The rhythmic thrum of the vessels engines vibrated through the rough cabin floor, a low, guttural growl that slowly pulled Jackie from the depths of unconsciousness. Her head pounded, a persistent drumbeat behind her eyes, and a sickly sweet scent still clung to her nostrils, an unwelcome guest that made her stomach churn. Her wrists burned, chafed by coarse rope, and a sharp ache radiated from her ankles, similarly bound. She tested the knots, a subtle flex of muscle, a gentle tug. The ropes bit deeper, unyielding.

The cabin air, thick with the scent of pine and something metallic, prickled her bare skin. She looked down. Nothing. Her costume, the vibrant orange and black that pulsed with the very energy of her powers, was gone. Her breath hitched. Without it, she was just… her. Just a woman. The realization hit her with the force of a physical blow. Her muscles, usually coiled springs of superhuman strength, felt slack, unresponsive. A shiver, unrelated to the cabin’s chill, traced a path down her spine.

Her bare feet, calloused and strong, pressed against the cold planks. Saltfish had bound her tightly, but not perfectly. A small, almost imperceptible slack existed in the rope cinching her left wrist.

Jackie began to work, slow and deliberate. She rotated her wrist, the rough fibers grating against her skin, each movement a tiny, burning friction. She gritted her teeth, focusing on the slight give, the minuscule loosening. Minutes stretched, each one a test of endurance, of her will against the unyielding rope.

The knot began to fray, a single strand snapping, then another, a tiny, triumphant *pop*. Her hand, stiff and numb, finally slipped free.

She untied her other wrist, then her ankles, massaging the blood back into her limbs. The pins and needles sensation was excruciating, but she ignored it, pushing herself to her feet. Her muscles screamed in protest, still heavy with the lingering effects of the chloroform. She swayed, grabbing the wall for support, her vision blurring at the edges. Not fully recovered, but she had to move. The boat pitched and rolled, a relentless cradle on the choppy sea.

CLICK HERE to read TIGER CAT -VS Crixx & Saltfish-#04:http://memberslogin.hipcomix.com/gallery3/index.php/Mitru/Tiger-Cat/VS-Crixx-Saltfish



Read on... ONLY in HIPcomix.com