A bell sounded outside the room and Madam Cree stepped over to the large window before exiting the room quickly.
Josh watched her, suddenly certain Anson could very well test Josh's ability to withstand pain. "What am I to do here, then?" he eventually asked.
Anson had leaned back and resumed half sitting on his desk. "Your meaning?"
"If," Josh said, "I'm going to break my promise to the grandparents of those children and if I can't leave, then what am I supposed to do here in this town?" Servitude entered his mind but Josh doubted Anson engaged in such practices despit his more sadistic proclivities.
The store owner thought on the question. "You're free to do whatever you want--to a point, of course. The town has plenty of opportunities. It does not collect prisoners, but it does force its citizens to adjust to a new life. You'll learn the boundaries of what you can do and where you can go. In time."
"Are you... are you saying that even if I did find the kids, I'd be stuck here and unable to return them to their home?"
Anson winked at Josh. "The light in your mind doesn't flicker, does it? I'll see about finding you a place to stay. The town realtor should have some rooms available. Recent deaths always free up space." He turned to write something on a pad of paper. "Ah, yes, I nearly forgot."
Josh did not see the booted foot of the man coming as it slammed into his chest, sending him backwards onto the floor with a crash. More kicks followed as the blows cracked Josh's ribs despite his efforts to protect himself with his arms. Anson's hot breath pressed into Josh's face as he wheezed for air; the pain of the strikes spread quickly and harshly.
"You brought with you too many questions, stray." Whatever charm and calmness had been in Anson's voice earlier were nowhere to be heard now. Vehement anger clung to each word now. "Your presence has stirred the interest of too many of my people. This town requires a level of control you cannot begin to understand. Find your place quickly, acclimate, and steer clear of my notice. I'll cut away at you little by little if I get an inkling that you are putting your nose into places it should not be. Understood?" He grabbed Josh's face, turning his eyes to look into the black pits of Anson's own. "Acknowledge me, you wayward piece of shit. Yes? Nod. Good."
Josh let himself lay on the floor once Anson stood and stepped away. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he agonized for breaths that burned his lungs. The pain had come on so quickly, he felt as if he would vomit. He swallowed back the bile at the back of his throat, believing Anson would punish him further for getting sick all over his floor.
The door opened and Madam Cree entered. "Your attention is needed."
"What is it? Never mind," Anson said with a wave of his hand. "Have Saul take this trash to Sylvy's. I'm finished with him."
Josh barely noticed when someone--must be Saul--with large hands and a thick-muscled frame hefted him up and carried him down the stairs. The store spun around him until he was back outside in the parking lot, the wind still blowing but at least the dust had settled. His face slid along the back leather seat of a car and off he went with Saul who drove in silence.
The drive seemed to take hours before he was back out of the car and being carried to the back of another building. Saul knocked on a door; it opened with a creak. No regard for Josh's injuries were taken as he was dropped in the open doorway.
"Damn," came a woman's voice.
Josh tried to focus and found a woman with red hair looking down on him. His eyes barely noticed her face as he saw the bloody apron worn over her clothes.
Wow...looks like there's more for Josh to endure...good read