The Occupation [Hiatus]

Dover and Rehoboth

"You actually sent troops to Dover?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly as I did so, causing me to become more upset with myself than I already was. I was acting so weak and pathetic.

"We don't make threats we don't follow through. You refused to obey willingly, so we have to take drastic measures to force you to. It won't be our fault if anyone dies. It'll be yours Delly." The guard said. I tried to convince my brain that it wasn't true, that it wasn't my fault. But how could I? It was my fault. I was pathetic. I couldn't help my people. I couldn't protect them.

"Please let me help them." I said in a small voice. I was so angry and disappointed in myself. I shouldn't be begging like this. These were my own people. I shouldn't have to beg them for an opportunity to do my job. They were right. Da would hate me. He probably does.

"What would you do to get us to remove the troops in Dover?" The guard asked, grabbing my jaw and forcing me to look him in the eye. I swallowed down my shame and my tears.

"Anything." I said, the words feeling awful and heavy in my mouth, "I would do anything. Please just remove the troops."

The guard smirked and I felt sick. I wanted to cry, but I had already cried so much in front of the National Guard, and I didn't want to do it anymore.

"We'll talk to Governor Terry about what you should be required to do. I'm sure he'll be happy you are learning to listen more." The guard said before leaving the room, locking the door and leaving the same stone faced guard in front of it.

I swallowed, before leaning back into the bed. Well, calling it a bed was generous, as it reminded me more of a cot. I would have tried to walk around the room, to ease my crushing anxiety, but I just felt too weak, my limbs shaky. The crushing anxiety was accompanied by a wave of nausea, and I feared that if I stood up, I would throw up.

I put my hand over my mouth and turned my head away from the guard, trying to hide the sound of my sobs.

I felt pathetic. I felt weak. I hated this. I hated myself for letting this happen. I hated myself so much. I waited to curl up in a hole and die, and let my people have a better personification.

My sobs got louder as I became unable to suppress them. I pulled the sheets over my head, wanting to hide from the guard as shame and embarrassment filled my body.

"I'm sorry." I muttered as my body began shaking, the suppressed sobs causing it to shake like a leaf in the wind. With that quiet apology to my people, I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep, hoping to hide from the shame.

I hated Terry. I hated the guard. I hated myself.

I really, really, hated myself.

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"Wake up!" I heard a voice shout as I was slapped. My eyes opened and I shot upright, almost bumping heads with the guard who had woken me.

"Good afternoon Delly." I heard Terry's voice say. I turned to face Terry, trying to hide the shaking in my body. I couldn't let him see the fear. But I was so scared of what he would make me do.

But I had too. For my people.

"Terry." I responded, trying to keep the hatred out of my voice.

"Well now Delly." He said, causing my remaining nausea to grow, "I know you have convinced yourself that you have to hate me, but please, learn how to treat your superiors. You said you would do anything to help Dover? Call me governor. Treat me like your superior."

My body froze. I felt sick even thinking about doing that. But I didn't have a choice.

"Okay...Governor Terry." I said quietly, looking down at my lap. Governor Terry tsked.

"Not good enough. Call me sir. Same goes with the rest of the guards. We are your superiors. You treat us with respect." Governor Terry said, grabbing my head and making me face him. I nodded the best I could.

"Yes...yes..." I said, trying to force myself to say the words, "Yes sir...Governor Terry."

Governor Terry smiled.

"See? Now was that so hard?" I remained silent, feeling the shame grow and trying to force down the tears.

"Now will you remove the troops?" I asked, my voice small, and then I tensed, expecting to be hit.

"No, that's not enough yet. We still need to undo the damage America has done to you, and since you are so insistent on resisting our help, we have to resort to this. But you're being so good, giving us this opportunity to help you. Now, the next requirement. You will gag yourself whenever we ask, and only take it off when we give you permission. Understood?"

My breathing quickened as I thought about doing that. But I nodded, and Governor Terry pulled a gag out of his pocket and gave it to me.

"Well Dela? Put it on. And when you do, put it on as tight as you can. Make sure it hurts, and that it will keep you quiet." He said with a smirk.

I put the gag on, tying it tight, and trying to hide how uncomfortable it made me as the gag pulled the corners of my mouth back. Governor Terry's grin grew, and he put a hand on my cheek. Filled with disgust, and a decent amount of fear, I pulled away.

"Well Del, that's not very nice. Third rule you must follow to get me to remove the guards in Dover, you will let me and the guards touch you, and you will not fight or resist it."

I was terrified. I didn't want to do that. Not at all. But I can't put myself above my people. I nodded, and Governor Terry patted my head, causing me to feel sick.

"Good job Delly. You're doing such a good job. If you keep this up, maybe you won't be hit as much since you'll finally be undoing all the bad things your evil father taught you." My face burned in embarrassment, and I felt a few tears slide down my face.

"Aw, Del, don't cry. I know you may not like this, but that's because you have been manipulated and misled. Once we teach you how a state as great as you should act, and help you unlearn what bad things you were taught, you'll appreciate us so much." Governor Terry said, making me look at him. It took everything I had not to pull away, and I tried frantically to stop the tears, but they just kept coming faster. Governor Terry sighed.

"You insist on making things hard. You know deep down that we are helping you. I'll leave you along for a little bit, but if you can keep this up, and stop resisting us, I'll remove the troops from Dover. All you have to do is address me as Governor, and use the title sir for me and the guards; willingly gag yourself as painfully as possible; let us touch and hurt you; and, above all, obey us, and stop resisting. We are helping you Delly, we just need you to see that."

The tears were coming faster, and terror, shame, and embarrassment ran through my body. And yet, despite all my hatred of what Governor Terry was saying, I nodded. Governor Terry patted my head again.

"Good job Delaware." Governor Terry then stood up and turned to leave the room, "Check on how cooperative it is. It can say all the things it wants, but it's really whether or not it can do what it promised that matters." He told the guard before leaving. They nodded, and the one closest to me grabbed my arm and began to drag me out of the bed.

"Come on Delly. Let's put that whipping post to good use." He said. My sobs got harder and fear nearly paralyzed my body, but I still got up and began to follow the guard.

This was for my people. I had to do this for my people.