Hex POV
My head felt like someone had replaced my brain with a brick.
Slowly… painfully… I opened my eyes.
The first thing I noticed was the smell.
Salt.
Rust.
Oil.
The second thing I noticed was the sound.
Water dripping somewhere in the distance.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
I tried to move.
Ropes tightened around my wrists.
"…Of course."
I looked down.
Yep.
Chair.
Tied up.
Again.
I sighed.
"Seriously? People need new hobbies."
My vision slowly adjusted to the dim light around me.
Huge metal walls surrounded the room.
Shipping containers stacked everywhere.
Tall warehouse ceiling.
A large sliding door on one side.
Harbor.
Great.
That explained the salt smell.
Footsteps echoed somewhere behind me.
Slow.
Calm.
Confident.
I didn't even have to turn my head to know who it was.
Kaiser Watson
He walked into view a moment later.
Perfect suit.
Perfect posture.
Completely calm.
"Good morning."
I tilted my head slightly.
"You really like tying people to chairs."
He stopped in front of me.
"Comfortable?"
"Not really," I said. "But I've had worse mornings."
Kaiser studied me for a moment.
"You're surprisingly relaxed."
"Should I scream?"
"If you want."
I shrugged.
"Seems unnecessary."
He circled the chair slowly.
"You're not afraid."
"Sure I am."
Kaiser raised an eyebrow.
"But?"
"But you didn't kill me."
He stopped walking.
"And what does that tell you?"
"That you need something."
Silence filled the warehouse for a moment.
Then Kaiser smiled slightly.
"Interesting."
I leaned back as far as the ropes allowed.
"So what's the plan? Dramatic villain speech?"
"You're bait."
Straight to the point.
I respected that.
"For who?"
Kaiser looked directly at me.
"You already know."
Yeah.
I did.
Jay.
Luna Byte.
I sighed.
"They'll come."
"Exactly."
His smile grew slightly.
"And when they do…"
He turned and began walking toward the door.
"…this will finally end."
I watched him leave the room.
The door shut behind him with a loud metallic sound.
I sat there quietly for a moment.
Then muttered to myself.
"…Well this is going to be messy."