Loving Judas

Chapter Three.

Alice slept in, knowing that Judas was asleep in the bed next to hers and she wasn't alone in the massive hotel room gave her a feeling of safety. She was vaguely aware of someone shaking her but she blocked it out and slid under the blankets with a soft sigh.

“I said get up," Judas ordered, tearing the blankets off the bed.

“Hey!”

She sat upright clutching the blanket to her body trying to cover herself, sleeping in only her underwear and a t-shirt wasn't ideal but she hadn't had time to get to a store for pajamas.

“It's time to get up," Judas said, from the end of her bed.

“Okay, but don't look at me.” 

“You don't have anything I haven't seen a million times on a million other women.” He pointed out as He tossed down the end of the blanket he had been holding. 

She scowled at him and pulled the blankets closer. Last night in her t-shirt and undies she had been exposed but he had been tired, and the room was dark. Now she was  uncomfortable to let him see her in the daylight so scantily clad.

“It's only eight o'clock,” She pointed out.

“I know what time it is.” 

“Why are we getting up so early? Aren't you tired?” She asked incredulously.

“No, I've learned to run on little to no sleep. I have a job to do, training you and we start when I say we start and that's now," He checked the chamber in his gun before sticking it in the back of his tight jeans.

“Well I have to get dressed,"  She said, motioning at her pants on the floor.

“I aint stopping you.” He replied, checking another gun. His tone wasn't cold but it was definitely bored.

She frowned and made a reach for her pants aware that he was watching her.  She couldn't reach them so she clutched the blanket closer scooting down the bed towards where her pants lay. She was about to give up when she heard his heavy boots storm across the room.

“Don't have time for this s**t,” He said roughly.

He tossed her pants onto her bed then strode out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

She slid from the bed and pulled on her pants, and grabbed her new jacket, slipping it on. When she opened the door it was cool outside and she instantly wished she was back in her bed. She looked around the seemingly deserted motel and saw the other doors were closed, the lights still off.

“Everyone else is still asleep," She half whined.

“I don't care, everyone else can already do what is expected of them."

He walked across the gravel parking lot to the edge of the motel, then he circled around back to where an old playground was set up. He shed his leather jacket on the grass and approached an old jungle gym. It was rusty and the paint was peeling off, high weeds growing underneath.

“We'll start with pull ups, fifty a day to start," He said.

“Fifty a day? I can barely do five.” 

“Fifty.”

“Can you do fifty pull ups?” She asked.

“I do two hundred every day and eventually so will you,” He said in a voice the let no room for arguments.

She heaved a sigh and pulled the zipper down on her coat, when she peeled the heavy jacket off her arms the chill of the morning bit at her skin. This was ridiculous, she couldn't do a pull up. She moved towards the bars and noticed how his gaze followed her every move, she felt naked and vulnerable. His gaze was purely predatory and she knew she was the gazelle to his lion.

“Up you go,” He said, motioning at the bars with his head.

The bars were a little higher than they looked and towered a good foot over her head, while they were at a perfect height for Judas she was short. She jumped with a small spring and was glad she managed to catch the bars. She dangled there by her arms, her elbows and shoulder protesting, Judas eyed her before gripping the bars beside her and pulling himself up. His arms bunched with corded muscle as he held himself in the upward position.

“Come on, I don't have all day,"He said.

She kicked her feet wildly and strained with nearly every muscle and finally leveraged her chin to the bar. She glanced at him and he rolled his eyes before swinging down and then pulling himself up again.

“One.” She managed out, before her shoulders gave way and she swung to dangle some more.

He did a rapid set of twenty just as she managed to pull herself up a third time. He let go and dropped gracefully to the ground, which was closer to his feet than hers. She was sweating and her hands slipped on the bar. Her elbows screamed in protest and her shoulders burning. 

“I'm going to fall,” She huffed.

“Like hell you are, you need 45 more.”

“My hands are slipping," She whimpered, kicking her feet as if she could climb the air.

“Give me more,” He snapped.

He slapped her butt with an open palm and with a squeak of surprise she let go of the bars. She slammed back onto the dirt unsteadily on her feet and stumbled backwards into his strong chest. He caught her arms preventing her from sprawling into the dirt.

“Damn it," He cursed.

“I'm sorry, I'm trying," She said as he set her back on her feet.

“Try harder," He said, walking away.

She wiped the sweat from her eyes and followed him across the grass, He stopped a few feet short of a large oak tree. Hanging from the lowest limbs by a string were cans of what looked like soup.

“I spoke to the manager since we're the only ones here and everything he said you can practice shooting.” 

“I don't know anything about guns," She admitted.

“Here, let me see what you've got," He said, handing her a handgun.

She licked her suddenly dry lips and examined the gun. It was a revolver she knew that much, but the movies she watched with her Dad only taught her a little.

“Come on, I asked you to shoot the gun not invent it.” 

She turned and pulled back the hammer, when he didn't comment she assumed she was on the right track. She aimed at the first can and closed her eyes, she pulled the trigger. The gun went off with an ear splitting bang and kicked hard enough she had to take a step to not fall down, she missed the can completely.

She looked at Judas, he was standing there with his long legs spread apart and his arms crossed over his chest. He didn't comment at first, just rocked back on his heels and ran a hand over his face as if he was tired already.

“I'm sorry," She said.

“No, at least you figured out how to shoot the damn thing," He said with a heavy sigh.

“This is harder than it looks.”

“No, it isn't.” 

“Fine, let's see you shoot them.” 

He stared at her a minute and she held out the gun towards him, challenging him to take it, daring him to prove to her it could be done.

He didn't say anything or move at first, then with motion as fast as lightening he pulled his gun from the back of his pants and without looking away from her fired six quick shots. When she turned to look every single can had a hole in it.

“It's not that hard,” He said, putting his gun back.

She turned back towards the tree and he stepped closer. Using a boot he kicked her own feet apart, and placed his hands on her wrists.

“Spread your feet so they're planted better, keep your elbows locked," He said in her ear.

She fired another shot and grazed a can of soup, it swung on the string but didn't fall. She sighed heavily and he moved a few inches away.

“Again, do it until you can't miss.” 

She took a deep breath, it was going to be a long day.

Nearly six hours later she dragged herself back towards her room, after the pull ups, and shooting practice the day had escalated. Judas made her run laps around the motel until her legs barely held her weight, then he used self defense as an excuse to throw her all over the ground. She was sweating and dirty and hurt in places she didn't know even existed. Her stomach growled and she winced, knowing she'd have to go find food. Judas had stopped halfway through training for water and lunch but only allowed her a thirty minute break. She had half a mind to complain but she didn't want to prove his point, that she couldn't do this.

She stripped off her clothes and climbed into the hot shower, her legs shaking with fatigue. Finally, she gave in and slid down to sit in the tub letting the hot water wash over her. He was doing it on purpose, trying to make her cave in and she knew it.

The fact was that every task she failed at he excelled, shooting, running, fighting all of it he mastered with the skill of someone who did it every day. She finished her shower and stepped onto the rug, she dried off and reluctantly pulled her dirty t-shirt and jeans back on. She was brushing her hair when she heard the knock on the door.

Setting the brush on the sink she moved to the door. She peered out the spy hole and saw Reaper. She took a step back then slowly unlocked the door. He made her uneasy, the way his hungry eyes watched her scared her but she didn't want to be rude.

“I brought you dinner,” He said, shaking a paper bag.

“Thanks," She took the bag, but he didn't move.

“Are you going to invite me in?”

“I was just getting ready for a nap.” 

“Good, I'll join you," He took a step closer, and she tightened her hold on the door.

“I don't think so.”

“Are you a virgin?”He asked bluntly.

“No.” 

“Then come on, let me in,” He took a step closer.

“You need to leave," She said, standing her ground.

“It'd be fun, I promise.”

“No.”

She moved to shut the door and before it closed he pushed it. He shoved hard enough that she stumbled away from the door nearly falling and he stepped inside. He kicked the door shut behind him with a bang and she jumped. Her heart rated sped up as the bag of food he handed her fell from her fingertips onto the floor. 

“No, don't do this," She said putting her hands up.

“Come on baby, I can do this the gentle way or the hard way.”

“Don't, don't do this."

She turned to run and he grabbed her by her hair yanking her back, she let out a cry of pain and tried to claw at his hands. He pulled her over to the bed and shoved her face down on Judas bed. She screamed as his other hand began searching for the button to her jeans.

“Please, please don't,” She begged, tears filling her eyes.

“That's it honey beg me,” he growled.

He leaned down and bit down hard into her neck, she screamed and tried to wiggle away but his weight on top of hers was too heavy. His hand found her zipper and he pulled it down, with a harsh tug her pants were around her ankles. She screamed again kicking her pants off and fighting to claw her way up the bed.

“Stop, stop!"

She heard his belt buckle as he fumbled to undo it and she pinched her eyes shut. This was it, the group that was supposed to keep her safe was going to be home to the man who raped her.

“Judas! ”She called out to him, hoping he hadn't gone far.

“What you think he don't know? He's the one who told me you were in here alone. When I'm done whoever wins the next coin toss is after me. We take turns sweetie, share everything," He  said into her ear.

She heard this zipper and she tried to close her ears to the sound, she heard banging on the door and he fumbled with his pants.

“One minute!” He yelled.

She whimpered and tried to claw away, she managed to free herself a little and started crawling up the bed. He made a grab for her and she rolled over, He grabbed at her legs letting long scratches and she feebly kicked him away. He caught her by the thigh, his large hands bruising her pale skin as he pulled her close. She swung at him and he dodged her.

“Get away from me!”

Her second swing hit, connecting with his shoulder instead of his face. It angered him more and he pulled back swinging at her. His fist collided with her right cheekbone, her vision going funny, ears ringing she felt drunk and her head spun. She fell weakly back against the bed, too disoriented to fight anymore.

The door swung open and Judas stormed in like a hurricane, he grabbed Reaper by the pony tail and tore him off the bed. Reaper punched Judas in the stomach and he doubled over. When Reaper stood Judas attacked, he punched Reaper repeatedly in the face and while Reaper was bigger he didn't stand a chance. Judas kicked him in the ribs when he fell to the carpet then grabbed him by the pony tail and dragged him to the door tossing him out onto the dirt.

“I'll deal with you!”Judas yelled.

He turned to Alice and she whimpered backing away from him when he approached. He was so big and scary in that moment she wanted to run. Couldn't stand another hand to touch her in that moment. 

“You're scared of me? Really? After what he just almost did you to.” 

He took in her scratched legs from her toes to her hips and he black panties. Her t-shirt was pulled aside to reveal the dark bite mark on her neck. He reached out cupping her cheek gently to examine her eye.

“Are you hurt?”He demanded.

“No.......”She managed.

He went outside and pulled Reaper to his feet slamming him against the outside of the building the cheap plastic siding cracking at the impact, he pulled out his revolver and put it to the side of Reapers head. The other bikers ran out to see what was going on.

“Listen up all of you! If any of you touch her, even once you're done in this group. She's not a toy!”Judas yelled.

He shoved Reaper to the ground and kicked him in the ribs again.

“Get out of my sight, get out of my club and don't come back.” He said.

He moved back into the room where Alice still sat in his bed, her back against the head board her knees against her chest. She didn't say anything or move when he walked in and gently closed the door. He grabbed her pants from the floor and then tossed them on the foot of the bed.

“Are you sure you're okay?”His voice didn't hold emotion.

She gave a nod and shivered, her body ached but the worst part was the bone cold fear. She was almost raped, she felt like she wanted to cry and throw up at the same time but her body was too numb to do either.

He moved towards her and she winced, when he reached her she bolted. He grabbed her arm in a grip hard enough it hurt and pulled her back onto the bed with one hand, his other hand he pulled back the blankets. He forced her onto the bed then pulled the blankets over her.

“Cover yourself. it's cold." 

“I'm sorry," She said, shaking so hard the words had eight syllables.

"You listen to me, you...have nothing to be sorry for. Okay? Get some sleep."

"I....I...I was trying to be nice."

“Get some sleep,” He said again.

“What if he comes back?” She asked, tears rolling down her cheeks.

He sighed heavily, like she was trying his last nerve. Then he pulled the chair from the corner over to the door and sat down.

“He won't and if he does I'll be right here," He said, crossing his arms.

"All night?" She asked in slight disbelief.

"All night."

She slid deep into the blankets and realized it smelled like Judas, leather and musk combined with something unique. That should scare her away but it made her feel safe. She wiped a tear and shifted to her side, her legs hurt from her neck ached and she was afraid to look in the mirror and see the marks he'd put on her, but behind that fear lived something else. Determination that with the help of Judas she'd never be a victim again.