Sweet Licorice

Chapter 2 - The Companions

TW: Involuntary Pelvic Exam. Nothing too major.

EDITED//:

Stephanie's POV:

The training was indeed rigorous, painful and extremely exhausting, but most of all it was frightening.

During my first day here, Miss Madeline had made it very clear we were not to speak unless spoken to, so I hadn't asked any of the staff exactly what we would be training for or what being a 'companion' even means. But one of the other girls had, her name was Nora and unfortunately she was forced to be an example of what happens when we don't obey the rules, and she recieved three lashings with the rod for speaking.

I had received lashings three times, twelve lashes in total. Turns out the reason for the rod was that it really hurt, badly but it didn't leave much of a mark, just a super thin line bruise that faded after a few days due to the size.

But anyways, although we had not been told what a companion was, through our training I had begun to get a rough idea of what it meant to be one.

We were trained to cook, to clean, to pamper them, to follow our 'buyer' around and obey their every command. That is what they called the people we were being sold to, our 'buyers'.

From all of that, it seemed like we were meant to be a house keeper, or a house wife, or a slave even.

The most frightening part however, was when all the females were forced to get pelvic exams, and then we were seperated according to... experience I guess you could say.

It was one of the most dehumanising moments of my life, especially when one of the matron nurses mentioned the fact that 'untouched girls like you, are worth much, much more.' Like I was a prize pig or something.

Then we were made to attend a sort of sexual education class. It was reminding us all of safe sexual practices, using protection and what not, and thankfully it was said that it was not expected of us, but if it happened to occur we needed to be safe in order to not make the 'buyers' get anything they can complain about.

After all, Miss Madeline's main motto was, 'Always remember, The House has a reputation to protect.', so if any of us caused a complaint, we were told to expect the worst consequences, whatever that meant.

The more time I spent here the more obvious it became that this was a big money thing going on here. This wasn't some skeevy underground kidnapping ring, this all seemed certified, funded and official. Everything was new and expensive, every worker was dressed smartly, and there were what seemed to be legitimate Doctors, and educators and everything. It was the most bizarre thing.

Even after being here for a while, and I can't even tell how long that is anymore because they won't tell us the date or time or anything, it is all still so confronting and incomprehensible.

All the people here act like it's so normal, even the doctors who do the weekly check ups. I was honestly convinced any minute I was going to wake up and realise this was all some long and weird fever dream or something.

"Hey... are you still there?" A soft female voice whispers, breaking me out of my thoughts as I lay on the bed in my cell.

It was already lights out, the entire facility was closed down for the night, all of us 'companions' were back in our cells, and the lights were all turned off, leaving us in almost pitch black darkness aside from the moon shining in through the glass panes on the roof. A few members of staff worked the night shift, walking back and forth up the isles or cells with a flashlight to ensure we were all sleeping.

I look up at the wall behind my bed, the voice coming from the other side of the wall. It was Nora, she was in the cell beside me, and at night we would often have whisper filled conversations. It was honestly the only thing keeping me sane through all of this craziness.

"Yeah.. I'm here." I reply hoarsely after taking a moment to make sure a nightshirt matron wasn't nearby.

"Good. You okay?" Nora replies, relief evident in her voice.

"Yeah.. you okay?" I sigh, but quickly pretend to be sleeping when I hear the distinct jingle of keys as a matron walks by, flashing her light into my cell for a moment, then Nora's before continuing down the isle.

"I'm okay." Nora whispers after a few moments when she is sure the matron is gone.

We both remain silent for a little bit, the matron making two laps before I finally speak. "What... what do you think they will be like?.. the buyers..."

I hear Nora sigh, and for a moment I think she is asleep before she speaks up, "Well.. I can't imagine really. A thing like this.. I can only think of the worst kind of people to partake in such a thing."

I nod in agreement even though she cannot see me, letting out a sigh of my own. "I know, all I can picture is some lonely old man with millions of dollars to spend on bullshit things like a buy-your-own-companion."

I hear Nora chuckle softly before going abruptly quiet, signalling to me that the matron was back, so we both pretended to be asleep for a moment as she passed again.

"I just.. I pray they are good people at least.." Nora whispers.

"I hope so too." I respond instantly, a sense of determination in my voice, like I was willing them to be good people. Nora was the only person I had in here, and if I wasn't able to physically see her during training sessions I probably wouldn't think she is even real. But she is the only person I can say I have gone through this with, I had to hold on to the hope that we would both go to good people.

After my words we didn't say anything else. Just laying in a solemn silence as we slowly fell asleep.

***

"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Rise and shine, new recruits!" Miss Madeline's booming voice startles me awake, causing me to sit up abruptly in my uncomfortable single cell bed.

"Today is the day! You will be cleaned, dressed and prepped for this evening. I expect you all to be on your best behaviours, you know the rules and you know them well so I do not want to see a singular flaw, am I understood?" She bellows.

"Yes Miss Madeline." We all respond in unison, moving to stand up straight at the entrance to our cages, to avoid lashings.

"Good. I'm sure you are all very excited for this evening. Do you know what today is?" She says teasingly as she walks up and down the isles, her voice echoing throughout the warehouse.

"No, Miss Madeline.." Some of us respond hesitantly, including myself.

"It is Auction Day. You are ready to be sold."

***

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hi, haven't got much to say other than I hope you are all having a wonderful day/night so far and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Love, Ang3l.