He wasn't not handsome.<br/><br/>Allison likened the intruder to one of those rugged anti-heroes in the romance novels she loved to consume. In the novel his name would be unusual, like Trent or Press or Malcolm.<br/><br/>But she wasn't kidding herself. This wasn't the man of her dreams.<br/><br/>Nightmares? Perhaps. If he was going to rape or sodomize her, Allison wish that he'd get it over with. The playing with her part was awful.<br/><br/>But here it comes. Here it comes, she thought as he approached her and started groping, probing and squeezing. Allison sighed through her nose and looked skyward, closing her eyes and trying to think good thoughts.<br/><br/>It was like modeling, which she did on occasion---maybe 3-4 times a year. She would sometimes have to emote for the photographer, and it was in those times where she would take herself mentally to a place that would evoke the kind of look and expression that was desired. It was like acting without speaking.<br/><br/>Appropriate now, because she couldn't speak. The tape was pressed firm over her mouth, gluing her lips together. She heard how silly she sounded when she tried to talk without parting her lips. Totally unintelligible.<br/><br/>The man's hands were rough, calloused. The hands of a manual laborer, perhaps, or of a man who escaped from prison?<br/><br/>That was it. He killed some guards and was on the run, Allison thought as she concocted the man's story for him.<br/><br/>He was hurt, though. She could tell by how he limped slightly. She was a nurse. What a perfect way to gain trust!<br/><br/>But she couldn't talk.<br/><br/>Frustrated after he asked her about bandages, Allison nodded eagerly and tried to get him to look at her purse, where he'd find her work ID and the plastic bag with the dirty scrubs. But the purse was in the front room.<br/><br/>She slowly raised her hands but didn't come close to removing the tape from her mouth. She pointed to the front room.<br/><br/>"Mmmrrmrm," she said, trying to say "purse."<br/><br/>She rolled her eyes. She briefly thought about removing the tape, saying, "I'm a nurse," and putting the tape back over her mouth but she knew that as soon as she made the move, the man would freak out.<br/><br/>Sighing, Allison boldly decided to slide off the island, her bare feet making a patting sound as they hit the linoleum floor. She turned her body to the front room and took a couple gentle, slow steps in that direction.<br/><br/>"Prmrmrm," she said, jabbing her bound hands toward the purse, which was spilled on the floor in front of the sofa.<br/><br/>Once he realizes she was a nurse, Allison thought, his attitude might change.