He tried to open his eyes, which seemed too heavy for him to open, but they weren't bulging due to the throbbing ache and pains he felt in his head. His head was banging loudly and fear gripped him that he might soon go deaf due to this, coupled with the dizziness he was having at the moment.
Ferdinand tried to recall the previous night, but his memories seem to have gone blank and wasn't responding to his call, on his own, he wondered what had happened to him to have landed him in such an awful state.
'Did I drink myself to a stupor yesterday?' He couldn't help but ask himself as he tried to gather the pieces together. 'But why...？' He wondered if that was really the case because it's been ages since he last tasted alcohol, he doubted if it's really the issue!
No! He wouldn't bring himself so down to take such at his age, why would he anyway? He keeps battling with his memories, but nothing was forthcoming and this made a groan escape his lips, angry at himself for not remembering anything at all!
After several minutes of battling with his thoughts, his eyes fluttered open, and he realizes that he's not where he was supposed to be -the surrounding doesn't look familiar at all, wasn't he supposed to be laying on his bed in his room?
But the reverse was the case and that was then reality hit him hard on his guts!
Ferdinand realized he's tied to a chair in the unfamiliar room, the walls painted with yellow and white; the room was spacious and looked like part of a completed house, but it was empty with nothing in it except himself being tied to a chair at the center of the room. The floor was cold and hard, he was able to feel it because he's barefooted and his feet were kissing the floor, and the light too was dim.
He tries to move, but his wrists and ankles are bound to the chair with thick ropes. A wave of panic washes over him as he realizes that he's been kidnapped, Ferdinand has never felt the fear he was feeling already since ages -he couldn't even remember the last time he felt real fear.
Where is he? Who did this to him? What do they want? These were his thoughts as he struggled to break free from his bondage, and the chair was making a screeching noise against the cold floor.
Suddenly, the door burst widely open, and a tall, shadowy figure steps into the room and with its silhouette, Ferdinand could guess what gender it was. The figure approaches him slowly, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the empty room.
"Who are you?" He asked, his voice trembling and his body fidgeting despite being tied to a chair. "-and what do you want from me?"
The figure did not answer and left his question hanging, instead, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small pocket knife with a dark expression on his face. He held the knife up, the blade glinting in the dim light.
Ferdinand was forced to realize with a jolt of fear that this person intends to hurt him and there is no way out of his grip for him.
The figure squatted before him, and a sudden realization hit Ferdinand -the memories of the previous night started coming in a rush. From his endless wait for Brandon, the taxi he boarded and the escapade with this man before him.
The last thing he remembered was his nose being covered forcefully before he eventually black out! His eyes widened, remembering how dangerous this man can be, he might harm him brutally in a snap of fingers.
The figure starts to speak with his left brows raised slightly, his voice low and raspy. "Oh! I see you remember me now, your facial expression says it all." He muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
"What did you want from me?" Ferdinand repeated his question, this time, he tried to hide the fear that had successfully enveloped him.
Again, the figure did not answer his question, he changed the topic instead. "I know you have information that I need." He began slowly, a deep guttural grunt escaping his throat. "If you give it to me, I'll let you go."
"I don't know anything!" Ferdinand was quick to protest to the figure's theory, his heart pounding loudly against his rib cage. "I swear down! I don't have any information."
But the figure just chuckles darkly. "Oh, but you do, Ferdinand." The figure said, earning a surprised expression from him. Deep down, Ferdinand, he wondered how the man before him was able to know his name but say nothing.
"You know more than you realize. I need you to tell me everything you know, and then I'll let you go -unscathed." The figure continued as he leans in close to Ferdinand, his hot breath fanning against Ferdinand's face. "Now, I'm going to ask you some questions. And you'll answer them. Do you understand?"
Ferdinand nodded his head a couple of times, feeling a knot of fear in his stomach. "Yes, I understand you..."He whispered in a quiet tone.
"Good..."The figure said with a lopsided smirk on his face. Ferdinand braced himself to answer whatever question to be asked as best he can, but the fear was overwhelming him. He knows that he needs to stay calm, but it's so hard. He can't think straight. What is he going to do?
Just as the man was about to ask him a question, the door creaked opened with a loud bang. The figure whips around, and he sees the door burst open, a smile crept up his lips.
"Ma'am..."He called out as the silhouette approached them.
"Keep the knife, Gerald."
Ferdinand thought he heard wrong because that voice seemed familiar, and he couldn't even miss it, not in his dreams. He slowly brought his head up to the source of the voice, his face clouded with shock and surprise.
"Ciara...？"