Keeping the Strength to Fight

Chapter 10- John

Oh how cliche.

And predictable.

John sighed as he tried to stretch on the cold floor, his muscles still unresponsive to his commands. Ankles and wrists bound together, he took note of his surroundings.

He frowned.

The flat.

They took him back into the flat.

He pondered this for a minute, unsure as to the thought behind that decision. Why would they take him back to the flat? How does that make any sense? Aren't they supposed to take him to some super secret location under the radar of the police?

Attempting to sit up, he knocked his head against the corner of the coffee table and cringed, knowing the sound was loud enough to be heard from outside the apartment.

Sure enough, heavy footsteps made their way through the door and across the room to the bottom of his feet. Two more sets followed close behind.

John lifted his eyes to meet his captors face, feeling somewhat disheartened that he was being held hostage in his own home.

The man from earlier greeted him with a not so pleasant smile."Good morning Dr. Watson, have a nice sleep?"

"Bit stupid, wasn't it?" John said, getting strait to the point."Taking me back here? Anyone could find me."

"Ah, but that's where you're wrong!" The man replied gleefully. "Why would anyone need to look for you? Your landlady, oh what's her name... Mrs Huddle, Humpton, Hunset..."

"Mrs Hudson." John corrected through gritted teeth.

"Oh yes... She's very sweet isn't she?"

"What did you do?"

"Nothing! ...yet. We were just having a nice cuppa tea... You see, she knows we're here. After we found you outside passed out on the floor, she couldn't allow us to just leave." His tone was patronizing and sarcastic.

"What did you tell her?" He demanded.

"Oh, just what we wanted her to know."

John sighed. "I still don't see how bringing me here was a good idea, on your part."

"Because everyone will know you're here! No one would need to look for you if they already know where you are. You're recovering from your ordeal this morning, and need to rest up for a few days. And we are here to 'look after you', being as we're old friends from college, so they have no reason to come for a visit either!" The man replied, grinning wickedly.

He was really starting to hate this guy.

John ground his teeth together. Outwardly, he was pretty clam, if a bit pissed off. But in actual fact, his mind was racing, and he was desperately trying to keep his breathing normal. He couldn't see a way out of this. No one was coming, and the likelihood of him escaping was next to none. The best thing he could do was wait and see what they wanted from him.

Sighing, he asked, "What the hell is all this for? What exactly have I done?"

The man grinned again."Well I suppose you deserve to know..."

John clenched his fists.

"Buut i'm really not in the mood for explaining! Boys, let's give Dr. Watson a taste of his own medicine!" He looked thoughtful for a moment before grinning, again.

"If you'll pardon the pun!"

The men began prowling towards him as the ringleader left the room. Incapacitated on the floor, John didn't have any kind of loophole or advantage. He started frantically searching the room for something, anything, to defend himself with, but nothing was within reach from his position on the floor.

Slowly, painstakingly, they came for him. The taller man grabbed him by the hair, and lifted him to his head hight, which was considerably higher than Johns, and whispered in his ear.

"You fucked up our plans, so now, were gonna fuck. Up. You."

A single bead of sweat rolled down his face, and before it had chance to hit the floor, the first punch landed. 

~~~~~~~~ 

"Oh, no, he isn't awake yet."

"Hm? Oh, that. Nightmares. He must have been under a lot of stress."

"Glucose imbalance, yeh, hasn't been eating properly I don't think. Just didn't have the strength to stand upright anymore."

"What? No. If he isn't better in a few days though then we'll take him."

"No, the pleasures all mine Mrs. Hudson!"