Joe was led to the brown sedan and forced into the back seat. Again, a wet cloth was introduced to his face and soon, he was sleeping.
This time when he awoke, he lay still for a bit, letting the dizziness pass before attempting to sit up. When he did, he reached for his stomach. It was throwing him fits and he wasn't sure if it was due to the chloroform or the fact he hadn't eaten since he had left home.
Joe looked around his new prison. The walls were made of stone and there were no doors and no windows, although there were iron bars adorning an exit. The thing that really bothered Joe, however, was that he was not alone.
After Joe's escape, it had been decided that he needed to be under constant supervision. Therefore, Joe was to be watched by no less than two members of the sect at any given time.
Joe looked at his roommates. The black robes they wore did not hide their muscular build. Joe knew he would have a problem getting away with these two guys watching him.
The guy on the left side of the bars looked at Joe with alert blue eyes. His face was solemn as was his partner's and he stood as if he were a soldier guarding the fort. He had a black goatee but was bald atop his head. The other guard had brown eyes and brown hair, dark skin and a brown mustache. As he occupied the only chair in the room, he kept his eyes on Joe as Joe stood and stretched.
"Who are you guys?" Joe asked the two men. They never replied and their gaze did not leave him. "Why did you kidnap me?" Again silence. "Where am I?" Joe asked, though he expected no answer to this question either. He looked the standing guard in the eyes. "I need to go to the bathroom," he said.
The guard looked over at the other man with a questioning glance. The other man nodded and stood up. "Call him," he called out to someone who was out of view.
Shortly, a stocky man, also in a black robe, appeared on the other side of the bars. With him were theree other men and two women, all in the same attire. The iron door was unlocked and they entered the room.
"I need to go to the bathroom," Joe said again, swallowing as a little burst of fear pulsated through his body.
The man, stocky with black hair and green eyes which oozed false kindness, nodded at the first man who had followed him into the room. At once, Joe's arms were seized and his head forced back. A syringe was brought forth and injected into Joe's throat.
Joe winced as it pierced the skin and he squeezed his eyes shut against the pain as it went deeper into his throat. When the syringe was removed, Joe was released. He lifted his hand to his throat and glared. "Why did you...." Joe broke off, raising his hand to his throat in alarm as he realized no sound was coming out. He tried to speak again but with no luck. Joe gazed at the man in horrified silence. What had they done to him? He could no longer speak. Why had they done this to him? He fought hard to control the growing fear which was consuming him.
The man turned and left the room. Joe was then taken by his arms and escorted out of the room and down a tunnel to an area where a port-a-potty had been placed. He was allowed to enter alone. When he came out, he was again taken by the arms and led through another tunnel.
This tunnel opened into a cavern which held a very large barrel. Joe was taken closer and then hands were removing the belt from his robe. The white robe fell to the rock floor and Joe stood naked before all present. He was then lifted and set into the barrel. Five women came forth and poured cool water on top of his head.
Joe shivered as the first bucket of water hit his skin. After this, the buckets were refilled and mroe water was added to the barrel. This was kept up until Joe was immersed in water up to his chest. At once three different women came forth bearing sponges and soap. They soaped Joe up and washed his hair as all the others watched.
More water was brought and Joe was forced to stand up as the water was poured over him to clear away the remaining suds. He was lifted out of the barrel by two men and a fresh white robe was brought forth and placed around him then securely tied at the waist.
Joe was escorted back to his cell. A silver platter was brought into the room. On it was a silver goblet and one grape. The Carrier stood in front of Joe and held out the platter to him. Joe shook his head. He didn't know what was in the goblet and he didn't want to find out.
At once, Joe's arms were seized and hands reached for his face. Joe shook his head, his eyes going wide as he accpeted that he would have to drink it one way or the other. He was released and Joe picked up the goblet. He held it up to his mouth and closed his eyes.
He took a deep breath and took a swallow, then burst out coughing. They were giving him wine to drink, Joe realized. He looked into the eyes of the person nearest him. There was no sympathy there. No remorse. No emotion whatsoever. Joe looked down into the goblet and wondered why this was happening to him as he lifted the goblet and drank the contents. Finishing, he placed the goblet on the tray. He then picked up the grape and popped it into his mouth. Savoring the taste of it. Everything tastes better when you're hungry, he thought. Once he had swallowed the grape everyone except his two bodyguards left the room and the bars were once again locked in place, sealing him inside.
This time when he awoke, he lay still for a bit, letting the dizziness pass before attempting to sit up. When he did, he reached for his stomach. It was throwing him fits and he wasn't sure if it was due to the chloroform or the fact he hadn't eaten since he had left home.
Joe looked around his new prison. The walls were made of stone and there were no doors and no windows, although there were iron bars adorning an exit. The thing that really bothered Joe, however, was that he was not alone.
After Joe's escape, it had been decided that he needed to be under constant supervision. Therefore, Joe was to be watched by no less than two members of the sect at any given time.
Joe looked at his roommates. The black robes they wore did not hide their muscular build. Joe knew he would have a problem getting away with these two guys watching him.
The guy on the left side of the bars looked at Joe with alert blue eyes. His face was solemn as was his partner's and he stood as if he were a soldier guarding the fort. He had a black goatee but was bald atop his head. The other guard had brown eyes and brown hair, dark skin and a brown mustache. As he occupied the only chair in the room, he kept his eyes on Joe as Joe stood and stretched.
"Who are you guys?" Joe asked the two men. They never replied and their gaze did not leave him. "Why did you kidnap me?" Again silence. "Where am I?" Joe asked, though he expected no answer to this question either. He looked the standing guard in the eyes. "I need to go to the bathroom," he said.
The guard looked over at the other man with a questioning glance. The other man nodded and stood up. "Call him," he called out to someone who was out of view.
Shortly, a stocky man, also in a black robe, appeared on the other side of the bars. With him were theree other men and two women, all in the same attire. The iron door was unlocked and they entered the room.
"I need to go to the bathroom," Joe said again, swallowing as a little burst of fear pulsated through his body.
The man, stocky with black hair and green eyes which oozed false kindness, nodded at the first man who had followed him into the room. At once, Joe's arms were seized and his head forced back. A syringe was brought forth and injected into Joe's throat.
Joe winced as it pierced the skin and he squeezed his eyes shut against the pain as it went deeper into his throat. When the syringe was removed, Joe was released. He lifted his hand to his throat and glared. "Why did you...." Joe broke off, raising his hand to his throat in alarm as he realized no sound was coming out. He tried to speak again but with no luck. Joe gazed at the man in horrified silence. What had they done to him? He could no longer speak. Why had they done this to him? He fought hard to control the growing fear which was consuming him.
The man turned and left the room. Joe was then taken by his arms and escorted out of the room and down a tunnel to an area where a port-a-potty had been placed. He was allowed to enter alone. When he came out, he was again taken by the arms and led through another tunnel.
This tunnel opened into a cavern which held a very large barrel. Joe was taken closer and then hands were removing the belt from his robe. The white robe fell to the rock floor and Joe stood naked before all present. He was then lifted and set into the barrel. Five women came forth and poured cool water on top of his head.
Joe shivered as the first bucket of water hit his skin. After this, the buckets were refilled and mroe water was added to the barrel. This was kept up until Joe was immersed in water up to his chest. At once three different women came forth bearing sponges and soap. They soaped Joe up and washed his hair as all the others watched.
More water was brought and Joe was forced to stand up as the water was poured over him to clear away the remaining suds. He was lifted out of the barrel by two men and a fresh white robe was brought forth and placed around him then securely tied at the waist.
Joe was escorted back to his cell. A silver platter was brought into the room. On it was a silver goblet and one grape. The Carrier stood in front of Joe and held out the platter to him. Joe shook his head. He didn't know what was in the goblet and he didn't want to find out.
At once, Joe's arms were seized and hands reached for his face. Joe shook his head, his eyes going wide as he accpeted that he would have to drink it one way or the other. He was released and Joe picked up the goblet. He held it up to his mouth and closed his eyes.
He took a deep breath and took a swallow, then burst out coughing. They were giving him wine to drink, Joe realized. He looked into the eyes of the person nearest him. There was no sympathy there. No remorse. No emotion whatsoever. Joe looked down into the goblet and wondered why this was happening to him as he lifted the goblet and drank the contents. Finishing, he placed the goblet on the tray. He then picked up the grape and popped it into his mouth. Savoring the taste of it. Everything tastes better when you're hungry, he thought. Once he had swallowed the grape everyone except his two bodyguards left the room and the bars were once again locked in place, sealing him inside.