Francis was shifting in and out of consciousness. he hit the boulder really hard. the room he was in was lit by candle light and fire. he could feel a cold chill on him as he strained to regain consciousness. he opened his eyes to find he was not where he was when he fell or exploded or whatever happened. he tried to remember exactly what it was that hit him. he looked around. he was in a rock like shelter. he couldn't tell if it was a cave or a house. there were no windows, but there was a door. there were homely type things in there. but he wasn't sure…

"I don't know what it is you want, but your gonna tell me before you leave here…or if you leave here." a voice came from one of the dark corners of the room. it was deep and frightening.

francis jerked his head towards the corner. he was frightened. scared. mortified. he knew he was anything but safe. he wanted to go home, but his father would never let him. and the disappointment he'd give him, not being able to be on his own for a day… he would never.

"w-where exactly is-s here?" he stuttered. he wanted to cry. knowing they had something that can concust a heat wave that can obliterate a boulder, he wasn't sure what he was up against. he does know that he felt a wave of electricity going through him at the time before he was out.

"I wouldn't worry to much about that." he said, still in his low, threatening voice. "Now…" his voice rising a notch "what are you here for." he asked.

francis didn't know what to tell him. he knew if he didn't, he would kill him. but he wasn't there for him. 'oh what embarrassment I must bring to father for my failure.' he thought. 'I couldn't even follow up on one painfully easy order, to keep myself alive without depending on father's people for protection.' he felt awful, sick to his stomach.

"well…" the voice bellowed, waiting for an answer. francis noticed that he was on some sort of bed. he wasn't even restrained. whatever kind of interrogation plan this guy was trying to work out was obviously thought of too quickly.

"im not here for you-"

"Just…" the voice yelled annoyed, cutting off francis's explaination, "…just who do you think you are? I saw you leaving those secret agent's ship! I know your with them! did they send you here to spy on us-I mean me? huh? did they tell you to find out my weaknesses? or did they tell you to become friends with me and take me down that way?" the voice was unpleased.

francis just looked at the shadowy figure unsure of how to make him believe his story. "I…I don't even know who you are."

"nonsense! you were sent here to-"

"I was sent here because they weren't sure I was safe there! I don't know you. I don't want to be here, wherever here is. I just want to leave so I can obey what I was actually told to do!" francis wasn't scared of the man in the corner anymore. he knew the man didn't know what he was talking about and didn't want to try to solve his problem.

"ok," the voice was calm now, but was still suspicious, "then what was it that you were told to do?"

"all they told me to do was to form a 'team' of friends (off the record that I haven't made yet) who would gladly do as I say so I will be protected at all costs. they gave me money and instructions. and nothing else." the pain in francis's stomach grew tighter with every word. he grabbed his stomach and laid back down.

the man got up as francis went down and headed toward the door.