Free Holding On To You by Anne-Marie Hart

you don't need to be worrying about that. I've put you at the back, but I can change that if you want. Most people like to go at the back.'
    'The back'll suit me just fine', River says. He digs in his pocket for the money, and hands over several screwed up bills.
    'You never heard of a wallet?' she says to him.
    'I've never had enough money to put in it', he says.
    'Aint that the truth', she says.
    'I figure I can smoke in the room?' River says.
    'I told you already it's against the regulations. Use the ashtrays if you're going to do it, and don't let me see you. Although if I ever make it to your room, I aint going to be worrying about a little bit of smoke getting into my eyes, if you know what I mean.'
    Her giggle turns into a cackle, and that cackle turns into a full on coughing fit. Eventually she settles down again, aided on her way by several medicinal slurps of her gin & tonic.
    'You need me, I'll be in here', she says.
    'Thank you', River says and makes his way back out to the car.
    Just before he leaves the reception room, she says, 'You can do what you like, your business is your business after all, but just don't bring me any trouble, you hear me? I'm too old and too ugly for it now.'
    With that advice given, she puts her glasses back on, turns back around to her television set, un-pauses the VHS and sparks up the rest of the cigarette River left in the ashtray.
    Maddy had expected to be let out of the car when it stopped fifteen minutes ago, almost resorting to banging on the metal trunk lid, thinking that River had left her. Now as the car starts up again, she has even less idea of what's going on. River drives the car the short distance to the back of the motel, finds his room number and reverses so the trunk is facing the door, as close as he can get it. This is a single level motel of about thirty rooms spread out in an H shape, right on the edge of a dusty state border town that not even the residents themselves really give two shits about, and the receptionist has picked well for him, choosing a room right in the top of the H, away from everything and with good visibility should he need it. There are three other cars parked in the lot, all on the other side, and no sign of activity, apart from a mangy dog sniffing about, marking territory and trying to find either something to eat or somewhere to shit. It's the kind of place anyway, where people keep their own business to themselves, that even if someone sees him open the trunk and take what is clearly a hostage out of it, they'll probably do nothing else but turn back to their TV or drink, and forget the whole thing, having witnessed yet again, something they see on a regular basis.
    River doesn't want to risk it though, and before he opens up, he takes another look around, just to make sure he's alone.
    Maddy screws her eyes up, as the harsh afternoon light spills into the trunk around her. Her hope that the silhouette now standing in front of her would belong to someone coming to her rescue, is broken into a million pieces when her eyes adjust to the new brightness, and she sees, yet again, the man that seems to be driven by the sole desire to make her life hell.
    'Rise and shine, Miss Madeleine Parker', River says. 'Welcome to your new home.'
    The gun is a precaution against a scream for help, that Maddy would struggle to deliver anyway. River holds out his free hand to help her, and Maddy gives him a look that would cut through lead, before sitting up on her own.
    'Where are we?' she says.
    'I'll tell you that when we've settled in', River says.
    'I can't wait.'
    'You try anything stupid, I'll shoot you in the back and leave you bleeding on the floor while I drive away. Now come on', River says.
    He puts his free hand under her armpit to help her down, and Maddy tries unsuccessfully to struggle away from it. River thinks she's trying to squirm away, but all she wants to do is get down and walk into the room unaided. He holds her tighter and pushes the