Deceived

Him

The pain. The first thing I am aware of when I wake up is the pain. I try to shift my body around and that is when I become aware of the second thing. I am tied to a chair. The ropes are tied so tightly, I begin to see the slightest hints of blood peeping through my wrists. I wince and look away. I look around, trying to figure out where I am but it doesn't help. I am in some kind of room, a very tiny room, it could be a box for all I know. The only light source in the room as a dying light bulb right above my head. It doesn't look very stable and the horrible thought of it falling and setting my hair on fire flashes through my mind but I shove it away. The next thing I notice is the smell. The hippo they must've kept in here probably ate too much fish, or whatever it is that hippos eat. So anyway, basically, I am trapped in room the size of a box, tied to a chair, bleeding with the danger of having a light bulb fall on my head any second, breathing in the scent of hippo waste. I could totally spend my life here.

I am still thinking of how wonderful life in this box could be, when I hear footsteps. Then, I hear voices. Footsteps and voices. People are coming. I close my eyes and pretend to be asleep. Great way of evesdropping.

"Is he awake yet?" a gruff voice asks from the direction of the door.

More footsteps. I begin to feel someone's hot breath on my neck. Then, "Doesn't look like it. Maybe he's already dead. Been in here for about eight hours. It never takes this long."

The first voice speaks again, this time sounding panicked, "Dead? He can't be dead. Boss's orders was to keep him alive until we was told to be kill."

"Well, we can tell boss he died on his own. Nobody can survive under these conditions. What is that smell?"

"No, no, no!" the first voice is angry now. "We was told to do somethin' and we gonna do it!" he shuffles closer and then suddenly, I feel a cold hand on my chest. I freeze. "Oh he's alive alright. He's breathing, just not awake."

"Oh alright," says the other guy, "Go make sure the girl is ready. Then get the other tubes ready. I'll keep and eye on the boy. He should be waking up soon."

At this, my eyes almost fly open but I restrain myself. They have Autumn. They are planning something very, very bad. I have to do something about it but how much can a guy tied to a chair do?

"You always get to do the easy stuff," the first man grumbles as he stomps down the hall.

As soon as he is gone, a hand slaps the back of my head. "Alright, quit the acting I know you're awake."

I stay completely still, but can't stand it after another wack on the head. My eyes fly open and I yelp. The man before me is extremely scary looking. His eyes are completely black and his eyebrows are bushy. He has more muscles than I thought physically possible on a human being and he has a huge scar that runs down from his left eyebrow all the way to his jawline.

He smirks, "You think you could fool me kid? Well you were dead wrong. You were awake the whole time and that jump just proved it."

My mind races, "Anyone would've woken up with a hit like that."

His smirk deepens, "Not here you don't. Not unless you were already awake. But I'm not gonna waste my time on that. We have bigger matters to discuss. Like the fact that your sister is about to die and we got you front row seats to watch it. Don't worry, it's free of cost. Oh, and after that pleasant sight has settled into your head, you will face a similar fate. Sound good so far, hmm? Or do you have any other suggestions involving death?"

It's then, that I notice a knife sticking out of his back pocket. If only I could reach it. An idea forms in my head.

I force a smile, "Yeah, I think that's good so far, keep talking I want to hear what's going to happen next."

The man scratches his chin, "Hmm, well you seem awfully interested in this. Not quite the reaction I was expecting. Maybe we chose the wrong kid. But anyway, after that, your parents will be told they are no longer needed, and they too will be disposed of."

"Mhm," I nod absently, inching closer to the knife without him noticing, "I've been trying to get rid of them for years now."

"Really? Well then, we can arrange for them to have the most painful deaths of all and you, my friend, will have the honors."

I want to scream at this statement. I want to puch something and yell and scream and cry until I get what I want. But I continue to inch closer to the knife.

"And after that..." I block out what he has to say and focus on the knife. Just a few more inches. My hand reaches out as far as it can tied to a chair and my fingertips just barely graze the handle. I scoot my chair a teensy bit more and... I got it! My hand wraps around the handle and slowly slides it out of his pocket. To my surprise, he doesn't notice a thing. I almost yell in victory when it slips entirely out of his pocket and into my hands.

I work quickly and quietly at the ropes tying my hands together. The man doesn't realize any of this. He is too immersed in his own conversation that nobody is listening to. My hands start to ache but giving up is not an option. Autumn could already be dead for all I know. I work until I am on the verge of tears. This cannot be done. The ropes are too thick and my hand is at the wrong angle. I relax my hands and they swing out in front of me. I did it! I cut the ropes! I quicky do the same for my feet and that's when he notices.

"Hey where'd you get that?" he pats his pockets and his eyes widen. "You little- come here!" he lunges for me but I duck behind him. I watch as he turns around trying to find me but his body is so big, he can't see or reach me behind him. So much for not being able to fool him. He turns around again but before I can move, a hand clamps around my wrist.

"Ha! Got you now!" I lash at his arm with the knife and he screams in agony, jerking his arm away from mine. I run to the door. "You won't get away so easily!"

"Watch me!" I yell back and run out. I hear his heavy footsteps behind me but there is no way he can catch up to me. I smile to myself but it is immediately wiped off my face as I see it. I see her. Autumn. She's drowning and there is not enough space to be able to swim out. She has always been afraid of water. I have to do something but all I can do is stare in horror as the water rises up above her head.

Then Scarface comes up behind me, "What do you think of the plan now, genius?"