Page 21 of Fear and Desire

A touch on her shoulder made her jump.

“Laura?” It was Claire.

“Yeah?” she croaked.

“Here. Drink some water. It helps after you’ve been screaming for a while.”

The reality of that statement hit her hard. Claire had also done her share of screaming while here.What kind of monsters are these people?She didn’t want to examine where she placed Dan right now. It was all too fresh.

“Thanks.” She sat up enough to take a sip, and then held the cup and stared into the water.

“Is he really your friend?”

“Yes,” Laura whispered. “We’ve known each other for… for a long time. But he’d changed. I guess I know why now.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks.”

13

Dan:

WhenDanfinishedcaningLaura’s feet, he remained in place long enough to appear indifferent to her pain, and then walked with calmness through the line of delighted masters and miserable slaves back to his office. Once there, he shut the door, barely holding back the urge to slam it, mindful as always of possible listening ears. He walked over to a shelf and poured himself a drink larger than any he had consumed in a long time. He sat down in his chair and raised the glass to his lips, but his hand was shaking so badly he slopped the whiskey onto his shirt.

“Fuck,” was the only word he said. He took a very large drink, and it burned all the way down his throat. He sat in silence until Josh joined him.

“She’s back in the cell,” he reported. Dan refused to meet his glance. “I think you sent an effective message.”

Dan looked up at him, about to lash out at that callous statement, but Josh wasn’t talking about sending a message to the slaves; he said that Dan had done a good job of showing that his loyalties lay with the organization.

“Yeah. I hope that won’t be forgotten for a long time.”

“You might have to send another. Sometimes the first isn’t believed.”You might have to punish her again to continue to prove yourself.

Dan said nothing. He didn’t want to contemplate that possibility. Instead, he leaned over and opened a drawer. He fished out a bottle and removed two pills and handed them to Josh. “Check the skin on her back. I want it healed before the auction. See that she crawls for the next two days.”

Josh nodded and disappeared out the door.

Dan finished his drink, the alcohol doing absolutely nothing to give him absolution.

Laura:

The door behind Laura clanged open. Claire disappeared from view as she slipped to the floor in a kneel. Laura stayed where she was, not caring if she got in trouble.

“Laura?” It was Master 2.

“Yes, sir?” She could barely get the words out of her scratched and dry throat.

“I’m going to clean the scrapes on your back and examine your feet. I’ll be careful.”

She nodded at the unexpected courtesy. Something warm and wet ran over her back and then he applied a cool cream. He was gentle, and her tense muscles relaxed a little.

“Give me your cup of water.”

Confused, she handed him the cup over her shoulder. He took it and handed it back almost immediately, and down at the bottom lay two pills, already dissolving.

“Thank you, sir,” she whispered.

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