I didn't sleep, of course the fatigue decided not to take me over for once, if I could get some sleep in right now before my eternal slumber, it would be swell.

The hours bled together in a haze of pain and dry gulps of air, my throat sandpapered from screaming last night and the lack of hydration. Every whip line and wax residue stung like a reminder whenever I shifted against the sheets, trying to free the aching sensation from my wrists and ankles.

I tried closing my eyes, tried pretending I was back in my apartment with nothing but a flickering screen in front of me, but every creak of the bedframe, every hum of the mini fridge kept me anchored to where I was.

The window bled grey before it turned pale gold as morning came and the sun rise on this corner of the Earth. My mind ticked along with the rising sun, each minute stretching like an eternity.

By the time the door creaked open again, my body reacted before my brain could catch up. I yelled bloody murder out of repulsion and weakness as I yanked at the restraints until my wrists bled against the friction of the ropes, my voice rasping raw.

"STAY BACK!" I choked out, uselessly thrashing. "Don't touch me!"

Anshur didn't even flinch. She shut the door with one gloved hand and raised a finger to her lips "Shh" as if hushing just another barking stray dog.

I froze, heart hammering as I gritted my teeth and balled up my fist, raising my hips to contest.

"Please…" I muttered.

"You will return to the Sonders' estate," she said evenly, as if she was reading through commands rather than suggestion, "And you won't tell anyone about what happened, will you?"

My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, my chin curled and my eyebrows furrowed as my fingers trembled. If I said I'd tell… She'd end it here, I could see it in her eyes, calm and merciless, those bewitching gaze of a troubled soul who cared more about themselves than anything. But if I said I wouldn't, I'd be giving her more power, and I'd regret it forever.

So, I just started crying, hoping that something would change inside her. I started sobbing desperately like a retard. But of course, her patience was high, uncannily so, she stared at me like a mom letting her kid embarrass themselves in public while she wait for the tantrum to run out. And my hydration didn't let me fight for long.

"Guh… hc… waa…"

She stared as I calmed down, and we met eyes once more. And she sighed.

"I am not fond of cleaning out another bathtub of intestines, Cory Jay Smith."

As her words rang like a gentle reminder, she carressed my face tenderly with the back of her hand… And quite honestly, that sealed the deal, that was the straw that broke my last bit of dignity and pride, her sudden tenderness before disaster.

But survival screamed louder than pride, so I nodded, jerkily, showing how tiny I am against her as I whispered, "I won't."

Anshur von Rodolfo smirked, her gloved hands moved with frightening calm.

A cloth slid over my eyes, shutting the world out. The straps loosened, one by one, circulation rushing back into my hands and feet with pins-and-needles fire, I could finally move them around, and I let out a hugh sigh of relief, my entire body shivered from the relief into freedom, there was nothing more liberating.

Anshur told me to raised my arms in the air, which was tiring and hard, but I did, and she slipped my dress back onto me, whispering close enough that her breath grazed my ear:

"Don't fight, don't scream."

Before I could even process it, I was weightless, lifted into her arms, bridal-style, like I was nothing but a burden of laundry, Anshur was stronger than I thought, or I was just that light.

The blindfold removed my sight, and enhanced my sense of sound and sensation: her steady steps, the chill air against my exposed arms, the faint smell of leather and perfume that clung to her.

After an extensive minute of her walking; me bopping up and down in her arms; I heard a car door opened. Very soon, I was laid across the backseat, blind and motionless, not because I was tied, but more because I was afraid. The engine rumbled alive, muffling the drive back and its endless silence, my own shallow breaths echoing through my ears.

When the car finally rolled to a stop, Anshur got out of the car, opened the backseat door, and my blindfold came off.

Anshur's face was unreadable, and what she said next was… Unbelievable, as if she never even considered me a threat.

"I'm going to clock in," she said softly, almost casual. "You will go back to your room and tell everyone you went out last night and got lost. Hide your cuts and bruises, I only harm you where the dress covers."

The car door shut with a heavy thud, and she was gone.

And she wasn't wrong… The dresses I received from the Sonder estate

I stumbled out, weak, my legs trembling with every step. The marble floor of the mansion was cool under my shoes, the hallways too bright after the padded dark. I had to lean against the wall just to stay upright, dragging myself toward my room.

That's when I saw them, Hailie and Gerald, just coming around the corner.

I didn't want to meet them right now, in fact, Eirlys would've been better… Because I know full well Hailie was going to start asking questions, even though she meant it kindly.

And as expected Hailie's eyes widened, her hand gripping Gerald's sleeve, begging him to push her faster. Then tears burst out of her in a rush.

"Cory?!!"

When we were at and arm length of each other, I couldn't even lift my arms.

I sank down instead, knees hitting the polished floor as she wheeled closer, Hailie Sonder reached out for me, and I leaned forward into her, letting myself be folded into the warmth of her embrace.

"I… Hailie… I was- I-... sob" My throat locked as the words tangled. I tried to say her name, tried to say Anshur's, but it broke apart in stuttered gasps. Nothing made sense except the sob that cracked me open.

And under all of it, the bruises, burns, fear, and the shame… Was something worse, something existed inside me that I couldn't speak of. Something I couldn't admit, not even to myself.

Because despite everything… I felt it.

Arousal, pleasure from the helplessness torturement.

The most disgusting, guilty truth of all.

And I cried harder for it.

And she probably knew it, Anshur.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.