Chapter Twenty-One

‘What the fuck’s going on?’ Martin demanded, as he woke.

‘Martin, it’s me, Hector. We are prisoners.’

‘What the fuck is going on Hector… and what the fuck are you doing here?’ Martin demanded answers, his voiced raised, anger raging through his veins.

‘Do you remember the guy in the black suit that they were talking about on the news? He bought us both here.’

‘Fucking hell my head hurts. Why?’

‘He didn’t explain that bit. I think it’s me he wants, you are just here to make up the numbers.’

‘Fucking hell Hector, where are we? We need to get away. How long have we been here?’

‘I’ve been here since yesterday… I think. You arrived a few hours ago.’

‘You look like shit; you’ve been given a right fucking kicking,’ Martin said, as he checked himself. ‘He doesn’t seem to have touched me.’

‘That’s why I said he only wants me!’

‘Hold on a minute,’ Martin sat up, ‘I thought she was making him up, if it’s the same guy, he made that girl kill her fella. Oh no – fucking hell Hector!’ Martin panicked.

‘You’re here to kill me Martin. And there’s no way out.’ Hector said pointing to his posterior, ‘It’s a bottle and, yes, it’s been stuck there. I’ve tried to remove it but it’s too painful.’

‘Why?’ Martin gasped. ‘What have we done?’

‘It’s me, what I’ve done, I think you’re here for the same reasons he used the girl.’

‘We need to stop him, to tell him to stop,’ Martin said urgently.

‘When he bought you here, he stuck that handcuff around your ankle and then made me swallow a key. I would place money that the key he made me swallow is the key to that handcuff and the bottle is to stop me shitting it out!’

‘What are we gonna do?’

‘Wait for him to come back. Listen Martin, I know I haven’t been a brilliant husband to your sister, and I’ve not been there for our kids. All this is a little too late I know… but I have to make peace, there’s no way that we can escape. I’ve tried begging him but he is cold. I have to face it, I’m going to die here. If you don’t do it, he will. You might not have a choice – make no mistake. You have to do it, to save yourself.’

Martin couldn’t take it in, ‘I was out with Greg, but I don’t remember getting back to Greg’s. I was gonna stay at his… I don’t remember leaving the pub… oh my fucking God, this must be a fucking bad dream.’

‘He got me from around the back of The Penny. Listen, it’s no secret that I swing both ways – Mandy knows, and always has done. He must hate gays.’

‘I never thought it was true. I thought you were just a mouthy bastard!’

‘It’s common where I come from.’ Hector coughed the pain from his broken ribs more potent now. ‘I know that…what I’m trying to say is that Mandy accepts me for who I am.’

‘That’s fucking bullshit! If Mandy knew, you would have been history – and if I had known…’ Martin started to cry, saddened by what he had just been told.

‘Cut the bollocks Martin. Mandy would never have allowed you to do anything and you know that!’

‘She’s protected you for years Hector. But look where you are now – look where we are now,’ Martin snapped, tripping on his words. ‘This is your fault, you dirty bastard. I’ve been dragged in.’ Once again, Martin paused, his anger intensifying his hatred for Hector. ‘I’ll tell him to fucking kill you; then my sister will be rid of you. I’ll tell him that I ain’t gay and he’ll let me go. That shit ain’t got fuck all to do with me.’

‘Well, he seems to think it’s got plenty to do with you, or you wouldn’t be here would you? You stupid bastard!’

‘No. If you fucking understood what your fucking arsehole was for, then neither of us would be here, would we? And he wouldn’t have shoved a bottle up it, would he?’

‘Be as angry as you want, it doesn’t change anything. We’re both here, and we ain’t fucking going nowhere, unless he says so.’

‘You know that, whatever happens, it’s all down to you. It’s your fucking fault.’

‘I know one thing… he’s not bothered what we think.’