Enigma - 14. Chapter 14 - Past Present

“Faith.” Silver gasps, his hand dropping mine like a hot potato. For the briefest instant I am hurt but only for a brief instant because I have other things to worry about.

“I wouldn’t even think of trying to run if I were you. The moment you start moving we start shooting and we’re bound to hit at least one of you.”

“I’m not going to run, Faith.” Silver says quietly and I look at him quickly. His head is bowed, his eyes dull, filled with fear and hopelessness. I don’t need to ask who these people are. I could kick myself. Honest to God at this moment, even with those guys and their guns the only thing I can think about is how I have let Silver down. I promised to take care of him, to keep him safe, and I failed.

“Good boy Silver. You always were a good little slave boy...until the end.”

Silver raises his head and I am shocked to see the fire in his eyes. I had expected that this would have broken him completely. His worst nightmare coming true. I had expected him to withdraw again... but the reverse seems to be the case.

“I’m no one’s slave Faith, not any more.”

“Hah... Fool! Get in the car.”

“I’ll get in, but let River go. He has nothing to do with this. He’s a profession, a carer. He’s paid to keep an eye on me, nothing more. Just tie him up and leave him. This is not his fight.”

“Oh how touching. I know who he is. We’ve been watching you... we’ve been watching you for a very long time. You have no idea how many resources that has taken. For six months we’ve followed your every move, waiting for a time when you were alone, when we could pick you up. We know all about the house, the ‘employees’, and we would have let him go.”

“Would have?”

“Oh yes... we would have let him go because, as you say, this is nothing to do with him except...” The cold grey eyes sweep over me, over him. “After your little display today it’s clear that he isn’t just your carer. Or at least it’s clear that you care a little bit more than that. Isn’t that true Silver dear? In fact, the last time I saw you look at someone like that it was just before I slit his throat if I remember. And that is really what I should have done to you.”

Silver’s eyes widen and I want so much to reach out and hold his hand but I have a feeling that would be a really stupid thing to do.

“You’re insane Faith...I always knew that but you’re outdoing yourself this time. River is nothing to me... just another shrink poking about inside my head.” I would have been really hurt by that if I hadn’t figured out what he’s doing. He’s trying to save my life but I know from the look in that guy’s eyes that it isn’t going to work.

“How funny is that? The pathetic little worm is still fighting for his lovers. Give it up Silver... you’re not going to have any more luck this time than you did last time. You’re only prolonging the inevitable and hurting your pet at the same time... and whilst I personally would find it extremely amusing to stand around and watch the two of you squirm we really don’t have the time.” His voice had been light and even amused but suddenly, without warning it turns deadly cold and the half smile on his face disappears. “Get in the car.”

Silver throws me a glance that tells me very eloquently that he is sorry and that he tried his best. I smile at him, letting him know that I understand. A very brief twitch to the corners of his mouth is all that he has time to give me before he turns and ducks into the car. I follow.

Inside the car it is cool and dark. There are two bench seats, facing each other. It is not precisely a limo but there is plenty of room for Silver, me, Faith and another goon. The other two get in the front.

As soon as the car starts moving Faith, who is sitting next to me, aiming his gun at Silver who is opposite him, sits back and smiles.

“Isn’t this cosy? The prodigal returns. But there is something that is not quite right. Let me think. What can it be? Ah yes... You know the rules Silver. Slaves do not wear clothes unless they have been given them by their master... so strip... now.”

Silver hesitates, his face full of anger and hate, no room for fear now. I have never seen him like this. There is something strangely exciting about seeing this side of him coming out, the strength, the anger displacing the last vestiges of the fear that has been clouding him for as long as I have known him. I am frankly astonished by the way he has reacted. How can it be? How is it that the very thing that has been paralysing him with fear is the thing that drives it away?

“I would suggest that you comply Silver. It would be a terribly shame if your ‘friend’ were to get accidentally hurt in a struggle.”

I look up at the gun that is pointed at me by the goon who sits opposite, staring at me unblinking and looking as if he is made of stone.

“You’re a bastard Faith.”

“And you’re a slave... now strip.”

Keeping his eyes on Faith the whole time Silver slowly takes off his clothes and drops them on the floor.

“Get down on the floor in the position.”

Again Silver throws him a glare of pure contempt and flicks his eyes at me before he slides down onto the floor on his knees with his forehead pressed against the floor.

Faith caresses his back and buttocks with the barrel of the gun. Silver shudders. I am terrified. My heart is pounding, my mouth is dry and I have to clasp my hands between my legs to stop them shaking. If I am feeling like this what the hell must Silver be feeling... and yet he seems to be coping better than I am... at least on the outside. He is not shaking at all. Maybe he has slipped back into the conditioning.

“I remember when I first saw you. You were just a child... what twelve, thirteen?” Faith says in an almost affectionate way. “And now look at you... all grown up. You’re a man now... and what a fine one. You know I’ve always had a bit of a thing for you. That’s why I was so disappointed when you let us down.”

Faith continues to caress Silver with the gun which he now runs down over Silver’s buttocks and thighs. “God what I wouldn’t give to fuck you right now.” I watch in horror as he rubs the end of the barrel up and down between Silver’s cheeks.

If I thought I was scared before it’s nothing to what I am feeling now. What is he going to do? The possibilities run through my mind and unconsciously I sit forward in my seat. My goon leans forward and presses the gun against my forehead. Hastily I sit back.

Silver has his head down so I can’t see his face but I can tell from the tightness of his body that he is tense, very tense.

“Unfortunately for me I have my orders. Your ass is out of bounds.” He removes the gun and brings the butt down hard on Silver’s back, to one side over the kidneys. With a grunt Silver collapses and writhes on the floor.

“No.” The sound is torn from me without my conscious will and it draws Faith’s attention to me.

“If I were you ‘carer’ I would learn to care a little less for him and a little more for yourself. That boy is bad news and he’s going down... there’s nothing you can do about that. But you can still save yourself. Keep your mouth shut and behave yourself and you just might get out of this alive.

“Listen to him River.” Silver whispers, his voice strained with pain. “Forget about me.”

“Did I tell you to speak?” Faith kicks him hard in the side and Silver grunts but doesn’t cry out. Faith laughs lightly. “And while we’re at it, I didn’t tell you to stand down either. Get back in the position.”

After a moment hesitation Silver hauls himself painfully back to his knees. Faith pats him on the buttock. “There’s a good little slave. You’ve caused us all a world of trouble you know... and after such a promising start.

“The Master was very proud of you. You were on your way to being something of a legend. Everyone wanted a piece of you... and many of them had it... didn’t they?”

He pauses, as if waiting for an answer. When he doesn’t get it he hits Silver with the gun butt again and then waits patiently while he struggles to get back into position.

“I repeat.” He says calmly. “Didn’t they?”

“Yes.” Silver hisses.”

“Yes what?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good boy... see it’s all coming back to you. You could have had it all, you know. Another couple of years and you would have had status, fame. You would be the hottest piece of property around. I wouldn’t have been surprised if the Master had bought you back. He was watching your career with a great deal of interest.

“And you threw it all away for what? For love? What a fool.” Despite myself I am interested in what he is saying. I am not surprised that Silver was famous... he’s so striking, so beautiful. At the moment he is struggling, I can see it and so can Faith because he leans forward and starts kneading Silver’s back where he hit him. Gods that must hurt but Silver, apart from an initial grunt of pain, doesn’t make a sound. I feel so proud of him. I would have been crying like a baby... in fact I feel like doing that now and so far they haven’t laid a finger on me.

“I have a present for you Silver... just to make you feel more at home.” He nods at the goon who sets the gun down on the seat next to him. I glance at Faith who now has his gun pointing at the middle of Silver’s back.

“Don’t get any ideas ‘carer’. One move from either of you and the first bullet goes straight through his spine... the second one through your brain.”

The goon leans forward and, scooping Silver’s hair out of the way he buckles a studded leather collar around his neck. The collar is attaches to a long silver chain that ends with a leather wrist strap. It’s a leash. I cringe inside.

“Sit up.”

Wincing with pain Silver struggles to sit up and manages it. He hangs his head forwards so his hair covers his face and I can’t see his expression. I think that he does it deliberately.

“Get your head up.” Faith snaps and Silver complies. I had thought that he was hiding his face because he was ashamed, because he didn’t want me to see the defeat in his eyes but that isn’t the case at all. He is still angry and there is a fierce pride burning in his eyes. He flicks a glance at me and I am too awed to smile.

Faith puts down his gun while the goon points his at Silver’s head. Faith then takes out a pair of leather straps joined by a short chain, about three inches long. He roughly pulls Silver’s arms behind his back and securely fastens the straps around his wrists.

“Now get back down.”

It is difficult for Silver to bend down, what with the pain and the awkward positioning of his arms. As he bends Faith hits him again with the gun in the same place and sends him sprawling. I so want to help as Silver struggles to get back up but I know that would be a bad idea for both of us.

When Silver is back in position Faith leans back and makes himself comfortable.

“We got in a lot of shit because of you. Do you know that?” When Silver doesn’t answer Faith kicks him viciously and asks. “Do you?”

“No Sir.” Silver gasps through the pain.

“Well you did. It does not reflect well on a Master when the slave he trained is returned and he never thought to see that with you. Because of your high profile your fall was so much further and his shame so much deeper. He was very angry with you. He watched, you know... every moment when we executed judgement on you and that pathetic worm you shacked up with.

“He had tears in his eyes when you disrespected him so greatly. I think until that moment he hadn’t truly believed how far you had fallen. There were still tears in his eyes when we beat the crap out of you. He couldn’t stay for the end and he gave the order to end it and then left the clean up to us.

“But you wouldn’t fucking die would you. I wanted to put a bullet in your brain but no... the Master couldn’t quite bear to do that to you. He looked at you as if he wanted you... even when you were broken he fucking wanted you... more than he has ever wanted anyone else. As soon as he’d gone I took great pleasure in breaking your ribs one by one. I’m very good at that.”

Faith demonstrated by driving the point of the gun barrel, with great precision of location and force, into Silver’s side. I bit through my lip to stop the cry when I heard the snap. Silver collapsed.

“Oh don’t be a baby. It’s not going to kill you. Not yet.”

I don’t think that Silver could have got back up again if both our lives depend on it and fortunately Faith doesn’t expect him to. Sitting back he continues the story as if he had never left off.

“Of course you didn’t fully appreciate it. You were unconscious after the first couple. You were coughing blood by the end. I was so sure you were close to death. Hell... you were. You were bleeding like a stuck pig and a lot of it was coming out of your mouth... you were choking on your own blood and you really should have died on the journey... but you didn’t. You were still holding on you son of a bitch.” He viciously kicks Silver who barely stirs.

I am so scared. I have been watching him, Silver, and he has stopped moving. He has been trying to shift his body, to find ease from the pain but he isn’t any more. I think he’s passed out and that scares me more than anything.

“I was just about to put a bullet through your brain, to make sure it was properly ended when Angelus, that bloody fool, pipes up to remind me that the Master has decreed no firearms in case the bullet can be traced. I offered to dig the fucking bullet out of you myself but he got bored and kicked you over the edge of the embankment. He said that no one would ever find you there, at least not until it was way too late. Fuck you were almost gone so I thought... ah fuck it. I have better things to do than go climbing down a motorway verge to take you over the edge. Besides we were too exposed, someone might have seen us. So we left you.

“When he found out that you weren’t dead, the Master flipped. He killed Angelus on the spot and was on the verge of demoting me back to Slave. He even had me stripped and shackled. In the end the only way I escaped that fate was by promising him that I would find you, that no matter how long it took I would find you and watch you and as soon as I got the chance I would bring you back to him.”

He kicks Silver again and this time he doesn’t even wince. Faith sneers. “I was all for finishing you off in the hospital but the Master thought that was too risky. So I watched and waited and bided my time... and now here we are. The Master will be delighted.

“I’m only disappointed that he has given strict orders you are not to be killed until he can do it himself. I would have liked nothing more than to finish the job right here and right now but unfortunately the orders are clear. This time he wants to be present when you die. He doesn’t fucking trust us any more. So this time you get out of the car alive... but don’t get too excited about that... even though we can’t kill you he never said that we couldn’t play for a while.”

Grinning Faith settles back and half closes his eyes. It seems that his little diatribe is over for now. It’s pointless anyway because Silver isn’t hearing him.

I have no idea how long the journey goes on for. It seems like a very long time, hours. Faith and the other goon seem to lose interest in us and sit at ease, not talking, with their guns resting lazily on their laps. I notice though that they never take their fingers off the triggers. I am completely frozen the whole time, my eyes fixed on Silver. After a time he starts to stir, moaning softly as he writhes, trying to escape the pain in his back and ribs. Faith watches him impassively but doesn’t say or do anything.

I have never wanted to reach out to someone so much in all my life. He is so close and in so much pain and distress. I have spent most of my adult life caring for people who are ill, hurt and distressed and I have never failed to reach out to them when they needed me and... for the love of the gods... this is Silver. But I can't reach for him. I can’t even speak to him, to reassure him... because if I do I know they will hurt him again... not me...him. It’s the way they work.

I have no illusions. I know that, whatever they say, I am not going to get out of this alive, neither of us are. But in the meantime I don’t want him to be hurt any more than he has to be.

Suddenly, lost in the depths of despair though I am, something occurs to me. This might not be as hopeless as I though after all. Very slowly, trying not to attract attention to my movements, with every nerve singing with strain, I inch my hand towards my jeans pocket. I turn slightly towards the window to cover the movement and Faith jabs me in the back with his gun, not hard but enough to make be jump.

“Stay still ‘carer’, unless you want me to break another of your boyfriend’s ribs.”

“He’s not...” I am silenced by another, harder poke.

“When I want you to speak I will tell you. And don’t even bother to try and look out of the window, they’re blacked out for a reason. No looking in: no looking out.”

I let my shoulders slump and he loses interest again. Slowly, slowly, slowly. My heart is hammering so hard I can’t believe that they don’t hear it. My fingers are at the lip of the pocket, they are sliding down, they touch something smooth and hard and metallic. Just a little further, just a little more.

All carers, when they take a resident out of the house, no matter who the resident is or what the circumstances are, have to take with them a panic button. Press the button and an alarm sounds at the main switchboard of the company who issues the buttons. The switchboard contacts the designated telephone number, which in my case would be Dr Marshall who then takes whatever action is appropriate. This could be anything from telephoning the person who is carrying the button to calling the police.

I slide my hand out of my pocket and sit back. I have done everything I can. It’s in someone else’s hands now.

About five minutes later my telephone rings. I jump a mile and the barrels of two guns swivel to me.

“Give me the phone.”

With numb trembling fingers I fish my phone out of my pocket and hand it to Faith. He glances at the screen then slides the car window down a few inches and tosses it out.

“Search him.”

The goon puts down his gun and looms over me. I am not afraid to say that I very nearly pee myself. The goon carries out an unnecessarily thorough search and hands Faith my wallet and keys. I breathe a sigh of relief that the panic button, buried deep in my pocket is so small and light it passes unnoticed.

Faith glances through my wallet and then casually throws it out of the window along with my keys.

“Good luck finding them later ‘carer’.”

Still keeping up the pretence eh? Ah well... I am not about to argue with him. I am a bit upset at the loss of my phone, it is a really good iphone with all my important numbers and appointments programmed in, not to mention my favourite music on the iplayer. However, it was worth it, so worth it. It was always probably inevitable that I would get searched and relieved of my stuff, and at least now I have actually done something. It may not make a difference in the end but I have done something.

When the good doctor gets no answer on my phone he will check out the situation and when he realises we are gone he will call the police. Of course it could take them some time but they will come... the button emits a homing signal...so they will come... question is... what will they find when they do?