This Wicked Sin

Chapter 15: Gabriel

I woke up to the sound of water dripping down onto a concrete floor. The last time I woke up in a completely unfamiliar place, my entire life was turned upside down.

I tried to open my eyes but as soon as I did, I felt almost blinded. The light assailed my eyes like sharp pinpricks.

My mind struggled not to equate this time with the last time. I was no longer that scared child anymore. I was stronger.

My eyes opened and found I was in exactly the type of place you’d imagine after getting kidnapped. A dark, dank room whose single light couldn’t get rid of all the shadows in the corners. Old equipment and boxes were scattered around haphazardly. The room smelled old and dusty.

The door opened. It was Phillip.

“What have you done? What is the meaning of this?” I demanded. My speech felt slow to come.

“You’re not really in the position to be demanding such things, Gabriel,” he said. “Like I said, this isn’t personal. I do like you and have nothing against you, I swear.”

“I don’t give a damn about that. What am I doing here? Who are you working for?”

“I’m not supposed to tell you that. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. Someone like you would never understand my motivations.”

The rope was digging into my hands painfully. My vision swam dizzyingly. I realized why I hadn’t felt so good from the moment I woke up. I thought it was because of the hit to the head, but then I remembered that sting right before the blow.

“What did you drug me with?” Even to my ears, it sounded slurred. I felt extremely hot. My breath was coming out in heavy pants and my heart felt like it was trying to sprint right out of my chest.

Phillip didn’t answer. His smile didn’t let up for a second. He looked unsightly in the low light.

“What do you want from me? Let me go!” I snarled.

My brain felt like mush. Thoughts ran through me but then they’d just as quickly disappear to start new ones.

I had to get out of here. I was panicking and panicking was the precursor to worse things where I was concerned. I thought of using my Blessing. It wouldn’t take much, I would be out of here in seconds. Phillip had no idea who or what he was dealing with. But I held back. I wasn’t ready for the consequences.

“Let me go,” I said, more calmly this time.

“Oh. Was that you trying to call up your power? Your Blessing? I was told to watch out for it in particular. I actually forgot to gag you like I was instructed. Rumours around school are that you have a Silver Tongue. That you can get anyone to do anything you want because you’re so charismatic. That your charisma was Blessed by the Goddess herself. I have to say, I’m very disappointed. I didn’t even feel a twinge,” he drawled.

“f**k you,” I spat out. I didn’t think I could even call up my Blessing in my current state of mind. And even if I did… I wouldn’t be in control at all.

“Still, can’t leave anything up to chance. I was warned that your words and mouth were dangerous. It was my mistake for forgetting to gag you. You know, new to kidnapping and everything.”

He pulled a roll of duct tape out of his pocket. He approached me and effectively gagged me with it despite all my cursing. I tried to shout out but only garbled sounds came out. I glared at him through my burning eyes.

“Now, stay here and keep quiet like a good little boy.”

He turned away from me and left the room. I was left alone again.

What was going on? Why had Phillip taken me? Was he working with the shadow organisation that was targeting the Syndicate? But how had he gotten involved with them? As far as I knew, Phillip was a civilian. Apart from partying too hard, his life was squeaky clean. He was one of many sons of a rich conglomerate father. But clearly, there was something about him that he had hidden from everyone.

Time seemed distorted in my current state. I furiously tried to escape out of my bindings but all that I achieved were painful rope burns on my wrists and feet.

I gave one last unfruitful tug but that only made the chair tip over to the side. I fell with it, landing hard and painfully on the ground. I groaned in distress, from my uncomfortable position as well as feeling unwell.

I felt so hot. How was I not boiling away? f**k, what was this? What in the world had he drugged me with?

A low heat had started growing in the pit of my stomach. Tears stung my eyes, whether from the pain or my situation, I couldn’t clearly tell. It was all merged in the painful throb that was me.

I tried my best not to panic. It was a near-impossible feat. I tried to block memories of that time from my mind. No. I couldn’t think about that. I refused to. I was not that weak kid anymore.

Like clockwork, my father’s words ran through my mind.

Weak. Pathetic.

How dare you let yourself be taken? You’re no son of mine.

It’s all your fault!

I tried to shake away from the words. Don’t think about that. Think about a way to get out of this.

My position, tied to a chair and fallen as I was, ensured that every muscle of mine was screaming in protest from the abuse. My arms were pretty much numb.

Where was Phillip? Why hadn’t he come back so I could question him some more? What were they planning to do to me?

Don’t panic. Don’t panic. Don’t. Panic.

But I was beginning to panic. Heat was burning right through me. As the moments, minutes or hours passed, I wasn’t feeling better. I was feeling worse. What sort of fresh hell was I in?

Fuck.

Shit.

When was the last time I took my pills?