Karma's eyes popped open seconds after cold water hit her face. She coughed, sputtered, and then ran her tongue over her wet lips.
"That woke her up."
Disoriented, she heard a man's voice above her. The pounding in her head brought her to full consciousness. That potted plant had given her one hell of a headache.
Karma blinked as a knife stabbed into her right thigh. A burning pain overwhelmed her. To stop from calling out, she bit her tongue.
Male laughter assaulted her ears. She looked around through a blur of water and blood.
Quickly, she assessed she was in a small room tied to a chair. Her father had taught her to push everything away. She needed to concentrate. Karma breathed through the burning sensation. The holsters on her thighs had been removed. Her wrists were tied tight with a thick rope. Not good. She tried to think around the hammering at her temples.
Without looking, she gathered that her legs were similarly tied to both legs of the metal chair. She flexed to test the strength of the rope. It was solid.
Again, not good.
The room was all old tan-colored tiles and harsh light. A deep-gray marble countertop dominated the wall to the right. If she carefully turned her head, she would be able to see a door behind her left shoulder. There was nothing else in the room, but the two men in front of her, a bucket, and a metal cabinet.
As she took in her new surroundings, Karma recognized the man named Charlie. She'd seen him in the greenhouse. Charlie was tall with wide-set eyes. He had a mop of uncombed shaggy brown hair. The man next to him was much shorter with a bald head and crooked lips. Both men didn't look like much, but in this circumstance, every warning bell went off in her body.
This wasn't going to be pretty, but she kept her head calm as her father taught her.
Charlie edged closer with a giddy expression on his face. The look was disturbing. His eyes shone, and his breath smelled like onions.
"What's the stuff you got there?" The short bald man posed the question.
These two would've been humorous if it weren't for the fact she was in such a dire state.
"Gears gave this to me to give to Boss-Mac, and I forgot, but now I thought we'd use it. It's stuff to make someone not able to move. I was thinking if we gave her this, then we could untie her and put her on the counter while we wait."
"What for?" Shorty asked, but Karma knew the answer.
"You're dumb, Josh. If we give it to her, then we can do her before Boss-Mac gets here. He was shot, so I figure it'll take him a while 'til he's fixed up." Charlie fished a needle out of the drawer in the cabinet. He produced three identical glass containers from his pocket and set them on the counter, side by side.
Charlie swore at the three matching bottles. He held them up one by one, but they all looked the same.
"What's wrong now?" Josh gave her a quick appraising glance.
Karma could tell Josh was warming up to the idea of using her for his pleasure. She tried to come up with a plan. If only her head would cooperate.
"I don't know which one is the drug that makes you not move 'round. One of these messes with your head and…" Again, Charlie held them up, but there was no point. Each bottle was darkened glass, the same size, and shape. "…one of them's Gears' Goo."
"Gears' Goo," Josh snickered. "Doc gets so pissed when you call it that."
Karma ignored Josh's remark and instead looked at the floor. She saw one of her guns was still in the holster kicked partway under her chair. If she could get out of here, then she could accomplish her hit. She did a quick evaluation of her injuries and considered where her target might be.
"Just give 'em all to her. Who cares what the other ones do?" Josh dropped his shoulder and regarded her. "He says I'm dumb."
"What if doing that kills her?" Charlie asked.
"Who cares?" Josh snatched one of the bottles from Charlie. "If she dies, then we shoot her and tell Boss-Mac she tried to get away." Josh filled the needle using the bottle he held. He handed the syringe back to Charlie.
Karma's forehead hurt. She didn't relish what she was about to do, but she didn't have a lot of options.
Charlie moved closer. She waited until she had an opening. When his head was bent directly in front of her face, she made her move. With as much power and energy as she could muster, Karma head-butted him. She used her forehead to slam into the side of his head with a swift hit. Her head screamed in agony.
"Hold her still!" Josh roared.
Charlie's cheek bounced off her lap. He rolled to the floor unconscious.
Dizzy, Karma's stomach turned, but it worked. Well done, she congratulated herself.
Her eyes flickered over Josh. There was no time to think. She had to come up with what to do with him next. She needed to think fast. Idiot number two was dense, but she was through underestimating people.
Karma reviewed her options. She could hit the next guy the same way. If he bent over her, it would be another opening. The idea of slamming her head around anymore didn't appeal to her, but she would have to do something.
She tested the rope again. These guys might be stupid, but they could tie a good knot. Unfortunately, standing up and swinging her chair was out of the picture. Her seat appeared to be bolted to the floor. Plus, she didn't know if her injured thigh could take the pressure.
Josh picked up the needle from where it fell. His hands shook. His lips pressed into a grim line. She didn't like the way his swiftly moving eyes jumped around the room.
She was lightheaded, but she didn't have time to wait for the dizziness to pass. Her brain wasn't working. Karma was running out of time. Before a new plan presented itself, Josh backhanded her.
The room spun.
Blood filled her mouth. Her right eye felt like it was going to pop out of its socket. Her whole head shrieked as a groan escaped her lips.
"That's what I thought." Spittle flew out of Josh's mouth as the needle pierced the back of her arm.
While her vertigo began to subside, she waited to see if she would become immobilized. Nothing yet. Everything was the same as always. Thanking her lucky stars, she moved her shoulder slightly. She wasn't paralyzed. What did he say about the other one? Her head would be messed up? Her thoughts were crystal clear as far as she could tell. It could've been the other drug, Gears' Goo. She had no idea what Gears' Goo even was.
Waiting a few more minutes, she begged her brain to offer a way to escape. Slowly an idea took shape.
Happy her luck was changing, Karma slumped in her chair and closed her eyes. Now, if this guy were as brainless as she figured, then he would untie her and set her on the counter. That would be perfect. That position would give her the best chance to kill him. She hoped her luck would hold out that long.
"That's right!" Josh screeched in celebration.
Keeping herself calm, she stayed slumped in her seat. She didn't move even when his knife scraped across the cut on her thigh. The blade was excruciating, but she managed to stay motionless.
Worried he might discover her deception, she held her breath. The feel of the weapon was lost on her due to the throbbing in her head. Her brain was foggy. She dug deep into her willpower. She stayed still with her eyes half-closed. Just untie me. Josh pulled at her bodysuit along her legs.
The large knife started at her knee. His hands tried to rip at the durable fabric. He sawed back and forth, struggling to slice through the sturdy material. Josh was pulling so hard it would've lifted her from the chair if she were not tied. She let her head relax against her shoulders. Below her belly button, the cloth finally started to give. Cool air caressed her unprotected skin. Her underwear was exposed, but he paused in his efforts and didn't cut them off.
Opening her eyes slightly, Karma watched Josh move the empty water bucket out of his way. The slimeball kicked at his friend to make sure that the other man was out cold. Satisfied that Charlie wasn't going to get up, Josh opened his pants.
While he stood close to her, he slipped his hand into his underwear. He stared at her and touched himself. Karma kept as still as possible to seem completely nonthreatening. Just untie one leg, she repeated in her head. She tensed to keep herself from shifting away from his repulsive gestures.
"What's going on, Josh?" The words came from behind her left shoulder. Karma was alarmed. She hadn't heard anyone enter the room.