The Eye
"It's chaos out there," The Eye said to Taylor. "Without The Spider, they don't know what to do with themselves. They divide and subdivide. Bring in new leaders - some will succeed, the rest will fail. Moreso go rogue. Like an ant colony when the queen dies."
He turned from the window and looked at Taylor. Taylor, who was healthy, and chained, not tied up.
"This is how much control the Spider had. And as for those demons and other magic people - don't be deceived. If any of them had wished it, the Spider would have died a long time ago. He struck deals with their masters and gave tham all incentives to let him live and obey his word. but he never once showed them he was afraid. Never once gave them the idea that he was scared. There is only so far his level of telepathy could go."
He walked into the kitchen.
"Would you like something to eat, Taylor?" he asked, fixing himself a sandwich.
Taylor
Taylor looked up for the first time in a long time. He'd hardly been listening to a word the man had said - he'd been going on long enough.
The days had gone by so slow, he didn't even know how long he'd been away. He guessed his birthday had passed anyhow.
"Yeah," he murmured, not willing to utter another word.
He wanted to know a lot of things... how long he'd been there, how long he'd be kept there, what happened to his sister, what was going to happen to him, the usual. But recent experiences had taught him to keep him mouth shut unless asked.
The Eye
The man made a sandwich for Taylor too, and gave it to him. There was silence for a time.
"It's a pest, living like this," The Eye observed. "But it's good to live solo. Surviving on your own wits. No one to watch out for. No one to watch out for you."
He paused.
"I'm only keeping you with me as a favour. I would rather be... getting on with my life as it were," he chuckled. "Still, it bothers me to see you chained like this. Why, if anyone saw you like this, they'd probably get the wrong idea and think I was using you for sexual purposes. That's what they always think. These humans and their dirty minds. It wouldn't occur to them I'm keeping you out of sight to that Christian can take your place. Besides, I much prefer women."
The Eye considered for a moment.
"I shall unchain you and you may move... freely around this apartment. But remember, once false move and I'll know it. And you'll suffer for it. I don't think I need to convince you of that!"
Taylor
Taylor gulped, his gaze still at the floor.
The Eye had told him of the Spider and Christian's plan... for Christian to take his place... just a few days before. Of course he'd lost it and been punished for it, leaving him almost mute for the past few days.
He shook his head in response to what the Eye had said. His wrists were still hurting from not only the rope burns but now the harshness of the chains. Being able to walk free for even a little while would probably do him good - not that he planned to move that far.
That was if the Eye wasn't just teasing him about it.
The Eye
"Good."
The Eye took out the key and unlocked the chains.
"When you have your strength back I expect you to do your bit around the house. See? I am not a complete monster. I could make you start now."
He ate the rest of his sandwich.
"Back to sqaure one," he said. "Making life interesting."
Taylor
Taylor just held his wrists without looking the man in the eye.
The news didn't surprise him, that he'd have to do things for him. He'd have to pay his way somehow.