Smoke And Mirrors

C

Pain. All she could feel was pain.

Caitlyn had no idea for how long she had been out before she started gaining consciousness. But she sincerely wished she had remained asleep.

She didn't have the courage to handle the mental pain that was killing her.

Once her senses were back, she expected to feel under her skin the harsh surface of the road. She was surprised when she felt something soft underneath her body. She was surprised when she didn't hear the sound of sirens ringing in her ears. She was surprised when a slight smell of humidity inserted her lungs.

Where was she?

She didn't open her eyes immediately. She preferred to get a better image of her surroundings by using her other senses. Humidity was mixed with the smell of decay in the air. Definitely not a hospital. But she was certain she was laying on a soft bed. In the distance, she could hear the characteristic sound of candles burning in the darkness. She was confused.

Finally, she decided to open her eyes, just to meet a brick wall. She blinked several times, trying to adjust her eyes in the darkness. The only source of light was those candles. Nothing else.
She pushed herself up with slow moves and realized some parts of her body were covered with bandages. Whoever brought her here was cautious enough to treat a few of the injuries she had received.

But where was that «here»?

Caitlyn couldn't recognize the place, she definitely hadn't been there before. But that wasn't what bothered her. What bragged her was how such an expensive piece of furniture ended up in a place like this. As if someone had brought it here to prepare the room just for her. There wasn't another explanation.

Caitlyn noticed a table where the candles laid. Someone had gotten in the trouble to prepare some tea for herself, as if she was their special guest. She furrowed her brows in suspicion.

Abandoning the comfort of her bed and finding her boots underneath it, she approached the table to examine the tea better. No signs of poisoning. So, they weren't trying to kill her. Yet.
She was determined not to take a single sip of it but the whining of her stomach convinced her otherwise. She needed some energy if she really wished to keep going.

Before she could take action, she heard a metalic door opening behind her, a door she hadn't noticed before due to the darkness. She turned around to see who her visitor actually was.

Between two huge men in the size of a gorilla stood a tall man with black hair swiped behind. His also black eyes held no emotion in them. He was dressed in an expensive dark suit, in contrast with his pale skin. Caitlyn had to admit that he looked somewhat handsome, even so if he got rid of that much black.

"I see you're awake" he spoke, his voice not betraying a single hint of emotions "I've been waiting for this meeting for so long"

"Finally we meet, C" Caitlyn responded.

C's lips moved to a way that was supposedly and imperceptible smile as he walked towards her.

"Take a seat" he said, drawing a chair for her "And I shall explain everything through tea"

She stared at the chair and after accepting that she had no other option, she sat. C drew a chair opposite her and served her tea.

"How many sugars?"

"Two. Thank you"

For a few more moments, they sat in silence, having a staring contest between each other. Black against blue. Until C put his cup down. He started tapping his fingers on the wooden table. More of a signal that he wanted to start rather than nervousness. Caitlyn got the hint and placed her own tea down.