22. Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Two
Athena
I don’t know what day it is at this point, but with a clearer head, I do feel less helpless than before. The small ball of hope inside me that was clinging on for dear life has been given a boost.
A doctor was with me when I woke up late last night, checking my wounds, and he gave me a drip of some kind that has somewhat given me back my energy. I still ache all over, though. Thankfully, I’ve been left alone since then, giving me time to recover and feel slightly more human.
The mattress in this tiny box-room is hard, but it’s better than a stone floor and I even have a couple of sheets. Other than the mattress, empty dresser, and mirror, the room is sparse, much like the one Mrs. Grouse prepared me in wherever we were before, and there’s a small window without a blind or curtain.
Going from the cold stone floor of what I assumed was a basement to this is an upgrade for sure. Plus, the fact that a doctor came to see me says they were concerned about my health and still don’t actually want me to die… yet. But why?
And what did Mistress mean about where I came from?
It’s all a little confusing. What’s not confusing is the feeling I have in my gut. Master was angry before I passed out, real angry, but this new location makes me smile for all the reasons. It smells different here, more dusty, unused, but it’s the scenery outside that confirms I’m somewhere new.
I really tried to believe Bear when he told me he’d protect me, but before now I couldn’t see how that was possible and I was ready to give up on the fact that I’d ever see him again. The Master’s reaction to my little “vacation” as he called it, tells me Bear has found a way.
I won’t accept another explanation for it.
It has to be him.
Hope blooms in my chest and almost brings me to tears at the thought of seeing him again, but I won’t let the tears fall yet. I’m determined to stay strong, just like Bear would want. It’s not like I haven’t already lived twenty-eight years in servitude and survived. I managed to escape once before, I just need to build up the determination to do it again.
Losing the will to live just won’t cut it, as much as that would be the easy option.
I may not know everything about the way the world really works or about how real people can be, but I can learn. I will learn.
If Forrest Gump can do it, I certainly can. That man had a determination to go for what he wanted unapologetically, and despite the pitfalls he had and the tragedies he faced, he kept on keeping on.
Looking around the room, I sigh, then the mirror attached to the dresser gives me an idea, but I need to figure out my surroundings first. I’m hopeful, not stupid.
“Slave!” Master’s voice booms loudly right before the door slams open and I flinch backward on the bed before pulling on my training and giving my best calm facade. “You don’t look half dead anymore. Perfect.” He snaps his fingers. “Get.”
Like the good little slave I am, I do exactly as I’m told and I stand from the bed before dropping to my knees in front of him. This was near impossible with the state I was in before. It’s not exactly comfortable now, but the feeling of utter despair has dissipated. I’ll endure what I need to, to survive.
He rumbles, deep in his throat, a sound of pure satisfaction. I suppress a shiver and keep my eyes on his shiny brown shoes, trying desperately to block out what I know is coming. That noise is always a sure sign of it.
I can get through this. I’ve done it before.
I’ll do it again.
But this time, instead of blindly running into the world with nothing… I have everything.
I have Bear.
I ignore the sound of his zipper sliding down. I ignore the musky smell that envelopes him.
My eyes remain closed, my head bowed to the floor, and my breathing is as steady as it’s ever going to be in this situation.
The thud of his penis as he slaps it across my cheek makes me flinch and he laughs, a cruel sound that no longer penetrates my bones.
“Open your dirty fucking mouth.”
This would be an ideal time to try and escape again. I could really hurt him. Kill him even. I did it to the guard who tricked me into trusting him, into believing that he would help me escape, only to try and rape me like everyone else who passed through Master’s house.
But I don’t know enough about where I am, where the exits are, the security. It’s a lot, and I’m not ready. I steel my spine and take a deep breath, tears springing to my eyes as I bring my head up and swallow, hard.
“That’s it. Cry for me, cunt.”
Gripping my chin, he thrusts himself forward, his fat penis hitting the back of my throat and making me gag. The tears spill from my eyes now, and with every stab of his length into my mouth they fall harder. I can feel the streaks all the way to my chin, my neck, then they begin to drip onto my knees.
“You fucking disgust me. Crying over a cock in your mouth.” His thrusts get harder as he sets an almost bruising pace, his grip on my chin holding me firmly. His breathing gets heavier and he moans his pleasure with short grunts. “Fucking take it. Don’t you dare spit me out.”
I will get out of here. I will.
With one final thrust, the sounds from him make me gag for a whole other reason right before spurts of his cum hit the back of my throat. It takes everything I have not to vomit all over him, instead allowing it to go down and imagining it’s not what it actually is.
I cough, choking on his cum when he doesn’t immediately pull out.
“Ungrateful little bitch.”
My head whips to the side right after he removes his penis and slaps my cheek. It only makes me choke more and he laughs again.
“Follow me.”
My knees are weak as I stand and he turns so quickly I don’t have time to get out of the way before he kicks my stomach, making me cry out on instinct.
“On your fucking knees. Crawl, Slave.”
The tears are free flowing now and I’m unable to stop them because, as much as I have the hope Bear will save me, the doubt is beginning to trickle in again.
Why is this my life? Why do I have to fight so hard for a small piece of happiness?
It’s not fair.
Then I remember Paxton and his mom, and the other ladies at Maribel’s home. They all made it. Like I did, I suppose, but they get to keep their freedom. Knowing they get to have their happy spurs me on to push aside the despair once again—though, it’ll never disappear, not while I’m with Master.
I follow him on my hands and knees, wearing nothing but thin straps of black fabric covering absolutely nothing useful. The cream carpet is old, and rough against my skin, but I ignore it, instead focusing on my surroundings.
We’re in a long hall with three doors to other rooms, not including mine, and one set of stairs going down—not easy on my hands and knees, but I go down feet and knees first rather than head-first because I’m not about killing myself here. Once downstairs, I note where the front door is and follow him through a kitchen, then into what looks to be an unused garage with a concrete floor and cinder block walls. It’s cold, my hands and knees on the ground soaking it all up and making me shiver. I breathe deep to try and control it, but as with everything in my life, it’s not easy.
Two other men are in here, both wearing expensive looking suits and scowls on their faces.
“It’s about time, Grouse. What took you so long?” The one that speaks first has a dark, thin mustache and a poor attempt at a goatee beard. He eyes me with disdain before bringing his attention back to Master.
I’ve seen him at events in the past, but he usually has his own slave with him and leaves me alone.
“I was making use of my slave while I still have her.” The low chuckle from Master is more disturbing than his words.
“Well, you have no need to worry about those consequences anymore because that assassin got Mr. Vale about six months ago. Apparently, word hadn’t trickled down to our level yet, but it makes things easier.” Mustache guy speaks again, a huge, silent man standing sentinel right beside him.
Over the years, I’ve seen enough of these men to know their place in our world.
“Interesting. You know my wife favors her, though, so we should keep her around for a little longer, until I can procure a replacement.” Master chuckles, low and slow, dragging his eyes up and down my curled up body. “I assume you had something in mind seeing as we’re here and not fucking her somewhere more comfortable… for us.” They all laugh at his non-joke, even the silent guy, and it sends shivers up my spine.
“Yeah, your wife is fucked in the head, but I figured we’d drag this shit out. She was gone for what? A week?” Mustache guy begins flipping the lid of a Zippo lighter open, closed, open, closed…
“Give or take a few days. My wife has the exact information. She counted the days without her living doll and it was a fucking nightmare.” Master shakes his head in frustration.
“You need to get your fucking wife on the same page, Grouse. She’ll have no choice but to pick a new one as soon as this fucking lockdown on sales lifts. That assassin has been causing problems.” One more flip of the Zippo lid, then Mustache guy huffs, shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts, and lets the flame burn. “Anyway, it’s time we teach this little cunt a lesson.”