they buy you with?" It was a feeble gibe, she
didn't expect it to work. She wasn't disappointed.
Amanda removed her shoes. "They didn't offer you enough. Me? I don't do this for money."
She caressed Carol's soles lovingly.
The sensation was pleasant, and something more than that. Carol felt it all through her body.
She was amazed to feel an arousal starting, amazed because she wasn't a lesbian and she
was in peril of her life. She wanted to pull her feet away but she couldn't.. The huntress might
get violent if she did. At least, that's what she told herself as she let Amanda tickle her. "Just
for fun?" she gasped.
"Basically, yes. I'm in it just for you. Isn't it nice to feel wanted?" The madwoman grinned.
"Why me?" Carol asked as, now completely naked, she allowed Amanda to pull her to her
feet.
Amanda seemed to ignore the question for a beat. She sniffed the air, noted the position of
the sun. "There's a hunting lodge not far from here. We can talk as we go, or you can run and
I'll catch you again."
"That's where you'll...."
"Yes. Coming?" Carol nodded minimally and the pair set out. "I didn't pick you. I just thought
I recognised you when they showed me your picture and told me that's who I'd be hunting.
You were in that horrible soap on Channel Four, weren't you? Before they killed you off."
"I needed the paying work," Carol said defensively. "The scripts were shit, what did you
expect me to do? I had nothing to work with."
"Oh, don't apologise. I thought you were the best thing in it."
"Really? You're not just saying that because...."
"No, seriously. I suppose I'm biased because I fancied you, but I thought you did the best you
could with the crap you had to deal with. You were wasted on it."
Gosh, a fan at last, Carol thought. How nice. "So you decided I'd be better off being your
dinner?"
Amanda laughed. "Absolutely! Didn't think I'd get the chance, though. You know how it is,
everybody takes a fancy to one of the actors they see on the box now and again, not
everybody gets the opportunity to meet them. Eat them. Whatever."
"I hate to bring this up right now, but I'd really rather not be eaten at all."
"I know. Shame about that. But tell me, didn't you ever watch those appalling American cat
and mouse cartoons and wish the cat would just gobble up those irritating smart arse
rodents? I know I did. And then there's Tweetie Pie." Amanda shuddered theatrically. "More
than flesh and blood should have to bear. I t'ought I taw a puddy tat. Scarred me for life, I
don't doubt."
This was beyond insanity, Carol thought. I'm going to be killed by a lunatic in stripy makeup
because she hates Tom and Jerry.
"Don't forget Pixie and Dixie," Amanda added helpfully. "Here we are!" She gestured broadly.
Here was a clearing with a rustic cabin in it. One of the rest lodges Carol had been told
about. There was a barbecue pit, bearing the signs of recent fires, and a number of other
things indicating that this was a picnic site.
"Where did they put the cameras?" Carol asked. "You know why they're doing this, don't
you?" Her right foot hurt a bit where she'd stepped on something sharp as they walked.
"You don't want them to film you?" Amanda's tone was no longer flippant.
"Do you?"
Amanda shrugged. "Not really, but I can't say I care very much."
"No? The cartoon tiger makeup was your idea?"
"Well, no. I just did it because I wanted you. I must admit it's growing on me." Amanda
smiled again, the lightness back. "Don't you want your moment of fame? This could be a
classic." She made a vaguely rueful mouth. "It will be your last."
"You know who put me up to this, don't you?" Carol blurted.
"Well, no, not exactly. Why"
"The same people who canned me. The same people who are filming this. Don't you get it?
They set me up and they're using you. All the fans who wanted me, like you did, they'll have
me second hand. They can't have me so they'll see you having me."
Carol had the unique pleasure of seeing Amanda's attention change. Got her buttons, she
thought. It was strange how much atention she paid to the set of Amanda's cat-muzzle. Not
human, she thought dizzily. Not cat either. Werecat. Worse than either. A weapon.
An age or a minute later, Amanda led her through the door of the hut. "Tea?" she offered.
"Yes, thanks. Milk and sugar if it's Indian. Neither if it's Lapsang." For another age she
watched Amanda make the tea.
"You do realise I'll eat you anyway?"
"Yes."
"You want revenge."
"Yes."
"You're trying to use me." The Cheshire Cat smiled.
"Can't get anything past you, can I?"
Amanda reached over the table with their tea mugs on it (she favoured Darjeeling with full-fat
milk and no sugar) and fondly flicked Carol's hair. "Not a thing. I'll take it under advisement.
Drink okay?"
Carol sipped. "Fine." She caught Amanda's eyes and the terror came back.
"Should I roast you whole or chop you up? I don't always offer, but you've been a good sport
and I' m an admirer..."