The Pretender and it's characters don't belong to me and I am making no money from this whatsoever.
Hello Everyone! Well here it is chapter Three, but first let me say a few thank yous...
Pretender - Thanks for the review, but you'll have to wait a bit longer to find out!
CrackerjacknPez - Ah but suspense is fun! (Grins evilly) You're really not going to like the end of this chapter...
Ann - Why thank you very much!
Crazyrussiangal - Thank you J Don't worry there'll be lots of Jarod in the next chapter!
gemini006007 - Thanks a bunch :D
Zeilfanaat - Here you go!
sky daybreak - Well what do you know...it worked! :D
Onisius - wow thanks for the review! Love your stuff by the way...will you update soon?!
And now on with the story:
This Pain
By Happy Camper
Chapter Three
He woke with a sudden jolt, the movement jarring his head against the ground where he lay. Sitting up too quickly, the motion of his body caused him to start retching. Stopping only when his mouth burned with the taste of acid, Jarod became aware of his surroundings. He was in the same white room. Feeling wetness on his face, he raised his hand to his nose to realise it was bleeding.
A frown creased his forehead as he tried to recall falling asleep. Only memories of this room persisted. He had no idea how long he had been here. Considering that he hadn't eaten it could not have been more than a day or two. The bitter taste of acid in his mouth turned his thoughts briefly to hunger but there were more pressing matters on his mind.
Though it was comfortably warm in the room, Jarod shivered at the thought of being unconscious in this strange place. It wasn't the Centre...so where was it?
Lyle listened to the dial tone in his ear. Engaged. He hung up the phone and leaned back in the comfortable chair, elbows resting on the desk top. The thrill at Miss Parker's reaction to him in the elevator that morning was still fresh in his mind. He had taunted her, subtly of course, about her lack of success in capturing the wayward pretender. All very innocently, he thought with glee.
It was now simply a case of getting rid of her and her colleagues for a few days while he prepared to do what she had not succeeded in doing...bring Jarod home. It would not be an easy task but it would be worth the effort, if not for the hours of entertainment playing with the pretender, then simply for the look on Parker's face when she realised that she had failed.
Picking up the phone again, Lyle redialled the number. This time the phone rang. After the second ring, it was picked up on the other end.
"This is Lyle...I need you to arrange something for me."
"So here's what I think Syd," Miss Parker said, pacing his office, "I think that this is a load of crap. We're not going to get anything done just standing around. At the rate Broots is going whatever Lyle is up to will be over before we even have a clue what's going on."
Sydney, standing out of her path, nodded silently. Broots was off somewhere trying to find something on Lyle. He was working non-stop, trying desperately to avoid the wrath of Miss Parker. She wanted everything done yesterday. Easier said than done.
Other than trying to keep Miss Parker calm and prevent her from strangling Broots in a fit of rage, there was nothing Sydney could do. It was making him feel very helpless. He understood completely how Miss Parker now felt.
"Miss Parker, he is doing the best he can." Sydney chimed in, just a statement to fill the silence more than anything.
For once she was silent, to tired to complain about Broots and his lack of success.
His stomach finally calm, Jarod found himself sitting upright, legs drawn up to his chest. A knot of fear and apprehension settled in his stomach. He allowed his gaze to move up the wall, staring into the black lens of the camera. Someone was watching. He stared for a moment. Lost in the black eye, looking back at him. Until the sound of a lock being pulled back brought his attention to the door. He pulled himself unsteadily to his feet as the door swung open.
To be continued... (I know I'm pure evil aren't I?)
Believe it or not, I'm actually already part way into writing chapter four so it might be posted even quicker J That all depends on your lovely reviews....