Your Master Requires Your Commitment · Part 1

Your Master Requires Your Commitment · Part 1 (1/4)
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A Phone Call “Thanks for the heads up, Gary,” the Director spoke into the phone. “It won’t alter anything but being informed Psycho Sally was behind her transfer is good to know. I’m aware of Sally’s reputation and what she does for a living. We don’t have any business dealings with her, since she would never agree to the conditions we impose on our female visitors. Anyway, my advice is to tread carefully. You’ve seen for yourself she isn’t someone you’d ever want to cross.”

The Director hung up the phone on his desk. So Darla, the recent arrival, was here through the machinations of Psycho Sally. If nothing else happens today at least I can sleep easier tonight knowing I saved her from a far worse fate by agreeing to her placement at the Center.

The anonymous sponsor must be a cut out, someone returning a favor for Sally by keeping her name out of the transaction. Which implied no one was actually in charge of Darla’s welfare or future, and that was all too typical of how Psycho Sally left her victims. The lack of anyone responsible for her did complicate matters, since as the Director he would have to assume the custodial role for the present.

Now he had two headaches to occupy his time. There was Darla, who had to be shielded for her own safety; and Alisha the reporter, who had to be isolated indefinitely to protect the Center’s anonymity. Somehow, he had to come up with a long-term plan for both of them. Trapped by my own moral code, the Director ruefully shook his head. That code might allow for kidnapping under exigent circumstances but it also imposed a subsequent duty of care he could not ignore with a clear conscience.

Based on his conversation with Mr. G there shouldn’t be any major problems with Darla. He agreed with Gary’s assessment that she would do well after an initial acclimatization period. Long term she still needed someone to oversee her future, though that shouldn’t be a difficult problem to solve.

How very paternalistic of you, he thought, as a few possibilities came to mind. More than once, he’d been criticized for his attitude, but it didn’t bother him. No man could rise to the position he held as the Center’s Director without having the same level of confidence in how he managed the lives of the women placed in his hands.

The other one, Alisha, she was the headache that wouldn’t go away. The operation to seize her had been hastily organized, by necessity. It had been successful; she was no longer a direct threat in exposing the Center, but now he had the unenviable task of figuring out what to do with her. Unlike Psycho Sally he did have to consider the consequences of his actions.

The purpose of the Center was focused on a certain type of woman. He had no idea if Alisha fit the profile. And if she didn’t belong here, then what are my options? Ironically, he could always enlist the services of Psycho Sally, who had the contacts needed when it came to making problems disappear, but a decision like that would haunt him the rest of his days. And the thought of owing Sally a favor sent chills down his spine. He couldn’t protect Darla while consigning Alisha to the same fate. No, there had to be a better way.

The Choices We Make While Alisha spent her time staring at the cell bars Darla preferred to study her companion in adversity. She was realistic about what had happened to both of them. This place, the Center, was going to be their new home for some time. It wasn’t by choice, for either of them, and there wasn’t much they could do about it. The difference is that Darla was coming to terms with the realities of what had happened, while Alisha continued on with her illusions.

Alisha stood up and began pacing back and forth, in front of the bars. It wasn’t long before it began to irritate Darla. “You’re acting like one of those caged animals in a zoo, constantly looking for a way out. All you’re going to accomplish is wear a rut into the floor.”

Alisha did stop pacing, but didn’t sit back down. Instead, she grabbed hold of the bars, trying to see what was in the corridor. Walls extending out beyond the bars blocked the view of the corridor to either side. “I’m not going to sit and wait like a good little girl. They’re not going to get away with doing this to us.” Alisha jerked on the locked door to their cell. It didn’t budge.

“I don’t think we’re allowed to touch the bars. Could you stop? I’m worried we’ll both get into trouble if you keep that up.” The rules at Mr. G’s place had been explicit about such things. Darla rightly suspected the Center would have far more rigorous regulations in place, and from what she’d seen in the last few hours the guards—no, Wardens they were called— the Wardens didn’t impress her as particularly lenient, compassionate or sympathetic. There must be cameras watching them, even if she couldn’t spot them. If Alisha kept up her stubborn attitude there was a good chance both of them would pay the price.

“Stop?” Alisha asked. “Why? I didn’t hear anyone say this,” she shook the bars again, “was off limits. Anyway, it won’t open, so what difference does it make?”

Darla shook her head, giving up on persuading Alisha of the folly of her ways. “No one said you could touch the bars either. In a situation like this I think we’re better off asking first, rather than begging for forgiveness afterwards. We don’t have many options available to us at the moment. At least consider cooperation instead of confrontation, for both our sakes.”

Alisha turned around to face Darla. “Options?” She wrapped her hands around the collar on her neck and strained to pull it open. It remained in place. “Cooperation? No, I’m not going to pretend I’m someone’s pet dog, even if I can’t get this damned thing off. Look, the police know about me. I’m a reporter; I found out about this gang and went undercover to bust it up. Time is on our side. Any minute now the SWAT team will bust down the doors and rescue us.”

Darla felt only sadness at Alisha’s obvious naiveté. She’d already heard Alisha’s story. It was time to burst that bubble. “Can’t you see it? You were set up. The police, the ones you dealt with, they’re in on it. You are right in one sense; the police, some of them, know where you are even if you don’t. Who do you think is behind what happened to you? One little detail you missed though. If they sent you here, what makes you think they’re going to stage a rescue?”

“Sent me here?” Alisha asked in a sarcastic tone. “My editor knows all about this, along with the police. There’s no way everyone is in on it. That’s being paranoid.”

Exasperated at Alisha’s stubborn refusal to accept the self-evident facts she decided to point out the contradictions. “Think carefully. This police inspector, did you actually call the department to check on her credentials? Was it your editor that made the initial contact?”

“My editor has worked with the police for years. Why would I check? The Inspector showed me her badge and ID…” That’s when Alisha saw the first hole in the story. Yes, there was a badge, but that didn’t prove the Inspector had been from Internal Affairs, or for that matter there was even some kind of investigation in progress.

“And think about this amazing coincidence concerning a court order closing your destination while you were supposedly undercover and already on the road? Since when did a judge not allow for time to implement a massive change like that? You didn’t hear the message over the radio. That came from another officer, repeated verbally, and not even paperwork to back it up. For a reporter you sure seem gullible. Everything you describe is based on second hand information, undocumented hearsay, which you accepted at face value.”

Alisha sat down on her bunk. Was she blinded by her own bias, ignoring what now sounded like solid evidence of a conspiracy?

“Wait a minute! I shared everything I found out with my editor. Why didn’t he just reassign me, if he was part of this plot? Why go through some elaborate charade to take me out?”

Darla shook her head again. “Would you have given up if he took you off the story? No, you had to disappear, but in a reasonable way, with no questions asked. Your ‘charade’ has a paper trail with you convicted and sent to prison. I bet your ‘Inspector” actually works in the Records department. There are actual criminal records on file, in case anyone bothers with a cursory check. She would be an expert on forging them. Face it, you fell into their trap. Here you are, and here you stay. Sure, you’re in a prison as planned, but you’re not undercover; it’s not some minimum-security country club, and you’re facing an indeterminate sentence. No one is looking for you”

There was a certain logic to Darla’s explanation, a logical progression that Alisha couldn’t brush aside. Once more she stared at the bars of their cell. Here I am. Darla’s right; I was so eager to be the celebrity that I walked into it blindfolded.

“The choices we make always seem reasonable at the time.” Darla leaned forward, trying to be conciliatory. “We don’t get to wind back the clock and start over. You’re not the only one with regrets. Like you I relied on someone when I should have thought twice. And like you, here I am because of it.”

Once more Darla considered Mr. G and why he’d sent her to this place. She’d trusted him to let her go at the end of her stay. Why had he singled her out? She’d met many of his visitors, who all spoke in glowing terms of Mr. G’s reliability. None of them had been kept on, against their will. Except I’d never have a chance to meet the ones he didn’t release. And why the cryptic message from Sally when she left? It didn’t make sense.

First Impressions The Director hit the Pause button for the video feed. “Okay, give me your first impressions, starting with Darla. Bob?”

Robert Kincaid, currently acting as the senior Warden supervising the Secure Area, stared at the display, pondering the contrasts between the two new arrivals. “She’s definitely smart. Did you notice the way she kept studying the walls, the ceiling, looking for cameras? Adaptable too, did you catch the ‘ask first’ argument when she pleaded with Alisha to stop? From what we know of her stay at Mr. G’s place she’s definitely the type who responds positively and enthusiastically to authority. Given time to adjust I think she’ll do well here.”

“Max, what’s your expert opinion?” Dr. Max Lehrer filled the psychologist position on the Center’s review board.

“I agree with Bob. If we take into account she comes to us from Mr. G’s private dungeon, and she signed up for an entire week there at the most intense level, plus her lack of, umm, let’s say animated objection to being brought here, then I’d have to conclude she has a strong inclination to be the follower rather than the leader.”

The Director nodded in agreement. “I came to the same conclusion. However, there is one caveat we need to be concerned with while she’s staying with us. Her presence was triggered by a request from none other than Psycho Sally. You know, one of those offers you can’t refuse. It seems Darla was ordered to participate in some activities for Sally, in a minor role, while at Mr. G’s. She failed to carry out her instructions at a crucial moment and nearly ruined months of work. It was embarrassing for Gary, who had vouched for her.”

“I don’t recognize the name. Who is this ‘Psycho’ Sally?” Bob asked.

It was Max who replied. “No one knows her exact background. From what I’ve heard she might have been a psychiatrist, or maybe a well-trained therapist, at one time. There’s very little she doesn’t know about human behavior. Unfortunately, she is what you might call the ‘Darth Vader’ of the mental health community. It’s generally accepted she is a textbook psychopath, devoid of any compassion or empathy, totally self-centered, and won’t hesitate to inflict harm if it serves her purposes. Even worse, she’s highly intelligent and well-educated. Try to match wits with her and you’ll likely come out the loser.

“She isn’t one of those slasher type psychos so often portrayed in movies. Instead, her career consists mainly of destroying the mental stability of targeted individuals. She is exceptionally good at her job, especially in the way she seems to take a perverse pleasure in the dismantling of her victim’s sanity. Who she works for, well, that’s information we are better off never discovering. There are rumors she’s connected with the less savory intelligence services of several countries not noted for their Human Rights efforts. If Darla fell afoul of Sally, then she’s lucky she’s here instead of a mental ward in some third world hellhole.”

The Director added, “I’ve heard much the same about Sally. There’s a reason her nickname is ‘Psycho’. If you ever happen to meet her, never reveal any personal details, and get away as fast as possible. I actually was introduced to her once. She is a small, petite woman, very cheerful, outgoing, the farmgirl type that reminds you of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. She can be quite charming in the way she cultivates an image of disarming naiveté. Don’t be deceived; she is ruthless in exploiting that carefully contrived impression. Give her a chance and she can turn your brain into so much hamburger. She is a world class expert at it.”

“Has she ever visited the Center?” Bob asked in a slightly nervous tone.

The Director laughed. “Oh no, we’re quite safe here. She’s aware of our little stipulation about all females and collars, with no exceptions. Sally is the last woman in the world who would agree to a condition like that.”

He backed up the video on the display. “Speaking of collars, you noticed our Alisha doesn’t seem to be too happy about wearing one? We’re holding off on moving forward until we have more information on her background. For now, she’ll be kept in Quarantine along with Darla. I’m imposing an information blackout on them until we have a plan on how to proceed with their training. That means no explanations or answers to their questions until Max has worked up an evaluation. Bob, can you pass that on to everyone in the Secure Area?”

“No problem. About Alisha, I decided to remove my Cathy from any contact. Darla seems to be a good fit for the role in keeping Alisha calm. There’s less chance of a confrontation if either of them discovers Cathy isn’t what she seems to be.” Cathy had been placed in the van used to bring in both Darla and Alisha. She had been disguised as one of the Corrections Officers to disarm any immediate suspicions.

“Sure, Bob. And thanks for lending us Cathy for the transport. Now then, I feel we should start by enforcing the usual minimum standards regarding their behavior and what they can expect in the way of discipline to demonstrate our regulations are followed. This is what I have in mind…”

Lashing Out When the Warden appeared Darla stood up, as a sign of respect. Alisha remained seated on her bunk. At least she kept her feet on the floor, maybe he’ll be lenient. She isn’t used to obeying men in authority. Hopefully he’ll understand, maybe even talk her through the proper procedure.

From the look on his face that wasn’t going to happen. The frown started with his once over, scrutinizing glance at Darla, morphing into barely restrained anger when he got to Alisha. Darla’s hope for sympathy evaporated, replaced by a sense of dread at what he might do next. Her own experience had taught her that defying dominant men, especially those in a position of power over her, always led to regret afterwards.

Next to him stood a woman Darla had never seen before. Like everyone else she was dressed only in collar and chastity belt, with her hands bound behind her back with handcuffs, and ankle chains that limited walking and prevented any attempt to run. She resembled a statue in the way she kept her place, staring straight ahead, eyes fixed on the wall behind Darla. His hand on her upper arm was all it took to control her.

“This is your orientation guide. You will pay close attention to what she has to say. You are required to follow her instructions to the letter. You will discover she has a wealth of information about the Center and how you can best adapt to life in here. Do not interrupt her lecture. At the end she will take your questions. Keep in mind she is under strict orders as to what she can tell you; if you don’t like an answer, too bad, live with it.”

Alisha stood up and came forward, stopping in front of and to one side of Darla. “Look…” she began.

“Alisha!” Darla hissed. “Shut. Up.” It was all she could do to contain her anger. It worked; Alisha broke off what promised to be a lengthy rant.

Darla turned toward the Warden. “Sir, I apologize for speaking without permission.” It might have been for the best of intentions yet she had broken a rule and must be held to account. In this case it was better to accept the consequences of deliberate disobedience rather than let Alisha continue and make the situation ten times worse.

The Warden stared at Darla but didn’t reprimand her. Maybe they’d both earned a pass for the moment. But whatever the outcome, she had to acknowledge it was solely at his discretion if she was punished.

He chose to ignore her, which was a relief for Darla. He took two steps backward, leading the woman at his side with the hand on her arm. The move left her just beyond arm’s reach through the bars. “You will remain in this spot until I return. You will begin when you hear the outer door close.” Darla noticed the woman had not moved her head. Her eyes remained locked in a forward-looking stare into the cell.

He abruptly let go of her arm and walked away. Darla heard the outer door open and close, leaving the three of them alone. The woman faced them, blank-faced, with only the cell bars between. She kept up that frozen statue posture, except for widening her stance to pull the connecting chain between her ankles taut.

That has to be some kind of training. Darla studied her designated instructor. She’s the expert here; I have to learn the same skills.

“Hello, my name is Katrina, Trina for short. I’d normally welcome you to the Center, but considering your unexpected arrival that might not be the best way to start. I ask that you be patient and allow me to complete my assignment before you start with the questions. I’ll try to provide you with as much information as I’m permitted. Please don’t ask me to ignore my directives for this presentation. Under no circumstances will I disobey my master, or the Wardens designated for my supervision while in the Secure Area.”

Darla could hear the firm conviction in her tone. She had come across women like Trina before in her forays into the world of alternate lifestyles. A man’s property, and it wasn’t just an allegorical phrase. Trina’s commitment was total, unshakeable and on display for all to see.

The Center was a closed society of absolutes. If Trina was an example of what was possible, then Darla had much to ponder about her own feelings. Is it possible, could I one day be standing there in Trina’s place?

“This is ridiculous. Count me out.” Alisha went back to sit on her bunk.

Trina reacted as if someone had just slapped her. Darla caught the momentary recoil in shock before she recovered. Nor did Darla miss the look of disgust directed at Alisha. I bet that broke just about every rule in the book, Darla thought.

Trina switched her gaze to Darla. Seeing virtual perfection Darla felt clumsy and inadequate. As best she could, she imitated the image facing her. Back straight, head high, meet her eye to eye, don’t flinch or look away, all small details but she had nothing else to go on in the way of proper training. Trina indicated with a slight nod that Darla’s efforts were acceptable.

“To begin, here is what you need to know today. First, and foremost, always do as you are told. Obedience to authority is not a matter of choice. Never forget, not for one second, the men here are in charge. You, me, we have no rights. There are no legal protections to hide behind. If you think I’m joking, take a look around you. The men here have the means, and I assure you the willpower, to ruthlessly enforce our rules by any means they choose.”

Alisha snorted. “Oooh, I’m so scared.”

Trina closed her eyes. Darla was sure she could hear the silent count to ten behind the effort to remain calm. “You should be scared. You have no idea what they are capable of. Before you laugh it off as a bluff think of this. No woman has ever left the Center before successfully completing the training program. None, zero, nada. There’s no limit to the time you’ll spend in here. Start with a bad attitude and you can count on years out of your life. However long you plan to swim against the current, sooner or later it will wear you down. Time is not on your side.”

Alisha got up and strode right up to the bars, stopping inside the blue zone painted on the floor. “That’s not gonna happen to me. The police are coming. The days are numbered for this place. Nothing you say is going to intimidate me. They’ll haul you off to jail along with everyone else.” Alisha made a show of looking Trina up and down. “Seems you’re already nicely packaged for their arrival. I hope they forget to cover you up for the perp walk in front of the cameras.”

Trina kept looking down at the floor and then back to Alisha. No question she was terrified; the trembling only confirmed it. At some point she reached the point where it was too much. Clumsily, with her hands locked behind her back, Trina knelt on the floor. Once more that frozen statue appeared, this time on her knees.

Something very bad is about to happen, Darla sensed. Trina tried to signal with her eyes that Darla should go to the floor too.

Without even thinking Darla followed Trina’s example. She did her best to copy that immovable statue. Her hands weren’t bound, so she relied on what she’d learned at Mr. G’s. Carefully she placed her hands, palm down, on her legs just above the knees. There was a brief nod from Trina. That must be the right way. Then Darla heard the outer door open.

Unacceptable After the last strap was pulled tight, Darla’s head was pressed firmly into the padding on the table. She and Alisha had been brought to this room without any explanation, though considering Alisha’s behavior none was necessary. It was decorated in a medical motif, white walls, tile floor, and mysterious electronic devices strewn across a counter to one side. Two of the Wardens had lifted her up onto an examination table equipped with an impressive array of restraints. It didn’t take long before she was all but immobilized by padded leather cuffs around her ankles and wrists, combined with wide leather belts across her legs, arms and torso. The finishing touch was a strap across her forehead, held in place by another under her chin.

One of the Wardens, she recognized him as the van driver from her trip, walked around her table, inspecting the results. “She’s ready. Let’s get the other one on the table.” He walked over to Alisha and took the place of one of the Wardens holding onto her.

That extra Warden turned back to Darla, leaned over and whispered to her, “Listen carefully. I will not repeat myself. What’s about to happen will be stressful, but at no time will you be in any danger. Remain calm and you will be fine. I will be watching over you at all times, to keep you safe from harm. You will not speak until I give you permission.”

His words were both ominous and reassuring. Something extremely unpleasant was coming, yet she wasn’t afraid. It was her weakness for power, taken not given, expressed in his low yet confident voice when he encouraged her to relax. I will be watching over you, that phrase had a soothing effect on Darla.

Meanwhile Alisha was struggling with her two guards, trying to prevent them from tying her down. The Warden she recognized, he appeared to be in charge, leaned over and spoke in a firm tone of voice. “Knock it off! You’re not helping yourself by resisting.” He pointed back to Darla. “She’s smart enough to figure out fighting us isn’t going to stop this from happening. You can learn from her example.”

It seemed to work. Alisha gave up and held still while the straps went on. He nodded in approval. “That’s better.”

He backed up so that both women could see him. “You two need to learn, quickly, that life in here is far different compared to the outside world. There are regulations to govern how we all act, especially you. There are consequences, immediate ones, if we fail to respect those rules. In a moment you’re going to find out what happens when you choose to exhibit unacceptable behavior. I want to impress on you, we have no patience, no tolerance, no leniency on this matter. If you want to challenge us, go ahead. We have the time to repeat these corrections as often as needed. Ask yourselves, is it worth the effort?”

The Warden standing next to Darla leaned over her again. “Is there anything you’d like to say?” he asked.

“No, sir,” she whispered, with a quiver in her voice. Despite his reassurance the fear of the unknown weighed on Darla.

He laid a hand on her shoulder. Leaning down he spoke softly in her ear, “Remember what I told you. We are always there for you. No matter what, don’t be afraid.”

Alisha was next. Robert stood to one side, studying her while she was stretched out on the table. “What about you? I’m sure you have plenty to say?” That much was obvious from the expression on her face. It was a good sign that she was holding back, waiting to be allowed to speak, instead of launching into an angry tirade.

“Whatever you’re planning, you won’t get away with it. Sooner or later, we’ll be found and then you’ll have to answer for your crimes. I can’t stop you but I won’t give in to intimidation. Do your worst; I’ll survive and come back stronger for it.” For emphasis she shouted out her tirade.

Brave words, but to Robert it was obviously a bluff. Behind that defiant front she must be terrified. Stripped of clothing, tied down, completely helpless, the stares of the men around her, there must be countless gruesome scenarios running through her mind. It was best he put to rest the worst of her fears.

“Your behavior up to now has been reprehensible. Lack of respect, talking out of turn, refusing to follow instructions, failure to adhere to even the simplest of rules, none of this is acceptable. We expect better of you. You will reflect on the wisdom of defiance while in solitary confinement, what we refer to as a ‘time out’. Concentrate on how disappointing you’ve been, and how you will strive to do better in the future.”

Robert went to the far wall and slid open two panels, revealing deep recesses shrouded in darkness. Darla went in head first, when the Warden next to her slid the table top off the gurney onto the shelf built into the wall. She heard the click of rollers when he pushed her all the way in.

Your Master Requires Your Commitment · Part 1 (1/4)
Next