Chapter Text
The past twenty four hours for Player had been probably the most chilling since he was taken.
It had been scarier than being forced into a van, beaten, chained up and drugged.
He had spent the last twenty four hours, drugged and blindfolded. Was it rohypnol? Or maybe chloral hydrate?
Player couldn’t find it within himself to care.
Most of the car rides were a blur, so was the flight.
Player could faintly remember feeling Coach Brunt pull him into a hug that felt more threatening than comforting, and bidding him goodbye.
Player’s first clear memory was when he was pulled out of the back of a van. He instantly realized three things.
He was wearing a muzzle, like a dog.
The person grabbing him, was not a member of the faculty.
And, from what he could hear and smell, they were no longer in Scotland.
The moist, yeasty smells of the castle were now replaced by the scent of pine trees and livestock.
This was not V.I.L.E. Academy.
Judging by the travel time and whatever Player could make out about the area.
He must be in South or East America.
But he quickly lost his trail of thought as his focus shifted to walking at the fast pace his captor has set for them.
Right left, right left.
It wasn’t long before Player heard a door opening, and he was roughly thrown inside. Being caught by a parquet wooden floor.
“You stay calm now, boy.”
The first words he heard come out of his captor’s mouth directed towards him.
But there was no being calm in this situation.
Player took another deep breath and flailed his arms, in search of anything at all around him that could be and advantage to him.
He smelled nearly nothing, just catching a whiff of cleaning supplies. He felt however, many things. Wooden poles, presumably table and or chair legs.
Instinctually, Player spread his arms and took hold of the two closest objects he could grab.
Meanwhile his captor just grabbed him by one leg and dragged him across the floor, resulting in one light-ish object he was holding onto being dragged along with him. And the other, much heavier object being dragged just a few centimeters before slipping from his grasp.
With his free leg, Player kicked to the ground. And with his other one, Player tried with all his might to wriggle it free. But to no avail.
Adrenaline was clouding his judgment, and it was getting harder and harder to think strategically.
Player heard a door slide open and the hard floor underneath him was replaced by dry grass.
He dug his fingers into the earth, trying anything to break free. But all it did was put dirt under his nails.
A door opened, he was thrown inside and even through his blindfold he could make out the lack of sunlight.
“Now you be a good boy, and I might remember to come feed you every day.”
A door closed, a lock clicked. And Player was completely and utterly alone.
“OKAY GIRL, YOU CAN COME BACK NOW!”
And so I did. Just a second ago, she looked so put together. But now the only thing that stayed neat about Ann was her precise red lipstick that didn’t seem to smudge the tiniest bit.
Her sleeves were half curled up and she had very odd scratch marks on her arms.
The damage in the room wasn’t nearly as bad, some chairs were moved and furniture crooked from their old position. There was also a good amount of sand in the living room now.
“Now, you listen up Betsy.”
“My name’s (y/n).”
She ignored me again, of course.
“While that animal is in there, you do NOT go in. I’ll stop by once a day to feed it, and during that time you stay in your room. No matter how much you see the walls of your shed shake, you do not approach it.” She bent down a little and placed her hand firmly on my shoulder. “Now I’ll be back tomorrow at one pm to feed this sucker, you hear any concerning noises you let your dad know. Okay?”
I cannot believe the nerve of this woman. But I have to stay professional here.
So as she got back up straight, I flashed another low-effort smile.
“Of course, miss. I’ll make sure to.”
Then as I showed her the door, and closed it. I shut my eyes and sighed in exhaustion.
“Now to clean that fucking sand.”
“That should do it.”
I looked around the kitchen and living room, that had previously been scattered with dirt and debris from outside. Now it was spotless.
I snapped off my cleaning gloves and started rinsing them off in the sink.
“Fucking, Ann coming into my home, through my living room to leave behind a zoo animal and her dirt!”
As I muttered, I looked through the kitchen window, into my yard.
The shed.
There it stood, shining in the mid morning sun in all of it’s glory.
All grey, metallic and boring.
Yet so, so alluring.
Though I should stay away.
Yeah, I should stay away from that shed.
The alligator (iguana??) didn’t show much proof of it’s attendance until the late afternoon.
I noticed this, only because I spent most of the day in front of the kitchen window.
Yesterday’s and this morning’s dishes?
Scrubbed.
Windows? (but only those facing my backyard)
Wiped.
The tap?
Polished so well. I can see my reflection in it.
And then when I went to fill up a pot with water to boil pasta for dinner, I saw it.
Well, first, I heard it.
A heavy ‘thud’ coming from the garden shed. Again, and again.
I looked up from the pot, and quickly closes the tap.
And with every thud, I saw the shed shake.
“Huh, she must have woken up.” I thought to myself.
And I felt a little bad. The reptile, which I lovingly decided to name ‘Iggy’
She didn’t know where she was! She didn’t know what was going on!
Poor little baby.
As much as my animal loving heart wanted me to rush outside and attempt to reassure Iggy. I knew I shouldn’t. I knew it was dangerous.
But as I snapped out of my thoughts, I realized the thudding had stopped, and so had the shaking.
And so I let my worries go, and continued cooking dinner.