I felt a cold hand slap my cheek lightly. It was soft, weird to feel in a prison. Some how i had fallen asleep again, so I raised my head to the swinging light quickly seeing the inside of a warehouse. The movement moving the face infront of me in and out of shadow. Breathing in lightly i could taste the dust and stale stench in the back of my throat. I craved water with a new passion, my lips were cracked and my tongue dry. Looking into the face of my captor I saw soft brown feminine eyes, a small nose, full lips, all framed by long brown hair.
"Why does the light always swing in situations like this? " I asked, my voice riddled with dry sarcasm.
Leaning forward I felt a sharp pain in my chest and arms. Looking down slowly I saw thick, black rubbery bands strapping me to the chair. Looking around I refocused onto the woman in front of me and her two guards. There were probably more where ever we were. Openning my mouth I was about to ask for water, I saw her raise her hand smashing it into the side of my face, the blow rocking me to the side i felt rings press into my face. I tasted the blood in my mouth, and saw the stars. Turning to look at her I spat the blood from my mouth, the blood splattering over her shoe.
Stupid. Right?
Rasing her hand again I had to physically stop myself from flinching, before her soft voice stated.
"I know you. You are Ranger, Jackson Ranger. 4 years Russian KGB, you were one of the best and brightest. " Her latin accent stirred something in my mind, something i had locked away a long time ago.
"Cut him loose."
I saw a massive guy walk up to me brandishing a small machette slicing through the bands holding me to the chair, pulling me roughly out of th chair. Stumbling forward I almost landed face first on the concrete. Then the voice came again.
"You see... You tried to run from my prison. Now I have all reason to kill you here and now. But then I thought to myself. This is Jackson Ranger, Houdinni, the master."
Groaning I shook my head and rolled my joints again, struggling to my feet completing the thought.
"So I thought I would get him to take something out for me."
This brought a smile to her lips and she clapped her hands like a pleased child. Lifting her hand I saw someone step out of the shadows. He was huge, and fully outfitted in some form of armour. He tossed a duffel bag infront of me slightly openned. Looking in i saw rolls of paper, a disassembled pistol and 4 knifes as well as odds and ends that my mind couldnt register at the time
"You dont want to do this" I mumbled.
"What was that ?" she asked.
" I said suck me off hoe"
I saw the blood rush to her face in anger, the muscules in her neck tense as she shouted something in spanish to her bodyguard. I saw the hulking man step towards me an animalistic happiness in his eyes, oblivious of my freed hands. I saw his hand ratchet back, the muscules bunching, and shoot forward catching me in the ribs, sending me sliding across the floor. The rough floor scratching the skin off my arms.Struggling to my feet I took a careful step towards him. I realized my training kicking in again. I heard the orders of the dojo master, grandmaster brown echo in my ears
"Low stance Ranger."
"Let your enemy come to you."
Smiling I curled my hands into a fist, both protecting my face, my eyes seeing as much as possible, my ears hearing everything. I noticed his gun on his waist as well as both his knives, on up his sleeve and the other in his boot. Taking a quick halfstep forward I saw the oafs hand jab out trying to catch me off guard again, ducking low i heard his fist fly over my head before i took i step forwad driving my knee into his stomach, my right arm swinging around and catching him in the side of the face. As he stumbled back I turned quickly driving my left heel into his temple and down across his face. Completing the turn I lauched myself into the air extending both feet to slam into his face. I heard the bones in his nose crack. Landing on my back I saw a boot coming down aiming for my chest.
Some how this guy still managed to recover.
Rolling to the side i gripped the ankle and twisted violently, snapping his foot like a twig. Slipping the knife he kept in the shoe quickly out. I quickly jumped to my feet and was about to deliver the finishing blow when i heard the same clapping. turning to the woman i heard her say.
"Very good. As always Ranger"
Turning to her, I bowed sIightly, Gripping the handle of the knife loosely. Straightening up I flipped my arm up and forward, the blade spinning into the leg of the guy beside her. He collapsed in pain gripping his thigh trying to grip the handle of the 5 inch knife buried up to the hilt in his leg.
I felt a tearing, burning sensation in my shoulder, and saw her smoking gun, right before i faded into black again.
