Franklin decides it’s time to take things to the next level.
31
Theme from Love Story
– Henry Mancini
Parker tells himself to stop crying. It’s not helping. It’s not going to get him out of here.
But then what is? What has he got to do to escape this nightmare?
It’s not as if he’s done anything bad. He split up with his girlfriend. Big deal. But that guy Franklin is treating him like a murderer or a rapist. Worse, in fact. At least murderers and rapists aren’t given torture as a punishment.
His hand hurts like hell. It throbs continuously. He wouldn’t be surprised if it was infected. There was no antiseptic involved. No preparation at all. Franklin just stood up, went to the head of the bed and sawed off his finger.
It seemed to take an age. At the time, Parker wasn’t even sure it was really happening. He thought maybe it was a prank. Another mind game. Yes, the pain and the sounds were real enough, but surely Franklin wasn’t actually cutting off a finger?
But then he brought it into view. Held it right in front of Parker’s face. Funny thing was, Parker still didn’t believe it was real at first. Thought it was a latex fake from a joke shop, even though it did seem to be wearing his engagement ring. But then he twisted his head for a better look at his hand. Tried to wiggle his fingers. Found that all but one of them obeyed. The other was just a blood-soaked stump.
Which is when realisation hammered home, and he let the screams out.
He has come to the acceptance now that someone will die in this room. It is kill or be killed. One chance – that’s all he needs. One opportunity to get his hands on that son of a bitch. He will do whatever it takes. Strangle him, batter his brains out, push his thumbs into the bastard’s eye sockets – whatever.
But, other than that, he has no plan. Franklin is careful. He has never untied Parker’s limbs. Parker doesn’t know what he can possibly do to alter that. Reasoning with him doesn’t work, and neither does pleading or demanding. Franklin simply ignores anything he doesn’t want to hear.
A light goes on. Franklin appears at the bed. He removes Parker’s earphones and gag. Parker tries to find some saliva in his dried-up mouth. It crosses his mind to spit it out at Franklin, but he knows that will only make things worse for him.
Franklin sits on the bed.
He says, ‘Love is difficult, don’t you think?’
Parker blinks. So bright in here. Then he frowns. He doesn’t understand the question.
‘I mean,’ Franklin continues, ‘you’d think it would be easy. Everyone wants to be in love, don’t they? To cherish and to be cherished in return. That should be easy to set up, no matter who you are. And yet it remains elusive for so many people. Why is that?’
Give him a thought-out answer, Parker thinks. If he believes he can learn from me, maybe he’ll go easy.
‘Love requires complete trust. When that trust breaks down it can destroy a person. Sometimes it’s easier not to take the risk. Safer.’
Franklin thinks about it. ‘Yes, I think you’re right. But love is such a powerful, positive emotion. We all need love. The world would be a lot nicer if it contained more of it.’
Yeah, because cutting off fingers is one way of adding love to the world.
‘You can’t force it on people.’
‘No, but you can encourage it. You can make people realise what they’re missing.’
‘Right now, I’m missing a finger, thanks to you.’
‘Yes, how is that?’
‘Painful. I need to go to hospital. It will get infected if I don’t. Please.’
‘You’ll be fine. The body has amazing healing properties. Besides, I need you here. We have to work together on this if we’re to convince Megan to come back to you.’
‘You know they’ll be searching for me now, don’t you? The police, I mean. They’ll find me.’
The notion doesn’t faze Franklin. ‘You’re right. Time is of the essence. We must press on with our plan.’
Parker doesn’t like the sound of this. ‘Press on? What do you mean?’
Franklin gestures towards the head of the bed. ‘The finger wasn’t enough. Yes, I know it’s causing you pain, but it’s not exactly life-threatening. We need to up the ante now. And if this doesn’t work… well, I’m not sure anything will.’
The message is as clear as it could possibly be. More suffering is on its way. Damage far more extensive than a mere finger. Parker feels panic welling up in him.
‘If what doesn’t work? What are you going to do to me?’
Franklin doesn’t answer. Instead, he picks up the material he uses as a gag.
‘No, please. Let me speak. You don’t have to do this. Please!’
But Franklin brings the cloth towards Parker’s mouth, and Parker knows that if he is silenced then it is all over for him.
‘HELP!’ Parker yells. ‘SOMEBODY HELP ME!’
He struggles and bucks and twists and turns, but his room for manoeuvre is so tight and Franklin is so strong, and then his cries turn to muffled grunts as the soft ball of material is forced deep into his mouth, filling it and threatening to choke him.
And then the music is brought back to him as the earbuds are inserted and taped into place. Those damn songs! Words of love and beauty and happiness. So inappropriate for this moment.
