Page 109 of Pure Silence

Goldie tensed when he heard voices—in the house? Outside in the yard? They were a bit muffled, and he couldn’t tell for sure. With all the soundproofing foam in place, he thought it was reasonable to assume they were inside the house somewhere.

He tried sitting, fighting the spin as he pulled himself up. He leaned against the back of the couch and tried to catch his breath. The floor was icy cold on his bare feet, and he wished like hell he’d put on socks.

What the fuck had happened?

He remembered him and Day getting up together. No, that wasn’t right. Day got up first and went to make breakfast. Goldie got up and was doing something, something in the bathroom, and then he was attacked when he opened the door.

It was that bastard from the parking lot.

They had to get the fuck out of here.

“Day?” Goldie asked, whispering urgently. “Baby? Can you hear me?”

Day twitched, but he did not respond.

Goldie realized in horror that Day didn’t have his headphones on. It was quiet in here, yes, but if Goldie could hear the men talking, that meant Day could too. Day was likely being overwhelmed by his auditory hallucinations or whatever the fuck it was that he heard around anyone who wasn’t Goldie, and he had to think of something fast to try and snap him out of it.

“Hey, hey,” Goldie pleaded, “listen to me. Hey, baby. Don’t listen to those assholes. Just try listening to me, okay? Can you hear me?”

Day lifted his head, revealing the bloody mess that was his face.

“Oh, fuck,” Goldie gasped. “Day…”

Day’s lower lip was split and crusted with blood, and there was bruising around his eyes and jaw. There was a large cut above his eyebrow, the likely source for the blood smeared across his face. He clearly had not been taken without a fight, and the very sight of his injuries filled Goldie with an unspeakable rage.

“Baby,” Goldie said firmly, trying to keep his voice as calm as he could, “listen to me.”

“I… I’m trying.” Day sighed miserably. He looked like he was going to pass out, and his brow scrunched up as if he was in pain. “They’re so… they’re just so loud.”

“Keep listening to me,” Goldie said. “You know me. I’m your angel. Your husband in flesh, right? I’m right here, baby. I’m right here.”

Day shook his head.

“I’m Lord Commander and Prince Starax,” Goldie tried, projecting his tone dramatically. “Savior of the Seven Galaxies and the Milky Way, Captain of the S.S. Spaceship Serenity. I am here to commandeer your ship’s fine booty, and then after that I want your treasure too.” He held his breath, waiting to see if the quote worked any better. “Did you hear me?”

Day’s vision cleared a little, and he nodded. “I hear you. Yes, I hear you now.”

Goldie attempted to keep the same dramatic tone, asking quickly, “Do you know what happened here? Why were we taken?”

“The money.” Day’s head dipped again. “You were right. Father was right. I… I messed up.”

“What are you talking about, baby?”

“They’re mad.” Day laughed suddenly. He might have been crying. Maybe it was a mix of both. “Oh, they’re so very mad at me.”

“What did you tell them?” Goldie asked.

“Nothing.” Day smiled sadly. “I’ve told them nothing. Nothing except my favorite prayers, Father’s favorite prayers, and oh, other prayers. Every prayer.” He laughed. “But they know. They already know.” He cringed as the voices got closer. “They’re coming back.”

There were creaks in the ceiling above them, and Goldie realized their captors were upstairs. He tensed, turning to face the stairway as they descended.

The tall man and the shorter one from the parking lot were here, and they were dragging something with them wrapped in a sheet. The sheet was horribly stained, and they were laughing, cracking comments about the smell. There was a third man with them. He was about the same height as the tall man, but he was dressed in a sharp suit and a wool peacoat.

The man in the suit flashed a nasty smile as he greeted them. “Ah, hello. I see you’re both awake. Warm enough?”

The other men laughed.

“The fuck do you want?” Goldie demanded.