My eyes sharpened into focus from that blurry uncertain state they get in when you just wake up. His hand was squarely wrapped around my neck. It fit almost comfortably, so that I couldn't fault him for restraining me so handily. My head was on the ground, my arms splayed out, my legs bent, scrambling weakly for any purchase. His breath was right next to my ear, as he whispered threats and thoughts of his. I felt powerless and there was that subtle smile, that upturned corner of the mouth as he whispered his twisted desires.
Heavy footsteps approached from above my head, I tried to bring my eyes high enough to see what I could, but I shouldn't have bothered, as another man hove fully into view. He was business, and carrying a rope. I started to move my arms and flattened my palms onto the cold concrete, ready to spring into some action that I figured I should at least try.
Man number one stopped that from happening as he pushed his other large hand squarely onto the inside of my thigh, pulling my leg apart from the other. His friend suddenly grabbed my right wrist and pulled it far out from my side while man number one relaxed his grip on my neck long enough for them to pull my chest and head up and then tug my arm up and back.
I was now more compromised than before.
I should say I knew the names of the two men. They had been assisting in the set up of my new apartment. They were supposedly the internet guys or something. They were supposed to get all the security details right or something like that. Clearly that hadn't happened. I mean, actually, I'm not sure how this had come about. They were in the apartment, tapping away at some tablets, clucking their teeth as they sorted through my info while I watched some netflix. It wasn't anything right?
I hadn't noticed the silence that descended. The lack of activity.