Breaking the Beast - Volatile Times Book 1

4 - Behind a Veil of Influence

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December 21st, 2020

By the second day in captivity, Jimmy's stomach burned. Even as a kid, it was never like he went a day without eating. What was even worse however was the lack of water. After the waterboarding incident, he was completely dehydrated. He was alone most of the day, but he could overhear rushed footsteps outside the door. In those hours to himself, Jimmy did a lot of thinking. He remembered the words of his torturer, laced in a thick foreign accent and a type of hate only a mother could tolerate. 'You tell anyone this happened and I'll see to it your friends are dead.' Considering everything that has happened so far, he believed it. Running on barely any sleep, Jimmy couldn't bring himself to fall asleep in this chair he was bound to. Anyone could hurt him. He wanted Bhushan back... his gentle words were the only thing keeping his scared shitless mind at peace. Bhushan was on his side, no matter how weird it seemed that T-Series was working with him. Jimmy had no clue what time it was when Bhushan finally returned to his holding cell, untying the rope.

"What now...?"

"Ranveer briefed you on how you send the money to the correct bank account right?"

"Yes, right after that guy came bursting in talking about how two of your guys were dead."

"Well then, I'm here to bring you home."

"You mean... this is finally over?"

"I suppose if that's how you want to refer to it. It's not technically over until the mafia is defeated but yes, your time here is over." Legs weak, Jimmy found himself leaning into Bhushan's warm frame. He had been thrust into a world he didn't understand. A world that used violence as currency and torture as its product. Jimmy wasn't fit for it, used to a lavish life in comparison where his biggest concern was if his next video would get over 80 percent CTR. Thankfully, he felt like he could trust Bhushan Kumar. The mysterious CEO kept lots out of his reach but his desire for revenge might just protect him. Two of his men awaited the duo by a van.

"Are you sure you don't want one of us to accompany you?"

"Trust me, he won't escape. Just focus on getting rid of those two bodies." Jimmy knew he was right. Was that a bad thing? Shouldn't he be struggling against his captors? He truly is a coward. How pathetic. Useless-

"Alright, let us just blindfold him and adjust the restraints."

"Ya ya." The sudden darkness put Jimmy on high alert. His new metal prison was cold to the touch making him shiver in the thin fabrics doing little to protect him. The door slammed shut sending rumbles through the floor. Unlike last time, he could attempt to stand. Jimmy's upper body strength was lacking but it was enough to get him into his shaky feet. He could stand, he could actually stand on his own, no longer being guided by any sort of guard-

The car started.

The fall was something Jimmy barely even noticed. He would've done something about his current predicament if it wasn't so fruitless. But his vision was blurring deeper than black and he was drowning. The waves were stronger than steel and made of oil. A tsunami of prize and darkness filled his nose and mouth, coiling around his neck and choking him out oh so gently. It was all of the pain and none of the coma. No sleep coming to whisk him away from his breathlessness-

"You know, it's rather rude not to reply to someone when they ask you something?" Jimmy didn't realize his eyes were closed, not like it mattered. He was apparently holding his breath too... not... drowning...

"Um, what did you ask?"

"Do you prefer McDonald's or Burger King?"

"... Burger King."