The Cozy Blindfolded Tour

Day 15

The Cozy Blindfolded Tour

TIME: 7:50 pm

Two agents had been lured into a trap set by Sabrina's assault team. The team was then extracted and the one wounded operative was being transported to the HQ. Over near 309 Meeting street, Rachel began to guide Nick on foot to the HQ.

Rachel held his cuffed wrists and escorted Nick closely. The walk had proceeded along Meeting street passing immediately the fallen security police agents. The smells of the carnage were an odd combination but soon Rachel's scent returned to dominate. The street noise had begun to diminish, an occasional car in the background but very little cars passing near the walking crew.

The sounds of their footsteps came from in front and behind. There was no conversation except the occasional 'clear' or 'go' from one to the other. Rachel warned him quietly of the curbs and her firm grip was a help negotiating them. After about five minutes, pleasant food odors from several restaurants had begun to be detected.

Several minutes later, they had changed direction toward the left and the street noises diminished further. Their voices seemed to echo slightly and had sounded more cavernous. When they reached the next block, the still air chimed as several church bells had rung in the hour eight times.

Another minute passed and there was an unexpected response to one of the callouts. A distressed sounding woman's voice.

"Oh, god, she's injured!" along with other sounds of surprise.

Rachel: I tug at your cuffs to stop you before firmly speaking. "Debbie, Monica, help her!" I wait a few seconds before nudging you forward. "Let's go!" I blurt to the others.

The walk.

Nick: The direction seems to change again, this time to the right and continues for another few minutes. I stumble on, blind, frightened, but determined to be myself in front of these women, whoever they are. At least I can repay Gwenda by being strong. The walk now becomes a bit more involved with frequent changes in direction. Totally disorientated, hearing a babble of voices, I focus on putting my feet one in front of the other and responding to the frequent nudges and pulls to change direction.

Rachel: I speak loudly and clearly still escorting you. "Proceed with her, I'll stay here."

Nick: I am still dumb and blind, but my hearing, her scent, tell me that I am still her prisoner, whoever she is. The other voices fade and it becomes quiet. It makes me nervous.

Rachel: My breathing increases.

Nick: I contemplate trying to speak, but put it to one side. I reckon my best chance, if it is a chance, is to obey. I am in your control for the moment.

Rachel: I speak in your ear "Take two steps forward." I hold your cuffed wrists firmly.

Nick: I feel you grasping me, nudging me forward. I falteringly take two paces forward

Rachel: "There is a wall in front of you. I'm going to turn you around and you will sit with your back to that wall." I hold the cuffs and nudge my body against yours.

Nick: I nod helplessly and put a foot out gingerly to touch the wall before feeling your hands on me again. Your scent is strong, heady, and terrifies me by implication.

Rachel: I slowly help you turn about.

Nick: I yield to the pushes and turn around.

Rachel: I still firmly hold your wrists. "Lower yourself now!"

Nick: I lean back against the wall to balance myself. Being blind, I discover, plays havoc with my balance.

Rachel: My left hand grips your right leg guiding you down.

Nick: I carefully bend my knees then clumsily, heavily, end up on the ground on my backside. Once more I am captive, sitting on the ground, now deprived of sight and speech. Will this ordeal ever end? I reproach myself for the thought. Of course it will. I just need to try to ensure that it doesn't end with my death.

Rachel: I say nothing standing close as the time passes.

Nick: My breathing gradually steadies. My ears strain to hear something, anything, that will tell me where I am. But I don't know where the hell I am, so many turns, I lost my thread a good while ago. Could be anywhere. Just, that scent. I just know if I get out of this predicament a whiff of it will terrify me. The gag is sodden with my saliva. The blindfold is taut over my eyes and with a jolt I remember where it came from. Poor girl, even if she did cuff me. Church bells announce the half hour. Thirty minutes have passed, my god.

To my horror a film of the massacre starts to replay before my blindfolded eyes. I shake my head a little to clear it. I don't want to see Gwenda die again.

Sounds of an approaching vehicle cause me to catch my breath.