Chapter 10

"Well I have to go meet with our wife." Jacob said after his conversation with Sophie. "I am sorry my dear old chap but that will be the last time you hear her voice."

"Don't you hurt her…" Nate said suddenly finding some strength as he pushed himself up to stand and face Jacob.

"By my good man I have no intention of hurting her…" Jacob said not showing any fear of Nate who stood unsteadily facing him and staring at him. "Not physically anyway, not at all, as I told you before I abhor violence."

"What are you going to do?" Nate asked softly, his fear for her safety outweighing his fear for himself.

"Well…nothing really." Jacob smiled at him. "You are the one thing I think she actually loves…perhaps even more than herself, which is quite extraordinary. However that is her punishment. She took my Masterpiece, now lost forever, so I will take hers… to be lost…forever." Jacob said his voice full of venom. "Unfortunately for you, it means your demise too." Jacob said turning away from Nate and opening the door to the room.

Nate watched as two bulky men entered the room and said a few low words to Jacob. Jacob then turned back to him and smiled.

"I have enjoyed our conversations Nathan Ford. Perhaps in another life, a life without the treachery of our wife, we could have been friends. But alas that was not to be. These two fine young men…" Jacob said nodding at the two large men. "Will be taking you to the place you will spend your last days. The drugs the doctor has administered to you will I am afraid make your last days…unpleasant."

"Wait…" Nate said as Jacob turned to leave.

"My dear man I assure you there is nothing you can say that will change my mind. This is how it has to be." Jacob told him.

"Just…just tell Sophie that I love her." Nate asked.

Jacob turned and stared at the man in disbelieve. Then shook his head and without saying anything left. The two men approached Nate and the last thing he remembered was a great meaty fist which connected with his face brining a shard of pain and then oblivion.

When he woke again it was dark. He could see nothing of what was around him, he could feel that he lay on cold concrete which made him shiver. It was deathly silent with only his ragged breathing to be heard. He hurt all over and he could feel dried blood which had coagulated under his nose from the punch the man had given him. He forced himself to his knees and moved until he felt his head hit the wall. It was hard and cold, concrete like the floor below him. He moved himself into a sitting position his back leaning against the wall. It must be night time he thought. He resigned himself to have to wait until some light came into the room before he could make any decisions on his next move.

Nate sat and wondered what was happening to Sophie and the others. He had no doubt that they would be looking for him and he firmly believed they would outsmart Jacob and they would come for him. He fell asleep propped up against the wall and when he woke again it was still pitch dark and deathly silent. Time had no meaning for him as he alternately sat and then lay down trying to curl himself into a tight ball to fight the cold. Pain wracked his body as the drugs did their job. He was not sure how long he had been there, however he estimated it had been at least a day or two, he was dehydrated and weak and that was when he realized that he was never going to see the light of day again. He was buried and this was going to be his tomb. Jacob had meant it when he said he was going to be lost forever buried somewhere nobody was going to find him. Nate pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. He closed his eyes and pictured Sophie; she appeared before him dressed in a white wedding gown staring into his eyes as she promised to love him forever. Despite his pain, his fear and his despair, he smiled to himself. "I love you Sophie"…He whispered into the darkness.

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