Psycho Therapist

Riddle Me This

I have published this on Amazon and Kindle. Under my pen name, Robin Ray. As a paperback or an eBook. I'm working on A Soul Undiminished next to publish it in the same way. But I would appreciate it immensely for anyone who wants to read it to purchase it though one of these. Summary: Twisted romance of a woman's fight to not only survive, but to live. Some adult content and language. A friend suggested I try to write something that is not a fanfic, and I was happy to oblige. It is not based on any true events or characters, and the story is my original work. The cover photo is my favorite actor, Alan Rickman, and I imagine him as the actor for the main character of this story, although he, of course, is not a true part of this story except as being my inspiration... daily, and I can't help but think he would have enjoyed acting this part. During one of his interviews, he expressed the hope that there would be more stories of romance for older age groups.

Chapter 1 - Riddle Me This
Amari's mind was reeling. Was this some sort of a game? Or some nutjob who chose her as his witless victim? A jolt of fear shot through her, and her heart beat faster at the thought of the gruesome turn this could take. She remembered leaving her office; the next thing she knew, she was waking up here—wherever 'here' was. When she had regained consciousness, she found herself sitting in a chair with her hands cuffed behind her back. Amari was still wearing the professional attire she had left work in, but she felt as if her clothes were disheveled, her long hair disarranged, and she wondered how she had been brought here, and how long she had been here for. 

The room was almost completely dark, and the man sitting across from her was hidden in the shadow. She guessed the man to be middle-aged by the little bit of gray she could see in his hair.  He looked well-dressed, wearing dress pants with a white dress shirt and tie, and she wondered if maybe she was somehow involved in a police investigation.  That didn't explain why the lights were out, unless perhaps the man was an undercover agent trying to mask his identity. She had tried asking him what was going on, but he had ignored all her questions. She had tried to break free from the chair, but it was firmly attached to the floor. She realized her idea that this was part of an official inquiry no longer seemed like a plausible explanation for her situation.  She felt herself start to shiver, the fear creeping in. Her hands were clammy, but not enough to slip the cuffs off. She steeled her mind, bracing herself for any possibility. She would not be a victim.
The man reached over to pick up a pack of cigarettes from the table next to the big leather chair he was sitting in and drew one out.

"You quit smoking years ago, didn't you? Would you like one now?" she heard him finally speak; his voice calm, deep but smooth, a hint of an accent she couldn't place.

"Yes, thank you," she replied, politeness dripping from her. She didn't know how he knew that, but she knew he would have to uncuff her from the chair for her to smoke. She could try to run then, or fight. He took another cigarette out of the pack, then he stood and walked slowly around his chair before moving towards her. He lit the first cigarette and transferred it over to her mouth, then lit the second for himself, taking a long draw.

"Sorry. I have to leave the cuffs on," he said as he leaned back against his chair, standing with his legs crossed at the ankles, and his accent sounded decidedly English now.

So much for the idea of him uncuffing me, she thought. Had he known she was expecting that when he offered her the cigarette? Damn, she hadn't smoked in years, which she did sometimes miss, but she'd always hated smoking without being able to use her hands. She didn't let it show though, and she moved the cigarette in her mouth where she could inhale and exhale comfortably. She closed her eyes, drawing in a long drag, as the familiar burn of the smoke hit her throat. Mmm...Menthol. They had been her favorite when she used to smoke, and she wondered if that was intentional on his part.