The Case Puzzle

Chapter 14

I felt myself awaken from the darkness, but my eyes wouldn't open. There was a heavy feeling on my eyes that prevented me from opening them.

I opened up my eyes with great struggle. Everything was blurry. I couldn't differentiate anything from the other. All I saw was a fuzzy haze and a mixture of grey and brown.

Where was I? What happened to me?

Clutching my head tightly, I felt overwhelming fatigue envelop me like a blanket from the coldness that surrounded me.

I moved my hands across the cold floor. The coldness and roughness of its surface washed over my hands. Was I in some sort of basement? How did I end up here?

I pushed my exhausted, trembling hands against the ground so as I could be in a sitting position. It took a great effort to remain sitting, and I waited till my eyesight became clearer. I was able to gradually distinguish my setting. The first thing that caught my eye was the concrete stairs leading up to a closed door. Yup, I was in a basement.

My eyes shot left and right. The basement was of a pale cream colour, though a bit dusty around. There were boxes and sacks stacked over each other everywhere. Looking down at my clothes. I realised that I was still in my office clothes, but they were soiled and a bit wet. I sniffed at my skirt and quickly put it down. I felt nauseous.

I tried to remember the last thing that happened to me. I remembered being in another smaller room. It smelled disgusting and I was constantly moving. Or was it because I felt dizzy and weak?

As I sat, pondering over what happened to me, I heard heavy footsteps from above, echoing in the basement. The noise was getting louder and I heard the jingling of keys.

I instantly flopped back down, on the hard, concrete floor, sending another wave of nauseating feeling rising up. I repressed the feeling and closed my eyes, pretending to be still unconscious. Pfft, the least they could have done was to give me a bed.

With my ears pressed against the floor, I could hear the footsteps even louder and felt the vibrations of each step. I sensed two men approaching me. I tried my best not to move-

Ouch!

I felt something hit against my side, sending a sharp pain throbbing through my body.

D-did that asshole just KICK me?!

I was sure that my eyes were wide open in shock. But they couldn't have seen my reaction since I was facing the other side. I was quite ready to stand up and make them regret messing with me.

"Hmm, she's not waking up. It must have taken a toll on her. I checked on her six hours ago. She hasn't awakened at all."

Instead of standing up as I thought, I stayed still. It? What is it? What did they do to me? And six hours? How long have I been gone for?

"The higher the amount, the longer the effect. Lower the dose now, or just stop giving her. She needs to wake up now," the other man said, but his accent sounded strange. He was definitely a foreigner.

"Why? Will the Boss come to see her? What will Boss do with her?"

"Don't ask too many questions, stupido. Your Boss does not tolerate that," replied the other man in a mocking way. He didn't seem to like that Boss.

I heard one of them move. I made sure I kept a blank sleeping face. I felt the knees of whoever moved, touching my side. He must have crouched down beside me. I held my breath.

My eyes almost opened, when I felt a tug at my hair. The man turned my body around, grabbing my face with his rough hands. I tried not to flinch or twitch in his grasp while biting the insides of my cheek to concentrate in my pretence. He was probably analysing my condition.