He unbuckled, turning fully toward me.
"I'll do anything."
I lunged for the door. Locked.
"Child safety lock," Lucas informed helpfully. "Engaged upon entry."
"This is criminal!" I pressed against the door. "You realize this is..."
"Criminal?" Lucas smiled, tone gentle as a lover's. "Ella, we're merely on a date. Two adults, alone after dark, something happens..."
He shrugged.
"Who can prove it wasn't consensual?"
Intense vertigo washed over me. My head felt leaden. Eyelids impossibly heavy. Limbs weakening.
"What... what did you do?" I struggled to remain upright, strength draining.
"Nothing significant." Lucas watched, smile deepening. "Just enhanced the aromatherapy. The faster you breathe, the stronger the effect."
He indicated the vent.
"Don't worry—not fatal. Simply makes you... cooperative. Compliant."
Drugged. The car was drugged. I'd been inhaling since entering.
No wonder the lavender intensified, no wonder the drowsiness...
"You... bastard..." My tongue felt thick.
I called for Diana internally, desperate for strength, but the summons vanished into the void.
"Now, no profanity." Lucas unbuckled my seatbelt. "Come on, let's begin."
His hand reached for my coat.
"Get away!" I shoved with everything remaining, but the drug rendered my effort pathetically feeble, harmless as a kitten.
Lucas easily caught my wrists, pinning them to the headrest.
"Don't resist." His face approached. I smelled tobacco and alcohol. "Just photographs, quickly done. Cooperate, and we both finish easier..."
Terror flooded me like ice water.
I opened my mouth, biting his other hand viciously. Full force, breaking skin, tasting blood's metallic tang.
"Ah—fuck!" Lucas screamed, yanking back, then slapping me hard.
Sharp. Resounding.
My head snapped sideways, striking the window. Stars exploded across my vision, ears ringing. My cheek burned, skin splitting at my mouth, warmth trickling down my chin.
I tasted my own blood.
"Bitch!" Lucas shook his bleeding hand, deep teeth marks visible. "Ungrateful!"
He lunged again, no longer gentle, no pretense of civility, roughly seizing my shoulders, forcing me down.
