I woke up to an empty bed. Light spilled out from the bathroom where James was standing in front of the mirror, spraying on cologne. He'd already showered, a white hotel towel wrapped around his waist and a new suit hanging in the closet. So the prick had brought an extra change of clothes too.
"So you were expecting this to happen?" I called out groggily, smirking tiredly.
"If not you, then someone else." he told me with a teasing shrug.
I just sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "I didn't bring an overnight bag. I don't have an extra change of clothes or anything."
"I'll drive you home." he said with a nod. "And I got you a coffee from downstairs."
I look over at the nightstand and reached for the Styrofoam cup that streamed on top of it. I took a sip, surprised to find cream and sugar already in it. "How did you know what I like in my coffee? Have you been you stalking me, Bond?" I was only half kidding.
"Because you stand in the break room for five minutes while you use up all of our sugar." he teased, but it was true. I did use a lot of sugar.
"Well thanks."
I finished my coffee and got dressed, braiding my messy hair until it was manageable. It was still early enough that not too many people were heading to work so Bond drove me home, giving me one last steamy kiss before I left. I took the back way into my apartment building so I didn't accidentally run into someone. I didn't bother putting my dress, shoes, or clutch away once I got inside, I just dumped it all on my bed and got into the shower. I took my time, letting the hot water soothe my muscles.
By time I got out, I was all pruney but perfectly clean. I was supposed to be at work by now, so I started to hurry. I quickly clipped back my hair in a half up half down do, put on my makeup with practiced precision, and threw on black skinnys and a silky green blouse. After one last look in the mirror, I grabbed my clutch, not having time to switch all of my things back into my regular purse, and opened my bedroom door. All I needed was something from the kitchen to hold me until lunch, but instead of being greeting by an empty hallway, I was instead greeted by a very unexpected face. Clarence. I slammed the door in his face and ran back to my dresser, opening the drawers where I had all of my weapons, only to find them empty. My knives, my knives, where the hell were my knives?
"Looking for something?" Clarence hissed, opening his suit jacket to show me my knives and newly acquired gun.
"How long have you been here?" I blurted, slamming shut the drawers as I turned to face him.
"Long enough to take all your weapons and have breakfast while you showered."
I snarled, fists clenching. "What the fuck do you want?"
"M sent me to kill you, obviously. Why oh why would he kill one of his own agents?" he asked sarcastically, and suddenly it all clicked into place. Mallory wanted me to take the fall. If I was found dead, most of the suspicion would be diverted to another person of interest, most likely Bond since he was the only one left alive.
"He can't do this!" I exclaimed. Mallory knew my secret, that's why he brought me from America! How could he do this to me, his own daughter?!
"Oh, but he can." Clarence pulled his own pistol from his jacket, aiming and firing in about two seconds flat.
I jumped out of the way but not fast enough, the bullet grazing my arm. I felt the sting but hardly flinched, not with all the adrenaline pumping through me. I charged him, aiming a roundhouse kick at his face. He backed up and I ended up hitting his hand, which was just as good because the gun flew from his hand and landed with a soft thud on my carpet. He lunged for it, but I lunged for him, tackling him to the ground and pinning him beneath me. I crossed my arms across his neck, grabbing the collar of his suit and pulling it tight around his neck, choking him.
"You will not kill me." I hissed in his face, to which he smirked.
He got one arm out from under me, sweeping it across to push my head into the wall. I felt pain explode across my skull, once, twice, and then-
I blinked my eyes open, a splitting headache the first thing that registered. Sticky, half dried blood coated my left arm. I tried to touch it, only to feel the cold restraint and rattle of chains. I started to remember Clarence's attack, my mind clearing, and I tried to stand, move, something, but my arms and legs had been chained to a very uncomfortable wooden chair. I was in some small room, made of wood, and dimly illuminated by a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling by a string. I could make out a figure in the corner, and once they realized I was awake they slowly started towards me.
"I thought M's assignment was to kill me, not detain me." I growled.
"It was, and I will kill you, but slowly. Nobody will ever find out anyway." he replied arrogantly. He stood in front of me, dark eyes even darker and glinting with a twisted excitement. "I've been waiting a long time for this." he told me with a low, dark chuckle.
"Why? What have I done to you?"
"Nothing, necessarily, you're just a bitch. Always trying to steal my spotlight-"
"I don't have to try." I taunted with a smirk, for which I earned a back handed slap across the face. "Wow, scary." Another. My cheek stung badly and I knew a bruise would soon be left in it's place, but I continued on."
"I'll get out of here eventually."
"No you won't."
A punch to the gut, yanking on my hair, a kick to my knees. I doubled over in my chair, coughing and gasping for air as he punched me in the gut again. He wound his fingers in my hair, pulling it down so I was forced to look up at his dark smirk. I spit blood in his face and he snarled, wiping it on his sleeve and delivering a blow to my ribs.
"I've been beaten before." I wheezed. "This doesn't phase me."
"No?" He pulled one of my own daggers from his jacket, dragging the blade along my jaw and down my neck. "Have you ever been bled before?" he asked quietly, dragging the blade lower, between my breasts and lightly pressing the tip into me, cutting my shirt and piercing my skin. It felt like a needle, something I'd hated since I was a child. He saw the slight movement of my foot as I tried to kick out at him, only to be held back by the chains. "I'll take that as a no, but I can save that for tomorrow."
He twisted the tip of the blade further, against my sternum. I could hear the metal grinding against my bone and I bit my tongue to keep from crying out. He finally retreated the blade, only to poke it again down my stomach, along my arms and legs, the parts of my back that weren't hidden by the chair. The constant needle like pricking over and over again. It was driving me mad. I glared at Clarence, flinching every time the blade tip dug into me, boiling with hate and rage.
It seemed like hours before he finally stopped, little drops of blood staining my clothes. I sat dead still, watching Clarence with blood thirsty eyes. I wanted to break free of these chains and tackle him to the ground. I wanted to beat him to a pulp and then snap his neck. I could already feel the violent jerk of his head beneath my empty hands.
Clarence wiped the blade clean on my shirt and put it back in his jacket pocket, reaching out to hold my face by my cheeks. "I'm sure you'll be fine by yourself here, hm? See you in the morning, Jones." His voice was cheery, triumphant. It made me want to puke.
He slapped my face away and walked out through a door on my right, leaving me alone in the little room with no windows. I just sat there, screaming my frustrations to the walls and struggling in my bonds. How could I have let such a thing happen? Why didn't I check my apartment before getting in the shower? Why didn't I do this? I should have done that. No matter how many times I questioned or reprimanded myself it wouldn't make a difference now. I just needed to get out of here.
After a while, I stopped struggling. The chains weren't going to loosen and I wasn't getting out without breaking one of my thumbs. It wasn't worth it, not yet. My eyelids grew heavy, stomach roaring and body sore. Sleep came and went, leaving me confused about what was a dream and what was reality.
