The Meridians

Four

The pounding in your head was as steady as a drum, occasionally the beat would become too sharp and force you to come back to scratch the surface of reality before pulling you back into the embrace of unconsciousness. The first time you came to you were staring at the ceiling of something, it was blurry but a piece of you knew it was a car because the vibrations under your body. You tried to turn your head but gathering the strength to do so only pulled you back into unconsciousness. The next time you were looking at the ground your arms hanging lazily over your head, you knew that someone was carrying you when they adjusted you over their shoulder. You let out a groan, as your vision started to fade out again. You faded in and out like this two more times before you finally came too.

Your head still hurt from the aching behind your eyes. You reach to rub your head, but your hands are tied behind you. You feel a sense of utter panic wash over you as you remember that your lawyer drugged you. Also, no one knew or cared where you were. You felt yourself start to hyperventilate, but before you could completely fall into panic a voice in your head starts to yell at you and tells that you need to focus on getting out. It was right, you had no idea what these people were going to do to you and you did not want to find out. You try to pull your hands out of the binds, but the zip cords that tied you down started to cut into your skin. You bite the inside of your cheek to hold back your screams, as the cord started to cut deeper into your skin. Just as you were about to give up the door clicks softly indicating that someone is coming. You stop and look towards the door. Your mind starts spin out of control. You watch the door swing open and two men walk inside. Both wearing dark suits, that matched the dark look in their eyes that seemed to hollow out your very soul. Then Gladwell walks in following them at a slower pace as if he were enjoying a stroll through the park. When he sees you his eyes light up with an amused smile.

"You're awake!" He crouches down in front of you and lifts your chin with a gloved hand. "That's good, we can't have you dying, that would be a nuisance for everyone. Especially me," You feel a frown weigh down on the corners of your mouth almost giving away how little you cared about his personal struggles. "Aw, don't make that face, this will be a wonderful experience! You get to see your husband again and I get to put a bullet in his face, I think it's a win-win situation."

"I told you my husband is dead." You are not sure where the anger and fire in your voice is coming from, but you are sure that part of it is annoyance. He frowns and stands up. He motions one of the men in suits to come closer.

"This here is a good friend of mine, he is going to keep you company until our guest arrive," Gladwell points to the man. "Now I asked him nicely to not kill you, but if you misbehave he has full authority to punish you," He smiles and looks at the man. "Using any technique, he finds effective. And as for you my dear," He turns his attention back to you. "If you act accordingly you will be rewarded."

"I don't want anything from you, but to go home!" You yank on your restraints. "Now let me go!" He looks over at the man he motioned to earlier. The man nods and walks over to you, without warning he hits you hard with an open palm. The world around you starts to spin from the impact of the hit. Your eyes water and you can feel your face start to swell. You must have bit your tongue because you can taste the blood as it fills your mouth.

"Now look what you made him do!" Gladwell grabs your face again turning it so he can look you in the eye. "That's going to leave a nasty mark, well that will make this a little more fun. He'll try to kill me for damaging his goods," An ugly smile forms on his face as he has what looks to be a sudden epiphany. "You wouldn't happen to be pregnant, would you? Oh, that would be even more fun!"

You fill the fury grow inside you again, this time you spit in his face. A feeling of satisfaction and fear mix inside you as you watch his face contort into a look of pure rage. He stands up and motions to the man again, this time he stands back and watches as the man hits you again. A satisfied smile forming on his lips. You were about to bring your face up to say something, but the man hit you again.