A Story For You

Tied and chained and don't know why

I struggled with the knots. There was no slack. Whoever had tied me up had done a thorough job. The small room had a musty but familiar odor. A small light filtered in from under the door up the stairs. I tried to think of how I got here. My mind was blank. All I remembered was sitting at home with a beer and in front of the TV. Nothing after that.

The door creaked and bright light illuminated my prison for a brief flash before darkness returned. Feet shuffled and a man walked down. I squinted trying to get a better view of him. The metal clamped down hard on my neck with the chain that ran from my neck to a large metal hook on the wall.

He knelt down beside me. “Are you hungry?”

The question was incongruous as that was the last thing on my mind.

“Why am I tied and chained?”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” his voice floated gently.

“Who are you?” I struggled with my hands.

“I’ve got a story for you,” he continued as if I had not spoken.

“Do you remember your dog Flame?” he asked.

I shook my head in confusion. “What?”

My dog had died many years ago. No one who had seen Flame was alive. I realized he was insane.

He smiled. “You had him locked in this very basement. And tied and chained him.”

How could he possibly know that?

“Ye..yes.,” I mumbled.

“Why?” he spat.

I had derived a certain pleasure from torturing the cur.

“I don’t know, but why have you tied me up?”

He sat down on the floor beside me.

“I am Flame.”