LOVE AT FIRST BITE

11:50 pm, Downtown New York. "Help! Somebody, please help me! Hel_ ahh!" Madison eyes opened wider as sharp edges of a sort of metal whip impaled her skin. She let out a scream as another stroke fell on her back. She stumbled forward, well as much as was possible without her cane. Each movement felt excruciating but she didn't relent. She yelped as her hand was pulled up and she was held in place by a heavy force. A chill ran down her back as the heavy footsteps from earlier got closer. The closer the footsteps got the faster her heartbeats. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't get out of the telekinetic hold. There was a sudden rush of adrenaline when she noticed a crack in the mental hold on her body. She grabbed her saddle bag and threw it towards the reddish white-eyed creature behind her and rushed forward. She did not go far before she was hit from behind by a heavy buzzing force and flew forward. She tried kicking or hitting whoever held her up but only met air. She thrashed around while screaming, "Nooo, Let me go! Heeelp! Heeelp! Someb_" Everything went dark before she could complete the sentence. ******* Hours earlier, Delight Pastries,Queens, New York City. "Sorry, we are closed," Madison said looking up from the account books open on the counter at the sound of the bell chime from the front door of her pastry shop. It was almost midnight. The last customers, a couple on a date left a short while ago, as did her sole Employee, Tania "M-M-Mr T," Madison shot out of the high seat nearly falling but quickly grabbed her purple cane leaning by the counter. She ran her hand down her thigh as her gaze met the stunt middle-aged man's cold blue eyes. She shivered, clutched the cane tighter and stood straighter as two bald hefty men in cheap pinstriped suits stepped in after the older man. The older man took in her jumpy eyes, lips stretched into a sneer, and said, "Don't stand on my account Miss Hale". She gritted her teeth as he bent his leg and mimicked her limp. She clutched her cane tighter and pressed her lips into a thin line. Him mimic her limp a few more times while his lackeys laughed. Madison blinked away the tears threatening to rolled out. She dared not let him see her break. The heartless jabs continued for a few more minutes before finally dying down. She took a deep breath, stepped away from the counter, and walked towards him when he signaled for her to come closer. She stopped a safe distance away from him. Madison clasped the cane in front of her, squared her shoulders, and looked up. She felt a slight joy as the man's smile rolled off his face but still maintained a straight face. Her knees buckled as he stepped closer to her. "Why are you_" She blinked rapidly, looked down at her foot, and in a voice close to a whisper said, "How may I help you, Mr T". She shrunk back as the older man raided his knocks to her cheeks. She stiffened as he roughly clutched her chin. "What a pity. Such a beautiful face wasted on a cripple," he snorted and quickly let go of her chin like it was something rotten. He held out his hands and one of his ridiculously dressed lackeys took out a white handkerchief and placed it on his palm. "Your protection money is short by a few picks. It's time to pay up," He said, slowly wiping his hands with the handkerchief. "P-pay? b-but I already paid for this month t_". His brows twitched, "Did you not hear me?" He threw the handkerchief aside, took a step closer, and roughly pushed her face back with his index fingers, "don't act dumb, you little b***h. The tax went up so you better pay up!" He pushed her head back with force a few times. Her legs nearly gave up thanks to the force. She quickly grabbed the chair on the small table by her left, "But_" "Are you trying to question me, Marjorie?" He tilted his head, quickly grabbed her hair and pulled her towards him, She felt a sharp pain at her back and scalp and quickly let go of her cane, "Ah! N-no!" she shook her head rapidly while avoiding his gaze. "Hmph" he let go of her hair and pushed her aside, "As much as I would love to stay here and chat, I have somewhere to be Miss Hale". He pulled down his suit jacket and leveled her a mocking smile as she crawled to her Cane. He put both hands in his suit pockets and muttered, "I don't know why you even bother opening this shop when you should be in a home or something". Madison felt a rush of shame and anger. This wasn't the first time she was hearing this from him. She heard that often enough that it shouldn't matter. She grabbed her cane in one hand and holding onto a table with her other hand, slowly pushed herself up. Madison winced at the sharp pain from her bad leg. Holding the table steady, she turned around and in a voice very close to a whisper said, "How much... How much am I owing?" He smirked, "Finally, you ask the right question," he stepped closer, "about $2,500". She blinked, "2,500!" "mmm," he nodded with a broad smile. "W-what!" her heart sank. She felt the strength completely leave her body and her knees buckled. She quickly held the table tighter to maintain her balance. He snickered, thoroughly enjoying watching her distress. He threw back his head and laughed. Madison stiffened a moan as her entire body trembled, her throat tightened and she quickly glanced down at her foot. She would have completely broken down if she had met his gaze. He slapped the table closest to him making her jump, "M-... M.. M. Mis... Mister T.. T.. T" He scoffed, "It is bad enough that you are a cripple, did you also have to be such a wimp too?" She shivered, wrapped her hand around her middle, and in a very low tone said, "Sorry". He smirked put, leaned away slightly, and looked her down from head to feet. "You know, Madison, if you cannot get the money we can work something out. Something that would be more beneficial to me... and you of course". He attempted to run his knuckles down her cheeks but she quickly pulled away from him. "N-no," she nearly screamed the no but quickly caught herself. She did not want to bruise the mobster's precious ego. She cleared her throat and continued, "There is no need for that, I will get the money. I just need a little more time. Please give me a week or two". His smile stiffened, "No, you have four days". "What! That... That is far too soon. How am I going to get the money so quickly!" He sneered, "Then you should have taken me up on my offer and not be so frigid," he turned around and walked towards the door. He paused and inched away from the door, looked over his shoulder, and holding her gaze said, "See you in 3 days, Madison". Her eyes widened, "3 days? You said you gave me 4 days!" His lips curved into a disgusting smile, "Isn't today the first day?" He threw his head back and burst into laughter as he left the cafe. Madison's face crumbled a few minutes after they left. She fell on a seat, leaned forward, and held her head up. The bell by the door jiggled a few minutes later making her pause.