Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. All readers and reviews appreciated, thank you!
Eames slouched in his chair, flicking through photographs. He looked up as Cobb walked in.
"Hi," the Forger said, pleasantly, "what's-"
"Arthur's gone," Cobb said, shortly. He looked at Eames. "Gone, and gone back to Saito. We need to find him."
"Is that wise?" Eames said, standing up. "We have no idea what Saito could be doing to him right now."
"And that's precisely why we need to get him," Cobb said, the words coming out slightly more curtly than he'd intended. "And we need to find Ariadne. Eames, that's your task."
"I think I can guess where she'd be," Eames said, getting to his feet. "Arthur's apartment."
"Good, go there." Cobb turned to Elise. "You're with me."
"Where are we-"
"A hotel," Cobb said, simply. "Where do you think a business magnate like Saito would go?"
She nodded. "I have a few guesses."
"Good. Tell me."
Arthur looked at the desserts. His mouth was twitching. Saito noticed it, and smiled.
"Go and take a look," he said, invitingly. Arthur got up, and walked over. The cheesecake had a thick, yellow crust; the gateux was practically sliding off the plate. Meringues were stacked up on top of each other. He reached a hand out, wanting to touch them.
Then he drew his hand back. "Saito, I don't' think this is a good idea."
"Why not, Arthur?"
He looked up. A female voice had just emerged into the room, followed by a body, legs first. In fact, before Arthur could blink, she was standing in front of him.
"Don't you remember?" She cooed. "We were together, in the lift."
He swallowed. "Yes, we were, but-"
"Don't you remember me, Arthur? We were in college together."
His jaw dropped as she removed the sunglasses. He took in her appearance – despite the expensive dress suit, and silk blouse, she was still the same girl as when he was in college with her. "Allie?" he whispered.
She nodded. "Yes, Arthur. You've improved since then. Have you found a method to keep your weight down?"
He looked at her. "Allie, I-"
"Come on," she said, smiling. "I'm sure you want some of this." She began to cut into the gateux, and handed him a slice. "Come on."
Arthur put his hand in his pocket. His die was the right weight. He swallowed. "Allie, I-"
"Eat it," she said, coldly. Putting her hand on his chest, she gave him a slight shove. "Just eat it."
He put the fork in. "I don't think I can manage this-"
"Yes, you can," she said, soothingly. "You might find you need it. Now, come on."
Arthur put the fork in and drew it up to his lips. As his mouth closed around the cake, he found himself melting with its sweetness. Allie smiled, maliciously.
"I knew it," she whispered. "You're still the same fat boy I always knew. Now, how about another forkful, Arthur?"
He nodded. "Please…"
"No." She jerked the plate away from him, viciously, noting the small whine that escaped him from the back of his throat. "Not yet."
"Allie…" Arthur's voice was soft, almost pleading. "Please, I need the-"
She smiled, coldly. "Bag him." To his shock, two men suddenly entered, one placing a bag over the Point Man's head, the other tying his wrists. She nodded, and gestured with her hand. "Take him."
Saito re-entered the room. "Excellent. Take him." He pulled into his pocket and pulled out a large bundle of cash. "Your fee."
She took it, her eyebrow arching. "Like candy from a baby, Mr Saito." She smiled. "Call me if you need Arthur to receive some tender loving care."
He reciprocated with a smile. "Gladly. Thank you." He looked at her. "My associate will deal with him now." He chuckled. "Arthur didn't want to work for me, but with my associate...well, he has no choice."
Ari was curled up in the duvet, her mind numb. She heard the knock on the door, but ignored it.
"Ari?" Eames' voice was soft, and persistant. "Ari, let me in."
Cobb looked for the sign. "Which hotel do you reckon it could be?"
"The Imperial." She looked at him. "Only the best for Saito."
Arthur felt himself move. He'd been grabbed roughly, and thrown into the back of something. A van, he guessed. He swallowed. His hands had been tied, and as he struggled, he could feel the ropes burn his wrists.
He leaned his head against the side. His body was craving, demanding, that he feed it. He could feel bile begin to form in his throat. Leaning to the side, he spat it out, feeling uncouth and dirty as a result.
After a while, the van stopped. Doors opened, and he felt himself being hauled out.
"This way," another voice said, and he allowed himself to be dragged by a large hand. After a short while, he found himself being pushed down onto something. A bed.
"Listen," a voice said, "I'm going to untie your hands. If you try anything, I'll shoot you in the chest."
"Ok." Arthur's voice was muffled. He felt the ropes loosen and come off. After a couple of minutes, a door banged.
He reached up, and pulled the bag off. He was in a room. Relatively comfortable, with a bed, desk, and lights. Curtains were hanging against a wall, drawn. Swallowing, he got up and pulled at them.
Arthur found himself staring at a wall.
Cobb hurried into the hotel. As he did so, he saw Saito walking through. "Saito!"
The businessman stopped, then smiled when he saw who it was. "Mr Cobb."
"Where's Arthur?" Cobb demanded. "What have you done with him?"
Saito smiled. "He's safe, Mr Cobb. Excuse me. He's in the right hands."
Cobb's jaw dropped. "Where is he, Saito?"
"I do not have to answer you." Pushing past the Extractor, the magnate walked on, his expression irritated. Cobb stared after him, grinding his teeth.
Arthur sat on the bed, trying to stay calm. His body was beginning to sweat and beg for something sweet. Something sugary. He wrapped his jacket around himself.
He pulled out his cellphone. No signal. Then he remembered – there was no-one he could really call.
His team had lied to him. Betrayed him. They had gone into his mind to tell him he didn't need to have an eating disorder.
"But I don't have one," he muttered to himself, getting up. "I just-" he caught sight of his reflection and gasped.
He was fat. An ugly, fat blob, whose suit didn't hide the ripples and bulges. He felt overcome with shame and disgust, and turned away. Suddenly, he heard a scraping noise. A key. Turning, he looked.
"Hello, Arthur."
He turned. Robert Fischer was smirking in the doorway.