Chad holds her hand. “You don't have to do this for me, Jenny.”
“I want to. I owe it.”
“Jenny, you don't owe me a debt.”
“Not you. Everyone here.”
*****
Richard
I offer my beautiful wife a glass. “I’m sorry, my Love, this isn’t what I hoped for, today of all days.”
“Master, we’re together. Charlotte’s back with Michael and James. That’s all that matters. Everything is fine. More than fine.”
She tilts her glass, tapping it against mine with the softest of chimes, then, watching me from under her lashes, sips Bucks Fizz in celebration of the day.
What did I do to deserve you?
Brushing my lips over hers, “You’re right of course. That’s all that matters.” And as we touch, her pupils enlarge, their black heart almost swallowing the sea-green of the irises. The scent of her assails me.
I breathe close by her, “Do you want to go back to bed?”
“Mmmm…. yes, Master. I do.”
I pull her in tight, controlling her, pressing myself against her as I nibble at an ear lobe, my swelling shaft pressuring my pants. “I’m going to massage you, run my hands all over that naked body of yours.”
Her giggle is quick and lively. “Master, I have to tell you, that’s not your hands I’m feeling.”
“Come on then,” I laugh. My palm flat between her shoulders, I push her towards the bedroom. “And take that bottle with you.”
There is a shudder. It rumbles through the floor, vibrating through the soles of my feet and rattling the bottle musically against the ice in the bucket.
What the fuck was that?
Thunder?
Earthquake?
Here?
Elizabeth is looking wildly from side to side, her fear visible, pupils now pin-pricks.
The shudder repeats.
I tap into the intercom. “Francis? What’s going on?”
Silence….
course she’s not there….
laptop, I mutter to myself while the machine flickers to life, jabbing at keys to bring up the
to
What is
sheer panic on her face ricochets through
under attack. Do as I say. Go upstairs. Stay
stay
worrying about you. You'll be as safe with Charlotte as it's
she nods, turning
elevator. Use the
the sheen of her white-faced fear is
My Love….
wrap my arms around her, kiss the top of her head. “It will be alright. You'll see. But do as I say and stay with
clinging into my shoulders and carefully, I
“Go. Find Charlotte.”
*****
James
hopes, the situation between
only people who can really hurt you, are those you love
is reading, but she’s standing up to do it. I sit with my laptop, trying to muster up the will
a shudder and a rumble, as though of distant thunder
was that?” I
Trouble?
unusual to be seen, but perhaps there shouldn’t be. The noise sounded - felt - internal to the
laptop
What’s she doing?
face heats as she sees me looking. “Um,
looking at those, and well
the security system
any other time, I’d see the funny side, although I’m not sure if Richard would, but
say. “What
The screen flicks between one area after another; the lobby,
black, faceless and masked, firing weapons. The
stand. “The building’s
turning back at the last moment to
hall, I head by reflex for the elevator, then
“Not a good idea,” he mutters, nodding at
to step out to find
are we heading?”
we’ll
race downwards, a thin stream of people are heading down with us; janitors and cleaners most of them, the odd