Chapter 3: All This Time

Jayce's P.O.V.

Two gentle hands lightly caressed his face. Sometimes the hands stopped for a little while, massaging his scalp slowly.

Calm... Slowing down... No thoughts…. No need to think about anything...

Wait...

As sudden and fast as a lightning bolt, Jayce jerked awake, and were it not for the tightness of the blankets on top of him, he no doubt would have rolled out of this – bed? A soft bed?

Way too soft...

'What-what happened? Where-no, why I'm lying down… here...' Jayce said out loud, rattled by this unnerving turn of events, made even worse by his inability to open his eyes- no, to use his eyesight.

He blinked, though nothing showed up in his vision. Only darkness, no light spots whatsoever?

Goddamn what in the hell-

"What happened to my vision!" Jayce exclaimed with a high pitch voice, panic flowing through his system. Quickly to examine his physical state, he tried bringing his hands to his face until they were forced to remain stuck midway.

Did someone tie me down?!

Panic set in, completely possessing his way of thinking and subsequently, his reactions. Without eyesight, without his ability to even move, completely defenseless, forced and held flat down in a lying position - and without his Hammer at the ready - things were not looking particularly bright for the former councilman.

Immediately Jayce ceased struggling and talking: he realized that someone had captured him and that his prison guard could most likely be listening in or has been in earshot already, already noticing his captive woke up.

Rule #1 during captivity: Play along, play the game.

Which to Jayce seemed like an impossible task at this given moment, without understanding what had happened and led to this and without any clues who and why this person captured him in the first place. He frowned deeply, trying with all his might to recall his latest memories. Anything. Please.

Again, he failed. His thoughts, his memories... Hazy, like a blue smoky glow overlaying any recollections. Some remnants remained, like a movie in slow-motion. Cloudy. Out of focus. He could no longer access his memories. Whatever they did to him, they have damaged his ability to recall badly. Had he suffered a blow to the head? Or several blows? Has he been tortured in a slow fashion or did his captors finish their job swiftly?

He couldn't figure that out either. It's no use… Goddamn it.

With all his might, Jayce pulled his arms, tucking on what were supposed to represent some kind of chains. Only these didn't cut into his skin; quite remarkable and… weird. Made of metal, but... Soft on the inside. No less worrisome to him. Despite his silence, his body and mind on full alert.

This… is bad.

'You don't have to try, Jayce. They don't give in, these are designed that way, they won't budge or break.'

Jayce held his breath, zooming in on this…. voice, A man's voice. Low, soft, almost entirely monotone. In stark contrast to Jayce's.

'And who the hell are you?'

The voice chuckled and sighed.

'My presence is all there is and exactly what you need right now, Jayce.'

The voice didn't hand over any clues regarding its identity. A sentence that came across as sarcastic at best. Teasing. Almost like the voice enjoyed itself.

Jayce bit his lip. He blinked several times, though his vision didn't return. To no avail, he tried to look in all directions.

'What did you do to my eyes? Tell me. I demand you explain everything to me. Speak up.'

Someone sighed again, taking his time. 'No need to worry, my friend. It's not something you need to concern yourself with.'

'That's for me to decide, you bastard!'

'Tsk, tsk...' the voice responded, its tone slightly critical and seemingly amused no more.

'I don't think so, Jayce. Unfortunately, you can't and will not decide any longer. From now on, I will do so. For your own good.'

'You can't-'

'Need I remind you, your decisions didn't turn out so well. You have suffered…. Needlessly.'

'So, you've known me for quite some time. Explains why you address me by name all the time.'

'Yes, I've known you for quite some time, Jayce.'

Jayce waited, no longer able to respond, his mind shutting down. He could no longer think. So he kept on listening, dreading what words or clues came next.

A pause.

'You didn't realize… all this time…. I've followed and watched you from afar and up close, dear Jayce. Staying in close proximity, never leaving your side….'

No…

'All this time I've remained close…'

Impossible.

'I have known you since your childhood.'

READER: Should I continue? Which P.O.V. first?