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Silver chains burned into his wrists, searing the flesh and rousing him from an unconscious state. Luke’s eyelids flickered open and closed a few times before he realized that he had no idea where he was. The darkened room stank of mold and decay, the air damp and unnaturally silent. Struggling to recall how he had come to this place, Luke hurt all over, as though he had been taken to with a baseball bat or worse.
The acrid stench of stale blood floated in, telling Luke that he should either feel lucky to be alive, or fear the worst had yet to come. The pounding in his head hit him so hard it sounded like bells ringing. It felt just like a hangover, though Luke felt positive he hadn’t been drinking.
Have I? Starting to second guess himself, Luke began to wonder. It would have been just like him to screw it all up like that. He tried to move and sharp daggers of pain rocketed up both forearms
Luke had no way of telling what time of day it might be, every minute seemed like an hour. There were no windows in the cell, just a tiny cavity in the mason work at the bottom of the rickety staircase. The light that came from it cast such a dim luminescence over the place that he was shrouded with shadow even during the day.
Without knowing how much time had passed and unable to gage by sunset or sunrise, he didn’t have a clue how long he’d even been here. What is this place? When Luke yanked on his chains in anger; foul smelling steam arose from his flesh as the silver burned through. Falling in defeat Luke sat there still until he managed to fall asleep again.
When he awoke next, he discovered two men standing in his cell with their weapons trained on him. The third had released him from his shackles and though still a bloody mess, removal of the silver had been enough to rouse him. The armed guards looked nervous, guns trembling as they aimed at Luke, leaving him wondering how he’d become so intimidating that he needed three people to ensure he didn’t escape.
His eyes wandered over each man in turn, learning whatever he could in this brief moment he’d been granted. The two with guns were barely more than kids, he doubted that they’d ever had to kill anyone. I wonder who they’re more afraid of, the abductee or the abductor.
The third man would be the one to watch. With his shaven head and skin overflowing with tattooed expression, his physique didn’t hold the true threat. What could not be seen by the naked eye seemed far more concerning, his energy felt strong. Not as strong as Luke’s from what he could tell, but it didn’t matter a hell of a lot when Luke lay weakened, injured and outnumbered.
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.” The man forced his gritty voice out between cigarette clenched teeth. Catching the stub between two fingers, he withdrew it and blew smoke in Luke’s face.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I could give a fuck less.” Luke responded.
There remained little in his life that ran efficiently. He loved the girls, Jodie and his parents though deep down he believed they were better off without him. He’d never choose to abandon them but if something happened to him, maybe it would be for the best. It’s not as if I have much to offer anymore.
“I’m Charlie Hohepa, that’s a name you need to remember since I’m the one you owe loyalty to.”
“I don’t owe you a damned thing.”
Charlie grabbed a rifle off one of the guards, flipped it and bashed Luke across the jaw. The impact split his lip open, throwing him sideways. Luke fell face first into the filth and excrement lining the floor of his cell. He didn’t bother to get up, preferring to move his gaze instead.
“Care to say that again? I’ve got as long as it takes.” Charlie scoffed.
Luke just glared at him.
“Your choice,” shrugged Charlie. “Give him the goat.”
One of the gun toting teenagers dashed out of the room, Luke frowned and kept his eyes on the door at the top of the stairs as he waited for the impending return. Soon the wannabe appeared again with a bleating farm animal, which he thrust at Luke despite its reluctance.
“What the hell is that thing for?”
“I wouldn’t want to be accused of being an inhumane king.” Charlie smirked. “It’s no three course meal but it ought to keep you going a while before the stink gets too overbearing.”
The goat skittered over to a far corner of the cell, not wanting to be anywhere near Luke, who smelled of predator. Charlie and his minions laughed as they exited the small space, locking the door behind them. Though the light was poor, Luke could see the goat watching him. Fearful of his every movement, it bleated loudly.
“Yeah, it fucking sucks from where I’m sitting too.”
Lying back so that his head rested on the concrete wall behind him, Luke closed his eyes and tried to ignore the pounding headache. As he lay there alone for hours upon hours, he thought about his daughters again. He hoped they wouldn’t be too distraught over his disappearance. Knowing he would miss them, a dull ache settled in Luke’s chest.
He’d resigned himself to the fact that he’d probably never get out of this place but that didn’t mean Luke would be a model prisoner. No, he planned to make the lives of his captors as difficult as possible. They would rue the day they’d put Luke Fletcher in a cell. Scheming already, Luke had a twisted smile on his face as he fell asleep.