Page 23 of Checks & Bonds

I paused at the threshold, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness within. The interior was even more desolate than I'd imagined. Dust particles floated in beams of moonlight streaming through cracks in the roof. Rusted farm equipment lay abandoned in one corner, covered in cobwebs that glistened like silver threads.

My footsteps echoed hollowly on the wooden floorboards as I ventured deeper inside. The air was musty and stale, carrying faint whispers of long-forgotten memories and laughter. Every creak and groan of the old barn seemed amplified in the stillness.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, using its weak flashlight to illuminate my path. Shadows danced erratically across broken beams and piles of debris. Despite knowing it should be empty, I couldn't shake the feeling that eyes were watching me from every dark corner.

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I moved further inside. Each step echoed like a heartbeat in this forgotten place.

I walked towards the door, heart pounding in my chest. The large wooden door loomed ahead, intimidating and resolute. I reached out, grasping the cold metal handle, and tried to turn it. It didn’t budge.

Before I could try again, a small sliding door within the larger one snapped open, revealing nothing but darkness beyond.

“Card,” a muffled voice demanded from the other side.

I fumbled in my pocket for the black card and held it up. A gloved hand reached out from the darkness, snatching it from my grasp.

“And are you here of your own volition?” the voice asked, its tone flat and emotionless.

“I—I am,” I stammered, my voice trembling. Clearing my throat, I tried to steady myself. “I am.”

There was a moment of silence. Then, without warning, strong arms grabbed me from behind. A blindfold was slipped over my eyes before I could react.

“Shhhhh.” Lips were close to my ear, their breath warm against my skin. “You’re okay. You’re here now. Come on.”

The stranger’s grip tightened slightly as he began to lead me forward. My feet shuffled on the uneven ground as I followed blindly, my senses heightened in the darkness. The scent of old wood and dust filled my nostrils as we moved deeper into the barn.

Each step felt like an eternity as we navigated through the space. The air grew colder with every stride, and the sounds of distant whispers echoed around us. I had no idea where I was being taken or what awaited me at the end of this journey.

There was no turning back now.

The moment we stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. I could tell because someone whispered, "Watch your step." Despite the warning, my foot caught on an uneven plank, sending me stumbling forward.

A strong arm wrapped around my waist, steadying me. The man chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that vibrated through his chest and into my back. "It's like you're trying to win my favor," he murmured in a low voice. "I must say, it's working."

I swallowed hard, the reality of the situation settling like a stone in my stomach. This voice wasn't Henry's. Henry had warned me about these people, about the cruelty they were capable of. Was this man one of them? Would belonging to him be dangerous?

I didn't know.

He guided me further into the barn, his grip firm but not painful. "No one is allowed to see where these meetingstake place," he explained. "Once we're in the waiting room, I'll remove the blindfold. Although..." He paused, and I could almost feel his smirk. "Perhaps I'll save it for later. After the ceremony, hmm? You must be claimed first. What an intriguing way to do it."

"Claimed?" The word tasted foreign to my tongue.

"You'll be wearing your master's initials on you somewhere," he said casually.

"Like a tattoo?" My voice sounded small and unsure.

"Like whatever he wants," he replied with a tone that suggested endless possibilities.

The implications hung heavy in the air as we continued walking. Each step echoed in the cavernous space of the barn, and I couldn't help but feel like I was walking deeper into a trap from which there might be no escape.

"I will admit," he continued, his voice oozing with amusement, "the last person I expected to see here was Henry Mathers's fiancée."

My throat tightened as I swallowed hard. I hadn't realized I'd be recognized so quickly.

"I wonder if he'll claim you," he mused, his tone thoughtful yet taunting. "Did he put you up to this? Or is this your way of rebelling in some way? Either way, I'm intrigued."

His hand slid from my back to cup my ass. My body reacted before my mind could catch up, jerking away from him.

He laughed, a sound that sent chills down my spine. "Once I claim you, you won't be allowed to tell me no," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You know this, right? And not even Henry can intervene, or it would risk his membership here. And we all know Henry is the best at following the rules."

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