Chapter 1- The Silhouette

     He stirred, long thick lashes fluttered open revealing beautiful hazel eyes, then closed again, only to reopen, trying to adjust to the dimly lit room with no windows and a single door to the far left corner of the room. He slowly began to absorb and asses his unfamiliar surroundings. He looked around the relatively small and virtually empty room but for a few items strategically placed. To the left, a few meters away from the door was a table with things he couldn't make out spread across its entire surface. There was a wooden chair placed right in the middle of the room, facing him, with the only source of light, a lamp, hanging from a wooden beam a few meters away from him, it hung between the chair and him.  

   He tried to stand to his feet from his seated position, suddenly realizing he was restricted by four chains, one for each arm and leg which was then attached to the wall behind him. A flood of emotions flashed across his face - shock, confusion and fear - . He began to tug and struggle against his restraints but they wouldn't budge. He struggled to his feet, tugging as hard as he could as if that alone would set him free.  

   Out of frustration and against his better judgment he called out in a loud voice 

 "Help", while still trying hard in futility to free himself.  

  Angry, he called out again "somebody help me" he paused then shouted

  "Anyone out there please help me". His frantic cries for help was rewarded with total silence.  

   He knew it was useless to have called for help, he knew nobody was coming and that scared him. Thoughts of movies he had watched and stories on the news flashed through his mind. He struggled again, he can't be a victim of whoever it is that's holding him captive , he is a man , men are supposed to be strong, they struggle to survive no matter the situation, they never resign to whatever limitation they find themselves in. 

   That was hope talking, doing what it knew how to do best, it can make you believe in your ability to do incredible things in weird situations. That's the thing with hope, it deceives a person and strings the person along, it is a slow poison that makes a person believe in something that isn't, it makes a person believe something good can come out of a wreckage. Holding on to a glimmer of hope within him and trusting in his abilities, he felt he could get out of this situation which already seemed lost.  

   He struggled again against his restraints this time even harder, tugging and tugging, perhaps if he tugs hard enough, the chains would give way, with a derisive snort he cut his thoughts short as doubt laced with fear slowly crept in but he continued struggling. He began to devise plans of escape as hope spurred him on, he wasn't going to stand here, knowing his life is in danger, he is going to find a way out of this. He couldn't remember how he got here, everything seemed like a blur. 

   The door slowly opened with a soft creek. His attention was immediately drawn to it, moonlight shone through, revealing a small silhouette, obviously smaller than he was probably a 5'8. Could this be his abductor, he wondered. Probably not, they may just be working for a bigger boss, 

     "Who are you and why am I here?" He questioned, but there was no response. 

    The silhouette moved into the room, slender fingers bolting the door shut. Feeling insulted for being ignored, frustrated by his situation, he spoke again, angrily  

   "Do you not hear me talking to you?, Do you know who I am ?, Once I get out of here I will make sure you and all who are in on this , pay for all you have done". The chains rattled as he rambled, pausing for a few seconds to catch his breath, arrogantly, he continued his ramblings  

"Is it money you want, I have lots of it, I will pay double whatever they're paying you, just let me go"

  Perhaps they would let him go, he thought but he got no reaction from the person hiding in the shadows. The silhouette calmly watched from the shadows, he couldn't tell if they were thinking of taking his offer or not, the silhouette turned to face the table, fiddling with some of the objects.  

  Annoyed, he decides to provoke a reaction from the person, in a tone laced with venom he said

   "Only a coward hides in the darkness" raising his voice he continued, "loosen these restraints and I'll show you what it's like to be a man."  

It worked , the silhouette turned, he got a reaction but not the one he was expecting, he thought they'll be angry and loosen him to prove a point, instead he got a calm icy response, 

   "Are you done rambling? I am tired of hearing you speak. You know you are not in any position to bargain" pausing for a few seconds, the voice continued," you know for someone who claims to be a master of psychology you are really dumb, you underestimate me". 

     Shock ... Disbelief and horror took over his features, he felt like the wind was knocked out of him, the air became thinner and the room was closing in on him. Reeling back from the shock, the chains jingling as he did. 

    He finally found his voice after a few minutes, " it can't be... That voice... How...? " 

    He stammered as he tried to make sense of his situation, too many questions flooded his mind. Closing his eyes for a few seconds trying to still his raging mind. The voice was right, he underestimated them, he couldn't believe it was possible, he couldn't believe he was abducted by someone he knew.  

  The silhouette silently watched, enjoying the look on his face, enjoying his fear and horror. Like a speeding train knocking him off his high horse , he was hit by reality and like the chills from freezing water , he began to tremble as he pieced together some of the puzzles in his head , he knew his abductor was vengeful, he knew the things he had done to get him to this point.  

   He watched with fear as the silhouette went back to the table, fiddling with what he now assumed to be torture tools, he hoped he was wrong but he knew deep down that he wasn't, slender fingers ran across different tools, picking one up and putting it back again as if they were trying to decide which one to start the torture with. Sweat slowly dripped from his body. 

   He gulped in horror as he waited for what was to come, he knew he shouldn't keep talking but he had to say what was on his mind, regardless so he asked  

    " Why are you doing this?"  

   Slowly and menacingly like an advancing predator toying with its prey, the silhouette walked out of the darkness revealing the face of his abductor, confirming his thoughts.  

  Clad in all black from head to toe wearing a pair of rain boots, rubber gloves and a rubber apron, looking like a butcher, his eyes widened as he slowly took in their appearance. Silently the abductor advanced watching his every move, savoring his pain and helplessness, the fun was yet to begin. Stopping in front of him under the lamp.  

    Stony black orbs stared into scared hazel eyes "you ruined me" pausing, then chuckling, "or so you think, you played me for a fool! But I won't let you have the last laugh. I am more powerful and deadlier than you think" the abductor said in an eerily calm voice, then turned away and began walking back to the table.  

  With tears in his once beautiful and mesmerizing eyes he pleaded "please don't hurt me" pausing he said in a shaky breath  "I regret all I have done, if I could, I would take it all back" 

"Lair!" Came the response and with that a flying dagger towards his right shoulder, pinning him to the wall behind him. 

   He let out a loud scream as pain shot up his arm and nervous system, blood slowly dripped from his shoulder down his arm to the floor below. The abductor watched him cry, then turned and walked out a few minutes later locking the door behind.