Into Insanity

Chapter 28: Pain and Confusion

The pounding in my head is unbearable. The bag draped over my head reeks of blood, sweat, dirt, and death. The droplets of sweat on my nose build up and roll down my face, to the tip of my nose and soaks into the sack. My hair feels soaked. Some long stands are stuck to my forehead. I try to move my arms. They're bound. It's sticky, so I assume it's tape.

It's hard to breathe, as my only access to air is through my nose now, and the bloody bag doesn't help any. Layers of tape cover my mouth. My body feels sore, and my lungs still feel full. I breathe in, long and hard, through my nose and let it out slowly. Remain calm. You've been through this one too many times, Jason. We can get out. Get Batari and get back.

Batari. Everyone.

I hope everyone is ok. Do they know Vaas is, or was, alive? Did they kill the rest of them? If they didn't, where are they? What happened to Batari? Are they coming for me?

I feel a knot in my stomach again. I'm starting to get worried. I don't know what to think. How did they get gas grenades? Who came up with that?

Of course... Lupo.

Oh shit, Lupo! Batari has to be ok. There's no way Lupo would torture his own sister, his own blood. Well... then again, I did. Maybe she betrayed me? No... no, she didn't. I can't think like that.

I know Vaas and Carlos had to have made it out, but did their group and my group make it? I heard gunshots, I'm sure the pirates fought hard. They always put up a good fight. Either way, I'm sure I'm going to be here for a minute. Last time it was Batari that got me out, this time... I guess I'll have to see.

Batari must be ok, but maybe she's not allowed to ever come near me again. Maybe she got a second chance. I hope she's not hurt. The blast and gas seemed to have done lots of damage.

It's hard to see shit with this bag. The room is dim for sure and very hot. My head continues to pound, and I have an itch on my nose but since my hands are bound, I'm unable to scratch it. That feels like more torture than what I'm about to have.

I'm sure I'm going to be here for a while. Nothing better than Hoyts Compound all over again. I've done this too many times, shouldn't they know by now? I am the balancing point. Maybe this is the time for change. Maybe I can finally free these islands of violence.

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After a while of me sitting in the darkness, alone, I hear a door start to creak open. There is a scrape against the floor. Doesn't sound like concrete, it sounds more like... wood? I must not be at Hoyts Compound. But then, where am I? Must be a place... somewhere unexpected. It is hot, like the island's heat fills the room, so I'm guessing that I must not be underground. I couldn't have possibly been taken somewhere that is hidden in plain sight. Citra would never trust that. Dennis for sure wouldn't.

The heavy breathing of an angry man pulls me out of my thoughts, just as the nasty sack is ripped off of my head. It takes a minute for my eyes to adjust to the few lights around me and behold, I see Lupo standing in front of me. I knew he was the one who was going show up the whole time. It's always fucking Lupo.

Coming in behind him were a few Privateers and a few Rakyat soldiers. Lupo grabs a stool, places it down in front of me, and sits on the stool. His hands are formed into fists, so tight that it's forcing his veins in his forearms to pop out and his knuckles turn white. We stare at each other for a few seconds until Lupo rubs his hands on his thighs, then starts to clap his hands together. I instantly picture Carlos doing the same thing. I miss them already.