A Hunter's Prey

Shower Thoughts (Illumi's Visits Pt2)

I'd been here a week at this point if my calculations were correct. I began getting sick of the way I felt. Before all this, I had taken pride in the way I looked; however, I now feel greasy and disgusting. I hadn't had a shower or anything since arriving, not that I had anywhere to go. My body craved some sense of normality.

Like the walls, I'd gotten used to some sensations. One of these was the sweat from waking up in the morning. While the house seemed cold, the blankets were too warm. This left me sweating during the morning and freezing by nighttime. Another sensation was the chafing of my dress. It'd been too long since I'd felt clean.

I'd used the last of the water from yesterday to wash off any of the dried, caked blood from many many days before. I remember putting up a fight for my freedom but nothing after that. It only took a week for memories of that night to finally come to memory. I'd been drinking and dancing with my friends. It wasn't until I met a man who bought my drink at the bar.

He seemed almost normal from what I remember. The only thing out of place was a headband tied around his forehead. I remember him being attractive enough that I let him buy me that drink and get a dance. My friends were begging that I bring him home with me. I was having so much fun. I walked out to get some fresh air. That's all I remembered.

Illumi walked in while I was reading the book that happened to be on my nightstand this morning. It was one that I hadn't read as of yet. It was called Stolen by Lucy Christopher. I hadn't gotten that far when he interrupted me with a proposition.

"I'm going to give you the opportunity to take a shower," he stated while walking to the bed. "You must follow my orders." He stood at the end of the bed instead of the head. "One: You must not fight against me. It will only lead to death. Two: you cannot run away. Milluki would gladly take you instead. Three: you will not have access to anything sharp. Lastly, I will be in the same room."

The last one caught my breath. I'd have to change in front of him. The real possibility of violation happening makes everything more stressful. "All of this for a shower?" I ask while Illumi reaches for my leg with a key. Instead of a response, he unlocked the chains on my legs.

My legs feel so much better since I've gotten the chains off of them. I felt every single tingle race up my body. I'd used them so little that I'd gotten used to the feeling of numbness that they gave off. He refused to take off the chain on my arm. In fact, Illumi replaces them with ones that could be transported. He held the reins.

My body slid out of bed. Immediately, my legs gave way to my body weight. I held against Illumi for support as I almost fell to the floor. I hadn't realized that my legs might not work from lack of use.

I used his body to catch me. It was quick as he helped me to my feet. It was like I was a child learning to walk rather than a grown woman being held against her will. He didn't even try to help. He let me hang onto him until I could finally walk straight.

We did not travel far. It was only a few doors down the hall but it tasted like freedom. My feet grazed the stone cobble floor. It was a euphoric yet painful feeling. Each stone was as cold as the last. Tingles ran up my body. What would happen if I ran? The thought was fleeting. I could never run.

The bathroom was small. It wasn't a full bath like I was expecting. There was only a shower/tub combo with a cramped toilet and sink all together. There wasn't really room for both of us to stand comfortably unless one was in the shower.

Illumi stood by the door. Stood was the wrong term. He guarded the door. There was not much that he had to do beyond standing in front of it. "Do you need the chains off to change?" He asked. The thought of all my chains being off was too much. I almost broke down in tears at the thought.