Etched In Stone

Chapter Two

The first thing he felt when he woke up was the burn of the rope cutting into his skin.

Jake raised his head, blinking, his eyes bleary. His mouth was dry and tasted of blood. He strained to look behind him and saw he was tied to a chair, his wrists and ankles bound tightly so he could barely move with the exception of his head.

The room was dark and barren, with seemingly just the chair he was bound to and himself in the room. A bright light glared down at him from the ceiling, painfully bright. He tugged at the rope at his wrists but it only caused it to sting more, and he could tell his skin was probably grazed from tugging at it so much. He wondered how long he'd been in here - maybe hours, maybe even a few days. From glancing around the room it looked as if he was alone.

As if on cue, a door suddenly opened on his left. He turned his head sharply as a man walked in, strolling casually over to Jake as if he were greeting an acquaintance. He took his time, circling the chair a few times, and finally came to a halt right in front of him. Now that he had a proper view of him, he could see that the man was tall, thin and reedy. He wore a black, tailored suit and a thin black tie, but the jacket was slightly big for him, like he was a small child dressing up. His face was drawn and pale and his small eyes darted back and forth over Jake's face, surveying him.

"Jacob Parker," he greeted, a thin smile stretching across his pale face. Jake was sure that this was the man he'd seen moments before they'd knocked him out and taken him here. He flinched at the use of his full name - rarely anyone ever used it.

"How do you know my name?" Jake spat out, but his voice sounded hoarse.

A flicker of surprise crossed the man's face, replaced in an instant by that same, thin smile.

"I've known you since you were a very young boy." The man says. He stares at his fingernails absently, seemingly enjoying this.

"What are you talking about?" Jake uttered in confusion, his eyebrows creasing. "I have no idea who you people are. All I know is you've kidnapped me."

"I suppose you were really much too young to remember," he continues, oblivious to Jake's words, "And they probably wiped your memory when they took you."

"Took me? What are you talking about? Who are you people?" Now he was really confused. His head ached, no doubt from the savage hit they'd given him to knock him out, and he was finding it difficult to grasp what he was being told.

"I need you to do me a favour, Jake," the man continues, ignoring his questions once again. "I need you to tell me where she is."

"Where who is?"

"Why, Serena, of course. You know her. And we need you to help us find her."

"I don't know anyone called Serena." He shakes his head. "I can't help."

The man suddenly seizes hold of Jake, gripping his upper arms tightly. The look in his eyes is like a wild animal, but the rest of his face remains calm.

"I'm going to give you three chances." He tells him. His fingers feel like steel.

He lets go and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a thin, silver object - a small knife, glinting under the light.

Panic starts to rise in Jake's throat like bile. "What are you doing?" He asks, transfixed on the knife twirling idly in the man's fingers.

"One," the man holds up the blade, dangerously close to his face. "Where is the girl?"

"I don't know," Jake shakes his head wildly, "I swear. I don't know what you're talking about."

In one swift movement, the knife swipes across Jake's forehead, nicking the skin just above his eyebrow. He bites down on his lip to stop himself from swearing out loud as pain sears across his forehead. Warm blood trickles into his eye.

"Two," the man continues, pressing the blade against his shoulder this time. "Tell me where she is."

"I don't know!" Jake yells, "I don't know why you're asking me, I don't know her!"

The knife slices across his shoulder, making a thin cut in the fabric of his t-shirt. He hisses through his teeth as he feels blood trickle down his arm.

"Last chance," the man smiles once again, pressing the blade against Jake's throat, "Or we'll dispose of you, and find someone else."

"I'm telling you, I don't know."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Parker." The man says, shrugging his shoulders, "But a stubborn nature is of no use to us."

Just as he's about to pull the blade across Jake's throat, a bullet fires through the room, shattering the glass light above them.