Gate 24

Chapter Two

"Is he awake?"

The low murmur of a voice is heard through my muffled hearing. Where in the world am I? Okay, I'm pretty sure I'm in Turkey, but why?

Oh yeah, I missed my flight.

Breathing in as quietly as I can, the smoke from the cigarettes that obviously lurk around the room seems to fill my lungs, giving me a hopeful satisfaction, almost relaxing me in this situation. Never should the victim of abduction be calm and collected as they wake up from a knockout of some sort.

Just as I feel like I'm coming to life again, I attempt to open my eyes and I instantly recognise that my vision is blocked. A blindfold of some sort - the feeling of silky scarf-like material - is pulled so tightly, tied so forcefully around my head that I begin to believe that the numbness of my head is because of the potential cut off within my circulation.

It only takes a few seconds for me to realise that it isn't the blood loss to the head - although I do expect a blood rush to occur once my vision is given back to me. I can't say I feel stupid for not realising straight away, especially now I know why I feel like this...

The burning in my throat is intense; I lurch forward and feel the acidic aqueous rise up my throat. Although I can't see where I am or where the sick lands, but I can guarantee from the sound that it's splattered against the concrete under my feet, fragmented vomit droplets spraying the ankles of my capturers.

How do I know people are there? Not only do I sense it, considering I'm used to having impaired visions in dark situations during things like raids, but the groans of multiple men are heard, filling the eerie silence after my sick has finished flowing from my mouth, trying to replicate the job of the likes of Niagara Falls.

"Well," one man says, snarling in the process, "He is most definitely awake."

As I lift my head, I feel a pair of hands gently untie the blindfold. I'd be lying if I said I knew what was going on and as to why the blindfold wasn't ripped from my head - I expected a much more forceful removal, in all honesty. Groggy, I let my eyes fully open for the first time since I swam into consciousness.

Part of me wants to hiss at the light, seeing as it almost blinds me instantly, despite the bulb above me barely hanging onto its cord from above. My head is beginning to clear - and this time I admit that I was being a little dense: we're in Turkey, and unless it's eleven at night or five in the morning, it's always bright. Not light, like your average British day, but the scorching sun never sleeps in Sarigerme. Or Dalaman. It never stops shining anywhere in this poor country...

Finally, my eyes begin to adjust to the bright daylight of wherever I am - I doubt I've been out for too long, considering no drug is able to keep you out for that long, whether it's a good or bad drug, not if the drug is only used once. Part of me guesses that I was injected with something nasty, but chloroform is a likely option too, so I won't count it out.

Before I can shift my eyes to see what's going to happen, the feeling of an algid hand is apparent against my face. Not that it caresses me or anything, for the force is brutal. As he withdraws his hand from the stinging slap, I grunt in frustration at the sharp pain of the contact.

"Why am I here?" I snort, not blaming my stupidity for the lack of knowledge I have as to why I am here. "I didn't provoke you in any way, I didn't-"

Another slap across my left cheek is felt. This time, I saw the movement of the arm, the tensing of the muscles as the colossal hand whips against my face. "Shut it, you useless traitor."

Traitor. What?

"I think you have the wrong man," I say casually, smoothing my hair back. That greasy feel it has gained since the knockout leaves me apprehensive to touch it again - I'm not a clean freak, but I believe in good hygiene. "I'm not sure if I even know you?" The words come out as a question more than a statement, but what does it matter? I'm probably dead tonight, that or left to fend for myself in whatever slums I'm dumped near.