As I see him turn the corner and position himself in the doorway, I run. I am weak, this I know. But I hold firm to the element of surprise and run with all my might hoping I knock him off, and aim for the door.
It works! I feel his enormous body as I trample him in the dark, and then stumble my very naked self to the door.
I breathe a sigh of relief when I see lock is not on, and I walk down the dirty sandy steps. I rub my hands on the wall of the stair case as I try to walk as quickly as possible but also as steady as possible. Falling down an unknown amount of stairs in my frail position is not beneficial, in fact it might be lethal.
I make it to the step that is not a step but the ground, and look ahead to see an open door way showing the city lights far in the distance.
Freedom, I can almost smell it. All it would take is the help of a kind bystander and the police will take me home. I let go of the wall and step toward the barely lit abyss only to realize that I was almost free. Almost is not quite anything. I don’t honestly remember anything after darkness completely overtaking me.
I wake up to find Jessie sitting in a chair beside a mattress I am laying on.
“Miss Evergreen.” She hums, “I believe there may have been a communication problem.” She snickers as I slowly get up looking around me. Failure sinks in as I see that I am back in the nook that is my space. “Miss Evergreen, perhaps I was unclear earlier, allow me to elaborate. You are never going to leave, not alive.” I lay still on the mattress. It is softer than the hard floor I had been sleeping on. “I will only say this once, so please pay attention. You were chosen, Miss Evergreen. Chosen.”
Her voice annoys me, it fills me with anger I never thought I could feel, “That means that after Domino selected you, we did a complete and thorough background search to establish our parameters with you. We have analyzed every inch of your life. I know exactly when you are likely to give up, and I know how to motivate you as well as how to crush your spirit. We know everything about you.”
“I hate to be a drag, Jessie, but I don’t even know me.” I snap as I roll over pulling myself up.
“Oh, I’m glad that spunky spirit is still there; Domino will be glad to hear it.” She smirks before standing up for her usual walks as she monologues, “Miss Evergreen, you don’t know yourself because you were too busy being you to notice.” She chuckles, “We knew when you would feel the need to escape, we knew how you would plan it. That is why the other members left. We also know that you most likely will try again in some time, so we have placed all the necessary contingencies.” She then walks to the window, or the hole meant to be a window, “If you think that leaving this house will be your salvation, I am here to inform you that the city we are residing in was chosen because everyone here owes Domino something and thus he owns them. No one would dare mess with his companion, so even if by some miraculous event you manage to leave the house without our consent, no one will assist you.”
“Leave without consent?”
“Oh, I knew that would stand out…” She smiles then returns to her little chair, “Yes, when Domino believes you are ready to walk outside, and this will take time, you will be granted trips. But after the attempt you played last night, I’m afraid that took you back a few steps, well maybe a few more than a few.”
“How could…”
“No need for explanation.” She snaps her fingers to silence me, “Now, are you satisfied with knowing you cannot leave without permission.”
I glare at her in disdain, knowing she has her remote hidden away and if I don’t reply, I will get zapped, “I am.” I firmly reply.
“Good.” She grins as she cleans off her skirt, “You will have a few days to rest as Domino has business to attend to.” I lay back and turn my back to her loathing her existence wishing her a horrible and painful death. A death filled with disgusting insects crawling all over her pristine clothes and nesting in her well-groomed hair. A death encapsulated with a million red button zaps that have her begging for her imminent demise.
“Miss Evergreen,” Jessie chimes as she stops by the doorway, “Why did you desire to leave last night?” “Why don’t you tell me since you all know me better than myself.”
A burning wave that covered my body shakes me from head to toe. A painful soar throughout my skin and when the heat dissipated, the throbbing of a torn body remains on the mattress, motionless.
A zap me for my sass, an action I instantly regret. She stands silently awaiting an answer.
“I heard Domino coming for a session,” I gulp, “I was in pain from earlier that morning and the days before that. I knew I was not allowed to show pain and didn’t want to be zapped. I just wanted to not hurt from him.”
Jessie turns to face to the wall then again to me, “You were examined by a doctor while you were unconscious. He gave Domino instructions regarding his sessions with you. It appears that you have been overworked and that would not please Domino in the future, so he has given you this week off to recover. And in the future, you are to communicate any pain that prevents you from pleasing him sexually. Am I understood?”
I nod just so she will shut up and leave. Her whiny voice is too much for any abused human to bear. Just go away is all I can think about.