Chapter 56

His head pounded as he felt the blood coursing through his cold metal he felt around his wrists was a nice contrast to the heat of his body. Slowly, carefully, he pried his eyes open. Blinking several times, he tried to orient himself. He saw the long, winding staircase at the far end of the room. The acidic smell in the air told him the room was recently painted. Lifting his head proved to be painful and he fell back against the pillows. He put his hand against his head and palpated as much as he could, stopping when he came across the source of his pain - a large goose egg at the back of his skull. There were no windows that he could see and while the room was sparsely furnished, it did contain many amenities - toilet, fridge and shower. He raised his arms and saw the handcuffs were attached to long chains which were attached to the wall overhead. A quick, strong yank on them proved they were well secured. Letting out a deep sigh, he rolled on to his side. They were most definitely in trouble.

He watched Nathalie on the bed next to his. She was chained and cuffed in the same manner. Her face was pale and there was a patch of dried blood at her hair line. An angry bruise was beginning to show itself on her cheek along with the outline of someone's knuckles. "Nat?" he called to her. "Nat? Can you hear me?" Getting no response he sat up, immediately regretting his decision as a wave of nausea washed over him. Taking several deep breaths, he pushed himself from the bed and stood up. His legs shook slightly as he walked to Nathalie but was forced to stop just short of her bed as he reached the end of the slack on his tether. "Nat baby?" She let out a low moan, her eyes fluttering and struggling to open. "That's it Nat - open those pretty green eyes for me."

It had all happened so quickly that he wasn't entirely clear about the details. It had been a silent drive back to her house, he had kept one hand on the wheel and one hand on hers. She looked nothing like the woman he had come to love as much as his childhood friend - she was defeated and shattered. He squeezed her hand several times but got no response from her. They had walked up her driveway hand in hand, his arm around her shoulders for support. He led her inside and she walked straight to the kitchen.

"I'd offer you something to drink but I haven't lived here in a month or two. If there's any food here" she said flatly as she opened the fridge. "it will likely kill you."

Patrick sat at the kitchen table and watched as she walked around the room, opening and closing cupboards. "Talk to me Nat."

"And say what?" she shrugged. "Which part of the horror story that is my life would you like me to repeat?"

"Nat..."

"What?" The challenge was unmistakable in her eyes.

"Sit" he said sharply. "Enough of the wandering weirdo stuff." Glaring at him like a petulant child, she flopped into the seat across from him. "What happened with Nik?"

She sighed deeply. "Remember that guy who looks like Drew?" Patrick grimaced, suspecting what was coming next. "He has a niece in the oncology ward and we've talked a few times. He was congratulating me on my alleged engagement" she said bitterly, "when Nik came out of nowhere and decked him."

"Nik can throw a punch?" he asked in surprise.

Nathalie rolled her eyes. "Whatever - it lead to a nasty argument and now I'm done. I simply don't care anymore - I can't care."

"What do you mean?" he asked tentatively.

"My parents have my kids - they'll be well looked after. My husband, the man I loved more than life almost and who I pledged myself to is dead. What's the point?"

Patrick's eyes stung as tears appeared suddenly. "Don't" he said hoarsely. "Don't even joke about that."

"Who's joking P? I finally get why Andrew killed himself - he didn't think he had anything to live for and neither do I!"

Patrick jumped from his chair and pulled her from hers. He was inches from her face as he shook her. "STOP IT!! You stop that right now! You don't get to do that - no fucking way Nat. I am NOT losing another person in my life so snap the fuck out of it!" She flinched only slightly before the tears began anew. "Oh Nathalie" he sighed pulling her to his chest. "This was what was supposed to happen a year ago but you were just too stubborn to let it happen." He kissed her temple. "I would be lost without you."

"I'm sorry" she whimpered. "P - I'm a mess. I MISS my husband. I miss Nik. I miss my kids but most of all I miss when it was easy - when I had passion and fire." She sobbed as she buried her head in his chest. A year's worth of pain and disappointment bubbled to the surface and started its long descent out.

"Why didn't you tell me it was so bad?" He rubbed his hands down her back in attempt to stop her from shuddering. "I'm so sorry Nat."

And that had been the moment when everything changed.

"Aww don't they look sweet?" came a voice.

Spinning around Patrick was stunned to see three men clad completely in black with their faces covered. "What the fuck?" he asked, holding Nathalie tighter.

"You're coming with us" said the man closest to them as he advanced towards them. Reaching out to grab Patrick, he swung wildly making contact with the agressor's chin forcing his knees to buckle.

Patrick wasn't fast enough for the second man who grabbing Patrick by the pressure points on his wrist and hand forced him to his knees. "Easy there hot stuff" he said in a thick British accent. "Would hate to permanently ruin you before we get playtime." Patrick looked pleadingly at Nathalie trying to encourage her to run but she wouldn't leave. Moving quietly and quickly, she pulled a chef's knife from the knife block and brandished it at the intruders.

"You get the fuck away from him" she growled. "LET HIM GO!!"


"Now sweetstuff - you're too wee to play with knives like that - hand it over." The third man approached her, the corner of the counter the only thing between them.

"Fuck you" she spat.

"If you play nicely, I just may let you. I hear you like a little bit of rough."

Lifting both arms over head, Nathalie brought the knife down in the centre of his hand, essentially pinning him to the counter. He let loose a blood curdling scream as the first man chased after her. Grabbing her by the hair, he banged her head against the corner of the store before tossing her across the kitchen where she landed with a thud.

"NAT!!" Patrick called. It was the last thing he remembered before it all went dark.

"Nathalie, sweetie - those green eyes - I need to see them" he pleaded.

She moaned and opened them slowly. "Pat- Patrick"

"Hi there" he smiled. "You remember my name."

"Shouldn't I?" she asked groggily.

"Nat - we're in a spot of trouble and if we're going to get out I need to know first if you're okay."

She nodded slowly. "Nothing broken I don't think. You?"

"I'm okay - just a bump on my head. Can you sit up?" As she did, she felt her stomach drop and leaning over the far side of the bed began to vomit. Patrick grimaced as she dry-heaved, unable to reach her to touch her. "Nat?"

Moving slowly, she sat back against the bed. "I'm fine."

"You might have a concussion - you hit your head pretty hard."

"It's not a concussion" she said sleepily.

"Nat, I'm a doctor - a head doctor at that and I really think..."

"I'm pregnant."