Bayonetta's Abuse X - The Ties That Bind

Story by James Bondage

The past catches up with us all, eventually... And we must all decide if we're bound by it.

Bayonetta's Abuse X – The Ties That Bind

*knock knock knock*

James awoke to three courtesy taps on the door followed by a key-card lock releasing. The door opened and two men entered. James pulled himself up into a sitting position, leaning against the upright portion of the hospital style bed he'd spent the night in.

There were some pieces of medical equipment to his right and left that had been used to check his condition when he first arrived, but the room didn't look like it belonged in a hospital otherwise. There were chairs, couches and tables with magazines on the other side of the room, a private bathroom and a small kitchen area to the side. As detention areas went, it was quite nice. The only disconcerting feature was the total lack of windows.

They had blind folded James for the last fifteen minutes of the journey to wherever he was now. He had yet to meet the young woman he spoke to on the phone or anyone of prominence in the Lumen organization, but it looked like that was about to change.

Upon arriving on the premises and being brought to this room, the armed men who had taken him into custody had told him to remove his gimp suit, shower and change into fresh clothes at his leisure. They also instructed him to eat and drink what he wanted and that he would be debriefed the next day.

As James watched the two strange new figures stride into the room, he couldn't decide if he felt more like a patient or a prisoner.

The first man was striking; tall and well toned with a helmet of curly golden hair. His intense green eyes suggested that he was all business; a man of purpose who didn't suffer fools gladly. He wore a flowing white robe with golden shoulder pieces and metal clasps that proceeded in a line down the center of his chest and torso.

His white pants terminated in white leather boots. A yellow and gold emblem depicting the sun was embroidered on the upper right quadrant of his chest. The man carried himself with an air of dignity; having the poise of an older man despite his still youthful features. His hands were clasped behind his back.

The second man was shorter and much more bulky; his musculature evident through his black business suit and white collared shirt. He wore conventional dress shoes and was carrying a briefcase and what appeared to be a laptop bag. A pair of shades covered his eyes and a golden sun emblem was pinned to his lapel.

The two figures stopped as they neared the end of the bed. The tall man scanned James up and down briefly before his eyes drifted to the side and he observed the collar, leash and gimp suit lying over the back of a chair. His eyes returned to James and although he did his best to hide it, a glimmer of annoyance and disgust was apparent in his piercing eyes and tightening jawline.

“Hello James. I am Father Olvey and this is Vicar Haydn” he said gesturing to his well built companion. “We've met once before, but I suspect you don't remember that?”

“No” James replied, folding his arms over his chest. The shirt and shorts he'd been given were plain white, save for the sun symbol on the upper right of his chest.

“As I thought...” Father Olvey reached for a chair and pulled it to the end of the bed; his assistant following suit. “Please bear with us. There's a lot to explain.”

James nodded as they took their seats and Haydn set down the things he was carrying.

“I'm sure this all seems very incredible to you” Olvey continued. “Not just where you find yourself now but some of the things you've seen over the last... well, it's been almost a year since you left us.”

“You could say that” James replied dryly, his patience barely containing an outburst demanding to know what the fuck they'd done to him.

“We're very interested to hear about those things that you've seen, but I fully realize you'll want to see some good faith from us before any details will be forthcoming.”

Father Olvey leaned forward slightly, his elbows leaning onto the arm rests and his hands folding into an arch below his chin.

“When we send people on missions such as the one you've undertaken, operational security is paramount. So we use young men like yourself. Initiates who haven't been with us long, who don't know any secrets and who don't have as much history that needs to be obscured.”

“What was the mission, exactly?” James interjected.

“Oh come now! You're a smart lad. You must have figured that out by now. Haydn, confirm his suspicions.”

The strong man spoke for the first time. “To infiltrate the Umbra, as much as any man can. To uncover what you could about them and their plans. To discover their base of operations in this region.”

“And if I never learned any of that? What then?”

“There was a kill-switch in your me

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