FaCade (Deception #1) (2 page)

My mind tackled the hazy fog, attempting to clear a path into consciousness. My body raged war with my mind, wanting to keep me in the sanctuary of my dreams, but my body needed hydrating, urging me to waken.

My eyelids felt heavy, too heavy, weighted down. What was wrong with me?

Peeling them open, darkness held my vision captive, the blackness creating frightening shadows of uncertainty. The only sound around me was my own heavy breaths.

I searched my memory for… well,
ANYTHING
! There was nothing there. Panic rose in my chest, my heart rate picking up pace, threatening to send me into cardiac arrest.

I jolted upright, groaning when a fierce pain exploded behind my eyes.

“Argh!” My hands cradled my head, the intense heavy throb too demanding for my shoulders.

I tried again, grasping for scraps. Who was I? Where was I? What was my name? Hell I didn’t even know how old I was. Fear coursed through me, sending me scuttling backwards into a wall. The cold concrete crept through my spine and into my skin, lacing me in goose bumps from the chill and terror racing through my veins.

I was on a bed; I felt the softness of a mattress beneath me. I tried to swallow but there was no saliva in my mouth, my teeth sticking to my lips as I ran my tongue around them, desperately trying to apply some moisture.

A hum resonated before a blinking light flashed in the room, exposing more shadows that stole my breath. Unknown shapes and silhouettes startled me, shifting the dread in my heart up my throat. Darkness flashed again before light flooded in, burning my eyes from the harsh exposure after having not even a cast of moonlight.

It was a concrete room with one wall mirrored. My own image looked back at me but it was foreign, a stranger staring at me; strands of dark silk shaped around an oval face, huge eyes wide as the reflection illustrated my confusion.

I slowly climbed from the bed, my bare feet making contact on the cold floor with a muffled slap. A chill ran through my body, feeding sensation into the numbness shrouding me and alerting me to the fact my bladder was full.

I ignored the steel door to my right, completely transfixed on the woman in the mirror. Tanned shapely legs were bare up to the thigh where a red lace dress covered an hour glass figure. It was extremely elegant, the red contrasting perfectly with the luscious ebony hair which flowed flawlessly beyond the waist. Eyes a dark blue sapphire ring encompassing a pale jade; intense and expressive. A petite nose and full lips that were slightly chapped, complimented with high cheek bones. She was stunning.
I
was stunning.

How could I know basic things like beauty and names of objects, yet my identity was completely absent in my mind?

I startled when the sound of the door unlocking echoed through the
cell
. I was in a form of a cell, that was the only word I could use to describe the room I was in.

The heavy door opened with a loud clanking. I stepped back, terrified of who would come in. A man entered; power coated the air around him. He was tall and wide. His eyes held mine as he strode towards me. I felt unsteady on my feet, fear causing me to stumble when I tried to quickly back away from the giant coming at me.

He had a bald head and a scar that sliced his face from his pale blue eye across his cheek, ending at his jaw. He wore slacks and a dress shirt, magnifying the sheer muscle of him as the material strained across his chest.

Reaching for me, he grasped my arms in his dominant grip. My body trembled.

“Who are you?” I choked out, my tongue feeling too big and too dry.

Clasping my hands together he pulled handcuffs from his pocket, snapping them closed around my wrists. “Why am I under arrest?”

Again, he didn’t answer me as he raised my arms above me. Confused, I looked up to see a metal chain hanging from the ceiling with a huge hook attached. Realization of what he intended sent me into panic and I thrashed in his fierce hold. His grip tightened, maneuvering me with little effort. The height of the hook forced me on to my tiptoes with my arms pulled tightly above my head, stretching me.

Another man entered. He was smaller than the first, who had now stepped back next to the door, his hands clutched together on his lower stomach, his eyes looking straight ahead.

The smaller man wore a suit. He was taller than me, but not by much. Judging by his height I’d guess he was 5’, 8”. His blonde hair was gelled back giving me a clear view of his face which was young and pretty for a male. His blue eyes collided with mine briefly. I noticed I didn’t feel fear like I had with the first man… maybe it was his feminine features easing me into a false sense of security.

“Don’t panic. I’m not going to cut you unless you force me to by moving around too much.”

What the hell did that mean?

He snapped open a small rectangular box and light bounced off a pair of silver scissors inside. I couldn’t swallow the lump forming in my throat.

Tears exploded from my eyes in a torrent as fear crippled me. I wanted to lick at them to drag some moisture into my mouth. The salt from my tears felt like grit in my eyes, blurring my vision.

My instincts told me to fight to get loose, to do anything other than just hang there for him to do what he wanted, but my logical side knew I couldn’t get free from the binds, and to struggle could risk him cutting me. Were they going to cut my hair off? Was this some form of military training or prison?

“Where am I? Please tell me,” I begged. My thoughts ran rampant and tried to claw at things out of my reach.

The cold press of the scissors as they slipped across my shoulder made me gasp.
Snip!
Then the other shoulder.
Snip!
The weight of my dress gave way, exposing my strapless bra, the classy red silk covering my breasts alerting me to the fact I liked luxury, and that apparently expense was not something I worried about.

My eyes pinched closed while my brain roared scenarios too frightening to give credit to.

Snip, snip, snip.
The lace fell from my body, a pool of deep red gathering at my feet. I stepped onto it to ease the frost of the floor against the soles of my feet. It didn’t halt the cold air licking the rest of my exposed skin though.

“Exquisite,” the man stated.

Snip.
My bra fell as more tears slipped free, burning a fire down my cheeks. My nipples hardened against the change in temperature from being clothed to un-clothed. It felt like my body betrayed me when it was only a natural response.

I turned my head to look away from the first guy, grateful for my long hair acting as a barrier between us. I didn’t want to see if he was looking at my naked form, hung like a piece of meat on display for them to do with as they pleased.

Snip, snip.
My panties fell away. My heart plummeted as I was on display, completely vulnerable. The cool air whispered across my flesh, an icy chill surfing up my spine, coating me in dread.

He stepped away from me, appraising me. Gentle sobs shook my body and made me swing slightly, my toes struggling to reach the floor and steady the sway.

My heart nearly leapt from my chest when a shrill alarm resounded across the quiet room. The first guy pulled out a cell phone and handed it to the smaller guy.

“Yes, truly. Okay.” He passed the cell back then leaned in close to me, the heat from his body encircling me. The material of his suit rubbed against my skin, making me cringe. His overpowering aftershave assaulted my nose and made my throat burn, once more begging for water. “Congratulations, he’s pleased with his purchase.”

At first I thought he meant the scrap of red lace I stood on, then realization hit me with force. My lungs seized and burned, craving air, but shock prevented me from inhaling. My mind worked cruelly against me, arguing with what was before my very eyes. What was this? Was I dreaming? Was it a nightmare, a lucid dream?

I sucked in a breath when the door slammed closed and the lights once more went out.

FIRE, THAT’S WHAT IT WAS! It started off with a slow burn before raging into a full inferno with no signs of cooling. My shoulders were about to combust, the pull on them from holding the weight of my body was agonizing, my tendons hot and angry, yet my hands were frozen and painful.

I needed the bathroom. Holding my full bladder for so long had given me a stomach ache. My toes kept giving way to cramp, making the cuffs bite into the skin around my wrists, the already sore, chapped skin becoming raw.

“Argh,” I cried out for the millionth time, my throat sore after my screams. My tears had dried but the sting from their path was still alight on my cheeks. I couldn’t count the seconds as they passed, how long I had been left hanging there in the darkness. I didn’t know but it felt like hours.

I was so tired, my heavy eyes wanted to close, wanted to escape into my dreams, but the pain kept me present, albeit lightheaded, and forever in a state of consciousness between the two worlds. My mind still kept my identity captive, thoughts now my only solitude as my memories were locked away tightly, access to them not only forbidden but impossible.

The lights flicked back on, making me squint against the intrusion. My pupils frantically tried to adjust. My heart thumped an unsteady beat against my ribcage, threatening at any moment to go out of control and drown me in panic and fear.

Food.
The smell of fresh bread filtered into my nose, making my mouth water and invading my painful body, causing my stomach to growl in hunger.

The men from earlier became visible. The smaller one set a bowl of water on the floor, and a second bowl with fresh bread inside. The fact I was still completely naked made me fully aware of the bigger man who disappeared behind me. I tried to turn but his hot, heavy palm came down on my hip, solidifying me. His touch coiled my stomach, my skin desperately trying to shrink against his contact as I fought to keep the vomit back. I wanted to scream for him to remove his hand but he reached up and unhooked me.

My body immediately went limp, giving way to the pressure it had been under. He grasped me around the waist, keeping me from crashing to the floor. Lowering me down instead and bringing my hands into his, he unlocked the cuffs but refrained from looking at me.

A sigh left my lips as relief poured into me but it was short lived. Pain from the blood rushing back in made me want to scream and cry but my eyes were too sore to produce tears and these bastards didn’t deserve any more.

Before I could stop him, he pulled my hands behind my back and re-cuffed them then pointed to the bowls. The son of a bitch. I wasn’t a freaking dog. I wanted to kick out at him but I could hardly feel my feet.

Wanting to have more pride than to crawl across the harsh floor I looked up at the second guy, hoping he would have some human traits and take pity enough to pass me the water. The tilt of his lips told me he knew what I was thinking. “We are not here to serve you.”

With that they left me with my hands bound behind my back, naked on the cold floor, too far away from the sustenance my body howled out for.