Blinded by the light

There's no memory of what happened next.

I remembered creeping carefully down the corridor, sticking closely to the wall, heading for the open doorway. And then - nothing.

Suddenly I was looking into a bright halogen lamp, so dazzling that I couldn't make out anything else. It was has if the intervening time had just been neatly removed - snipped out - from my life.

There was no sensation of recovering consciousness - I was instantly present. Though where, I couldn't say. I was aware that I was seated, and that I couldn't lift my hands or move my legs. I quickly realised this was because they were tied to something - presumably the arms and legs of a chair.

But why? Surely I could just ... I shut my eyes.

Nothing happened.

I tried again to blink myself out of the situation, with the same result.

As I started to try and physically move my arms and legs, a voice that I recognised from the phone said, "well, that's a relief. It still works."

I realised this statement wasn't addressed to me when the voice said, in a different tone, "Mr Mackie. So glad you could join us. I was wondering what had detained you. Wondering, in fact, if coming to find young Jenny wasn't worth your while."

"Where is she?" I said, trying to keep the fear out of my voice. "Is she OK? If you've..."

"Relax, Alan - there's nothing to worry about; your young lady is perfectly safe. Concerned for your safety, of course, but we have done nothing to harm her.

"Although, to be entirely frank, you are in no position to be making threats to us."

I squeezed my eyes shut again. With the same result. What was wrong with me?

"You may as well save your energy - you're going nowhere soon, Alan," the man continued. "Your good friend Mr Smith has seen to that."



Story begins here.