I look back at my ankles and reach forward with my hands to feel the shackles locked around them. They're cold and hard, made from a thick metal. Perhaps it could be steel, I'm not sure. I think to myself while analysing the rope that it looks odd in contrast, and sadly accept it's thick enough that I won't be able to chew through it. My eyes follow the rope from my wrists, to the floor where some slack is lying, then upwards to a loop by the ceiling where it disappears thereafter into darkness.
My mouth is dry and I test my voice by clearing my throat a little. The noise seems to echo in the quiet room and not long after it comes back to me do I hear a chair scrape and footsteps sound toward me. I jump, and I'm scared. I didn't know anyone was there, waiting and watching in silence. The steps sound heavy so I know it's male but whoever it is stops just within the shadows so I cannot see them, but the second he speaks, my whole body goes cold with shock.
His voice is clipped and calculating. He still sounds angry, but there is now a hint of achievement in there somewhere.
He's asked me something and when I can't seem to find my voice to respond, he strides into the light (confirming he is who I thought he was), and hits me straight across the face. He's strong, so it hurts (later I am thankful it wasn't a fist), and I cry out as the sheer force of the impact pushes me sideways. Wasting no time he leans down and grips me tightly by the throat. As he hauls me roughly to my feet, it's almost all happening in slow motion and I can even see the shadows playing over the muscles in his outstretched arm. I am barely able to find my feet, but he doesn't seem to notice, or care, and he doesn't let go.
I remember him being strong, but now he seems almost animal as he slams me back against the wall, his body presses up against mine pinning me into place. I can barely breathe as he is heavy and still has his hand pressed up against my throat. His breath is rough in my ear as he tells me in a hoarse, fierce whisper that I can say what I want but ultimately he doesn't care what I have to say.
I'm so shocked at everything happening, my lungs are battling from the lack of air, all I can do in response is choke in his grip. He steps back, keeping the pressure on my neck and narrows his eyes. He seems to be taking pleasure in having the power to do this at his will.
Just as I feel my mind slipping and fading he lets go and, falling forward, I rake in ragged breaths desperately between my coughs. My mind clears again as the oxygen returns to my brain, but seconds later, while I'm still recovering, the ropes on my wrists jerk upward and I find myself pinned against the wall, hands above my head. I'm unable to move them, no matter how hard I struggle. Kicking makes no difference as the chains are now pulled taught, and the furthest I can move them now is no more than hip distance apart.
He paces in front of me, laughing at my embarrassingly futile attempts and suddenly it dawns on me that I cannot see a way out of this, so I start to beg. I beg to be let go, I beg for this to be over, I plead that I'm sorry for anything wrong I did before, but he just ignores me.
To be continued...
