Gripping Part 2 (contest entry)

             Part 2

             For what seemed like forever there was nothing but the darkness. It was nothing but utter blackness and silence. Only occasional moments where my eyes would open, but I still saw nothing. Would opening my eyes help me see any better? In truth it was the same. Have you had so much darkness around you that even with your eyes open you still couldn’t see? That was my feeling. It wasn’t my sight that helped me coop with my fear but more what I felt and heard. I felt like I was moving. Smooth and steady with only a few bumps. I could hear fast vroom’s going on around me. Like something around me was going very fast. Like a soft echoing sound of speed. But this was all I could gather. I could feel and here this when I was awake, but that was the problem. I would only wake up slightly then pass out again. But when I was awake this was what I heard. Hours could have passed by while I was out and I wouldn’t even know it. Later, something put me in that state again. I stop feeling like I was moving and I could not hear that sound of speed anymore. I felt a light hit my eye as the dark silhouettes came towards me and I once again blacked out. The final time I was in this in and out state was after that. I felt my feet being dragged against the floor, my armor scrapping the ground, and my arms being pulled. But after that I was in that repetitive state once again. This darkened state was in it of itself enough to drive me insane. It was nothing but blackness. Only cold blackness. As I finally began to wake up fully I could hear music. At first when I tried to open my eyes the room was to bright and it blinded me. As they adjusted I could see more into the room and where I was. It was strange to see it. It was a large room filled of gold and white. It was large and very fancy, like the room of someone in charge. Decorations crowded the walls around me; They were covered with treasures like Chinese masks, a fancy box of cigars covered by glass, swords, art that looked like it was trying to say something but really it just looked like a toddler was using too much super glue with whatever he could find, you name it. There was a large desk in front of me; it was styled brown with gold lines all around it. Strangely there was almost nothing on it, only a pen and a few papers. Behind the desk was huge chair; it was covered in black leather and gold highlights and behind that chair was this big glass window that took up the entire wall. I looked outside the window and saw what looked like big shipping containers, the ones you see on big cargo ships. I could see as far as the tip of a ship and all the people putting the cargo on the ship. The ship itself seemed larger than life, but I had never seen one in real life before so I couldn’t relate it to anything I had seen. A dock parked the ship but I had no idea where I was. I then started to look at what was my condition. My armor from the con was gone; I had only the leg armor on me, everything else on me was stripped off. The chest plate, shoulder pads, and arm plates were completely taken off. I was tied down to a large chair, almost king sized. It had a large backside for leaning, but it was too big for me to see behind me. I struggled to break free hoping to escape. I rocked back and forth in the chair doing whatever I could to break free. As it turned out it only made things worse for me, as the chair lost its balance and began to tip over hitting the floor. When I hit the floor it was like the panic button in my head was pushed. I was frantic. I screamed at the top of my lungs but it only translated to moans due to the gag in my mouth.  My mouth was covered by an apple tape to my face. It was so far into my jaw that I couldn’t bite down on it. I laid there completely insane. Like a crazy man I spazed out. I was so crazy about getting out of the chair that I didn’t even focus on how I could get out. It was a state of panic I had never been in. I was too frantic to calm down and collect my thoughts. But all my fear would begin to jump straight up after I heard that knocking. Dun Dun Dun! It was the knocking of a door, a knocking that froze me dead in my tracks from the moment. The knocking made my body jolt immediately still. I was stone like. I wanted to imagine that it was in my head, that I was so afraid that my mind was playing tricks on me. But then the next knocks came and shot down my hopes before I could even have them. Dun Dun Dun! Each one of those Duns felt like a punch to my stomach. Each knock felt like it was hitting me in the gut. But it wasn’t a painful feeling, but more of a burning feeling. It was a burning feeling in my gut. Again the knocks came. Dun Dun Dun! It then felt like each knock increased the room’s temperature because I was sweating so much. If I was to work out in the desert on the hottest day of summer… that would only be half the amount I was sweating here. I was like a fire hydrant in Harlem (shame you may not get that joke). Then to put my mind in more torment I heard a doorknob turning. I was more stone like than before when that happened. Whatever part of my body was twitching had come to a complete halt. The door swung open as I could hear the tapping of shoes on the floor, then the stepping of them on a carpet, but I couldn’t tell if it was one person or two. I then heard them stop… right behind my chair. Part of me wanted to see who or what this figure was above me but I was too still. I couldn’t move even if I tried to. I could feel this figure behind me was standing there watching over me with daggered eyes for what seemed like forever. The chair began to lift up as I was propped back up in the chair. Still stone faced, I kept looking forward at the large chair behind the desk. Not even glancing at the figure that lifted my chair back up. I still could not move to see this person, I just kept completely still. But I wouldn’t have to worry about seeing him, because he began to sit in the chair in front of me that I was looking at. I could finally make out who this person was, this person causing me all this torment and fear. He was a tall grey furred lion with black hair. He wore a white suit with red and black lines. On his hands were these red gloves that looked like they had a strange paint or liquid on them. But only two thing caught my attention the most, his tail, and his face. His tail was mangled up, it looked both burnt and cut up at the same time, and his face was strange as well. He covered it with this mask that had the top put very red and the bottom was a metal grey. The eye holes on his mask were shrouded in darkness so I could not see this man’s eyes. The mask looked similar to “El Diablo” from Army of Two. He stared at me for quite some time, and then fussed around with his papers. He didn’t say a word to me. We both just sat there completely still and quiet waiting for anything to happen. I started to calm down while we waited. He finished up the work on his desk the stacked the papers up neatly into his drawer. He then started to stare at me as I waited for him to speak, and so he did.

: I can’t think of a thing to do with you.
He said with the voice of Jim Cummings (*sigh* look him up).

My fear came shooting back up like a jolt of lightning after those words.
He said it with such a soothing and calm voice but what he said was the real fear. “I can’t think of a thing to do with you”, I couldn’t think of anything but the fear of what he was thinking. What would he do with me, what could he do? That was and still is my greatest fear, the “what if” or “what could go wrong”. It’s the not knowing what would happen and the knowing all the things that could go wrong. That feeling of he could do anything to me and me not knowing what he would do is the scariest thing I can think of. I’m a very planned person, so when the unexpected happens it is twice as bad. He sat there tapping his fingers on his desk and using his arm to prop up his chin, thinking of what he would do. As I sat there in fear for what he would do. He spoke again.

: AH HA, I’ve got it!
(Snapping his fingers)

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a quarter out in his hand. He then explained to me what he would do.

: Son, you know how flipping a coin works. So let me tell you this right now… you want heads.
(He said leaning towards me with what felt like a cocky smile)

I couldn’t express my fear he began to flip the coin into the air. Time seemed to slow down as the coin started to fall and my heart started to beat faster. Finally… he snatched it from the air and smacked the back of his other with the hand holding the coin. He waited a bit before seeing. He wanted to wait and build the tension of this coin. I stared at his hand focusing solely on what side it was, my heart racing as he began to tease me over it. Finally, he said.

: Show Me Tails!
(He exclaimed)

He quickly flung his top hand of as we both saw fate’s choice. Heads. Suddenly with that one sight, all my fear turned to a sigh of relief as I laid back into my chair praising Kari (Kari is the only person I pray to, and is my girlfriend. I’m not kidding when I say she’s been my good luck charm). As I was celebrating my victory, he was a bit upset.

: Ah Dang it! Oh well. I guess you won fair and square.
(He said like he was up to no good)

Unfortunately my victory was short lived as he continued.

: SCORN! Put him with the others will you please? I’ll be down there shortly.

Suddenly the chair was flung up in the air as I was then carried on what I assumed was someone back. I never heard, felt, or even assumed that someone was standing right behind me. It surprised me back into my state of fear I had just got out of. This Scorn person was right behind me this whole time back I didn’t know. I guess she came in with the other guy. I didn’t know who Scorn was, in fact at first I didn’t even think it was a person until I heard the grunting of carrying both the chair and me in it. One thing I did know was that Scorn was very strong, we moved pretty quickly for someone carrying a heavy chair and a person as we left the room. All I could see while being carried was the roof of the ship as we went from hallway with pipes to hallway with more pipes, not knowing what was ahead of me. Eventually we got to what the lion was taking about. I could hear the door open as Scorn carried me into the room. It looked like another fancy room. I still couldn’t see all of it though. I was put down finally and got a better view of the room. I was covered with velvet red and white everywhere. The carpet, the walls, everywhere I looked there was either red or white. As I saw more I noticed that there were other people here. Women in fact, were everywhere. But the thing was, they were all tied and bound up in their underwear, bras and panties galore. But even stranger, they all had masks. Every fox, lizard, bird, wolf, you name it, was wearing a mask similar but not the exact same as the man I saw earlier. These masks were red at the top and had the grey bottom but didn’t have the fearsome teeth his had. The masks here looked a lot smoother and less rugged. All I saw was all these large breasted girls in their underwear struggling to get out. They spoke like me, in that they were gagged so all you could get was mumbling and moaning. I think the masks were built with some kind of gag in it. All they did was moan in their erotic underwear as there breasts perked out in a rather sexy way. After looking at my surroundings I finally looked at Scorn to see who this person really was. It turned out Scorn was a large blue lizard looking woman. She wore a grey and red jacket dark black pants and even darker boots. I noticed she had knife pockets on her pant as well, three on each side if I remember. Aside from what she was wearing she was rather… well… big. She had big boots, a big breasts, and even bigger butt. She also had a strange red paw mark on her right breast. Even her hair was large, and she had Hair! She was a blue lizard lady but had hair, I didn’t understand. She had long big black hair that resembled that other guy’s hair, but bigger. Logic would have to wait, and strangely to add to even more weird features on her she had an eye patch. My eye patch in fact, the one I used for my costume. I was a surprised but considering all the things that I had gone through already I wasn’t to stressed out over it, plus it was only an eye patch. I saw her playing around with some of the girls breasts. I’m sure if Ruby was here she and Scorn would get along just fine. Then again I didn’t know any of these women cause of the masks so I wouldn’t be surprised if she really was here. I could see her lifting each breast up and down, squeezing and pulling, tugging on then to the tipping point. I was aroused but I couldn’t take this much longer. The woman she was groping moaned in ecstasy and discomfort as she could feel Scorn’s hands gripping her large luxurious breasts. I kicked up and down trying to break free or at least get Scorn’s attention off that woman. Ask and you shall receive it turned out, as Scorn came to me looking a bit annoyed. She walked towards me as I sat in the chair trying to look strong. Then she started to undress herself in a weird twist. She took of her boots, jacket, shirt, all the way down till she was down to her underwear. She came walking to me as I began to sweat with each step she took. She finally made her way to my chair, and then sat on my lap wrapping her arms around me, pressing her chest against my face. She smiled at me as she could tell I was nervous. She kept pressing her breasts into my face as she widened her smile. She finally spoke.

Scorn: Oh little one, your so cute trying to escape. But here’s a little tip…

She pulled out a knife out of nowhere and sliced the apple in my mouth in half. It allowed me to speak but seeing how the knife was that close to me face I couldn’t speak out of fear. She then took one of the sliced apples pieces and took a bite out of it. Then after she was done she spoke again.

Scorn: You should just stay still and enjoy what you see. Keep struggling and I’ll put you over there with Ms. Fox over there.

I spoke finally.

Sandy (Me): What is all this, why do you have these women here, why am I here? And where is my friend!!??
(I snapped)

Scorn: You might not be here for much longer so why not? Kid, we’re in the lovely business of selling some of the most wonderful women in the world tied up and gagged. We take the best-looking gals in America and auction them off to the highest bidder. I caught you sneaking around at one of our best collecting spots and brought you here to keep you from spreading the word to the wrong people. As for your friend I have no idea where she could be. We’ve already sent some of the cargo out already so she could be gone by now, but I don’t know. I’m not the one in charge of knowing who we take.

Sandy (Me): That man back up there, the one in the white suit. Who was he?

Scorn: That’s the boss. You can refer to him as El Nightman if you want. We all do.

Sandy (Me): What do y…
(She cut me off)

Scorn: Look kid that’s enough, okay. I don’t like talking to you and if you say one more word I’ll have no choice but to put you in the punishment corner with foxy over there.

She turned my head facing the corner. There I saw the figure of a fox woman in the corner. She had ropes all over her and most of them were tied in a way to peak her breasts out. She also had what looked like one of those little back massage machines tied to her leg. Could it be who I was thinking about? Could it be Scarlet? I had to find out and I would have to do something I wasn’t too happy to do. I ignored Scorn’s warning and continued to struggle. A more blunt way t put it is I head butted her head to the ground. It was so hard in fact that her hear came off, turns out it was a wig. She looked at me not too amused. She stood up and I could see the anger in her eyes… or eye. I could see her face go from blue to red in a millisecond and I could hear steam coming from her too. She threw me to all the way across the room and broke the chair I was in, freeing me from my trap. The throw was so powerful I couldn’t get up after it happened. Suddenly I heard a voice behind me. I saw that I was next to the fox Scorn was talking about but seeing this woman was not reassuring. Unlike Scarlet she had black hair, so it wasn’t her. But somehow she was able to whisper the gag mask and tell me to do something.

: Piiisssssss, hey, chico, pass me that phone on the table.
(The woman said with what sounded like a Spanish accent)

I saw that there was a table that was right next to Scorn and on it was a phone. It seemed like the only thing that could get me out of here was that phone. Scorn was right next to it mouthing off at me after that. There was no way I could get to it with Scorn there, so I had to go deeper in my grave.

Sandy (Me): Awww, I’m sorry. Did I smack your wig off… or are you just having a bad hair day.

She got even madder as she went straight at me. She grabbed me and lifted me up to the sealing. She threw me to the mirror on the table with all her force. I was able to grab the phone no problem after that. Then I used my acting skills to make it seem like I was too scared to fight as I moved back to the fox. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” over an over again crawling on the floor looking weak and helpless to the fox lady. Scorn looked at me pleased as punch as she boasted about her dominance over me. I got to her and handed her the phone as she gave me my next instructions while Scorn was distracted from boasting about herself.

: When Hannibal gets here I need you to stall him for as long as you can.
(As she grabbed the phone with her still tied together hands)

Scorn figured I caused too much trouble so she decided to knock me out with a morphine rag. Once again I was in the darkness of my mind. Except this time for whatever reason I wasn’t afraid. I was in the darkness waiting for what was to come next, willing to be ready. If Scarlet was here I would make sure she got out, even if I didn’t. For the last time I woke up from the darkness of my mind and pondered what was next to come. I was in a small room comprised of a white green color. I could see the paint on the wall was peeling off and a door in front of me, I was completely alone. I waited there knowing someone was watching me. All they wanted to do was make me wait; they wanted to see me squirm for my life and make me break. But at this time I didn’t care anymore. I had already been through enough fear so the last thing I would do here is give them the satisfaction. So I waited there, just waiting for them. Finally the two stepped in, Scorn and the man who I believed was named Hannibal.

Hannibal: I can’t leave you alone with Scorn for two seconds without you head butting Scorn in the face. Man you are one annoying kid. Whatever though, you’ll be out of my hair soon enough.

I looked at him with unimpressed eyes to show him I was too tired to be afraid him or anyone else here anymore. I could tell he saw it. So for our last moment together he thought it would be fitting to end this all with a game, or in this case riddle. He pulled a gun from his pocket and pointed it to my head as he told me my riddle.

Hannibal: All right kid lets have some fun! And what better way to have fun than with a little… riddle. Oh… and if I were you… I’d get it right…

He said.

Hannibal: If you aim to give us a shot! (he emphasized) We’ll riddle you… what are we?

I knew the only way to make sure that fox lady had enough time was to do what seemed necessary. I made jokes… and I made them feeling like they would be my last… but I did it hoping Scarlet would be safe for it.

Sandy (Me): *deep sigh* that is a stopper. Say it again.

He replied
Hannibal: If you aim to give us a shot we’ll riddle you, what are we?
(Still pointing the gun at me)

Scorn: I’ll give you a hint, its bu…

I stopped her
Sandy: Shhhhshshshshsshsh. No hints. Is it…
buuuuuuuu?

Hannibal was not impressed and took a step back to think.
Hannibal: You think the answer to my riddle… is buuuu?
(He said looking puzzeled)

Sandy (Me): I heard Scorn say it.

Hannibal: Don’t worry about what she say, worry about…

I cut him off.
Sandy (Me): Is it… Helicopter?

Hannibal: All right wha… what did I say that would make you say helicopter?
(he then lowered the gun as he was thinking)

Sandy (Me): The way you said if you aim is… if your aim is to… I have no idea dude. Man I’m just… I’m just shooting in the dark.

Hannibal: Listen, if you aim…

Scorn: With a gun.
(Scorn added)

Hannibal: To give us a shot…

Scorn: *pretending to be shot while make gun noises*

Hannibal: We’ll riddle you.

Scorn: With little pieces of metal that are called…

Hannibal: That are called… What’s gonna come outta the gun?

I responded immediately
Sandy (Me): Injustice!!! The tools of cowards and criminals!!!

Hannibal: Are… are you serious right now because I got like ten more of these that are Way harder than this… this is just to say like “I’m riddling you” kinda…

Sandy (Me): I got it… it’s you! You’re riddling me.

Hannibal: In this context the word “riddle” isn’t referring to a joke or a brainteaser.

I looked puzzled.

Scorn: Sometimes words can have different meanings like a bat could mean an animal or a baseball bat.

Sandy (Me): Am I a bat?

Scorn: *sigh* You’re not a bat.

Sandy (Me): Is the answer… a small boys Sunday trousers?

Hannibal: No.
(Shaking his head in anger and sadness)

Sandy (Me): Is it… invisalign braces?

Hannibal: No
(Becoming even sadder)

Sandy (Me): Is it… a bag of steal cut oats?

Hannibal began to lose hope in humanity due to my answers so he thought for a second then responded.

Hannibal: Multiple choice.

Scorn: Great, great idea.

Hannibal: What comes out of a gun? A! Bullets…

Scorn: That sounds good to me.

Sandy (Me): What are B and C?
Hannibal: There is no B or C.

Sandy (Me): No B or C… IT’S A TRAP! Help, somebody help!

Finally he snapped.

Hannibal: IT’S BULLETS! BULLETS!

Scorn: Riddled with bullets! It’s a common expression!

I looked tilting my head back and forth to show I was confused and squinting.

Sandy (Me) Wait, how could a bullet riddle me? It doesn’t have a mouth.

Hannibal: OH MY GOD! I told you the riddle, the answer was bullet, you were supposed to say bullet, then I was going to shoot you… like this!

Before he could pull the trigger the door slammed open as dozens of cops tackled those two to the ground and began to free me.

Sandy (Me): You know, if you’re gonna tell riddles, you shouldn’t give away the answer. Totally ruins the fun.

Hannibal looked at me in anger as I could see his eyes burning with rage as he screamed to get back up, but the cops handcuffed in to the ground before he could continue.

The fox lady I saw before came to me. This time fully clothed.

: Are you okay chico?

Sandy (Me): Yeah I’m fine. I’m pretty sure it was helicopter; this guy just didn’t want to admit I got it so fast. I’m Sandino by the way (extends hand to shake).

: Inspector Carmelita Fox, with Interpol (shakes hand). I’ve been on his trail for a while till his goons caught me. I’ll tell ya right now my friend; we couldn’t have got this guy if it wasn’t for you help. Interpol thanks you for your service… Sandino.

Sandy (Me): Glad to help, uh can I ask something Ms. Fox?

Carmelita: Of course.

Sandy (Me): I had a friend I was looking for when they took me and I think they took her too. Is it at all possible you could help me find her?

Carmelita: Sure, that is if you would be willing to help us.

Sandy (Me): Of course! Whatever you want

Me, Carmelita, and the rest of the cops searched every container on the ship. Each one we found more girls in ropes and masks, but none of them had Scarlet in there. We opened the last crate as I hope this would have Scarlet. We opened it and saw a large breasted fox with red hair wearing one of the masks. I jumped to her to take the mask gag off. “Scarlet” I exclaimed. But this was not Scarlet. I stood there in shock believing she was gone as the cops untied the other fox. I couldn’t believe it, I lost her. Guilt ran through my mind as blood rushed to my head. It was my fault, she was gone because of me. If I never asked her to grab that stupid helmet she would still be here. My back hit the wall as I started to lean back and sit. Putting my hands to my face, taking in the shame. Carmelita came and sat beside me tying to comfort me, but it was pointless. I lost a friend in the worst way. I may never see her again and I’m the one who caused it. She could be going through who knows what. She must be scared out of her mind. Or she could be going through worse, I didn’t know. All I knew was that I was the one who caused it. I shouldn’t have been the one saved.