[ WP ] You show a young child a magic trick . Many years later when the child is now grown , they kidnaps you , forcing you to give up the secrets of your magic

Hudson noticed he was conscious. This was not his bed. He stretched out his fingers, feeling the joints crack. Something restricted his movement. Moving carefully, he found his hands were bound together at the wrists. Clenching his teeth, Hudson focused on keeping his breathing level. He had no idea where he was, but panicking would only make the situation worse. 
 
 Taking a few paced breaths, Hudson slowly opened his right eye. Dim yellow light filtered into what looked like a stone cellar through a narrow staircase on the opposite wall. Shelves of damp cardboard boxes were stacked up on two sides of the room, full of musty clothes and deteriorating board games. A family basement, seemingly neglected. 
 
 “ Recognize it? ” 
 
 Hudson opened his other eye, darting his gaze back and forth across the room. Movement in the far corner catching his eye, Hudson noticed a crouching figure lift its head. “ No, no, you don ’ t remember, ” said the huddled silhouette. “ I ’ m not surprised. I ’ m sure a man like you has a lot on his mind. ” 
 
 Hudson raised his head, squeezing his eyes shut to adapt to the light. He tried to move but found that his feet were similarly bound to the metal chair he was sitting on. He struggled to pull them apart. A bungee cord had been wrapped several times around both ankles. 
 
 “ Has it been a long time? I think it ’ s been a long time. So hard to tell. ” The figure rose to its feet, hunching slightly. “ It doesn ’ t feel like that long ago to me. ” 
 
 Hudson pushed down, lifting the chair a few inches into the air before falling back down. If he tried, he might be able to balance on his feet… 
 
 The figure rushed forward, thrusting a thick serrated knife out at Hudson. “ Stay there! ” 
 
 Hudson slammed the chair back against the wall. “ Okay, okay, hello there. How are we doing? ” 
 
 The figure began to run a thin pale finger up and down the knife blade. Hudson could barely make out a thin face hunched in the darkness. “ That ’ s quite a knife you got there. Getting ready for a steak dinner? ” 
 
 The figure pulled its knife suddenly back into the darkness. It stepped backward a few feet, shivering. “ He thinks we eat steak. Steak. No, we haven ’ t eaten steak in a long time. ” 
 
 Hudson paused, turning slightly to look down the shelf next to him. “ Well, speaking of steak, I think I ’ m feeling a little hungry. Maybe you could go upstairs and find me some food? ” 
 
 The figure took a staggering flurry of steps forward into the thin light, stark shadows splashing across the contours of his face. He had a coarse, unkempt beard and dark eyes that sunk into his skull. A faded blue baseball cap lay askew on his head. He paused for a moment, looking Hudson in the eye. “ Recognize me? ” 
 
 “ Oh, of course I recognize you. ” Hudson made confident eye contact. The man had a desperate look in his eyes, a craving. Hudson smiled calmly. “ I never forget a face, you know. ” Flattening his left hand, he wiggled it against his leg, feeling the cords loosen slightly. 
 
 The shadowy man jumped, shaking. He spun around in the beam of light, fumbling in the pockets of his blue hoodie, muttering to himself. Holding his knife firmly in his left hand, he stopped and held his right fist out to Hudson, opening his palm to reveal a stained quarter. 
 
 “ You see? ” the man said manically, “ I still have it! I never spent it! ” 
 
 Hudson stared at the coin. A memory rose up from the back of his mind. This same room, sixteen years ago. A birthday party his son Derek had been invited to. All the kids had just been sitting around with nothing to do, so he decided to show them a coin trick or two. He had always been good with his hands, and magic tricks were a great conversation starter. 
 
 “ You…you made this money! You made it out of thin air! ” The man pulled the coin back, cradling it in the light for a moment. 
 
 Hudson ’ s hands slipped free. 
 
 “ Now I need more, ” said the man, still gazing, enraptured with the old quarter. He clenched his fist shut. “ I ran out of money and I need more. I need more now. ” Gripping the knife tightly, he jabbed it at Hudson. “ You need to make more. ” 
 
 Hudson ’ s pulse was racing, but his thoughts were calm. He maintained eye contact, smiling warmly at the man with his eyes. “ Of course, of course. But…I need you to get something first. ” 
 
 The man nodded, as if this was a perfectly reasonable thing to say. 
 
 Hudson glanced around the room. “ Come closer. This is a secret, okay? You can ’ t tell anybody. ” 
 
 The man nodded ravenously, leaning his head down to Hudson ’ s level. His hands fell loosely at his side. 
 
 “ You need to get me… ” Hudson whispered slowly, “ something made of metal, something made of paper, and the *biggest* acorn you can find, okay? Then I can make all of the money you want. Remember that: metal, paper, acorn. Got it? ” 
 
 “ Yes. Yes. I can get it. ” The man rushed to the stairway, leaning up against the wall. He looked back, light catching in his eyes. He squinted. “ I ’ ll be right back. Very fast. ” And he was gone. 
 
 Hudson leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. He bent over and began sawing through the bungee cord around his ankles. 
 
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 If you're willing, I'd like to misdirect you over to /r/FlyingNarwhal to read some more stories!
