I wake up, very groggy, and it makes me wonder. Why? Because usually when I wake up, I am fully alert. I struggle to sit up, and find I cannot move my arms! I try to speak, but find myself gagged. I have to get out of here!
Slowly I use my long fingers to pick at the knots in the rope binding my arms together. I hear a noise outside my cell. I stop picking at the knots and hold myself absolutely still. Perhaps I will not get hurt worse if I do not move…
The door opens. A man, dressed in the latest fashions, enters. Who is this? I wonder. Another, shabbily dressed, burly man enters behind him. The rich man whispers something to the muscled man in his ear. He comes towards me. I try to get away from him, but there is nowhere to go. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. But all that happens is that I can feel the gag gone. I want to speak, but I am afraid to.
"You are wondering what is going on, no doubt," the man purrs. "No need to answer aloud." He laughs. "You are my prisoner. I am Comte Julian de Arancourt. You will be sold to perform as a freak exhibit. You will not even think about escaping or you will be killed. I will have someone come for you when it is time to show you off."
They leave. Good, they did not notice what I was doing previously. I resume picking at the knots in the ropes. There! I can get my hands free. I quickly start picking the rope binding my ankles. This proves much easier than before. Most likely because I have free use of my hands, I think to myself. I decide to keep the rope, just in case.
I stand up and stretch my sore body. After stretching, I move over and try to open the door. Locked! Of course! Who would be stupid enough to keep the door unlocked? I decide to wait for them to come back. I make it look like I am still tied up, but am not, and then I fall asleep.