Page 61 of All He Takes
This was a person who had no fear, and who wouldn't give up without a fight.
But he'd said something she could use. He thought she would work for his "art."
Nicky was willing to do anything to save this girl. So, she said, "Fine then, you win, Harrison."
His eyes flashed. "What?"
"You win," she said. "I know you need to finish your work, and to do that, you need a worthy subject. So, take me. Leave that girl and take me instead."
Harrison laughed again. "You don't know what you're asking for."
"I know exactly what I'm asking for," she said. "I'm asking for you to let her go, and for you to take me instead."
"No."
"You need someone who is willing to go the distance for your work," Nicky said. "Someone who will let you photograph them in ways that would make your father proud. Someone who isn't afraid to go to the dark depths of hell for your art."
Harrison laughed, and Nicky could see him loosening his grip on the girl--beginning to let his guard down.
"What?" he said again.
Nicky was bluffing. She had no idea how to rescue this girl, but she needed to buy herself more time--to make Harrison think she was on his side, to make him lower his guard.
"I'm a photographer, too," Nicky said. "I'd make a great subject, Harrison. You can even make me your next muse. You can take all the pictures you want; you can do all the things you want. But first, let the girl go. Let her get out of here."
"No way," Harrison said. "I need her for my work. She's my muse."
"I'm your muse," Nicky said, taking a step closer. "Let her go. You know you want to."
His grip loosened on the woman.
Nicky waltzed even closer.
"You can have me," she said. "I'm yours. I'll do whatever you want."
"You're lying," he said. "You wouldn't really let me take you, would you?"
He was weakening. She could see the cracks in his façade.
"I would," Nicky said. "I'd let you take me. Take my picture. Make me your muse. But only if you let her go."
"I could do that," he said. "I could do all those things to you. I could make you my next muse."
"Then let her go," Nicky said. "If you want me, let her go."
She was close enough to lunge at him now. All she had to do was make her move.
"Let her go, Harrison," she said. "Let her go and take me instead."
"You won't really go," he countered.
"I will," she said. "If it means saving her, I'll do anything to save her."
He looked over at the girl. And then, in a flash, he dropped her to the ground and lunged for Nicky. Everything moved in a blur after that.
The girl screamed, and Nicky could hear her footsteps pounding the pavement, the sound of Harrison's breathing getting closer, louder.
She aimed the gun forward, but he was too close.
