I can't enlighten you for sure as to how long I was out, but I awoke feeling warm and comfortable, as opposed to passing out in the cold night. I was in an upright position, arms bound in front of me. I was sitting on something comfy, which I assumed was a sofa. My sofa? I couldn't tell because I hadn't opened my eyes right away. Instead, I kept my breathing steady, listening for any sign that I was in another trap.
Of
course you are. I told myself. Why
would he kidnap me again if I wasn't?
So I opened my eyes, only
to see darkness again, and feel very abandoned, when in truth, I was
not.
I sat there in the pitch dark silence, feeling reminiscent of my first trap. Yet I knew this would be different. I didn't know I had anything further to be taught, but evidently, John had more plans for me.
I couldn't tell whether I was distressed or eager at the prospect. The bitter-sweetness of it overtook me and I called out into the shadows:
"John!"
no answer, only an echo, and a defeated groan nearby.
I
struggled, but my wrists were fettered efficiently.
When I was ready to shout again, my television flickered once, turned black once more, and then turned itself on. Revealing a larger version of my puppet doll, and I wondered where my small friend was now, remembering how I'd dropped my purse in the street. I stared at the screen, which was the only light source in the room. Doing this caused my retinas to strain painfully as they adjusted to the sudden beams.
My sore eyes traveled from it to the body sitting no more than three feet from me, on the floor propped up by my wall. The poor fool was chained to it. I had recognized my surroundings to be my own living room. The body was sitting up like me, and its hands were also tied. The only divergence being they were tied in back, not in front. It was wearing all black and had a black sack over its head, hiding its identity.
The puppet on the television spoke in John's voice.
"Hello Rivielle, I'm sure you're wondering why you must play again. But only I know why, and the rules are simple. There is a man sitting near you. He cannot harm you, as his life depends on your help. He has committed a terrible crime, and only you have the tools that can save him. Will you condemn him or liberate him? You have ten minutes to remove his device with a digital password. You are being tested on your will to save another, as I once saved you. Live or Die, Rivielle, make his choice."
The screen flickered off and a dim light came on somewhere in
my kitchen. This helped me see moderately better, but not too well.
It was placed in the middle of my ceiling and gave me some view. My
wrists were taped with duct tape, and I knew I needed someone else to
peel it off. I tried using my teeth, but to no avail. I glanced up;
the body was still sitting there, head lolling around in a dazed way.
I sniffled, realizing I was probably becoming sick from being out in
the cold too long.
Finally, I decided to get over there and wake
this 'criminal' up. Standing, I heard a click and a timer go off.
The ticking prompted me to get over there, and fast. I swooped down
in front of the man, grabbing onto his shoulder and shaking him
violently. If this guy wanted to live, he'd better wake up.
He grunted loudly and I yelled at him- "Wake up! You're in danger, idiot!" I pulled the black sack off of his head, revealing an older man, middle aged with graying dark hair and a face that hadn't been shaved in a while.
He had a collar around his neck. It was attached to a pistol, which was aimed at the back of his head. On the collar were painted words that said: 'She is the key.' And below that was a small keyboard with only letters of the alphabet on it. On the back of his head were two small lights, a red one and a green one.
I inhaled sharply at the sight of him. I imagine I would've been shocked even if I had seen him in a less dangerous situation. My bound arms flew up to my mouth and I bit one of my fists to keep from howling too loud. Never had I remembered him in anything except old pictures. However, I knew this man from before I can remember. And I saw him more in my dreams than in reality. Without my knowing, oceans began to fall down my face. Groggily, his eyes lifted and then they focused on my distraught face. I estimated that we only had eight minutes left.
"Who are you?!" He shook his head of the dizziness that still lingered from the drugs.
I scanned him with my eyes, desperately looking for more clues, not trying to waste any more of his time. There was a bulge in his jacket pocket. Maneuvering my taped wrists, my hands grabbed at it, ignoring him as he shouted at me. I pulled it out of his pocket a cassette player. Wasting no time, I pressed play. When he sees me do this, he shuts up abruptly.
"Hello Robert. Many years ago, you decided to abandon your month-old infant daughter and her struggling mother, for a waitress you met in a bar. Leaving them on their own, you never looked back. Now is your chance for redemption. The device you are wearing is simple. You must look into the eyes of the child you had so easily forsaken and remember her name. Speak correctly and she will type it into the apparatus, freeing you. Wait too long and your life will end; as you threw away your life with your own flesh and blood. Will you humble yourself to the young girl whom you wanted nothing to do with? Make your choice."
He was bawling before the tape ended, repeating over and over again that he was sorry.
"I-I can't help you! You have to remember me on your own; its part of the rules!" My voice broke as I pleaded with him, his words turning into harsh sobs.
With five minutes left, I turned his head to the side, using my arms, and forced him to look up at me. His drained face and watery eyes focused on mine, and I tried to get him to cooperate with me.
"Robert...Dad..." I tested the word; it burned and tingled on my lips. I had never called anyone my father before. I suppressed a wail.
He moaned and said something to the nature of 'let me be'. He hiccupped, and the clock kept ticking. My heart thumped violently in my chest. "No no no no no, I won't let you- this is my test too!" I rapped on his face with my knuckles lightly, but he wouldn't stir. He seemed determined to wallow as our time was running out.
"I deserve this..." He rasped. I could only imagine what was running through his mind.
"Look!" I shouted. He did. Our eyes locked for a moment that we couldn't spare, I begged him- "Dad." The second time made me feel proud, yet I sunk deeper into disdain. "Just guess! Take a guess. Anything, just shout out something!"
He
looked rueful, "Jennifer..." I shook my head in a frenzied
way.
"Angela.."
"Beth."
"Teresa."
Two minutes left.
"Lydia."
"Diane..."
Could I at least give him a hint? Not
possible, I knew. This was his
salvation, and as much as I wanted to help him, I also was deeply
bound to the fact that he must learn his own lesson. As well as
keeping in mind that I never knew him, I never wanted him in my life.
His mistake, not mine.
"...Riley?" He hiccupped
again; I saw that he was sweating bullets. No pun intended.
"You're
getting closer!" I encouraged tearfully. John's words rung in
my ears:
You are being tested on your will to save another.
Seeing the tears running down my face, he began to speak softly.
"Don't worry. It'll be fine...I'm sorry. But this is my punishment, and you deserved more than what I left you with."
"Stop saying that! I'm gonna save you-keep guessing!"
We buzzed through several more names, none of
which even came close.
The timer was counting down 60 seconds
now. Hope was fading fast.
It seemed tragically ironic that
my whole life I'd been without a father. Now that I finally meet
him in person, he's seconds from death.
I knew I should be
livid. I knew deep down I should hold resent for John. For putting me
through this again.
But I could never be angry. He's given us
closure, no matter how it's done. I was grateful.
20
seconds. My father asked me to tell me my name. I did. I told him I
forgave him. He said he loved
me. I didn't believe him, though it was nice to hear. He snapped
his eyes shut, and yelled at me to get out of the way.
I wasn't
fast enough.
The timer ticked down to zero.
Crimson splattered on my face like confetti at a children's birthday party. I scooted back nearly two feet with eyes wide. I was far beyond a scream at this point, and the adrenaline that came with shock coursed through me instead. Still sitting in close proximity of the corpse, I ripped and tore at my binds with my teeth; shredding quickly through layers of the duct tape. However, it was too thick of a seal; and I gave up halfway through, standing up instead. I spun around fast, looking through the dim light, and running towards my light switch. I was midway when I was stopped. I fell backwards onto my backside. Looking up, I saw John standing over me.
"Game Over. We lost." I told him, indignant. I was out of breath, my chest heaving.
"No." He spoke. I was relived to finally hear him in person again. We both looked over at my father's body still chained to the wall, head slumped over. The scarlet was dripping heavily down his face, a large hole in the middle of his head. His eyes were shut and mouth hanging agape because he'd clenched his teeth just before...
"You won."
John
kneeled and began peeling the tape off. As he did this, I couldn't
take my eyes away from him.
He glanced up, making eye contact. My
breath caught in my throat.
"Your tools to save were
determination, will power, and fact based logic. I never had to give
them to you. Part of understanding me, is never letting your emotions
overpower you. You followed the rules."
It was hard to
speak. I understand you.
I thought.
I smiled warmly. He was proud
of me.
"I-I..." I trailed off. Sitting at his feet, I must
have looked awful. Hair frazzled, Make-up running and mixed with the
splatter of blood. My wrists free and sore. I held out my hands,
willing him to take them and help get me up. He hesitated. Waiting
anxiously, I felt like my heart was an Indian war drum: steady yet
ragingly fast paced.
"Help me?" I was weak. It took
everything in me to ask.
He did.
