The Dead Among Us

10. First Punishment

Fabia's POV

    I've made a grave mistake. I'm realizing that now. 

Did I really think I could waltz through the gates? After Sabin warned me several times, I couldn't. 

    When I hear Sabin and the women's voices, my spirits actually lift. The Chief was terrifying; I thought I was done for.

    The way he grabbed me and threw me in the back of his van, how hard he slapped me across the face when I fought him. And that god-awful braided rope he carries around the house. I don't know what he planned to do with it, and I wasn't looking forward to finding out.  

    The door opens, and Sabin strolls in. He does not look pleased. In contrast, I'm weirdly happy to see him.

His anger is unpinpointed, though; I can't tell if it's at me or not.

    He has to understand why I tried...right?

    "Untie her, please," he asks the housekeeper with resignation in his voice. 

The bitty thing grunts as she grabs the keys to my handcuffs off a dresser.

    Chief handcuffed me to the foot of his giant glamorous bed, and I've just been sitting here in terror since, listening to the clinks and rattles of these handcuffs as I try to break myself free.

    The woman takes her sweet old time retrieving the keys, but eventually, I'm free. I jump up, massaging my sore wrists. I'm about to head towards Sabin when she seizes my forearm.

    ...What on earth?...

    I look down at her, surprised and confused. She's looking at Sabin.

    "Need me to hold her down?" she strains out in her thorny old lady tone.

    —Hold me down?!?! For what?!?!

  My eyes shoot to him in horror. 

What is she talking about? Please help me!!

To my relief, he looks just as stunned. "Ma'am?" he asks, presenting the most bizarre face.

   She disputes, "What, you're just going to let her disrupt my master's home, not to mention disrespect your authority, and let her get off scot-free?!"

"I can deal with her at home, ma'am. Thank you," he says.

As he reaches for my arm, this woman literally yanks me back, scowling at him.

  "How will I know the disturbance of our home will be dealt with? That my master's trouble dealing with your problem was correctly punished? She spat in his face, Sabin! Have both of you no respect for your elders?! "

    "I'm not a fucking child! Let me go!" I scream, ripping my arm free. It wasn't hard. She's a dainty woman, which was why I was avoiding that approach. 

    She gestures to me now with both hands, insinuating, "And now she's disrespected and put her hands on me in my own home! Will you really do nothing? The disciples will hear of this!"

    That threat drives it home for Sabin; I can read it in his face. He's shaking at this point. The woman knows she's gotten under his skin as she stands there with her hands propped on her hips. Her perfectly shaped and defined eyebrows arched up, waiting for him to do something.

    To my dismay, Sabin lifts his shirt and starts undoing his belt, not slowly, either, which makes it more alarming; he's doing it in an impulsive, angry way, like he's reached his breaking point.