III
I awoke crying out in the darkness. I was still chained to the ring in
the floor.
Her voice came from the velvet darkness.
"Why do you cry out M - 5?"
I paused, uncertain of speaking.
"You may speak. What frightens you in the darkness?"
"I thought I was alone. I'm sorry I spoke without permission
Controller."
"You lost someone you loved didn't you?", was her quiet question.
"How could you know that?", I howled.
"I know. I know your mind and your soul. You endure the pain, because
you know pain. Your soul is far from peace and your spirit is in torment.
"I know your pain. When the time comes you will offer it to me. But you
still have much to prove."
A light flickered in the darkness.
She approached me, illuminated by a single candle. She was wearing a
sheer black robe. She gazed down at me, with pity in her eyes. After a moment
she turned away from me.
"I will never leave you..."
The candle went out and I was again in darkness.
Time passed. And as time passed, so did the fear.
How strange that I should trust someone who had given me so much pain.
Through a high window I could see the darkness give way to the gray of
dawn. I suppose I fell asleep again when I was again awakened by a warm stream
of water. I looked up to see her standing over me, holding her robe aside,
pissing on my helpless body.
She stopped when she saw me watching.
"Open your mouth M - 5. I have a gift for you."
I hesitated, perhaps too long to suit her. A cold gleam came into her
eyes.
"You refuse to obey me?"
I opened my mouth, closed my eyes, and waited for the acrid stream.
It never came.
Instead I tasted apple juice, sweet and warm.
"You see M - 5, obedience can be rewarding. Oh someday you will beg for
my hot wine, but not now. You must earn that privilege."
She walked out of the room and returned in a few moments in a red body
suit, and carrying a hood.
She quickly placed the hood over my head and secured it to my collar
with a small lock. Unlocking the floor chain she ordered me to my feet.
When the hood was removed I was in a proper bathroom with a shower and
toilet. On the counter was a tray of food and an hourglass.
After removing my restraints she turned the glass over.
"Eat and wash yourself. I shall return for you when the sand runs out."
The door closed and I heard a bolt slide and lock.
I ate quickly and got into the shower. There was no soap, but the hot
water was plentiful. When I got out of the shower I looked in the mirror over
the sink. Even allowing for the distortion caused by the unbreakable glass of
the mirror, I looked a sight. I had a growth of beard at least a week old. How
long had I been a captive? The hourglass was my first actual time indicator. I
sat and watched it, trying to regain my sense of time.
She returned with the hood, leash, and collar. This time she was dressed
in a red dress, her hair was pulled back into a tight bun. At her hip hung a
long whip.
"You will follow all of my orders. Any disobedience will be punished. Up
to now, you have only been corrected. Punishment is much more severe. Do you
understand M - 5? . Nod if you do."
I nodded, and knelt before her.
"I see that you do understand M - 5. I am pleased."
I was fitted with the hood and collar and led out of the room. A few
moments later she instructed me to climb a short flight of steps and stop five
paces from the top of them.
I did as I was told.
"This is subject M -5. The subject's test results are displayed for your
approval. I will now demonstrate his pain tolerance."
The first lash startled me and I had to bite the inside of the hood to
keep from making any sound. The strokes continued until my knees started to
buckle.
"M - 5 resume your position," she commanded.
I struggled upright again and stood swaying, waiting for the strokes to
begin again.
"As you can see, the subject has a high tolerance. This demonstration
was five points over his tested rating. His ability to obey is good to
excellent. I recommend this subject for advanced training"
There was a pause that seemed like an eternity.
" Subject M - 5 is to receive advanced training starting now." she
announced.
