Page 109 of Make Me Scream

Mundell delivers a small shock.

“You will refer to her as Pet.”

I look up into a security camera.

“You’re a sick piece of shit, shut the fuck up!”

If it really is her, she’s been here for years. No wonder she disappeared. Did she even send those texts to Lane about leaving the school, or was that Mundell all along?

Fuck me, he has my purse. Has he been contacting people as me?

No. I don’t think so. Not without my PIN to unlock the phone, which he’s not going to get, no matter what he does to me.

I steel myself for his answer to my outburst, but instead Chloe squeals in pain. Her body spasms as if possessed. I didn’t notice at first, but she wears a collar too.

“No!” I scream. “Stop!”

Chloe goes still.

“You have a good heart, Toy,” says Mundell. “You don’t want to see Pet punished for your transgressions. She has the same selfless nature. So, if disciplining you directly doesn’t work, I’ll hurt her. Maybe after a while she won’t feel as selfless anymore. Would you like to find out?”

“No,” I growl.

“You will address me as master. Is that understood?”

My lip curls. I’d like to tell him to fuck off, but Chloe’s expectant whimper tortures me worse than any shock.

“Yes, master,” I say, nauseated by the words.

“Good. Now, it’s clear your obstinance will rear its head again, so I’m going to accelerate your orientation. Normally I’d let a new toy keep her clothes for a day or two, but you’re going to remove them now. Fold them and place them in a pile by the door.”

I sneer into the camera, but Chloe doesn’t deserve to suffer. As much as I hate to strip for a monster like Mundell, in truth he’s already seen me naked in Joel’s paintings. I do as instructed, then stand in place, covering myself with my hands. The thought of Mundell feasting on the sight nearly makes me gag, but I keep my composure.

“In time, you will learn how to comport yourself. Pet will help you. She will be your mentor, your friend — and your critic. You will not be deprived of artistic expression. I understand full well you need it as vitally as air and water.”

Oh, that’s fucking great. For a second there I thought I’d never finishThe Ohio Zoo.

The door between the two jail cells unlocks and opens.

“Walk,” Mundell says.

Fine. Fuck it. Still clutching my breasts with my arms, I comply. I try to give Chloe an encouraging glance, but she’s not looking at me. How badly has Mundell broken her mind? Does she even still speak, or did he instruct her not to?

The next room appears to be his torture chamber. It’s fully stocked: whips and canes, restraints, gags, clamps. Plugs with cruel bumps and ridges. Clear vials of liquids that are probably not lube. Electronic devices I can’t even identify. The room’s centerpiece is a high-backed chair padded in black, studded leather, with thick, metal shackles on the armrests and at neck- and ankle-level.

An easel and stool face the chair; paints, brushes and a canvas rest on a nearby end table.

“Take a seat,” Mundell says.

I’m tempted to grab a cane so that I can beat him with it, but it wouldn’t get me anywhere. If I don’t do as he says, he’ll hurt Chloe. If I still refuse to obey, he’ll shock me so hard I pass out, then he can do with me what he wants. I don’t like the idea of making myself more vulnerable than I already am, but what choice do I have?

I lower myself into the chair. There’s a cutout in the seat that can be removed if necessary, which conjures terrifying imaginings. When I position my arms and legs in place, the chair makes a sharp hiss, then the shackles seal over my wrist and ankles, each one snapping into place with a loud thunk. I test out their hold, but of course they’re inescapable. I can fidget, but I won’t stand up until Mundell lets me.

He doesn’t make any new demands at first, but soon I hear footsteps approaching. The chair faces the door, so I watch him exit the stairs and stride through the jail.

“Hello, Toy,” he says, picking out a paintbrush. “How much pain you’d like to endure for this portrait is entirely up to you.” He gestures at the chamber’s contents. “The options are endless.”

Fucking scumbag. I want to cry, but instead I take a deep breath. He’s not going to see me break. Never.

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