The Cost of Freedom Is High

The Overall Plan

"Chance?" I grumbled, waking up.

A bit of sadness rushed through me when I realized that he actually was gone. It had just been a dream.

Looking down at my wrists I noticed the white bandages wrapped thick around my wrists. I groaned, throwing my head back. I couldn't believe that I had actually done that. I guess I'd been teetering on the edge.

I decided to go downstairs and just see what was going on.

DJ and Michael were passed out sleeping on the couch with their legs next to each other.

"Guys?" I whispered.

Nothing, they were out.

Making my way over to the kitchen I started up a pot of coffee. Watching it brew became the most interesting thing in the world to me for some reason. I seemed to be enthralled with it.

Boy, was I out of it.

Being that is was one of the slowest brewing coffee pots I've ever dealt with I got a bit bored and started to play with my bandaging. I pulled it off, and as I did I hissed in pain. It stung like a bitch.

These were going to be scars for sure, they were not just going to disappear. Great, as if I wouldn't have a hard enough time later down the line I know had these damn things that would always make me remember what I've gone through.

Nice.

Finally my coffee was done, and I went back out to the living room.

I sat there for a full hour and finally I'd had enough. I went straight over to the bathroom, grabbed a large bucket from in the bottom cupboard. I then brought it over to the kitchen, filled it with ice and cold water, and walked back in front of DJ and Michael.

They should know not to just be that vulnerable.

The next thing I knew I was pouring the freezing water concoction over DJ and Michael.

"Fuck." DJ exclaimed.

Going to turn and quickly run away, Michael grabbed my wrist and pulled me on top of their cold bodies.

"Ow, ow, ow, that hurts." I cried out, as Michael's fingers dug into my wrist's cuts.

"Sorry." Michael apologized.

He let go of my wrists, but wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close to his chest.

"Stop it, you're cold." I whined.

"Oh, I wonder why that is." DJ chuckled, tracing the back of my calfs with his finger.

"You were right there sleeping, did you expect me to not take advantage of that?" I questioned them.

"In all seriousness Bella, don't do it again. Your training is really going to start up and get real almost immediately and that's not going to be taken lightly at all." DJ warned me.

I frowned, and gave him a grumpy face.

"Don't give me that look." Michael told me.

I pouted a bit more to test him a bit, and that got me a slap on the butt.

"Shit." I yelled out in pain.

"Want to keep going?" Michael asked.

"No."

"Good, get up and grab us a couple towels." DJ instructed me.

"Fine." I agreed.

After he released his grip on my waist I made my way upstairs to the small closet directly across from the master bathroom. Pulling two towels from the top shelf I brought them back downstairs.

I found a shirtless Michael and DJ in the kitchen.

"Here you go." I announced, throwing them each a towel.

"Don't do it again, Bella." Michael cautioned me as well.

"I won't, I promise." I promised him.

"Okay, sit down and let's have a little chat." DJ suggested tapping the bar stool across from him.

I sat down and said "Sure."

"So our plan is to have you here for another week. It'll be about another 3 to four days on pleasure, then we'll transfer the other 3 to four days focusing on pain." Michael said, then stopped like he was looking for a reaction.

"Yeah?" I replied in a questioning tone of voice.

"Don't worry, you'll love it." DJ told me.

"No offense, but there's a bit of doubt in me about that." I told him.

"No need for that." DJ said.

"Anyways after that we're going to bring in someone to test you and make sure you've got everything down before we bring you back to Chris and the other guys." Michael informed me.

"Let me guess, it's a singer." I stated.

"I'm not going to tell you, it's all a part of the big plan, princess." Michael told me.

"Ah." I muttered.

"Sound good?" DJ asked.

"Do I have a choice?" I replied.

"Absolutely not, it's just a conversational piece." DJ told me.

"So what's the plan for the rest of the day?" I wondered.

A smirk popped onto Michael's face.

"I think it's time we got you wet." Michael taunted.

Shit.