Shackled

Chapter 2 - Imprisoned

Present Day...

Coughing, I open my eyes groggily. My body aches everywhere, but my head? It feels like a 20 pound weight on top of my shoulders. I can barely lift it enough to look around. I try to scratch the itch on my nose, but my arms are stuck. I try futilely to move them, but I hear the clinking of chains. I'm trapped to a wall? I can feel the cool stone behind my back. Looking at the ground, I realize that I'm not even touching it.

My ankles have large manacles around them, most likely similar to the ones on my wrists. They're shiny and seem to be more hi-Tech than normal. An orange light keeps blinking at me and there doesn't seem to be a lock for a key on it.

Finally finding some semblance of energy, I raise my gaze enough to see a bare room, but it's more like a glass box. What I mistook for stone is actually some kind of glass. It looks thick, definitely not going to be easy to break out of. I thrash in place, attempting to loosen what holds me, but it doesn't help.

Reaching inside myself, I locate the source of my power. Maybe if I can-

"Ah you're awake." The voice snags my attention, giving me the strength to look up. A man stands in front of the glass, looking at me with what seems to be excitement. What is this place?

"Wha-?" I try to speak, but the world tilts and I feel sick to my stomach. What did they do to me?

"The drugs in the gas are probably still wearing off, Mary-Jane." I grimace at his use of my full name. For one, he knows it without me giving the information out, but two, I hate my full name. That's why I'm Jay or MJ. Mary-Jane reminds me too much of my grandmother. I suppress a shudder at the thought of her.

"Do not call me that." I grit my teeth with effort just to say those five words. It's like my own mouth is revolting against me.

"Your name?" He asks with false innocence. The gleam in his eye tells me the truth. "But it's your legal name. What else am I to call you?"

"Not that." I growl, yanking at my chains again. The ache in my bones has spread to my muscles and I realize just how bad this position is. I'm hanging constantly and my shoulders are beginning to protest. Ignoring the burn, I focus my attention on the chuckling man outside.

He's got a slight grin on his face, but it's his dark five o'clock shadow that catches my eye. It's almost like he's trying to grow it out. Gross. Dark brown eyes twinkle behind the glass and though they should be kind, they have an iciness in their depths. They do say eyes are the windows to the soul. I can't help but wonder if his soul is as cold as it looks.

"I'm afraid Mary-Jane, that until you give me some other title, I'll have to use that one." Though his words say he's sorry, his tone implies the otherwise.

"Who are you?" I ask, trying to change the topic. He knows what I'm doing and allows it.

"Me? My name is need to know only. Surely you of all people understand the need for secrets, yes?" The man winks at me and I feel dirty. I'm nothing like him, no matter what I've done in the past. The vibe I get off this guy is so wrong. It makes my skin recoil and my body tense tightly. My secrets can't be anything compared to his.

"Tell me now." I state, getting aggravated now. If only I knew where I am. Then I could try to plan an escape.

"You're not in any position to make demands." He reminds me of my current state, walking confidently to the right side of the box. He places a palm on the surface and a green light appears like a beam, scanning down from his fingertips to the bottom of his palm. I hear a mechanical release and suddenly, red lights go off around the room. There's two loud buzzes that give me the urge to cover my ears, but I can't move my hands.

Then a panel appears in the wall, sliding open and allowing the man inside. He's got to be some sort of doctor, with his lab coat and all. The question is what kind. He ruffles his dark brown hair quickly before shoving his hands into his pockets and whistling on his way over to me. He stands in front of me and that's when I notice how young he is. He couldn't be more than 25 at max. He grins, flashing brilliantly white teeth before speaking.

"Do you know why you're here?" He asks simply. Of course I do. These people have been after me ever since graduation with everything that happened. But I don't know what they're going to do to me now that I'm here, so I shake my head no.

He chuckles softly. "You must have some idea, Mary-Jane." I bristle at my name, but quickly hide it. I'm in no position to get angry. I need all the information I can get from this guy.

"What do you want from me?" I ask, trying to contain the anger in my voice. It isn't working.

"Now, now. That's not a nice way to ask a question." His condescending tone only aggravates me more. I'm not a child. I'm an adult. Treat me like one, asshole.

"Tell me. Please." The word tastes bitter as I say it, but it is necessary if I want to learn anything.

"Better." He crosses his arms. "We need you, Mary-Jane. We want to understand you."

They want to experiment on me.

"What?" The world seems distant as I lose myself to my own thoughts. My muscles contract tightly, ready for action.

"We just want to learn from you."

Use me. They want to use me. But for what?

"Liar." I mutter, but he hears because of his proximity.

"I'll never lie to you. That wouldn't help anybody." He smirks deviously.

"Learn from me? What does that entail?" I ask slowly. My mouth feels like it's full of cotton balls. I need water. Yes, I'm just thirsty. The urge to ask for some nearly overwhelms me, but I stop myself. I need information first.

"We want to know how you work, Mary-Jane, why you are the way you are, just the standard questions."

"I don't know those answers." I couldn't lie about that if I wanted to.

"Act like an adult please. This will be relatively painless if you play nicely." He teases in that condescending tone. I want to rip his throat out, but I can't. What they done to me?

"What did you do to me?" I manage to growl.

"Now, now, darling, it isn't polite to answer a question with a question."

"What do you want to know?" I question offhandedly. My eyes probe my prison, searching for a simple way out but without his prints, there's no possibility of escape. 

"What are you?" A relatively simple question, when you're anyone other than me.

"I don't know." His eyes give away his disbelief.

"I really wanted to do this the easy way, but Mary-Jane you leave me no choice." He reaches into the pocket of his coat, pulling out a sleek syringe, a clear liquid sloshing inside of the vial.

"Wait, no. Stop, what is that?" I stammer, trying to move away, but all I succeed in doing is making my body sway in the air. My feet scramble for some traction along the floor, but they barely skim the smooth surface.

"Just insurance. Nothing to worry about." He flicks the glass and comes toward me. I jerk in motion, trying my hardest to stay far from the man.

"Now Mary-Jane, don't fight me on this." He smirks. "Now, let's hear what's really on your mind."

He shoves the needle in my bicep and I don't bother to hold back my scream as he sends the unknown liquid in my veins.