The Velvet Collar

by C. P. Mandara

  "Don't panic. I called Laurel. If she can't get us out of here, no one can." Thank God I had. We needed some kind of light at the end of the tunnel, and right now she was probably our only hope.

  "That must have hurt."

  Jen looked at me knowingly, and I smiled back ruefully. "She still doesn't like me very much, but at least she talked to me."

  Jen would have said something then, but Kyle burst in on us, and he looked very pleased with himself. Striding up and down the length of the pool, he surveyed us both with unconcealed delight. Back and forth he strutted, his black trainers thudding against the tiled floor as he inspected the results of his scheming. Neither of us looked at him.

  "How are you two lovebirds doing? Is it a little cold in there?" He was appropriately dressed with a warm fleece, jeans, and a thick wool jacket. How long had the bastard been planning this? A year? Longer? It made my blood run cold.

  "Go to hell," I yelled at him. "It's only a matter of time before the police will be crawling all over here." One could hope, at any rate.

  "Oh, I don't think so, Matthews. We've been very careful about concealing both of your whereabouts. No one is coming to get you." Kyle shook his head in mock pity, looking first at me and then at Jennifer. "I'm supposed to kill you right now, as it happens, but I figure I've earned me a little bit of fun, and you know how I like to play games."

  Looking the bastard square in the eye, I said something unrepeatable. Even Jennifer winced, but Kyle looked amused.

  "I'd save your energy if I were you, Matthews. You're gonna need it in a minute." He walked back down the length of the pool and stopped in front of Jen. Thankfully someone had put her in a black T-shirt because if she'd been naked I'd have torn the man's eyes out. When, not if I got free of these restraints, Kyle was going to need some serious facial reconstruction surgery.

  "Wanna know the rules of the game, sweetheart?" By now Jen's teeth were chattering, and only half of our bodies were submerged in the pool. If this stunt went the way I thought it was going, there was going to be a good deal of suffering involved.

  "Not particularly." Although the sentence came out in a pained, frozen stutter, I couldn't help but be proud of my wife. If Kyle did manage to kill me he was going to have to deal with a hellcat, and I didn't think she'd leave too many parts of him intact.

  "Suit yourself. You can figure it out as you go along." Kyle pulled out some kind of remote control from his coat pocket and pressed a button. "There. That should get it going in a minute or two." He beamed at us. "Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I think things are going to get pretty wet and nasty in here. I'm going to watch you from the comfort of a room upstairs - a very warm room as it happens. Good luck, lovebirds. You're going to need it." With that parting shot, he was off.

  "Wh-wh-what's happening?" Jen's stutter was getting worse. I didn't think she'd last long when we were fully submerged, but I was going to be the one to take the brunt of most of this. Reasonably confident that Kyle didn't want to kill us just yet, we'd just have to endure to the best of our abilities.

  "Take big, deep breaths, honey. The next part isn't going to be very pleasant, but we can get through this." Breathing was going to become a very important commodity in the next few minutes.

  The platforms that held the plank stable at both ends began to sink into the water, and my end started swiftly plummeting downwards. Now we were suspended on a single pivot in the middle, which meant we were about to play seesaw.

  "Mark!" Jen saw me begin to sink and she panicked, wriggling all over the place. The last thing we needed was for her to fall off the damn plank, or I'd be permanently underwater with no way to get up.

  "Jen stop moving about, else there's a very real chance you'll kill me. If you fall off your side without a counterweight I won't be able to bounce back up. This is going to work just like a seesaw. I'll go underwater for a bit, and then it will be your turn. This is nothing we can't handle," I said optimistically, as I was now up to my neck in water and bloody freezing. Taking a huge gulp of air I got ready for the journey down and closed my eyes. The wait seemed endless, and everything seemed to move much slower as soon as the water covered my head. Up above I knew Jen would be panicking, but she'd be fine once she saw I was okay. Blowing out a long stream of bubbles as I plummeted my feet finally hit the tiles, and when I had enough leverage I used them to bounce me back up again.

  Springing up out of the water I barked at Jen, 'Lean as far back as you can; it will give me a little more time to breathe!" She immediately complied, but I was already on the way down again. There was only time to suck in another big breath of air before I went tumbling under the surface again.

  Since I was so much heavier than my wife, my weight was going to continually drag me down to the pool floor. Jen wasn't likely to get more than her stomach wet. This was good. The pool was so cold had she had her body immersed for any length of time the effects of hypothermia would set in, and there was no way you wanted to fall asleep in a pool full of water. I would be able to last a bit longer than her, and I could hold my breath for longer, but this wasn't a game I was going to be able to play for long. If Kyle wanted to kill me this would probably do it.

  In the beginning I tried to talk to her each time I rose to the surface, to reassure her I was okay. Her face was by now bleached white with fear, and each time I went below I could tell she was wondering if I'd manage to make it back up again. Sharing her concerns, I tried my best not to let them show. Counting on the fact that Kyle would have more games in store for us, I did my best to ignore my chattering teeth and shivering body and tried to concentrate on staying alive.

  Again and again I went plummeting down into arctic water, and each time was a little bit worse than the last. My thighs began to ache, my lungs were burning and my body was a stiff block of ice that could barely move. What I needed to do was start bouncing about to try and keep warm, but that would take energy I didn't have.

  After twenty minutes things were getting serious. My eyes were getting heavy, my heartrate was slowing, my movements were very uncoordinated, and my speech was beginning to slur. It was becoming an almost insurmountable effort just to drag in air.

  Jen looked stricken each time I managed to get to the surface, and I knew she was wondering how much longer I could last. There was now no way I could speak to her to calm her down because I needed to concentrate on breathing. Talking used up valuable air and time I didn't have, not to mention energy. We both knew I wasn't going to last much longer.

  "Mark, don't you dare die on me, I'll never forgive you." Jen was yelling at me every time I reached the surface, trying her best to keep me going. It was sweet of her, but she didn't have to worry. I'd do my best to stay alive until my body gave up on me. I owed her that much. Besides, if I left her she'd be on her own with Kyle, and the thought terrified me.

  Down, and down I went, over and over, until I barely knew which way was up. Now when I hit the bottom I could scarcely summon the energy to push back up, and my legs were shuddering so hard they could barely accomplish the task. I was falling apart, and there was nothing I could do about it. Lightheaded due to lack of oxygen, I got to the part where I almost didn't care whether I lived or died, and that spelt disaster. It was all over. About to die at the hands of a madman, while leaving my wife's fate in his hands. Fuck.

  The next time I went under I hadn't finished sucking in my breath of air and took a mouthful of water down with me. Jennifer saw this and screamed, but I was past caring. My energy reserves had been used up, I had no oxygen left in my body, and I didn't have the strength or coordination in my legs to push myself up. This was it. This time, when I landed on the bottom of the pool, the seesaw stopped moving. The water all around me swirled for a bit, and then settled, and everything seemed very calm and serene. Letting my eyes drift shut, I decided to hold my breath until I passed out and judging by the state of my trembling body, that wouldn't take very long. Feeling my hair flapping about in the water, I wonder
ed when the bright lights would hit. Everyone who had a near-death experience reported them. It looked like today was my chance to find out whether they were right.

  My lungs were just nearing the end of their usefulness when I felt a flicker of movement behind me. Something grabbed my hands and I felt the chains rattling behind me. The chains on my feet then began to move. Just as I was about to pass out I felt myself being pushed upwards towards the surface, and as my head broke free I took in a frantic gasp of air.

  The two thugs from earlier had rescued me, now dressed in black wetsuits, and they dragged me up over the side of the pool and placed me on my side. My lungs burned and my body shook so hard I thought I might fall apart. It seemed that Kyle didn't want me dead just yet, after all. Jennifer was a constant noise in the background, sobbing and screaming, but there was nothing I could do to make her feel any better. I was a wreck, and I wasn't out of the woods yet.

  "Get him in a hot bath, or he's going to die on us before I'm ready. Quick sharp. Meanwhile, I'll take care of his lovely wife." Kyle waved his arm, ushering them to move past him.

  Even that snide comment didn't raise an ounce of defiance in me because I was too exhausted.

  "Stop, where are you taking him? I need to go with him. Let me go, you bastard. Let. Me. Go."

  I heard Kyle swear in the background, so my wife was obviously giving him some trouble. In the dazed fog that surrounded me, I almost managed a smile.

  Hearing Kyle roar, "You bite me again, missy, and I'll give you a matching bruise on the other eye," wasn't quite so amusing.

  The two thugs made short work of dragging me to the bathroom. I was of no use to them because I was trembling so hard none of my muscles functioned. Thankfully the cuffs had been cut, as they thought I didn't pose much of a threat, but they'd be back soon.

  The bathroom was an antiquated affair. There was a claw-footed tub with old Victorian copper taps, and a large, ornate, gilt-edged mirror. The basin was cracked in a few places, the wooden floorboards rough and uneven, and the floral wallpaper had seen better days. If I had to guess, I'd say Kyle was stashing us in an abandoned house somewhere, judging by the lack of heating, and I didn't think we were far out of London. Whether we were there with the owner's permission or not remained to be seen. Kyle would have done his homework, though, so I knew they wouldn't be anywhere nearby.

  "You run the bath, Harry, and I'll make sure he doesn't get into any trouble."

  "Gotcha."

  The taps squeaked when Harry turned them on, and I wasn't convinced we'd have any hot water, but sure enough, a few moments later steam began rising. Thankfully I wasn't in pain yet, but I knew I had that to look forward to. Once they got my circulation going again my body was going to be in agony for a bit. Still, I couldn't complain. I'd been given a reprieve, I was still alive, and hopefully a chance to escape would present itself soon. Honestly, I couldn't handle any more ordeals like the one I'd just experienced. That man was one sick bastard. How many other people had he played with before me? The question didn't bear thinking about. I just hoped that we'd be his last.

  Lurching sideways without warning, the guy who was supposed to be holding me upright was having a hell of a job keeping me still. He managed to rescue me before I hit the floor, but it was a close-run thing. To make matters worse, I nearly fell asleep on him twice, but a couple of swift slaps to the face kept me almost compos mentis.

  When the bath had a few inches of water in it the boys flipped my legs over its side, and I landed in the bottom with a thud. Then I screamed. The water was scalding hot, it was more pain than I could take right now, and I was going to continue screaming until they put some cold in. I just hoped Jen couldn't hear me. She'd assume the worst.

  "What's the matter with him now, Freddie?" Harry winced as my screaming got louder.

  "Cold tap," I yelled. "Put some cold in!" Freddie shrugged but did as I asked. My legs felt like someone had driven a thousand cigarette ends into them, and the pain was indescribable. Christ, Sophia had nothing on this lot.

  When I'd stopped yelling, Freddie went downstairs to change, while Harry babysat. They allowed me to take control of the temperature as soon as I was able, and I increased the flow of hot water in small increments, taking as much pain as I could handle, but not enough to send me into meltdown. I was aware that I needed to get back to Jen as soon as possible, and the thought of what Kyle might be doing to her made me physically sick. Mind you there was another school of thought that said as soon as I got back to Jen, the games would begin anew. Maybe it would be better to take my time. If round two was anything like round one, I didn't have long left in this world.

  Speak of the devil, Kyle chose that moment to barge into the room. "How's he doing, Harry?"

  "Well, he's not dead," said Harry helpfully.

  "I can see that," replied Kyle sarcastically. Turning to me, he then said, "You lasted longer than I thought you would."

  The urge to punch his lights out was so strong I had to clutch my hands together to prevent myself from doing something stupid. Two against one was not good odds, especially in the state I was in, and they only had to yell for another to come running. My chance would come; I just had to hang on in there.

  As if sensing my struggle, Kyle winked at me. "How long do you think it will be until you're begging me to kill you?" Kyle pretended to think about his question. "A day, maybe two if you're really determined. You won't last longer than that." He made a slashing motion across his neck, just in case I was completely stupid and hadn't figured out what he was talking about. "I am very much looking forward to killing you, Matthews."

  That was it. I'd had enough. I was going to stand up so I was eye to eye with the bastard, even if it killed me. Lurching to my feet, every limb screaming in protest while spraying water in all directions, I eyeballed that bastard to the best of my ability. Harry stood up, flexing his knuckles and getting ready to have some fun. I didn't care. If he wanted to knock me out Kyle wouldn't be able to play any of his games, and that suited me just fine.

  "Maybe I'll surprise you." Grabbing a towel, I gave my hair a good rub and waited for the bastard to get out of my way. "Maybe, just maybe, you've underestimated my resources." If he didn't move backwards he was going to get wet in a minute.

  He did move, backing out of the doorway like the coward he was. He'd been on the receiving end of my fist before, and it seemed that he didn't fancy another round with it. That was too bad. Freddie was now waiting just outside the door, ready to back up his boss should the need arise.

  "Cuff him and bring him back down to the pool room, Harry. It's Jen's turn to go underwater this time." He was trying to goad me into a reaction, and this time he'd hit the right button.

  Pitching forward, my fist already arcing through the air, it connected with nothing as Kyle smartly moved out of my way. Harry and Freddie stepped in as I stumbled, flanking either side of me. In seconds they both had an arm each and were twisting them cruelly behind me. Roaring my displeasure I called Kyle every foul name I could think of as I watched him retreating. The bastard did not glance back at me once.

  Nearly crippled with pain, I crouched there seething with hatred as I wondered what new form of torture awaited me.

  Chapter Twenty-Three - Jennifer

  After the pool fiasco, Kyle had dragged me upstairs and flung me back in my room.

  "You even think of biting me again, bitch, and I'll beat you black and blue."

  Pushing my hands against the wooden floor, so I could prop myself up and get a good look at the asshole, I eyed him with fearsome contempt. My eyes burned like fire as I said, "Don't tempt me." I made no further move to take a chunk out of him, though. If he wanted to beat me he would, so I didn't see why I should make it easy for him.

  "What have you done with my husband? I want to see him. Now." Growling like a feral animal, I made my way towards him on my hands and knees, with water dripping off me and pooling on the floor. Walking was beyond me. Every nerve vibr
ated with anger, but even that wasn't enough to warm the block of ice my body had become. I must have looked a state. The black T-shirt I was wearing clung to every curve, but Kyle had already seen me naked, so I didn't see why I should let that bother me. For the first time in my life I wanted to kill someone, and the beast inside needed to be sated. All I needed was a weapon, and the man in front of me would be dead.

  "What is it with you two and all this touching concern for each other? The marriage was a sham. You're just a number to Matthews. He's had more women than you've had hot baths. Trust me. He doesn't give a damn about you." Kyle sneered, but I didn't care. I knew differently.

  "If he didn't care about me he wouldn't be here. You know that, and I know that. Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want." My eyes searched the room for anything I could use to bash him over the head with, but I already knew there would be nothing. Kyle was far too thorough.

  "Patience is a virtue, darling. You'll find out soon enough. You've got half an hour to recover before I come for you again, so I'd make the best of that time and try to come to terms with your husband's imminent demise. I've been looking forward to killing him for years, and I'm going to do it real slow and make you watch, Petal. Real slow." Lunging for him again - because a bite was better than nothing - he shut the door smartly in my face and locked it. Coward. Once again I was on my own, and this time it was worse than before. This time he had my husband, and if he killed him I was going to tear his heart out with a nail file.

  Pacing up and down my small room, as Kyle hadn't bothered to tether me this time, I wondered what was going to happen next. Was this the part where he killed someone or was he saving that for later? Surely someone was going to come for us? What was the point of having a mother in the mafia if she couldn't throw her weight around when her daughter got kidnapped? Would anyone find us? Or was the clock just ticking down until D-day?