Into Another World - Sean's Story 2

Into Another World - Sean's Story

Part 2

Posted: December 30, 2005
Title: Into Another World - Sean's Story
Author: Ian Howe

*****

His senses returned slowly, one by one.

Hearing. Noise roaring in his ears. Soft whispering. Footsteps. Trickling of water...

Sight. Although he squeezed his eyes shut, the light hurt...

Touch. Wherever he was, it did not feel like his bed at home, but he did not care to inquire. That would involve opening his eyes to the blinding brightness...

Smell. Something sweet and - nauseous...

Balance. The ground was shaking. Yep. Increasingly so. His stomach lurched and he knew he would be sick...

His attempt to get up faltered when white-hot pain exploded in his head. He dimly registered that his shoulders were caught and held by firm hands, then his mind went blank as his body convulsed and he threw up his guts over and over...

When the heaving finally abated, he was gently laid back on the bed - or whatever it was. Someone wiped his face with a cool cloth and it felt good. He whimpered when the cloth was removed, and stilled when it was returned and put on his aching forehead.

He vaguely remembered he should thank the person but drifted out of consciousness before he could do so.

When he awoke the next time his head still hurt. He groaned and squinted his eyes, trying to make out his surroundings.

The murmuring in the background stopped. Footsteps approached him; a voice: "He's coming to."

Sean tried to sit up, but he was interrupted by a hand on his chest that pushed him down gently, but firmly. The same voice as before said, "Take it easy, lad."

He finally managed to fully open his eyes, although he was still sensitive to the light. His gaze was returned by an older man with laugh lines around his eyes that hinted at humour. In this moment, however, the look he gave Sean was concerned.

A second man entered Sean's field of vision. This man had dark hair and an equally concerned look on his face. He carried a tray and addressed Sean, "It was about time you woke up, young man. You had us worried."

Seeing Sean's confusion, the first man spoke again and introduced himself as Ian, and the other man as Hugo. Then he left Sean's side to make room for Hugo.

Sean bit his lower lip and looked from one to the other nervously. "I don't understand. What happened? Where am I?"

Whatever this place was, it was nothing like he'd ever seen before. They were in a spacious room with white walls and huge windows. The light appeared to be brighter than he'd expect it in England. He heard water running, as if it were coming from a fountain, and a mild, fragrant smell filled the air.

He was lying on a bed, covered with silken sheets, and he had the growing suspicion that he was naked underneath the silk. If not for his head, which was pounding in a nasty, yet very realistic pain, he'd have shrugged the whole scene off as a surreal dream.

The dark man bent over him and studied his widely enlarged pupils, before instructing his - colleague? - "Lower the shades, Ian; he is still suffering from the aftereffects of the drug."

Thankful for the decreased intensity of the light, Sean relaxed somewhat, but not for long. He flinched when Hugo reached for his wrist and calmed again when he noticed that the other man was merely taking his pulse.

Meanwhile, Ian had circled the room and come to the other side of the bed. He sat down and gave Sean a look that was meant to reassure the younger man. "I'm afraid that this may come as a bit of a surprise to you, but you are currently a guest of Sheik Urban at his oasis."

Sean stared at him in shock. "Wha- whaddaya mean - Sheik Urban's oasis? How did I get there? And why?" Again, he tried to rise, only to be pushed back by Ian's strong hands.

"We brought you here two days ago, me, Hugo, and two - friends. As to why, I think that the Sheik should explain it to you. He should arrive anytime, now that you're awake."

Glaring at Ian, Sean again struggled to get up. This time he was held back by Hugo's hands on his bare chest. The darker man gave him a stern, but not unkind look, and Ian continued, "Don't fight us, dear heart. Please, relax and wait for Sheik Urban. He won't be long."

Although he did not like it, Sean decided to wait for the Sheik. His head was throbbing and he still had a queasy feeling in his guts. It felt similar to a really bad hangover, but not quite the same. Also, Ian had said that he had arrived two days ago, yet he had no memory of that time. In fact, the last thing he remembered was stumbling through his hallway after...

Suddenly, the events of that day returned to him. He gasped at the thought of his girls, controlling himself too late to go unnoticed by the two men. Sean closed his eyes and tried to will the pain away.

Not knowing whether this reaction was of a physical or psychological nature, Ian's and Hugo's eyes met. This was not going well. The effects of the drug should have worn off a day ago, yet the blond was still dazed. Hugo reminded himself of the bottles in the younger man's house and wondered how inebriated he had really been. He must have been close to serious alcohol poisoning considering his reaction to the drug. Taking into account the amount of booze Sean was reported to be able to tolerate, this boded ill for his mental and emotional state.

Hugo gave Ian a nod and pushed the blankets further down to draw a blood sample. He tightened a tourniquet around Sean's upper arm and was not surprised to encounter resistance. Despite Ian's strong grip, the blond was putting up a remarkable fight for his weakened condition.

Sighing, Ian tried to calm their patient. "Shh, dear heart, we don't mean to hurt you. Hugo is a doctor and we only want to help you..."

His words were ignored as Sean squirmed and struggled against their hold. Hugo put the syringe aside and shook his head, "It's useless. We'll have to tie him up."

On hearing this, Sean tried even harder to escape. He had been a fierce fighter in his youth and, although he was not exactly in the best shape, he reckoned that he'd have a fair chance against these two strangers.

He managed to tear himself loose, however, before he could get up and run, he found his arms trapped in the hands of a third person. Unnoticed by anyone, Sheik Urban had entered the room, grasped the situation and reacted fast.

"It looks as if my guest has finally decided to rise," he commented in a lightly ironic voice. Then he looked at Hugo, "Please, doctor, continue."

Sean tried in vain to free himself from the iron grip, and snarled at his captor. Urban graced him with an indulgent smile and nodded at Ian to take over one of the hands. Then he forced Sean's other arm straight and let Hugo draw blood. Sean's eyes were blazing with green fire. If looks could have killed, neither man would have survived for long.

Hugo released the tourniquet. "Do you want me to tie him up?" he asked the Sheik.

"Your guest, eh?" Sean spat venomously, increasing his struggling again.
"Who the fuck do you think you are? What gives you the right to..." He had to fight for breath, his body reminding him that he was still recuperating from whatever they had drugged him with.

The Sheik looked at him amusedly. "Of course you are my guest. And as soon as I can offer you my hand without having to protect you from yourself, I will greet you properly." He paused. "Can I trust you not to attempt anything stupid if I let go?"

Sean glared at him, but gave up the fight. He was feeling truly exhausted and had no wish to let his captors know that. "Anyway, what do you want from me, why am I here?" he asked.

With a serious expression on his face the Sheik answered him. "I have followed your life for quite some time now. Your messed-up relationships. Your upcoming third divorce. The press coverage over your child's custody. Your substance abuse problem."

Sean flinched. The Sheik continued. "I got the impression of a person incapable of handling his life. It was only a matter of time before you had destroyed yourself completely. I decided to offer help."

"Help," Sean asked, incredulously, "You kidnap and drug me and call that - help!"

Urban chuckled. "Well, I did not rescue you out of altruism alone. I think that you will make a very worthy addition to my harem."

If the Sheik had expected a strong reaction to this statement, he was not disappointed.

"YOUR HAREM!" bellowed Sean, and this time the three men had to put real effort into holding him down. "You must be out of your bloody mind!" He twisted and kicked the mattress trying to free himself, and suddenly cried out when a lance of pain stabbed through his right foot.

His captors reacted fast. Hugo and Ian quickly tied Sean's hands to the bed's headrest in a pair of fleece-lined manacles, while Urban removed the silk sheet from Sean's naked body, exposing him. The blond, however, distracted by the pain in his foot, did not notice this.

"What is it?" asked the Sheik in a commanding voice.

For once, Sean did not fight him. "My foot. I must have tripped..."

Hugo had already noted the swelling and examined the injured limb by bending and rotating it. Despite his gentleness, he made Sean cry out again with the pain.

"Well?" Urban looked at Hugo.

"Looks like a bad sprain. No lasting damage, but he won't walk for a while." Hugo went to a cupboard and removed a few items. "I'll bandage it and give him something for the pain and swelling."

Sean was subdued and still panting from his exertions. He had not accepted his situation, but simply had no more resistance to give. Ian wiped the sweat from the younger man's skin.

Hugo rubbed a salve on the injured ankle and bound it tightly, interrupted only by a few moans from Sean.

He finished his task and looked up at the Sheik. "I think we can release him from the cuffs. He's not going anywhere tonight."

Sheik Urban nodded and motioned Hugo to follow him. Both men left the room.

Ian untied Sean before spreading the silk sheet and another blanket over the blond. "You should rest now. Would you like some food before you sleep?"
Sean shook his head and hesitated. Ian looked at him expectantly. Sean cleared his throat, "Can I - can I have some water, please?"

The older man smiled, helped the blond to a sitting position, and placed a cup against his lips. Sean was uncomfortably aware of Ian holding him, but he was too thirsty and tired to complain. He thanked Ian and settled against his pillows.

As soon as Ian had left the room, Sean smiled grimly to himself. Sprained ankle or not, his captors would find him gone in the morning.

*****

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