Page 29 of Payback
I snapped my fingers, signaling to my girlfriends to release him. He sat up slightly, his gaze falling to his pale, slender chest, where the wound was now bleeding. Then his eyes turned toward me, disbelief radiating from them. In response, I offered a smile, sensing an indescribable sensation within my chest. Why did it fill me with such satisfaction, witnessing the wound I had inflicted? The mark I had left, declaring to all who had the privilege to engage with him. This wasn’t the way it was meant to feel. It was almost unnervingly powerful, a sensation that bordered on unsettling. Nevertheless, I kept this internal turmoil hidden. Amid laughter, I turned on my heel, my friends’ giggles trailing behind us as we departed.
Why had I acted on this impulse? What had driven me to think of such an idea in the first place? Could it have been due to the clear bruises on his body, a visual testament that others were also laying their hands on him? Admitting it to myself was an unwelcome admission, but a sinister realization took hold. It became evident that the extent of ownership I yearned to exert over Jared was profound, as though someone were intruding into my domain, seeking to claim what inherently belonged to me. As this realization dawned upon me, a shiver coursed through me, distinct from the cold. A voice inside my head posed a question: who was the true obsessive one? I shook my head, refuting the validity of that assertion. I denied the possibility that I could have ever nurtured the desire to utterly possess him. After all, he was merely an outcast, an insignificant individual. How could someone like me develop an obsession over him? He wasn’t exceptional. Although I taunted others, that small voice persisted in reminding me that no one was subjected to the same unique treatment as Jared. I let out a groan. This wasn’t the type of introspection I had envisioned to confront my internal conflicts. Instead, it led me to a dark realization that I preferred to push to the deep depths of my mind, never to be examined again.
I heard approaching footsteps, prompting me to turn my head and discover Jared had appeared. He had evidently showered and now donned all-black attire. Annoyingly, he still carried the same allure that had struck me the first time he entered my office. He held items in his hand as he approached, seating himself on the bed. I had no desire for his proximity again, attempting to shift away. However, he effortlessly pried my legs apart and pressed his knee against my right leg, further spreading me. My movements were restricted. He placed the items he carried on the bed, and as I recognized what they were, a realization dawned on me. He had brought disinfectant and a small gauze. Dampening a cloth with the disinfectant, he applied it to the wound. Despite the sting, I stifled any sounds of discomfort. Opening the packaging of the tiny bandage, he carefully placed it on my leg, ensuring the wound was tended to. This gesture puzzled me. Why bother preventing an infection? Why exhibit concern? Nevertheless, Jared had treated it silently, not uttering a word throughout the process. He proceeded to release me in the same quiet manner, and soon I was no longer bound to the bed.
“I have tasks to attend to. You’ll be confined here,” he proclaimed.
“I anticipated as much. Can I at least shower?”
“No.”
“Come on!”
“And I wasn’t referring to being locked in the room,” he clarified, leaving me bewildered by his intent.
“If not in this room, then where?” I asked, and he gestured toward the cage. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
He shook his head, then snapped his fingers. “Go on, doggy.”
I shot him a glare, remaining where I was and folding my arms defiantly.
“Must your Master educate you on the consequences of disobedient sluts?” he remarked, his tone dark and loaded with a clear warning against pushing him further. Though I was tempted to defy him, I had endured enough humiliation already. The prospect of having my backside paddled wasn’t something I was eager to experience.
“How long do I have to stay in there?”
“That’s for me to determine,” he replied.
I shook my head in disbelief that I was actually about to crawl into the cage. But where could I possibly go? I had no means to fight him off. I had surrendered myself, becoming a mere plaything at his disposal. Reluctantly, I moved toward the cage, pausing in front of it and turning to Jared. The playful glint in his eyes had vanished, replaced by an unsettling coldness. I had never witnessed such an expression on someone’s face before.
“Can I at least have something to wear? It’s cold in this room.”
“There’s a small blanket in there,” he informed me.
I glanced over my shoulder. The cage’s floor wasn’t bare steel. It had a cushioned surface reminiscent of a dog’s bed. He wasn’t mistaken. A blanket adorned with dark paw prints was laid out—an actual dog blanket. I turned back to him, almost ready to question if he was serious, but the truth was evident. There was no escape from the degradation of crawling into that cage, essentially being treated like his pet. Fucking karma.
I lowered myself to the floor, forced to crawl into the cage. I managed a final glance just as he shut and locked the cage. This wasn’t a simple latch. It was a genuine combination lock, and I was clueless about the code. He offered me a faint smile, prompting me to cross my arms over my chest in a feeble attempt to shield myself. But the shame of being confined in this cramped space was inescapable. While designed for a larger dog, I still had to hunch slightly forward to avoid hitting my head on the top. As I’d crawled inside, I’d been forced to bare every inch of myself, as he wouldn’t permit any covering. Every aspect of this situation was degrading, and he was fully aware of that.
“See you soon,” he remarked, rising to his feet.
“How soon? Jared! How soon?” I called after him, yet he offered no response. He unlocked the room’s doors and departed, making no effort to lock them again. After all, why would he? I was trapped.
Chapter 16
-Jared-
The sensation of elation spread through my chest as I witnessed Alison entering the cage. The sight exceeded my expectations. Watching her naked and coated with cum as she crawled into that cage was a true delight. Sometimes reality indeed outperformed even my most hopeful imaginings. It was undeniably gratifying when such moments occurred. Regrettably, I couldn’t remain with Alison all day. I had arrived at her house rather late to retrieve her. While I had already subjected her to torment, I still had work to attend to. Heading to my room, I gathered what I couldn’t find in the playroom. Proceeding to my walk-in closet, I entered a small code on the keypad beside what appeared to be an ordinary mirror. As the mirror slid aside, a collection of weapons was unveiled before me. I selected a holster, securing two guns within it, and I attached a substantial hunting knife to my thigh before closing the concealed compartment. Grabbing a jacket on my way out, my phone began ringing just as I descended the stairs. I paused, observing the unlisted number on the caller ID. With a sigh, I realized I was running a bit late. I answered the call.
“I’m on my way,” I declared.
The caller didn’t respond. Once I had uttered those words, they promptly hung up. This was to be expected. Extended conversations over the phone weren’t a preference for them. The potential for sensitive information to be recorded was a significant concern. Leaving the house and securing it behind me, I collected my helmet from the garage and donned it before approaching my bike. Starting the engine, I set off toward a more secluded area, far from prying eyes and ears. In the distance, I spotted a mansion, ensconced within a forest, emanating an aura far from welcoming. Though it was a place I could reside once more if I desired, I had left it behind a while ago. There were other matters demanding my attention, and while I understood the necessity of answering the summons, it wouldn’t deter me from pursuing my ultimate goal: revenge.
Pulling up in front of the imposing iron gate adorned with a prominent V on its two halves, I used the intercom and was granted entry, proceeding up a lengthy gravel road. The imposing dark brown mansion loomed ahead. Numerous lights illuminated the front, yet the interior remained cloaked in shadows, as if the household was in slumber. I knew Vince, a night owl himself, wasn’t sleeping. He operated more actively during the nocturnal hours, reflective of his shadowy realm. Parking my bike, I turned off the engine, dismounted, and gazed up at the grand mansion after removing my helmet. Each time I returned, the past resurfaced, reminding me why I had fundamentally changed. In a peculiar way, it had saved my life while also killing a part of me.
The rain cascaded down upon me as I stood perched on a small bridge. The drop wasn’t particularly significant, yet the water below surged with speed, the current powerful. I knew the instant the water captured me, I’d be pulled under. The chill might even aid the process. I pleaded for it to be swift. The ache in my heart had become unbearable. I yearned to be relieved of the torment that had been my companion. Fleeing wouldn’t offer the warmth I craved, but it would at least provide an escape from it all. I wasn’t returning. The endless torture, wherever I turned, was done. I had simply had enough. Alison Brown and my father emerged victorious. I desired release from this wretched existence, this world that had become insufferable. I was ready for the end. I just needed to summon the courage to relinquish my grip on the iron bar I clung to.
I leaned forward slightly, yet the courage to truly end it escaped me. Though this thought had haunted my mind for a considerable time, this marked my first try. Surprisingly, I had endured this pain for so long, nearly reaching 18. How could one bear so much pain without crumbling? I wasn’t certain, but I could no longer persist. On this dark, frigid night, my demise awaited. I shut my eyes, hardly registering the intensity of my shivers. This was what I wanted, I reminded myself, yet the survivor within me disagreed. He insisted it wasn’t time. We could escape from this dark abyss if we so desired. We only needed to endure until graduation. We had the chance to break free. However, who could ascertain if a brighter future awaited us? Perhaps this was all there was. Maybe this was my destiny. To bow to others, subjected to repeated harm. I was the world’s punching bag, yet now I yearned for that role to cease. I was prepared to let go and find freedom.
Drowning in my thoughts, I remained oblivious to my surroundings. The gleam of headlights in the darkness and the sound of a car door opening went unnoticed. It wasn’t until a voice broke the silence that I realized I wasn’t alone.
