Chapter 49 – Jace
JACE
Groaning, the first thing I register is the feel of cold concrete under my bare toes. The second thing I notice is that’s the only part of my feet touching the ground.
Next, is the cold bite of metal digging into my wrists, which are currently carrying my entire weight. I try to extend my body so I can get my feet properly underneath me and take some of the weight off my arms, but no matter how hard I strain myself, my heels aren’t able to touch the ground.
The exertion has me losing what grip I had, and my toes slip, my body dangling and swaying wildly in the air as I struggle to find purchase again.
I open my eyes to find wherever I am, it's too dark to see anything, not a single light source in the vicinity. I can’t see my own feet much less my surroundings.
My head pounds, my shoulder joints are screaming at me, and my tongue feels heavy and full of cotton.
I try to think of the last thing I remember. I know we picked up my equipment then had a late breakfast at a nearby café. My phone chimed with an email from the tattoo artist I’ve been conferring with over the last couple of days.
I’ve been working on a tattoo design for years, consulting with multiple tattoo artists but never able to get it right.
It wasn’t until recently that I worked out what was missing and started emailing with a nearby tattoo parlour that’s gotten good reviews to see if they could adjust and add to the design.
I remember opening the attached image and thinking it was perfect. They managed to incorporate everything I asked for including the roses, two bumblebees, and a dagger that ties it all together without making it too masculine or too feminine. That way, if they want to, we can all get it.
I remember showing Bonnie and her suggesting we go and see it in person since the parlour wasn’t that far from where we were.
My head pounds as I try to remember what happened next.
We were at the parlour for about an hour, talking with the artist about a few different placement possibilities and how the design would need to be adjusted for each.
Then we left.
We got back in town and were heading for the shops to grab lunch to have by the river.
A ball hit the car.
A kid ran out after it.
Bile creeps up my throat as I hear Bonnie screaming my name, flashes of the two men who opened our doors when we stopped after avoiding running the kid over.
My jaw aches from where I was punched. My elbow stinging from where I elbowed him in the face and tried to slam the door on him.
Then…Bonnie screamed, and I looked over to see the second guy stick a needle in her neck. I felt a pinch then…nothing.
“Bonnie?” I call out, my eyes trying to see through the darkness. Metal clangs together as I struggle against my restraints. “Bonnie!”
My voice echoes back to me and I hang helplessly from what I’m assuming is a ceiling. Then I hear it, a barely audible feminine moan.
I go to call out her name again but footsteps echoing through the air have me freezing, my heart beating louder and louder with every step they take.
I can’t see a thing, even when I feel their breath brush against my cheeks and I recoil. “Who are you?” I ask, trying to keep the fear from my voice and failing.
Bonnie groans again, and I hear clothing shuffle before the person in front of me walks away, their footsteps sounding as though they're heading in the same direction Bonnie's groans are coming from.
“Hey!” I shout, trying to draw their attention away from her and back to me.
“Bonnie?” I call out into the dark, forgetting for a second that we aren’t alone when she answers me.
“Jace?”
“Bonnie!” I pull at my restraints again, feeling the metal cut into my skin this time.
Cold chills spread through my body as Bonnie lets out a fear filled whimper and the other person in the room finally speaks. “It's good to see you again, Mrs Towers.”