When Autumn Wrenal saw the sun, she knew she was up too late.
It had been over two days since she'd been kidnapped. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her body was stiff. Bound to a wooden chair in handcuffs, her wrists were bruised and bleeding. Slowly, she drifted in and out of consciousness as she waited for the inevitable moment when she would have to go back. It was clear that the people that had taken her had no idea what they had gotten themselves into.
The man they had taken Autumn from was not one to make deals. These people were idiots if they thought they could just take her and expect him to give them what they wanted for her safe return. Cage Zisgani would sooner kill her himself than allow anyone to use him.
As his whore, Autumn knew Cage could be a cruel and sadistic bastard. Head of a criminal organization, he had built an empire of fear and power. He took pleasure in causing pain, taking anything and everything he wanted by force. He cared little for human life.
Autumn groaned as she let her head fall back. She wanted to sleep. She wanted them to give her more of the drugs they'd been giving her these last few days. More than anything she wanted to pass out and dream. It was her only true escape since meeting Cage. Yet these people wanted her awake so that she could talk to Cage. So they could prove she was alive and well.
Autumn sighed deeply as she lifted her head once more. She leaned forward in an attempt to get comfortable. She looked around the room to see if anything had changed. They were in some sort of abandoned warehouse. There were pallets stacked haphazardly around her. Her chair was in the middle of the room near one of the building's support beams.
The people that had taken her were sitting around the room in various positions. After a few minutes she began to listen to them as they talked. Their conversations were pointless, an argument here or there. Some various discussions of what they would do once this job was done. But for the most part, like her, they were all waiting. Waiting for the inevitable.
There were seven altogether: six men and one woman. From what Autumn had gathered these last few days, their leader seemed to be a man named Graham. He was the mastermind behind all this. He called all the shots and had gathered everyone together. Autumn still didn't know what he wanted, but she was sure he wasn't going to get it. He was a few feet away from her, leaning up against another one of the room's support beams. He had his eyes closed as he waited for his cell phone to ring. Autumn couldn't be sure if he was sleeping or thinking.
A few feet away from him, Jean, the only woman in the group, sat in a chair. She had a mask on but it only covered her eyes and nose. She was filing her nails as she waited for something to happen. Every so often she'd make a bubble with the gum she was chewing. When it popped it would echo through the room causing some of the others to flinch.
Jean seemed to be Graham's woman. A few times Autumn had seen them talking quietly to each other, and even witnessed them kiss between her drug doses. Autumn still didn't know what they were giving her but it seemed to knock her out cold and left her feeling groggy afterwards. Autumn groaned again as she wobbled her head to the side. She looked around the room, wondering what the others were up to.
A man named Mills was sitting at a large table set up with several monitors. He kept biting his nails every so often as he looked around nervously. He was supposed to be some sort of computer expert. Since coming here, Autumn had only ever seen him staring at the screens that were connected to cameras around the warehouse. He smoked a lot and drank coffee. Dozens of cups were scattered around his desk. He twitched and rocked every so often. He looked like he hadn't slept for days. Whenever Jean would pop her bubble gum he'd nearly jump out of his seat.
Scutt was the closest to Autumn. He sat in a chair not far from her, cleaning his gun. He liked to talk a lot and there was hardly a moment when he didn't talk. A few times Autumn had caught him staring at her. Once, when she'd woken in the middle of the night, Scutt had been resting his hand on her inner thigh. He whispered into her ear that when all this was done he was going to fuck her before he blew her brains out. Autumn couldn't be sure if he meant it or if he was just attempting to scare her.
A few feet from Scutt, Giz was the quietest of the bunch. Autumn had only ever heard him say one or two words at a time. He had a lot of scars on his body and he seemed to like knives. He was sitting on a stack of pallets, polishing one. Next to him stood a man named Noz. He leaned up against the pallets as he let his head fall back. He was supposed to be a sniper, though Autumn had yet to see him with a gun. She often saw him reading a magazine or cleaning his teeth with a toothpick.
The last man, Row, was the farthest away from Autumn. She had to squint her eyes to see him where he stood in the doorway of the warehouse. He was said to be an expert in many fields. It was rare for Autumn to see him standing still. He was often moving around, either pacing or doing something important.
After a few seconds Row looked at his watch and slowly came back inside. He walked up to Graham and said, "We should have given ourselves more time. Do you really think he can deliver in just two days? We have six hours until our flights leave and we still have to do the pickup. If he doesn't call soon we'll have to find another way out of the country."
Graham was quiet for a minute or two before he opened his eyes and sighed. "He'll call. Relax, we left ourselves plenty of time. I even paid the pilots a few extra grand to wait a few hours if it's necessary. So cool your jets."
Autumn couldn't help but laugh to herself as she overheard them. Did they really think Cage was going to give them what they wanted? Did they really think that they could just get away with this? It didn't matter if they left the country, or even the planet for that matter. As long as they were alive, Autumn knew Cage would find them. He was like the devil when crossed, evil to the core. There was no good deal or trade you could make. You always lost when dealing with him. Always.
Autumn had learned all this the hard way. Once she'd been in love with a doctor, Curtis Knyler. Once she'd had a life, a family, and friends. Yet Cage had taken it all away from her simply because he had seen her and wanted her. No matter how many times she had tried to escape Cage had always dragged her back. He'd killed any and all who had tried to help her, teaching her that if she involved anyone else in their business she would be killing them.
Autumn struggled with her handcuffs as she attempted to sit up in her chair. Her wrists surged with pain but it was nothing compared to what she had already been through. This was a vacation compared to being with Cage. She almost wished she'd get a few more days of this. They fed her and kept her drugged for the most part. Sometimes she'd dream so deeply it was like everything else had been a nightmare
Graham saw Autumn was up and told Jean to take her to use the restroom. Jean didn't look too thrilled about the order but she got to her feet. She acted tough as she spit out her gum. She roughly uncuffed Autumn before yanking her to her feet. She shoved Autumn forward. Autumn nearly fell to the floor. She only just managed to stumble forward instead of falling. Once she'd regained her footing, Jean twisted one of her arms behind her back.
She pushed Autumn all the way to the restroom. After Autumn finished, Jean let her stagger most of the way back to her chair before she shoved her again. This time Autumn couldn't catch herself and fell on her hands and knees. Jean stood over her and laughed then. Autumn knew she was trying to pick a fight with her, but she didn't fight back. Autumn just got up and sat back down in her chair. Jean sighed with disappointment at the lack of a response. She gave Autumn a dirty look as she cuffed her to the chair once more but Autumn just looked right through her.
Autumn didn't hold any grudges or ill will against these people. She knew they were already dead. The moment they'd attacked Cage's driver and taken her, they had all chosen to die. She knew they were nothing but zombies now, walking around.
Mills put out the cigarette he was smoking. He grabbed a needle with some of the drug in it and walked over to Autumn. He'd forgotten they were waiting on Cage's call. He'd almost jabbed her with the needle before Graham yelled at him. "No! I told you we're expecting his call any minute! She needs to be awake, should he ask for proof of life. How many times do I have to tell you?!"
"Ssssorry boss." said Mills, walking back to his desk. He put the needle down before rubbing his eyes. He sipped what was left of his coffee.
Jean stretched and yawned. She'd stayed up most of the night. When she bent down to stretch she whispered to Autumn, "You shouldn't get your hopes up. Your boyfriend doesn't know this yet, but I'm gonna slit your throat before I send you over to him."
Autumn sighed, unimpressed by Jean's newest attempt to get a reaction out of her. This was now the second time she'd been threatened and she was getting tired of it. Autumn rolled her eyes before she said, "Why wait, if that's what you want to do? You'd best do it now while you still have the chance."
Jean pulled back. Her eyes widened with surprise at Autumn's words. For a second she just stared at her before she slapped Autumn across the face. "Stupid BITCH has a death wish!"
"Don't we all." said Scutt, holstering his gun. He got to his feet before taking out a cigarette. He lit it, taking a puff before he said, "I mean, I hear this guy is supposed to be some sort of demon. When he kills you, you don't even hear him coming, like some fucking shadow of death."
The other men looked at Scutt, shifting their weight a bit. Autumn could tell they were worried by what he said. Graham sighed, stepping away from the support beam he'd been leaning against. He walked into the middle of the group and said, "Come on now. Everyone just needs to relax. He's only human. You must remember we're in control here. We have what he wants, so we own him."
"Don't see why he wants this ho-bag." said Jean, sitting back down in her chair. She took out a knife from her boot and stared at Autumn as she played with it. "If you ask me, he has no taste."
Graham's cell phone rang and he took it out of his pocket. He checked the number and then let it ring a few more times before he finally answered it with a smug look on his face. Everyone in the room grew quiet, trying to listen in. "Hello. Why, yes. Did you get what we asked for?" asked Graham.
There was a pause as everyone in the room waited. Graham smiled and said, "You did? Oh, splendid, splendid. I do hope it wasn't an inconvenience. I suppose you'll want to talk to her."
Graham began to walk over to Autumn with the cell phone but paused a second later.
Autumn turned her head away from Graham, knowing Cage wouldn't want to talk to her. Graham was a bit surprised as he looked at Autumn. He froze for a second before saying, "Oh, alright."
Jean laughed when she realized what was happening and said, "Ahh, poor baby. He doesn't even want to talk to the stupid bitch."
Graham continued the conversation. "Alright, so now for the next step, a time and location. I want you to- What? What did you say?"
Autumn closed her eyes. Scutt took a few steps towards Graham, whispering to him. "What is it? What's going on?"
Graham seemed shocked for a moment. He muted his cell phone before he turned to Noz and Giz. "Noz, take some gear to the roof and set your sights."
Noz raised an eyebrow but nodded before he bent down and picked up a black duffel bag at his feet. He quick took the stairs to the roof. Jean got up from her chair, concerned now. "What is it, baby?"
"This fucker is trying to mess with me. He says he's right outside, and he wants to make the trade right now."
"BULLSHIT!" said Mills, shaking his head. He quickly looked at all of his monitors for any sign of movement. The only thing he saw was Noz climbing to the roof. "I got nothing on the cameras."
Graham unmuted his cell phone and spoke gruffly. "Listen here, buddy! You think this is some kind of joke? If you're trying to be funny, you have no idea what I'm capable of. There are worse things that I can do to your bitch than death. I have five dicks that would love a taste. Now stop messing around! You want to make a deal or what?"
"I wouldn't." said Autumn, turning to look at Graham. "He's just going to kill you."
"Shut up!" said Scutt, taking his gun out. He hit Autumn with the butt of it, drawing some blood.
Graham held his cell phone to his ear before dropping it to the floor a second later. Jean quickly asked, "Well what did he say! What did he say? Is he gonna give us the stuff or what?"
Graham looked to the floor, unsettled. "I don't know. He…he hung up."
Autumn's eyes were glossy. She knew Cage was already here. He didn't mess around and he didn't play games. If he said he was here then he was here, and now it was just a matter of minutes until this all ended.
Row looked to Giz. "Go have a look about, just to make sure the camera aren't glitched."
"They're not glitched! I do good work." Mills muttered
"Whatever." said Row, "You're barely half awake and your nerves are shit. Who knows what you've missed."
"I didn't miss anything!" shouted Mills, standing up. He knocked several of his empty coffee cups to the floor.
"Both of you shut up!" yelled Graham. "Giz, get your ass outside like Row said. And Mills, keep your damn eyes on the monitor. I want to know if anything changes."
Mills sat back down and Giz jumped off the pallets. He quickly left the room, running outside. Several minutes passed. Everyone was on edge. Noz finished setting his rifle up. His quick descent ladder was ready to deploy, if needed. He scanned the perimeter, but didn't spot anything with his scope. He muttered into his radio. "Everything is all clear out here." Graham waited for Giz to give him the all clear, but Giz didn't say a word and he didn't come back. After fifteen minutes they were beginning to wonder what was going on.
"Oh man! Oh man! He's been gone too long. We're dead! We are so dead! What do we do now?" asked Scutt.
Graham paced for several more minutes until Jean finally couldn't take it anymore. "Are you going to go out there and try to deal?"
"What? No!" said Graham. He looked at her like she was crazy. "This…this is some sort of trick! Some sort of mind game! There is no way he is out there. How could he have possibly found this place? It has no connection to any of us. I randomly picked it. There is just no way!"
Autumn could see he was too far gone to think logically. The panic and fear of his own death was slowly reaching out to him, blocking all of the rational moves he could have made. Now he just wanted to get away. No deals, no anything, his objectives lost for the one true importance of seeing another day.
"Maybe she has a tracking device on her." suggested Row. He went over to some cases in the room, taking out a AK-47. He loaded it and made sure the safety was off before he went to the windows.
"No! No! I checked all that." said Mills. "She didn't have any tracers or bugs."
"Row, go check our exit route." said Graham.
"What about the deal, baby?" asked Jean.
"Fuck the deal, Jean!" said Scutt, looking around the room. "Can't you see what's going on here? We have more things to worry about then the fucking deal. If that son of a bitch is really out there..." Scutt didn't finish his sentence. He just shook his head.
Graham looked to Row and shouted, "Go! Check it now!"
Row nodded and went outside. Graham scrambled to keep control of his men and what little there was left to do in this situation. "Scutt, get her up. We're leaving."
"Now? But he could be out there!" said Scutt.
"Just get her ass up!" ordered Graham.
Jean got the keys and uncuffed Autumn, who smiled at her as if to say, 'I told you so'. Jean swallowed hard. Putting her knife away, she readied a gun. Mills grabbed a laptop and said, "I can track movement on here. And I'll find us a quick path out."
"Great. We'll be set if we can make it to the car." said Scutt, holding his gun to Autumn's head.
"The way through the back is clear. We can get to the car." said Row, coming back.
The fact that he came back relieved the room. Graham let out a sigh as he said, "Right, let's go."
They all moved out. Noz was still on the roof. He told them their path was clear. When they were only a few feet from their car Graham confidently said, "If you see anyone that isn't us, shoot on sight. I will teach this fucker not to mess with me."
Mills ran ahead of the group, rushing to the car. He quickly went to start it. As soon as he turned the key, the engine ignited. The group was only a few feet away when the car exploded. The blast sent them flying back and they fell to the ground. Debris and bits of Mills were everywhere on the ground as smoke and flames engulfed the car. Graham and the others frantically climbed to their feet.
Jean screamed, "What the fuck! What the fuck!"
Row shouted into his radio. "Noz! Noz, you got sights?!"
"I think I got something. I think…" said Noz over the radio.
All of a sudden there was a sizzle of static over the radio. Several pops went off in the distance as guns fired. Row called to Noz over his radio. "What happened! Did you get him? What happened?! Noz! Noz! ANSWER ME, DAMN IT!"
Graham talked into his radio frantically. "You get him, Noz? You get the bastard?" The group all stood still waiting for an answer, but there was nothing but static.
"Noz had to have gotten him." said Scutt, pulling Autumn to her feet. He slowly backed up with her. He went on, rambling."It's just his radio. That's it. These things are crap. They go out all the time."
"Yeah, that's it." said Row, confidently. "He got whoever that was, for sure. Me and him have been doing this for over ten years. We're the best of the-"
Before Row could finish, the front of his skull exploded outward spraying them with brain matter. His body fell to the ground. Jean screamed as another bullet flew through the air, striking Scutt in the shoulder. He let Autumn go and she sunk to her knees.
Jean and Graham were quick to take shelter back inside the doorway of the warehouse. Scutt hurried after them. Autumn just sat there in the open, knowing they wouldn't shoot her. She just waited for the inevitable.
Nothing happened for several minutes and Graham yelled at Scutt. "Go get the girl and bring her over here!"
"Fuck you! I'm shot! I'm dying over here!" said Scutt, holding his arm as it gushed with blood.
"It's a flesh wound!" said Graham. "Now go get her! She's the only card we have left to deal!"
"Fuck you, man! You said this job would be easy! You said it was a quick in and out. You said all I had to do was be back up. I'm done! I'm out!" Scutt turned and raised his arms up as he walked into the sunlight. Graham cursed and shot him in the back. Scutt fell dead to the ground.
Jean looked at Scutt and then to Graham. She knew he wasn't being rational. She smiled at him nervously. "I'll get her!"
Jean dashed out and grabbed Autumn. She pulled out her knife, dragging her back to the warehouse entrance.
"It's too late to use your knife." said Autumn plainly.
"Shut up," said Jean, hitting her.
Graham reached out and grabbed Autumn by the back of her neck. He pulled her in front of him like she was a shield. He took out his gun and held it to Autumn's head. Then he stepped out of the warehouse with her, shouting loudly, "I'll kill her!"
Seemingly out of nowhere, Cage appeared. He was dressed all in black, like a shadow. He walked in the distance, slowly making his way towards them. Autumn got chills knowing he was so close. She wanted to collapse right then and there. Her body ached. She knew what he'd do to it.
"We were supposed to have a deal!" yelled Graham.
"BASTARD!" screamed Jean, getting her gun out.
She wasn't going to wait for Graham to fix this. After having seen all her comrades die around her, she was going to shoot Cage and make him pay. She started walking towards him. She aimed quickly and started pulling the trigger. Someone shot her in the back of the head before she got more than two shots off.
"What are you?!" said Graham, cowering in fear. Not a single bullet had hit Cage. He walked, unfazed by the gunfire.
Graham held a gun to Autumn's ear. She closed her eyes, wondering if it would go off before Cage got to her. Someone moved behind Graham and he turned for a second to look. It was only for a second, but Cage was close enough.
He lunged, running quickly. Graham looked back as Cage kicked his hand up and away from Autumn. The gun went off, firing in the air, and Autumn fell to the ground unharmed. Graham stumbled back, shocked. He was still holding the gun. He went to fire it but Cage reached for something at his side.
Eccentric, Cage carried a katana, black as death. It had been specially made just for him to be strong and sharp. In a single motion he spun his blade, neatly severing Graham's gun hand. The gun dropped along with the hand and Graham fell to the floor screaming.
Cage straightened himself before walking over to the gun. He kicked it away from Graham, then used Graham's coat to clean the blood off his sword. When its surface was clean once more, he sheathed it and loomed over Graham.
Cage watched him toss and turn, holding his arm as it bled. Cage put his foot on Graham's chest, pressing hard to hold him still. Graham winced in pain, breathing hard as his lungs were being crushed. He looked up to Cage. "Just kill me already."
Cage changed his expressionless face, smiling down at him as he stepped off his chest. "Oh, no. Death is a release, one which you will not be afforded. At least, not just now. You took what was mine for two days. So for two days you shall know pain like no other."
Within minutes the area filled with a dozen of Cage's men. They were all dressed in black suits and black sunglasses, waiting for their orders as they stepped up to him. Cage lit a cigarette. He still hadn't looked at Autumn. "I.D. the bodies, and take out their families. Then dispose of them. Take this one for a ride. After two days you can release whatever's left."
The men nodded and went on to do as he said. Graham screamed and cried out as several men dragged him away. Cage didn't say a word. Bending down, he lifted Autumn up and carried her towards an approaching black town car. He set her inside and got in after her. He told the driver where to go and they went.
As they left Autumn looked out the window and saw what was left of Giz. Parts of his body were scattered about the lot. Cage made some calls and then began to unbutton his shirt. He put his cigarette out in the car's ashtray. Without turning to look at Autumn he asked, "Did you miss me?"
Autumn shook for a bit, finally breaking down then. She began to cry and whimper. She could survive all of what had just happened, but she was afraid of Cage. He was crueler than anything or anyone she had ever known. He let her cry for a moment before he finally turned to look at her. He removed the dress she was wearing. Her captors had put it on her after they made sure she had no tracers on her clothing or body.
When she was naked before him Cage looked her over, making sure there wasn't anything out of place. He took her chin in his cold hand and turned her so that she would have to look at him. With his other hand he wiped away her tears before he kissed her lips softly.
Autumn just stared forward blankly as he moved to kiss her cheek and then her jaw line. He trailed kisses from her face to her neck, reaching to her shoulder. When he got to her shoulder he bit it gently before sucking on it, leaving a blotchy, red mark. When he pulled away Autumn winced and bit her lower lip.
She knew what was coming and knew there was nothing she could do to stop it. Cage sat back in his seat next to her and unzipped his pants. He pulled out his long, thick member, moving it around a bit before he grabbed Autumn by her hair. He yanked her down off the seat. He was rough, pulling her to him. He forced her mouth to the end of his member.
Reluctantly she parted her lips to take him inside. She knew better than to resist him. He sunk into her mouth slowly, hitting the back of her throat. She pulled back and then pushed on several times as she tried to take him all in. Once her mouth adjusted to him he began to move her head up and down until he found a pace he liked.
As he bobbed her head up and down, he ran his hands through her hair, speaking softly to her."You didn't think I'd let them keep you, did you?"
Autumn said nothing, letting her mind go blank. Cage grew in her mouth as he got harder. He watched her, groaning and moaning with satisfaction every now and then. He loved the feel of her lush lips sucking him off almost as much as her tight throat squeezing against him.
Cage continued to bob Autumn up and down on him before he leaned back further. He said, "No, I hope by now you've learned there is no escaping me. Not even if someone takes you from me."
Tears streamed down Autumn's cheeks. She sniffled and Cage sighed. He tightened his grip on her hair before pulling her off him. He pulled her so that she would look at him. When her eyes met him he smiled at her before leaning in. He rubbed his thumb gently across her face, wiping her tears away with his hands. He gently whispered, "How I have missed you."
He pulled her back up on the seat before moving her to sit on top of him. She didn't fight, moving to take him inside her. With ease he pushed into her. Her body had been trained long ago to accept him, even though she hated him. He held her hips, rocking them back and forth as she sat there numbly, looking on.
Cage squeezed her breasts and ran his fingers through her hair. He looked at her, his eyes searching out every part of her. He'd been so obsessed with getting her back. He took her in now like she was some precious heirloom he could not do without. It angered him and he pushed her off of him. Autumn looked up at him wondering if he was going to beat her, but he didn't. He grabbed her arm, moving her to fall forward in the seat. He flipped her so her chest hit the leather seats. Then he roughly entered her from behind.
The car pulled onto the highway as Cage found his rhythm. He pounded Autumn from behind, slamming her into the seats. Autumn's body ached and she cried out as he yanked her hair. Several parts of her stiffly popped as she tried to position herself, but Cage didn't let up. He was furious and hard then, desperately needing his release.
His eyes were dark, with black circles under them. He hadn't slept since she had been taken from him. He had only turned his back for a moment, attending to some business. He'd left her in the car. And in that moment he'd nearly lost her. He blamed himself and for days he could think of little else but getting her back. Now…now that she was in his arms once more he vowed never to let her go again.
He held her tightly, feeling her skin against his skin. He could feel her heart beating even as his heart pounded in his chest. He pushed himself inside her deeper and deeper as he grew close. Digging his nails into her he groaned and cried out with his release. A wave of pleasure overtook him as he burst inside her, sending his seed deep within her core.
He slowed his thrusts as he rode his wave of pleasure to its end. His member pulsed and twitched until every last drop was in her. Tired, exhausted, he pulled out of her. Catching his breath he looked at her for a moment as she turned in her seat. Their eyes met and he couldn't help but think his only true moments of weakness were with her.
Reaching out he grasped her neck. In his heart he said, 'I love you.' In his mind he raged, 'I hate you.' Yet the only three letter words that left his lips were, "I own you."
Autumn stared back at him with pain in her eyes. She reached out, grasping his arm. He let go of her, letting his hand fall down. Autumn pulled away from him, curling herself up in the seat. She brought her knees to her chest as she shut her eyes. She hoped now that he had gotten what he wanted he would let her be for a few hours, maybe even a few days, as she slowly drifted off to sleep.
Cage ran his hands through his hair before he pulled it back. He sat down in the seat next to Autumn, exhausted. He barely had enough energy to right his clothes. His heart raced as his head pounded. More than anything he wanted to sleep. He wanted to curl up with Autumn and let the days slip by, but there was still so much more he had to do. There was always something more and so he sighed. Lighting a cigarette, he took a puff before looked out the window.
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