Reckoning

I stepped out of my car and onto the driveway, my heart racing with a mix of emotions. It was a weekday, and I had made sure that Marcus was at work, distracted by his daily routine. The plan was to sneak into his house and gather some information, but as I approached the door, I wasn't sure what I was expecting to find. I knocked on the door, and after a moment, it swung open. Jia stood before me, her hair disheveled and her eyes half-lidded. She was wearing a silk robe, but it was open, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her bare skin underneath. I felt a jolt of desire, but I pushed it aside, focusing on my mission. "Jia," I said, my voice low and urgent. "We need to talk." She looked at me, her expression blank, and for a moment, I wondered if she even recognized me. But then, something flickered in her eyes, and she took a step back, allowing me to push past her into the house. I dragged her into the bedroom, my hands rough as I pulled her towards the bed. She didn't resist, just went with me, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and confusion. I threw her onto the bed and quickly tied her wrists and ankles with the rope I had brought with me. "Jia, listen to me," I said, my voice firm. "I need to know what's going on. How much do you remember about us? About our time together?" Jia looked at me, her eyes searching, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of the person she used to be. "I...I remember things," she said, her voice hesitant. "Fragments. But it's all fuzzy. What happened to me?" I took a deep breath, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Marcus," I said. "He used magic on you. He's been manipulating you, controlling you. But I need to know more. Where is his magical artifact? The one he's been using to control you?" Jia's eyes went wide, and she shook her head. "I don't know," she said, her voice shaking. "I swear, I don't know. He's been keeping it from me, hiding it away. But...but I think I might have seen it once. In his study. There was a box, a small box with a strange symbol on it." I leaned in, my eyes locked on hers. "What symbol?" I pressed. Jia closed her eyes, concentrating. "It was...a circle with an arrow through it. I don't know what it means, but I remember it." I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. This was a start, at least. I could try to find the box, to get to the artifact and break Marcus's hold on Jia. But as I looked at Jia, tied to the bed, her eyes closed and her body trembling, I felt a pang of guilt. What was I doing? Was I really just trying to save her, or was I trying to reclaim her for myself? I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. I had to get to the bottom of this, no matter what it took.