The Thin Line Between Pleasure And Pain · Part 4 (4/5)
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She undoes her scarf and says “Dear mistress O Collar camera? There is a tree”
‘I will check it out… Got it. 11 left to go.’
Helen turns on the spot and says “Dear mistress O Collar camera. There is a tree”
‘*Zap* Similar view detected. Please change scenery.’
Helen has to move around quite a bit before she has all ten. Then she is marched along and is quickly back on the main trail. Gets a solid half minute of vibrations upon return. Soon though she told to get back off it.
‘Get a handful of photos of fruits. Please choose camera say Dear mistress O there is a treat to begin 10 second record.’
Helen has to carefully move once again. She spots a few pine nuts. “Score.”
‘I will check it out… *Zap* Error not a fruit.’ “But it’s all coniferous.”
Helen searches around for a while and is frustrated. She is getting a bit hungry. She takes out the assortment of fruits and nuts she prepared yesterday. As she is about to eat them she has an idea.
“Dear mistress O Collar camera. There is a treat.” And points her neck at the solitary grape perched on a tree bark.
‘I will check it out… Got it. 4 left to go.’
Helen has to go to different locations to pose the rest of her snacks. The apple, banana, and dates are easy to pass. The pineapple piece is not being accepted “I guess it’s seeing the flesh? If so, how do I?…” After some careful placement between twigs. “Now how do I get my neck there” she is rubbing her neck. “Oh. Dear mistress O Right wrist camera. There is a treat.”
‘I will check it out… Got it. We have a good collection of fruits here. How about we move on.’ And she receives direction.
Back on the trail, quick virbations, and soon back off. Instead of a long trek off the beaten path this time just a few minutes in the instruction comes ‘Please return to the trail. You have 10 minutes.’ “Um, okay.” It is fairly straightforward to reverse course. When she sees the main trail her collar says
‘Welcome back’ and the controlled navigation restarts “This is weird.”
Again Helen is directed off trail. A bit longer foray and again she is asked to navigate back, with the same amount of time, with the vibrations not the reward she is hoping for upon each return. This cycle repeats with longer and longer ventures but the same time to return. Soon, Helen has to increase her pace, which is limited the metal, especially the thigh chains. Inevitably she is shocked.
‘6 out of 10’ the collar says and resumes navigation.
Helen is brought once again off trail. “What now?”
‘Get four photos of animals. Please choose camera and Dear mistress O say there is a critter to begin 10 second record.’
Helen immediately picks up on the birds that had been chirping all along. “… That’s one down.” Almost immediately a squirrely crosses her line of sight. However, she can’t catch a sight of it again.
“Where did all the animals go.” Helen is close to her limit. She slowly moves again at can see the trail. She takes two more steps and is shocked.
‘Error. Task not completed. Please turn around.’ “Grrrr. I didn’t even. Urghhh…” An insect crawls nearby Helen jumps in panic.
A few steps in and she has a realisation. She turns back. “…Gross, gross, gross. Dear mistress O left wrist camera. There is a critter… Yes!.” Nearby she finds a colony of ants. “…Yay. Almost done. Almost done… Okay, final one.” Helen uses a stick to dig at the earth. She is trying her hardest not to think of the what she is trying to bring out. When the earthworms show “ew, ew, ew… Dear mistress O right wrist camera. There is a critter.”
‘I will check it out…*Zap*Error. View not clear. Lighting too low.’ “Are you kidding me.”
With the state of her hands it is no easier to use the cell phone the second time. “… Please, please, please…” the torch finally comes on.
“Dear mistress O right wrist camera. There is a critter.”
‘I will check it out…Got it. We have a good collection of animals here. How about we move on.’ “Oh, thank Jesus.”
Helen slowly walks on the trail. The sun has significantly shifted from the time she parked the car. She is tired but is not agitated. She observes the trees and small animals jumping through them are not lost to her. So immersed is she that she almost doesn’t recognise the trail head.
Chapter 12: The holiday 3 – Indoor activities The vintage car is racing downhill to low level shocks on just the chest almost pushing her back.
“Woah, hey, slow down. You are way over the speed limit.” In response to the voice from the collar Helen snaps out of her reverie and reigns it in. “So, how was it?”
“It was so dangerous and risky. I was all alone and had to carry that heavy battery thing. I couldn’t work my phone because of these stupid mittens. You know I could have fallen and broken my neck…” She has a long list.
When she is eventually done Brian asks “Did you like it?”
“… Yes. I mean parts of it, yes. I don’t like being abandoned like that. And forced on a weird treasure hunt.”
“Sorry, you cut off after yes.”
“I said…” Helen is cut off “Anyways, are you hungry?” to which Helen’s stomach growls.
Helen is starting to see more signs of civilization. She specifically craves the food system that it has perfected.
“Are you sure that you don’t want to go and sit down in a restaurant?”
“Not like this” Helen pulls into a fast-food drive through.
“Suit yourself Luna.”
As Helen is going to town on the burger she is shocked. The food drops on to the leather carseat and floor. “Nooo” Brian’s voice is pained.
“Haha, serves you right. *zap* Ow” and the rest of the food stains the vintage car. Helen takes the time to compose herself. “What’s the plan here owner?”
Helen goes through the driveway again after Brian says “Please clean it up and I will chalk off the second shock for tomorrow.”
When Helen is fully satiated she gets a quick vibration. As it is ending Brian meekly asks “How do you fancy a movie?”
“Were those things moving within me in burst your idea of an apology. And no. I am tired. I just want to go home and sleep.”
“a) Those are random. And b) Well, if you had social interaction checked off, we could have.”
“No” she whines.
“I’ll let you pick the movie.”
“I gotta head home first.”
“Why? No time.”
“Bathroom”
“One right here”
“Are you seriously going to force me to use a public restroom like this?”
“When you put it like this. Yes, definitely.”
“Noooowah. I will get an infection.”
“Well, you are literally protected.”
“Highly doubt that there is a bidet to clean properly. Plus even if I brought the chains I am not locking up my feet like that in a public restroom.”
“Were you using the full bathroom function when you were home? Gosh. I knew I should have cameras in there.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You just have to pee right?”
“Do we need to start the polygraph function? There are sensors running 24/7 you know.”
“…” Helen is embarrassed “Checking the logs. Looks like you did do it once. At the airport hotel. Just like that. If you want to be extra, pour a little water and lube into the belt slot and grab lots of toilet paper.” Helen is deep red.
Helen looks indistinguishable from the sparse matinee crowd in the upscale multiplex. However, the blast of hot air at the entrance is overkill for her specific situation. “Rats, Can I leave this battery thing in the car? I had to lug it into the bathroom for Christ’s sake. And can you please turn down the heat?” she asks after picking up the tickets.
“No. I told you. It’s in the hands of the all powerful AI. Ask it.”
Even the trailers have not begun when Helen sits down. She whispers “Dear mistress O please turn down the heat.”
‘Heat optimised for personal comfort. Level adjusted for three layers detected. Please contact owner or user alpha’.
After a while “…Arghhh. I can’t convince him and I can’t get past the lock screen. This is evil. Hey Owner, are you th…” she shuts herself as a couple walks in.
In the lowest volume from the collar “Looks like the trailers are starting. I will shut up. Etiquette demands it.”
“Pl*zap*”
“Full silence during the movie. Talk to you after it ends.”
Helen is still burning up even though she has removed the winter coat and the jacket. With focused radiation from the metal bands and the fabric she also takes directed approach to cool them. “Oh, God, Oh, God, Oh, God…” she drapes the scarf over herself and slips the skirt down to cool the metal band with her water bottle. After a few minute she lifts up her top and does the same. Suddenly: “oh, what happened. They are not heating.” she internally asks fearing the shocks. When the top drops back down the heat rises again. “Oh, my God. Seriously.” She fumes at the solution to not be in fumes.
The blouse scrunched up on the shoulders and the skirt scrunched down on. The shoes are discarded. All so that all the metal pieces are making contact with the seat. “Thank God partial contact is enough.” She thinks as she positions the scarf to cover the best it can. “I think I am decent.” This hopes and prays. Her heart is in her mouth as a theatre worker makes a pass through the aisles. “… Oh, my God. Okay. Okay. No reaction. Thank God I have a huge scarf… Okay, okay… Oh my God, the trailers are still playing.”
Helen wakes up via stray vibration. Half asleep she asks to no one in particular “What’s happening?” as the only other occupants are leaving and the credits are rolling. “Rats, rats, rats.” She quickly pulls up the skirt and down the blouse.
‘Warning. Connection broken at collar, chest, arms, thigh. Warning…’ “Yeah, yeah, shut it.”
Helen is sitting in the car in the movie theatre parking lot having a panic attack. “I think they saw me. Did they see me? I think they did. Oh God, Oh God, Oh God…”
“Good evening Luna. How was the movie?”
“I think I exposed myself to the theatre staff.”
“Calm down. Calm down. Let me see. Hmm, did you get shocked?”
“Huh, What? No. I mean not now.”
“The anti-exhibition rule is still on. So, at least the AI thinks you were not.”
“I tricked it with fruits from my snack. It’s not really intelligent is it?”
“Is that a confession I hear?”
“This is good data point. I mean you will be punished but good data.”
“I that…” Helen doesn’t know what to think or feel.
“I ran through the video. Granted it is limited I don’t think anybody saw anything. Don’t worry.”
“…*takes a breath* Okay”
“I see we slept well. My wife was really looking forward to this romcom Luna. I am surprised that you didn’t like it.”
“No, I was tired and…” Helen is interrupted “So, I have to make it up to you.”
“Okay?”
“Plus. Yes, I am looking at the challenge. You did cheat. So, we have punishment too. How about we combine them?”
“What do you have in mind?”
“The GPS co-ordinate is already set.”
“Bri*zap* Owner. What do you have in mind?”
“You were going to use my name in vain. Tsk, tsk. You really need Jesus.”
“B*Zap*”
“Man, the AI has gotten way better at its job. Hehe. Anyways, you better get going. They are starting soon.”
Helen sits down with a group of women she knows well.
“It’s so nice that you could join the prayer meeting today Helen.” The person organizing says “Yes, it is. Always wanted to come. Never had the time.”
“How are you doing?” another lady asks “I am doing okay *zap*. Actually, it’s been a bit *zap* very crazy this week.”
“Oh, what happened?”
Helen takes a deep breath and internally curses “You will pay for this Brian” and says “Well, my husband wanted me to travel with him to Mexico. He wants me to be more adventurous. He planned this whole thing for me this week. It’s been a lot.”
“Thank you for sharing. I know it is hard to share and be honest” the lead lady says with a compassionate tone.
Helen thinks “Not like I can lie. What with this polygraph test. I mean who says the truth during prayer meeting.” And a pit forms within her stomach.
“Well, we have some cookies and dessert” another lady interjects “Oh” Helen is taken aback.
“Homemade” says another.
“The main reason a lot of even come. Haha” the lead lady chimes in.
“Anyways, do you want to take off your jacket” somebody else offers Helen.
“No, feeling a bit chilly.” Which she indeed did after successfully lobbying to not lug the heavy item providing charge to her outfit and by extension having the heating turned off for the duration of the prayer meeting.
Chapter 13: The holiday 4 – Is this how vacations end? It is late night by the time Helen parks the vintage car back in the garage. She disconnects the cables and says “Owner, permission to enter the house.” There is a long pause before the voice comes, “Of course. And thank you for asking permission Luna. I appreciate it.” Helen smiles and so Brian continues “How was prayer meeting?”
“Good. I am happy that you made me go for prayer meeting. Been wanting to go for a long time.” She says as she enters the house.
Brian is a bit lost for words “Happy to nudge.”
“And thank you for not shocking or setting off these vibrations during the prayer meeting.”
“Of course.”
“And thank you for organising today and this whole week” she says as she takes off her shoes.
“I am so happy to hear that.”
“I love you owner.”
“I love you too Helen” and Helen is shocked.
“HEY”
“Oops. The AI did it. Sorry.”
“*deep breath* I understand”
“You do?”
“I appreciate you. And I know you have the best intentions for me.”
“Yes?”
“And I know you will keep your word.”
“What are you getting at?”
“I hate to bring this up. But I was promised orgasms.”
“There it is.”
“What? I did everything that you asked for. Do you want me to sing you praises?”
“You can’t sing even if your life depended on it.”
“True. But we had an agreement.”
“It’s not safe to have them alone.”
“What are you talking about? You made me go into the frozen forest all alone to do dangerous challenges.”
“They were safe. I had measures. You were never in danger. There was satellite phone. You, I never far …” Brian is stumbling for words “*breathes* Fine, fine. I believe you. But we had a deal.”
“… I only promised you a leg up.”
Helen’s mouth drops “WHaaa…” and the TV turns on and the recording from earlier in the week plays.
“Your new odds are. Let’s see. Expected value. Hey. Once every 10 days. That’s top end stuff there.”
“Owner, please.” The vibrations begin and ramp up but are cut off just as quickly. “HEY.”
“The random reward program is running. My hands are tied.”
“Please. You promised. This is worse than nothing. *Helen’s legs shake as a small vibration comes and goes*. Anything. I’ll play another game.”
“Well, I wanted to take a break and have fun. But my wife insisted on working and so must I, dear Luna.”
“I’ll take the next flight out.”
“Flight, yeah, um. Err. Your outfit is not exactly airport security friendly, is it?”
“Please. What do you want me to do? I’ll do anything.”
“Let’s touch base day after tomorrow. Be a good girl and I am sure we can work something out.”
Helen’s eyes go wide “Wait, you are letting me out, right. RIGHT?”
“I… Helen” Helen is bites down her pain “Sorry. I gotta go for a video call. It’s about getting my project through. I promise I will call later.”
“Owner, owner. Hey owner.” Silence
Helen is still shaking a bit as she is meal prepping for tomorrow. “Will he leave me like this. Oh, Gosh. What about periods? Oh God. I…” Her panic is interrupted by a stray vibration. “That’s it. I am taking matters into my own hand.” She grabs her vibrator and brings it to the kitchen ready to go. The next time the non-removable vibrators strike she drops the pan without hesitation and turns out the vibrator she can control. When it touches the metal on her nether region for one second the vibrations amplify. The next Helen is on the ground writhing in pain. “*after a lot of noises uncontrollably released by the pain* What the hell?” For the first time she has been shocked by the two plugs themselves instead of just the metal.
Very quickly the physical pain of the unexpected shock subsides. Helen is still curled up on the ground. She tries calling but no response. Her state of shut down is broken by her collar impersonally directing her to get back to her chores. Even though she knows that there is no shock penalty associated here she still jumps back up and resumes cooking.
Helen is in the middle of her rowing machine set when her collar pipes up, ‘Message from owner *beep*: Hey *deep breath* I am very sorry that I can’t call you tonight. The meeting was positive but that also means I have a ton to do. I will be swamped. Will keep you posted if I can make it back by Saturday. I still have the presentation tomorrow *Sigh*. About removing the belt. Of course, we will. Soon. But we do need just a bit more data. So, I am setting up an automated program to speed things up and catch areas we haven’t. Fair warning I won’t be able to contact you when it is active. I expect it will run for a day or two at most. Totally fine if you don’t want to do.’
Helen rubs her head. She sends another message on her phone to automation that is controlling her replay the video “That’s coercion. I didn’t explicitly agree to data collection…*After a lot of debate and Brian not picking up calls a vibration cycle begins*… *when it ends in frustration* He seriously owes me… Dear mistress O. I accept the program”
Helen is teased multiple times culminating in the nightly wordless taunt after she is ‘locked’ into her bed. This private space looks and feels extremely foreign. “Dear mistress O please call owner.”
‘You do not have permission to make the action.’ “*Groan* I hate this. *the vibration are rumbling on* I hate it all” and eventually falls asleep.
Chapter 14: A not-so-typical day part 2 – Automated drudgery Friday begins like any other, or at least any other one from this week. The first change is when she gets out of bed she is directed to shower. “But I took a bath last night” unfortunately there is no scope for negotiation and the argument ends with some impersonal shocks. Helen clenches her groin muscles but the shocks spare her most sensitive parts.
After shower and a forced use of the restroom Helen is taken to her closet. There she is shown her acceptable list of clothing. “That’s a big list. Wow.” Helen wears the only real choice she has. “I have to wear heels” she is mentally making a list of which of her heels is least dirty and can be cleaned quickly to wear inside the house. She is shocked when she goes to the bedroom door. “Hey, you wanted shoes… No, not those.” Helen only has the NSFW heels that she wore Wednesday available to her.
Helen slowly makes her way down the stairs in heels in a dull red dress with half bell sleeve and asymmetric fishtail hem, both of which have strips of cream coloured fabric. The same fabric forming a bowtie and hiding the collar. “Oof. I am not hungry but might as well.” But she is directed to go around the stairwell and to the basement. “I am simulating going out without going out?” she responds incredulously and impotently at the reason for her diversion. When Helen re-emerges from the basement she can eat.
During the workday Helen really wants to be on video calls. For these spare her from the random vibrations. The ‘wellness checks’ are the worst because she is almost guaranteed to be vibrated. There is no reprieve during lunch or her bathroom breaks. In fact the extra time involved in going to the basement first makes it worse.
Helen sits down in the kitchen area after being forced out of her office room at exactly 5 and making the trek down to the basement. “That was exhausting” she feels about not just the last leg. However, her reprieve is short lived as she is directed to clean. “The whole house?”
With only one person in the house there is not much to clean. However, the time is more than compensated by doing it in the chains, heels and dress. She has no time to catch a breath as she is to make dinner as well as meal prep. But she is not allowed to eat dinner. On to exercise.
After a more strenuous than normal workout session Helen is shuttled to the shower. Just like the morning it is almost in-and-out. Then she has to choose the outfit, with choose being a very generous word.
Helen finally sits down to eat in a simple blue spaghetti strap nightgown which almost feels comical against the metal. That is not on top of her mind as she just sat down a bit too heavily, after her feet killing her all day, and the plugs jerk in. “Ow” to make things worse that starts a new cycle of vibrations. Helen tries to ignore it to eat. She gets through most of her plate but gives in and drops her utensils. They cut off exactly then. Wordlessly she picks back up and finishes her plate. “Dear mistress O please call owner.”
‘You do not have permission to make the action.’ Helen gets the same result from the home gym and the bedroom.
Chapter 15: Moonlighting as a service worker It is Saturday and Helen has had her second consecutive morning shower. She is marched to the closet and the message comes ‘Important service requirement: Get dressed to go to the airport.’
Of course, Helen cannot immediately go to the airport. First is breakfast and she has to make food. “Thank God I don’t have to make that pointless trek to the basement… But I guess today would have been the better one to do it.” Helen standing barefoot with only a tea length dull purple jacket covering the metal.
Helen is driving a bit aggressively and not just because she is in her own car. “Should I bring him snacks? Of course I should bring him snacks.” Hence, she is driving away from her destination.
After a near collision and more than a few tight traffic lights Helen is ahead of time at the arrivals “Is my makeup good? Should I pose? No, not in public. Just act natural. How am I going to be natural like this?… What’s he planning” She has the extra items she is told to bring in her big black handbag. Without answers to any of them at the strike of 11 she gets a message:
‘Please host the guests…’ Helen is stunned and doesn’t catch the details the first time around.
‘Please host…’ the second time she is nudged from her spot by the tool of discipline that she has become accustomed to this week.
“Please, let me move my car to long term parking” her path cannot not deviate from the destination set for her.
“This is daylight robbery” Helen internally groans as she hands over her credit card and driver’s license. “What’s wrong with my car” after a bit more paperwork she is directed to the garage. “… Okay, this is nice but I, no, HE is going to be eating dog food till we pay this off.”
Helen drives to the Kerbside line. She finds a spot in front of a door. She is forced to disembark “No, no. They will tow.” And hence she stands right in front of the rented vehicle warding off the over eager attendants. “Grrr. Cold, cold, cold. Another reason to park.” She is holding up a sign she had to write. Another message pops up.
‘Guests have requested respiratory safety procedures. Please wear a mask’
Helen first thinks of her car and then remembers that it is not hers. She digs into a purse and finds one as the message starts replaying. “Found it. Found it. Don’t shock me.” In a few minutes her sun glassed vision shows three people in suits and N-95 masks approach her.
“Cold, cold, cold. How is it so sunny and yet so cold?” The lady in skirt suit can be heard saying “Never been in this part of the world have you?” one of the man with tells “Why are we here again?” the third one asks “Did this have to be an in-person meeting?”
The Thin Line Between Pleasure And Pain · Part 4 (4/5)
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