The Unnoticed

Locke’s eyes rolled around in his skull as he desperately looked for a way to get out of this unfortunate situation alive. He swallowed hard as Spitfire stopped a mere two feet from the chair he was tied to. She tilted her head to the side as she slowly circled around him. Locke shivered as she left his peripheral vision. He stiffened in fear as he felt her hand slowly caress the back of his neck.

“So, Locke” Spitfire purred into his ear “what have you got to say for yourself?” Locke bit his lip to try and stop the whimpers from escaping his mouth. He failed. Spitfire arched an eyebrow at his fearful mutterings. “Aww, Locke why so scared?”Spitfire asked with false sympathy. “I haven’t done anything to hurt you…..yet.” She finished with an evil grin.

“O-ok, Spitfire. What will it take for you to not hurt me?” Locke stammered. Spitfire clicked her tongue in disappointment as she shook her head. She placed her chin on his shoulder from behind before she answered.

“There is nothing you can do that will stop me.” She said. There was a short pause before she continued.” You can make easier for yourself by telling me why you left.”Locke’s eyes widened slightly.

“Wait, wait, you don’t know why I left?” Locke asked puzzled.

“Of course not. How would I?” Spitfire replied.

“When I left I was wasted, but Soarin was there he could have told you.” There was a moment of silence after Locke spoke. The two of them hissed at the same time.

“SOARIN!” They sat fuming for a few minutes before Spitfire walked back in front of Locke. She plopped herself into his lap causing him to gasp as her weight forced the air from his lungs. She giggled and smiled at him as she wrapped an arm around Locke’s neck.

“Well all that doesn’t change the fact that you ran off.” She said with almost creepy cheer.”Now I don’t know quite how to punish you but I think I can figure something out.” Spitfire laced her fingers together and stretched outward. Her knuckles made loud snaps that made Locke wince and hiss through his teeth. Spitfire noticed his expression and grinned as an idea formed in her head.

“Oh ho, does that bother you Locke?” She asked with false sympathy. “How about this?” She asked as she raised her arms above her head and rolled her shoulders. The sound of her joints popping made Locke feel a little sick.

“Please don’t do that. You know I hate that.” Locke pleaded. Spitfire just smiled and rolled her head from side to side. “Auurg, that’s so gross, stop!” Locke said over the nauseating sound of Spitfires’ joints cracking.

“Oh, did you just demand something? Well, I think that calls for a worse punishment, but what?” Spitfire tapped her chin with a finger. “Let’s see what always bothered you…” Spitfire looked at Locke with an evil smirk. “OOH, I know what to do.” She hopped off of his lap and walked out of his view. Moments later she came back with her hands behind her back.

“What do you hav-! “Locke tried to question her before she jammed a rag in his mouth.

“You might want to bite down on that.”Spitfire chirped as she crouched in front of him. She began to roll up the leg of his pants. He gave her a questioning look. Spitfire smiled as she pulled a second item from behind her back. Something round and silver, with a hole in the middle. DUCT TAPE. Locke’s eyes widened as she began to pull a piece of and stick it to his leg.

“MPMH! MNPH GUMP HUN SHMUP!”  Locke pleaded unintelligibly as he rocked back and forth in the chair.

“What was that, I didn’t quite catch that?” Spitfire asked sweetly as she reached for the strip of tape….

Soarin sat at a table upstairs dejected. He looked at the young woman behind the counter who, in return, shook her head at him. Soarin sighed.

“Look I feel terrible about it but there’s nothing I can do. Can I please get some pie?” Soarin spoke with a pleading tone towards the pink haired girl. She humpmh’ed at him and went to get his pie. She stopped as a sudden muffled scream of pain echoed from the basement. She looked at him wide eyed and worried.

“Hoch, she found the duct tape….. Make it two slices please.”

Locke rocked back and forth as tears streamed down his face. Spitfire looked at the hair covered piece of tape then back to Locke’s leg. Little pinpricks of blood began to form where the tape had been.

“Maybe I took that too far…” Spitfire said wincing at his wound. Locke whimpered in response. Spitfire walked around behind him and untied him. “Let’s get you home.”She said taking the rag from his mouth.

Spitfire had to help him up the stairs as he was too busy trying to figure out how he was going to cover up a large rectangular bald spot on his leg. Pinkie watched as they left the store. Soarin, however, looked away as to not make eye contact with the man he betrayed. He didn’t need to see the glare from Locke as he could feel it burning into him. The bell above the door signaled their departure. Soarin finished his pie and went to pay Pinkie. She looked at the bits he offered her as payment and looked up at him. She looked in to his eyes and narrowed her own. She snagged the bits out of his hand.

“Get out…Meany.”Pinkie hissed. Soarin turned and left the bakery dejectedly.

Meanwhile, Locke and Spitfire arrived at the formers’ home. She helped him up the three small steps outside and they entered his home. She then helped him climb up the stairs to his room.

“Did you really need help getting up the stairs and walking home?” Spitfire asked exasperated.

“No, not really.”Locke smirked. Spitfire gasped exaggeratedly.

“Well, I’m glad I saved a punishment then.” Spitfire said. Locke’s eyes widened.

“Whoa there, Spitefire. Let’s take it easy, huh?” Locke asked anxiously. Spitfire scoffed.

“You ran off and you think a little leg hair is gonna make up for it? Nuh-uh. You are in for it.” Spitfire said.

“What am I gonna have to do to make you not want to hurt me?”Locke asked worried for the answer.

“Don’t know yet, but I do know it’s been over two years and I have a certain itch that needs scratching.” Spitfire said from behind Locke. Locke turned not quite understanding. He watched as Spitfire locked the bedroom door behind her and stared at him with a certain look in her eye.

“Ooohhh, uh, well-“was all Locke got out before Spitfire tackled him.