I awoke with a pounding feeling in my head and a sick feeling in my stomach. The floor rolled beneath me, and I felt a tugging at my shoulders; I was fairly sure from my position on my side that my arms had been tied behind me, then bound to my feet. I could feel something scratchy under my cheek. Memories came flooding back and the sick feeling became a reality as I lurched over and emptied the contents of my stomach all over the floor by my head.
First Jacques and Victor, then Jessie. How many people were going to get killed on my behalf? And what for? To help an ex girlfriend who had made the wrong decision 6 years ago, dragging me into her escape from her psychotic husband?
Only it wasn't just that. There was Andrew. There was whatever Jonathan and the guild were doing. There was the statement Jessie had made, before he killed her; March on the South.
What exactly was Ben planning? To take over the whole country? The queasy feeling was back.
I knew that I had to open my eyes, despite the pounding in my head. It had become clear that we were travelling, and as I squinted against the light while I tried to get my bearings, I could tell I was in the back of an open topped cart of some kind, lying on a mound of straw. I tried to roll myself into a more upright position but my shoulders screamed in protest. I had been tied up by someone who had considerable skill and little to no intention of making my journey comfortable.
Still, I had managed to move backwards a little, which gave me a better view of my surroundings. I realised I wasn't alone.
It wasn't Keri next to me however, but a scruffy looking man, dressed in little more than rags. His greying hair was long and fell lank past his shoulders, tangling into his beard where they met. His mouth was totally lost in the mane that framed his face, but a large, hooked, nose sat below two sunken eyes that had no distinguishable colour.
His hands had been chained to his feet in front of him as if to mock my own uncomfortable position, and he sat against the far wall, curled up into himself as if he were trying to stay as far away from me as possible. I could still smell the vomit next to my face, so it wasn't entirely unlikely.
"Psst" I hissed through my teeth at him, and felt a dull ache through my jaw. My captors had not been gentle while loading me on the wagon. "Pssssst."
He steadfastly ignored me. Sighing, I tried to get some bearing on our location, but the walls of the cart were high and all I could see were treetops as we passed them by. I closed my eyes and concentrated on what I could hear.
From either side of my enclosure I could make out multiple sets of footsteps, at least 3. Creaking leather and the odd whinny of a horse betrayed at least another half dozen in front and behind.
Fuck.
Even if I could manage to wriggle free of my restraints, there was almost no chance I could fight my way out of this. I strained my ears, trying to listen for any sound I could distinguish as belonging to Keri, but there was nothing. I was terrified thinking about what Ben might do to her.
For now though, there was nothing more I could do. I struggled against my bindings pointlessly for a few moments before sagging back exhausted. My guards must have heard, but nobody bothered to check on me; they were obviously confident I was suitably restrained. I settled in for a long wait.
The sun travelled slowly across the sky and I daydreamed about long past weekends; pottering around the garden on a Saturday afternoon and lazy Sunday mornings spent in bed. I kept my mind far away from more recent events. There was a solace in the times before, when this future seemed impossible. It was from this reverie I was rudely torn as the wagon shuddered to a halt. The back was thrown open and rough hands reached in to grab at my legs, pulling me through the straw. Restrained as I was, I was powerless to save myself as I toppled from the cart and into the mud below. I landed hard on one side and felt my shoulder pop. Pain shot through my arm and a red haze clouded my vision. I bit down on my tongue to stifle a scream as Ben's face swam above me, sneering.
"I hope you enjoyed your rest. I thought we could have a little chat."
He made no movement, but I could hear a flurry of activity. Suddenly I could see a thick, blue rug being set out a foot from where my face rested in the mud. Someone placed a simple but well-made wooden chair upon it, and Ben settled himself. I could only make out his legs from this angle, tall, steel-capped boots below sturdy black jeans. Sensible clothes.
Nobody moved to untie or reposition me, and my shoulder burned with a white-hot fury under my weight. I could feel my consciousness wavering.
"She used to talk about you a lot you know." He started, oblivious to my pain. "Keri always had a very high opinion of you, she always liked to throw you in my face. As the years went on, it was less and less, but I do think that she used to believe you would come and save her." He scoffed. "Imagine my surprise when she actually grew some balls and left! I'd long since instructed my guards to let her leave whenever she wanted. But it took her years. I must admit, it took me a little while to work out what had prompted her sudden bravery."
I grunted, mostly out of anger, but he must have noticed the pain in my voice and he peered down at my mud caked face. He seemed surprised to still see me hog-tied, and clicked his fingers to someone behind me. Suddenly the pressure in my hips and shoulders lessened and I rolled onto my back, cradling my dislocated arm in the other.
"We'll get that shoulder seen to. If I leave you untied for now, will you behave?" My eyes narrowed but I nodded curtly. In all honesty I could barely feel my legs and my left arm was completely useless. There wasn't much I could do.
Ben stared off into the distance as he began speaking once more, my uncomfort forgotten.
"It wasn't exactly a surprise when she immediately ran to you. I was somewhat surprised that you ran so quickly back to her. Does she still have you that whipped?" I glowered and he laughed. "I mean, I get it, I really do. That ass, am I right?"
For a moment I forgot about my shoulder and launched myself up off the ground at Ben, my good arm swinging. I realised a moment too late that he had been baiting me purposefully, hoping I would react just as I had. His foot swung around with surprising grace and accuracy to connect squarely with my exposed chin.
The blow sent me sprawling into the mud once more, and this time I couldn't swallow the scream as my injured arm dragged along the floor. I forced myself back into a seated position, determined not to show any further weakness, but when I looked back to Ben he was barely paying attention. His little stunt over, he moved back to his story without commenting on my outburst.
"I assume it was Andrew she left for, was it not?" He took my silence for assent.
"I thought as much, that stupid kid I promoted and his big mouth. I was lucky really, you don't have a great many people that would consider you a friend, so it was simple enough to guess where you would go. It was easy to convince Jessie to betray you - she quite hated you and Keri, did you know? But that bar owner… my men had to take care of him. They brought me some lovely single malt back. Must have cost a fortune even before the apocalypse. A shame he had to die, he really did have exquisite taste." I thought he was trying to get another reaction from me, and I gritted my teeth against his words. He shrugged as if my lack of response was of no importance to him.
"Listen to me, I'm waffling on. My point is, we will be in Leeds by tomorrow where you will be sentenced to death for kidnap. Keri will stay with me, where she belongs." He stood up, deliberately towering over me.
"I just thought you should know, I won. Again." His foot shot out again, this time connecting with my stomach and doubling me over. By the time I had caught my breath, he was gone.