Michael opened his eyes and found only darkness. He blinked, and nothing had changed. In front of him he heard the sound of pacing footsteps, heaving, bare feet on carpet. He tried to move his arms only to find his wrists restrained, and as he struggled he came to feel the blindfold around his eyes. When he screamed for help, all he heard was a muffled whimper through the gag.

In front of him was a familiar voice, Xavier. Thank God, thank Mary.

Xavier’s voice was cracked and weary. “Ah, good, good. You’re awake. Good that you are awake.” Michael heard the shifting of feet on the rug as Xavier got in closer. Xavier continued, “I want to remove your gag, but you must promise to listen. Do you promise? Nod if you promise.”

Realization, then dread, set in Michael’s face, still warped by the gag and hidden by the blindfold, but he nodded, desperate to get the foul taste out of his mouth.

The gag was slowly, gently removed from his mouth, so he yelled. “Get me the fuck out of here Xavier. What the hell is going—”

The gag was shoved back in his mouth with great force, craning his head back and knocking over the chair. It felt like minutes as he fell, completely blind and helpless. His head hit the hard ground, just at the edge of the rug. 

“No! No! No! No! You said you’d listen! Please listen.” Xavier’s voice cracked in two as he yelled, somehow both higher and deeper than he ever normally sounded.

(more…)