His Prize

Chapter 8: Playing Nice

I watch Alex work at the kitchen table. Our breakfast dishes have been replaced with electronic circuit boards and multicoloured wires. He's building something, swapping between a hot soldering iron and a computer tablet. I watch him, fascinated, partly because it's interesting and partly to distract myself from the presence around my neck.

He's wearing a white sleeveless shirt which shows off his huge arms. It's no wonder he can pin me so easily. Those arms are weapons, weapons to do his bidding, weapons to be used against me.

I wish my arms were the size of his, then I'd be able to protect myself. I wouldn't be so weak and powerless all the time. I wouldn't be stuck here with a chain around my neck. It's like fate rolled the dice and gave him everything he could dream of, while taking away everything from me. It gave him money, a warm house, tons of food. It gave him a strong body, many skill sets, a powerful military position. It even gave him me. The last part makes me shudder.

No, I can't let myself think like that. He captured me, and that will soon be undone. And fate had nothing to do with this, they took it. They put themselves on top of the world, crushing humans under their feet. They're nothing more than a greedy selfish people.

"TV ON," I command. The TV lights up and shows a bunch of parbeings bungee jumping. It feels so real that I grip the couch.

* * * * * * * *

"TV OFF," Alex commands. The screen goes dark and I return to reality.

"Hey! I was watching that," I complain.

"Well, you've had enough TV time for today."

I frown and glance at the window. The sun is setting. I gawk when it hits me that I have been watching for hours.

"You've had time to adjust," he begins, "What will it be, handcuffs or the neck chain?"

My heart sinks as I'm reminded of the chain. I was so lost in the TV show that I forgot I was even wearing it.

I contemplate the decision. The thought of the neck chain still makes me cringe, but it's definitely more comfortable, and my wrists feel a lot better. I have to choose between the fear from the neck chain and the pain from the handcuffs.

"I choose the neck chain, but on one condition."

"Oh, and what condition is that?" he asks with a smirk. He thinks I'm a joke.

"That you promise me- No, that you swear to me, that you will never ever use it to choke me or pull me by my neck, no matter how angry you are."

He looks away for a second, thinking about it.

"Okay human. You have my word."

I let out a breath in relief.

"Now click the lock shut, and handover the key," he orders in his usual condescending voice.

I'm annoyed that he's making me lock myself up. It's just a way to shame me. To prove that he has so much control over me that I'll even bind myself on his command. But I know that if I defy him, he'll just lean in and do it himself. And I definitely don't want him to put his hands near my neck again.

I choose the shame over the fear. Averting my eyes, I click the lock shut and hand him the key.

Using another padlock, he attaches the other end of the neck chain in a loop around the floor chain he installed yesterday. There's a few feet of chain between my neck and the floor chain.

Out of my TV trance, I realise I desperately need to pee. I scurry right past him towards the bathroom, paying him no attention. His new chain configuration allows me to move between the couch and bathroom unhindered.