Page 42 of Payback
I emitted a frustrated groan, shifting slightly on the plush pillow beneath me. At the very least, I was lying in a relatively comfortable spot. He could have confined me to a cold, basement-like room, devoid of any soft surface to rest on or shield me. In some peculiar way, this was a small mercy I reluctantly embraced. However, it failed to usher in sleep. I tossed and turned, yearning for the familiarity of my own home. Yes, it had its shortcomings, yet it was a space I had chosen and cherished. It trumped being caged, a stark reminder of how drastically my worth had plummeted. The irony wasn't lost on me, though. Who was the doggy now? I blinked, discerning the slender iron bars before me. At least this prison featured an open door. In an actual prison, I wouldn’t have a door to freedom.
"Just 30 days to go," I whispered, offering myself a semblance of solace, though it did little to alleviate my unease. I shifted once more, shut my eyes, and willed myself into slumber. However, it was close to morning before I finally succumbed to sleep.
Chapter 22
-Jared-
When the timer on my phone started beeping, I woke up with a smile. I sat up, feeling an intense urge compelling me to go check if Alison was indeed in the room where I had left her. Not that I believed she could have escaped, but the reality of having the tyrant confined and ready to serve me was still sinking in. Swiftly, I put on some pants before leaving my bedroom and opening the door to the blue room. As I switched on the lights, I found Alison asleep in the cage. Approaching silently, I could take in her entire form. Wrapped in the dog blanket, she was curled up in sleep. The lights were dimmed to set the right atmosphere, and I moved away from her to retrieve the items I had left on the floor yesterday. Gathering her belongings, I relocated them to the bathroom and organized everything. A glance at the mirror showed me smiling—a rarity in recent years. I was remarkably content with how things had turned out. Yet, as my satisfaction grew, Vince’s words echoed in my mind.
Good, then I have nothing more to say. I’m just making sure you know that these things can sometimes take over, make us want to prolong the sweet pain because even to us it’s addictive. We understand pain, and once it takes on a pleasing taste, that's when we truly cannot stop inflicting it.
I savored the pain, but I wasn’t about to succumb to addiction. Once the month concluded, once the sand had trickled through the hourglass, I would be done with Alison Brown. I’d send her back home, let her revel in a day or two of temporary freedom, believing she’d never have to lay eyes on me again. Then, I’d unleash everything upon her. She’d face imprisonment, lose her social circle and family. Her existence would be reduced to insignificance. She’d experience the agony I had endured, and there’d be no escape for her. Vince had been wrong. I had the power to release her. My ultimate desire was to put an end to this entire scheme. Once Alison was brought down, there’d be no more haunting monsters from the past to slay. Only the present ones that Vince had dispatched me to eliminate. Clearing my uncertainties, I placed down her bag and entered the blue room. I clasped my hands together, startling Alison from her slumber. She sat up, momentarily disoriented. As her gaze locked onto mine, she emitted a weary sigh.
“You’re not exactly the sight I’d choose to wake up to in the morning,” she mumbled, providing an unintended amusement.
“Come on, let’s grab some food, and then we’ll pick up where we left off,” I proposed.
“Screaming at each other?” she retorted.
Crouching down, I unlocked her cage, my smile unyielding as I shook my head.
“Unless that’s your newfound kink,” I taunted.
“Very funny,” she retorted with dry sarcasm.
I removed the lock, swung open the gate, and as it was no longer obstructing the way, I was met with an unexpected scene. A realization struck me as I witnessed Alison rousing from her slumber, her imperfect human state exposed. No one could maintain a movie-star appearance constantly. Yet I hadn’t anticipated how the disarray of her tousled hair and the remnants of sleep clinging to her face would endow her with a certain relatability.
“What’s the matter?” she asked when my gaze lingered.
Shaking my head, I motioned for her to exit the cage. She complied, and I fetched her some clothes. While I appreciated her nudity, I preferred her covered when she was cooking. Although I intended to leave marks on her skin, I didn’t want hot grease to be responsible for any unintended burns. Returning with a fresh set of attire, I held it up for her. Her reaction was one of shock, surpassing the level of surprise elicited by the simple apron.
“Where did you get this outfit? A store for adult entertainment?” she mockingly quipped.
I chuckled, then surveyed the surroundings. “Where do you think most of it comes from?”
“Am I supposed to be your maid today?” she questioned, her fingers gripping the upper edge of the dress.
The dress didn’t quite fit together. It consisted of a skirt and a tiny black shirt that barely covered half her breasts, with the skirt featuring a small, classic white apron sewn into the black material, offering minimal coverage.
“You’re my slave, and this house won’t take care of itself,” I replied.
“You do realize the immense size of your house, right?”
“I’m aware.”
“I’m just one person.”
“I’m aware of that too,” I reassured her.
“And here I thought this was where I was going to stay,” she murmured.
“What gave you that impression? Now get ready.”
I gestured for her to head to the bathroom, signaling for her to dress and brush her teeth. She didn’t take long, returning in the absurd clothes that could hardly be called an outfit. I knew she didn’t feel adequately covered in it.
“Put your hands behind your head,” I instructed.
“I thought I was a maid, not a criminal you were arresting,” she retorted with sarcasm.
