First Flip (continued)

I have no way of telling how long i was unconscious, but i don't think it could have been longer than an hour - i could see through the arched glass window on the rear wall that it was still dark outside and the candles in the aisle had burnt down some, a few were spent with smoldering remnants of wick and wax. Hopeless is how i felt at that exact time hurting and hopeless with the taste of dried blood in my mouth and throat, my breathing was shallow and forced i think i have several cracked ribs and my broken bloody nose makes it difficult to breath. I look up and sat on the steps that leads up into the pulpit is Shaves he is chatting to the imp like creature who then hands Shaves a small silver case about the size of a book, the imp then scampers off back down the aisle sometimes running on its rear legs but every few steps using the knuckles of it hands to aid its balance.

"Ah Tavis, awake again - good." Says Shaves he stands and walks toward me.

"Shaves why are you doing this to me?" i ask fearful that his response will be another blow to my face or body, i cringe and tense my body as he approaches. Shaves says nothing and there is no assault - so i relax a little and continue. "Why are you holding me captive and why the questions about my family there is no need for this you could find everything you need to know about their deaths just by searching for details of the accident on the internet."

Shaves has dragged a small table across and has set the silver case upon it, he is fingering the intricate scroll work that is delicately engraved into its surface. "There is no internet here boy."

"Well no problem we can go back to my place and use mine," i suggest helpfully.

He laughs - "there is no internet in the 17th century..... enough chat - time to get to the matter in hand." Shaves releases the catch to his case and flips it open so that we can both see the contents.

"So Tavis how do you want to play this, you can give me the answer i require or you can become more acquainted with my little friends in here," he allows his fingers to drop upon a scalpel that is held alongside several similar instruments within the open case.

"No," i scream as i fight against the ropes that bind me, i begin to sob.

Shaves is now holding the scalpel above my forearm. "Let me for the purpose of clarity ask you one more time. Where is your sister Lilly?"

I am frozen i cannot answer, how can i - i know that what i say is true - but the truth can only result in more pain. My eyes are fixed upon the glinting blade i struggle to think of something to say - but i can only scream as Shaves skillfully glides the cold steel across my arm removing a perfect curl of skin six inches in length. I watch in horror as the bloody pulp of flesh that is revealed wells up and blood gushes from the wound.

"Nothing to say?" Shaves asks then turns his attentions back to my the exposed muscle - he prods it with the tip of the blade, this sends a shock through my whole body so electric that i release a scream so basic so primeval that it appears to shock even Shaves.

I whimper, "believe me Shaves there is nothing i can tell you that you don't already know - i wish Lilly was alive, i wish i could tell you this, ooh how i wish i could tell you this..." i am now bawling like a baby.

Shaves backs away a little. "It once took me two days to get someone to tell me what i wanted to know, i had to shave the skin from all of his limbs and other more intimate parts but interestingly it was when i plucked his left eyeball from its socket with the hook that he cracked. i don't have much time to waste on you so lets go straight for the eyes." I watched in horror as Shaves replaced the scalpel in its place amongst the tools of his trade and then selected a length of steel that at one end had a wooden grip and the other a barbed hook.

"Oh god no - please no."

"Left or right? Shaves smirks waving the implement in front of my face and then pauses to squint and study my eyeballs. "Interesting," he says, he raises a grubby hand, his gnarled fingers extend toward my face.

I screw my eyes shut but i feel his fingers prise my eyelids apart and i can again see his ugly evil face sweating and sneering at me.

"The right one it is then.." and he pushed the hook toward my eyeball.

It was then that a look of surprise appeared upon his face and just as the barb was about to enter my pupil he backed away.

"Mc Fizzer at your service." said a voice from behind Shaves. Then Shaves crumbled to the ground revealing a stranger who was holding one end of a candle pole attached to which at the other end was Shaves. "It was the first thing i could think of to run him through with - i have no weapon, so i stuck him like a pig with this." Mc Fizzer released the candle pole and Shaves rolled over onto his face dead.