From Chains

Chapter 2: Hunger

I hop out the truck and pull up the garage-style warehouse door. It's an abandoned factory. A typical sight in Hellenburg.

I reverse my truck into the warehouse and close its giant door. Now that I'm out of sight, I'll be able to unload the materials without worrying about the cops showing up.

I open the truck's cargo doors. The girl shields her eyes from the bright light. I forgot how dark it gets in here. I figure that now is as good a time as any to show what will happen to her if she tries to escape. Time to set a trap.

I walk over to her side of the hold. Her gaze is locked onto me. She has eyes like saucers.

I grab her wrist to unlock the cuffs. She's trembling in my grip.

I pull her to the edge of the truck. "I've got to take care of something. Your work starts when I get back."

"Okay, Master," she says so quiet that I can barely hear.

I step off the truck and head around the back. I take my time weaving between the rusty machines. The factory floor is huge, but I made sure that there was an exit door just across from her. I position myself in view of the door. When she goes for it, I'll nab her and teach her a hard lesson about trying to escape.

I wait and wait, but there's no sign of her. It's not long before I'm fiddling with the knick-knacks around me.

Where is she? Did she sneak out another way? Shit.

I take a new path around the factory, careful not to make a noise. I get in view of the truck. She's still there. She's just sitting where I left her. Her knees are by her chest, and she's rubbing her wrists. She looks... defeated. Like she's got nothing left.

I guess she'll be less trouble than I thought. I make my way towards her.

She perks up as she hears me. Her eyes land on me, and she rises to her feet. She keeps her head down, waiting in the exact same pose which I left her.

I step passed her, entering the truck's cargo hold.

I rummage around the boxes until I find what I'm looking for - the shock bracelet. I didn't go into this completely unprepared.

"Pipsqueak," I call.

The small human makes her way over.

I grab her arm. She's shaking and her breathing is heavy. I put the bracelet around her wrist, but she pulls away before I can lock it.

"Human!" I shout. She back peddles away from me.

I grab her arm and yank her forward with so much force that she falls at my feet. I hold her arm up and lock the bracelet in place.

I need to be firm with her. She tries to stand, but I push her back down. She needs to know that I mean business.

"You are my property, which means you do as I say. That bracelet tells me exactly where you are. You better get used to it, because it's never coming off. If I decide I need to punish you, it will deliver a painful electric shock. Since you've already been disobedient, I think it's time for a demonstration-"

"No, Master. Please don't, Master," she blurts out, interrupting me. "Master, I won't disobey. I'm sorry. I really am. Please, Please don't-"

"Alright, alright, calm down." I pull her to her feet. "Relax. I won't shock you." I may have been a bit too harsh.

It takes a moment for her short breaths to return to normal.

"All these boxes," I motion around me, "need to be unloaded to the building outside that door." I point to the door connected to the alley between the buildings.