The Con and the Artist

Lost: Weakness

My head throbbed in pain and the room seemed to spin around me. I felt sick, no I felt like I was going to be sick. 

"Glad to see you're awake" 

I blink more than normal, trying to clear up my vision of the fog surrounding it. I sit up slowly from the linoleum floor and take in my surroundings. Aside from a 50 or so year old man standing in front of me, I appeared to be in the locker rooms, laying in between the showers and the actual lockers. 

"My name's Tom. You're welcome to take a shower and doll yourself up a bit before going to see Ben and your friends, there's some clothes in this locker for you when you're done" He informs me and walks away. I shakily pull myself to my feet using the locker rooms shower wall.

I strip out of my clothes and set them on one of the many wooden benches. I step into the shower, turning it on and letting the warm water cascade over me. I wash my hair and body and braid my hair over my right side when I'm finished. 

I walk with a towel over to the locker Tom said clothes were in. As I walk towards it I see my clothes from earlier are gone. I open up the locker and see a white dress with flowers on it inside. It reaches about to my knees and thankfully has a built in bra. They've also provided me with some white underwear too. 

I pull on the clothes and tan tennis shoes and start looking for the exit, but as I near the door Tom comes back inside. 

"I knew that dress would look good on you. Come on, Ben's this way" Tom tells me with a creepy smirk and walks ahead of me outside and down a rock path. We walked over the hill where a beach could be seen in the distance, with Ben sitting under a tan tent like thing at a table full of food. 

When we approach Ben sits up and greets me with a smile, pulling out my chair for me. 

"Ms. Dawson, I'm glad to see you've made it. Now before we begin I'm going to have to ask you to cooperate as I put these handcuffs on you. It's nothing personal simply a precaution" He explains to me with an overly happy smile. I sigh and nod offering up my wrists to him as he puts on the handcuffs, putting them on their tightest setting, the metal digging into my wrists harshly. 

As he goes and takes a seat after he pushes my chair in for me, I cross my legs and pull my dress over my knees, trying to seem decent and lady like for at least a moment. 

"Please, eat, enjoy yourself" He tells me with an oddly happy smile and begins to eat his meal. I slowly begin piling things onto my plate, pieces of bacon, eggs, fruit and what looks like a cinnamon roll. Before I begin eating I freeze. 

"Why did you invite me?" I ask, trying to be polite. 

"I thought I'd return the favor. I remember you treated me rather well when I was being held captive. You didn't question who I was, you simply fed me and nursed my wounds with care, this is my little way of thanking you" He tells me with a smile, gesturing towards the food. I nod and eat some of my food, guiltily. 

"Are my friends alright?" I ask, trying to seem casual. 

"Don't worry, they'll be fine. As long as they cooperate" He adds. 

"May I ask why we're here?" 

"My apologies Ms. Dawson but I'm afraid I can't tell you that"

"Can you tell me why I am here at least?"

"Partially, to make your friends cooperate. You see, from my observations of you and your friends, they are the ones we are worried about escaping, but you. Your friends all seem very protective of you so I'm afraid to say we are going to use you to keep them in line. Another reason why I thought I'd treat you to breakfast. You see, these next few weeks are going to be very painful for you and possibly your friends" He explains. I stopped eating as he said this.