Duplicity

Tre

        I felt something being gently laid across my forehead, a warm, wet towel that started to ease the ache in my head, and my eyelids fluttered open in response. I whimpered, and a few tears slipped out of the edges of my eyes, getting caught in my lashes before running down my cheeks only to be wiped away by someone's thumb. 

I suddenly wake up in surprise, trying to jerk away from the alien touch; however, I was stopped by my wrists, which happened to be handcuffed to an intricately carved headboard.  They rattled with even the smallest of movements and the noise seemed to echo in the place I was being held. 

        My eyes darted around the dimly lit room, taking in the dark green walls and tidy oak furnishings.  My skin tingled as I moved my legs in the unfamiliar sheets and I pulled on the handcuffs once again, only to bite my tongue as the metal bit further into the raw skin around my wrists. 

I breathed hard in terror, as the memories from the last time I'd been awake rushed back into my mind, the fog that covered my mind from sleep now dissipating. 

My eyes glanced to the right, and I saw the man with the emerald eyes staring at my panicked form with an amused smirk tugging at his lips. I whined as he reached for me yet again and began to spew out anything that came to mind.

        "Please don't hurt me, please," I began begging, more tears spilling over as I stared at his impassive face. 

My words were strangled by sobs, as I leaned as far away from him as my restraints allowed, which was not very far, "Please, I'm truly sorry for anything that my family has done to you, or if you want money, I'll find someway to get it for you.  Please don't kill me..." I blubbered on, suddenly interrupted by a coughing fit that hurt because of how dry my throat was.  I desperately needed water. 

His smirk rapidly disappeared, and his brows pinched together in a look of genuine concern that began to put me on edge.  Kidnappers shouldn't worry about their victims, right?  His worried gaze left mine, and he turned to pick up a water bottle from the nightstand beside him before twisting open the cap with ease.  

        "You need to drink some water, baby doll.  You'll feel better, I promise," He gently urged, holding the substance I was in dire need of near my lips, but I couldn't bring myself to trust him, even though I had just witnessed him open the bottle myself.  The memory of the last time I had drunk something had me turning my head away. 



        "I don't want anymore of your water!" I hissed, shaking my head frantically. "I don't understand why I'm here, please let me go home." 

I heard the man sigh and I began to panic again when he stood up from his seat.

        "Come on, love.  I can't help you get better unless you let me," he tried again, and I was shocked to find that his voice had an oddly calming effect on me. 

It reminded me of the voices that police officers used when they were trying to speak to you after a traumatic event. I hesitantly nodded my head at him and parted my lips ever so slightly. 

He shot me a warm smile, that brought out adorable dimples I would not have associated with him, and he tipped the mouth of the bottle towards my mouth.  I pulled back slightly when I had enough and he placed the bottle back down.

        "Thank you," I said quietly as reflex before I could stop myself.  When I realized that I had just thanked my captor, I tried to bury myself in the pillows, but he seemed to have the opposite reaction.  



        "You're very welcome, my love," He spoke with a wide grin, "It's good that you use your manners.  That's one less thing we'll have to work on." 



        "I'm still very confused, sir. I don't understand what you want from me and then those two men took me and drugged me and now..."I began to get hysterical again, but managed to calm myself down. 



        "You must know that I am sincerely sorry for what my agents did during the duration of your capture and transport.  They obviously showed, ah, poor judgment that will not happen again," he answered, clearly not very apologetic, and the ache between my legs reminded me of what truly happened.