Page 60 of His Obsession
“Did you get a name?”
“Timothy, twenty-two. Loving parents, two sisters.”
“Wake him up?” I asked. This was Tonk’s show, and he liked to start things out a certain way.
“Do it.”
I grabbed the cold, white canister, put the end directly on Timothy’s ear, and pushed the button. The blaring air horn in his ear caused him to jerk awake, hard, pulling on his chains, unable to soothe his aching ear.
The confusion on his face turned to fear that he promptly tried to hide as he looked around the room. Spitting his blood on the floor, he glared at me, defiance glistening in his eyes, his lips pressed into a thin line. Was this how it would be until he saw who was standing behind him with a blade?
If there was any doubt that I had a black soul, it would be washed away like the finality of death by the glee I got from this part.I loved this part. When the shock and surprise stung their face realizing it was not a regular beat down but the real shit—like you were not going home when this was over, but we’d take good care of your body in the end.
He didn’t know this yet.
That part had yet to come.
“Hi, Timothy. Can I call you Tim?” I asked, cocking my head.
I flipped the emotional switch. My emotions have caused me to make terrible calls through this process, and I realized now, I couldn’t have them around. I was going to find her, come Hell or high water, and if I was going to do that, my soul was going to get a little darker.
“What’s going on? Where am I?” he asked, jerking his head from side to side, looking around the bare room.
“Iask the questions here, Tim. There are going to be a few, but the most important one I want you to think about is… where is Elizabeth Keel?”
“I don’t—” he stumbled, the fear now climbing through his eyes, like his demons making their escape while they could.
“—Ah,ah, ah,” I held my finger up to stop him, “I don’t want lies. Just remember, you can end all that is about to happen to you by just being honest and answering my questions.”
Tonk walked around to face him, and Timothy showed no signs of recognition for him, which meant he wasn’t a part of the underworld for long or at all. Everyone in the underground heard of Tonk and feared him. More so than me. His skills were unparalleled; even his protégé didn’t come close.
“P-please. I-I don’t know anything, I was just hired to take her.” His eyes bounced back and forth from me to Tonk, unsure which one to be more afraid of.
Should I give him a hint?
Icouldn’t move anything; I was cold. Tremors assailed my body, and my muscles spasmed, forming small knots of stabbing pain. Something chilly pressed against my cheek, and the pungent smell of vomit stung my nose. Where was I? What happened?
I tried to lift my head, but the weight was just too much. I felt like a newborn trying to move without help. I opened my eyes, but it was all a blur. The tremendous amount of energy it took to move my arm and slide it across my face left me panting. I rubbed an eye at a snail’s pace, with slow, steady circles to clear the haze.
Dark shapes surrounded me, causing my stomach to clench. A spot in the corner to the right of me didn’t move but stared at me, and my heart picked up its pace. Shapes and colors mingled together, and I couldn’t think through the murk. Was I in my room? Did I fall asleep on the ground?
I rubbed my eyes harder, the blur retreating. I wasn’t somewhere I had been before.Was I? The room was tiny, with a door in front and a toilet to the right. That must have been the darkened blob I observed in the corner. My muscles were shaking with exertion and numbness, but I sat myself up and instantly regretted it.
My room whirled.
Bending over, I heaved all over the floor beside me. What little energy I had before dissolved, and I fell to the floor, banging my head on the concrete.
Then, my vision faded.
∞∞∞
A harsh metal clank jarred me awake.
My head was pulsating. Pinched nerves in my neck caused a terrible zing. I groaned as my hand tried to rub the aching pain away. I must have gotten wasted last night. I don’t even remember having that many drinks. I can’t believe this. I pissed Alek off; I know it. How did we even get home? Did he have to carry me? My God, what is that horrid smell?
The brilliant red behind my eyelids was blinding. Opening my eyes, I immediately closed them. The room was too bright for my sensitive state. I slowly sat up and tried opening them again. Bright red changed to flashes of bright white lights as I blinked rapidly.
“Ah, you’re awake. The drugs worked better than I’ve heard.” A loud voice screeched, making me recoil. Who was that? Why did it sound familiar?