Lost Souls

It was raining outside, all I could smell was the smell of musty old cloth which was tied around my mouth. My eyes were covered by an old wet cloth, possibly due to the rain or I hoped it was the rain that wet it.

The smell of sweat filled the room with heavy breathing bodies standing so close to me I could feel the heat radiating off their bodies.

"She's a pretty one", I heard one of them snarl. The others laughed at his mockery.

The door opened, and banged shut, I felt everyone around me stiffen and become attentive.

Their boss was here.

"Leave the room you. Right now." His deep voice was so calm, almost too calm . I could feel the wrath. If only I knew why the fuck I was at this damned place.

I heard an organized sound of footsteps and the door finally closed.

The cloth was removed simultaneously from both my eyes and my mouth, and for a minute my eyes were adjusting to the surroundings and the dim light which illuminated it.

I saw a pair of dark eyes staring at me, they were almost a peaceful dark, a kind of dark in which one could get lost. Like a ocean under the night sky, beckoning brave sailors to surrender their lives under the guise of chess, but every time the sea takes their life.

" So Ms. Smith, where is the emerald. "He asked me.

"What fucking emerald." I retorted.

"The one which you stole." He said in that same calm voice.

"I don't know what you are talking about." I answered.

He ran a hand through his black hair. A look of frustration wrinkled his eyebrows, with one hand in his hair, he took out his phone and sent someone a text.

"Perhaps, a more persuasive method should be used on you." He said in a threatening tone.

I am getting scared now, but this man in front of me isn't able to believe that I have not stolen anything, heck I didn't even know there was something like an emerald in whatever mob or cult this man is in, I don't even know who this man is, let alone know his intentions or why he was after me, I had a lot of questions to ask him, but I didn't know how to.

let's see if curiosity kills this cat.

"why am I even here?" I questioned the pillar of a man standing in front of me.

"you ask yourself that." he said without even looking at me.

"I wish I could. But honestly sir, I do not know why on earth would you need me. I am just an artist with no criminal background neither any associations with any cult, clan or mob. With all due respect, I would really appreciate if you left me alone, so that I could continue my business and you, yours and would leave this all behind. otherwise, I would have no choice but to complain to the police about this." I said with utmost sincerity.

"the police?" He sounded scared.

"yes mister, IF you don't leave me at once." I said with determination.

"Oh my lord, I am so sorry ma'am, I won't disturb you ever again."

The police trick worked? and that too so quick, that means that this man is probably a part of a small cult or clan, full of law abiding people.

Just then, a police officer entered. Perfect timing officer, my heart shouted out.

"Hands up!" the police officer exclaimed, taking out a gun.

I had assumed the police officer had probably fulfilled his duty tracking down whatever criminal under base this was. until I heard the most EVIL laugh I have ever heard.

"tut, tut, tut.." he made a sound of pity through clenched teeth.

A wave of horror swept up through my spine. Maybe the curiosity is finally going to kill the cat.

" Miss the man standing in front of you is THE don of the English Mob, Mr. James Howard." He said with a smirk.

The police officer and the don shook hands. exchanging greetings, they both turned to me.

In pure Iris fashion I blurted out my first thoughts to this stranger. "I didn't even know something like the English Mob existed."

'Hudson, leave the room with Miss Smith and I talk." He said.

"Look I didn't wanna hurt your feelings or whatever ,(if he even has feelings) but I really REALLY do not know anything about an emerald." I said.

He looked at me like I was a lost child amidst a carnival looking for my parents.

A phone rang, it sounded more like a satellite phone, but I wonder why I knew the sound of a satellite phone, I have never ever even used a satellite phone. As soon as he heard the phone he went outside leaving me alone with my thoughts.

There was a lot on my mind, how have I gotten myself involved in something so inconceivable? How and why are these people looking for this said emerald and, what importance can it bring to them? Money? No.. no that can't be, for them being the English Mob an emerald's value is peanuts to them. I wonder what else it could mean..?

My thoughts were interrupted as the door opened.