by Simone Leigh
“What now?” asks Richard. “I’d like to get Beth home.”
“Perhaps one of the police cars?” I suggest. “Now that Charlotte knows we’re here, and the police too, maybe she’ll show up.”
Richard vanishes with Beth, all but holding her upright as she sags into his arms.
Will Stanton leans in through the window. “You two happy to stay here, visible? I’ve got patrols out there, looking for her. I think it’s best if you are where she can see you easily.”
James and I wait….
And wait…
And Charlotte does not appear. Neither of us wants to suggest the obvious.
Eventually, my gut grinding, “Perhaps they caught her again.”
James nods, looking down, fingers pressing the bridge of his nose. “Perhaps.”
“Let’s stay until daylight.” I suggest. “If she is out there somewhere, and can definitely see that it’s us….”
But as the sun rises, and the long morning light draws fingers over the wild land, there is still no sign of her.
Neither of us has slept, so Will assigns an officer to drive us back to the City. Richard is there, waiting, his jubilation over Beth’s return over-shadowed by the loss of Charlotte. “You two need to sleep. I’ll make sure that the phones are manned, and, you never know, so I’ll keep someone watching the tracer sites.”
As I collapse into a troubled sleep, my dreams are haunted by visions of my wild, green-eyed red-headed beauty….
…. James and I, ready to make love with her, her smile bright as she sees us, there to fuck her. She lies back, writhing and stretching while she stares up at us, parting her legs in invitation….
…. I hold her tightly in front of me, my arms hooked under hers, tensioning her for him. Her whole body strains as I pin her tightly, and he pushes her thighs apart to plant his mouth over her sweet pussy…. I watch as he laps at her, his tongue wiping through her folds as she runs hot and wet, her juices flowing as her arousal builds. Her body shivers against mine, and in the mirrors, she watches me behind her, her eyes wide and dark as orgasm claims her….
…. she wails and howls in climax, never holding back, simply riding the wave as she bucks and jerks against me….
…. her wicked smile, and her eyes, as her lips wrap around my shaft, working me with her tongue until I spill into her mouth.…
…. her smile as, poised over her, I push at her with my cock, teasing her cunt. I hear her gasp, feel her clench around me as I ease inwards….
…. running in the head-lights, fleeing from me, thinking I am her enemy...
I love you.
And you left me….
_________________________
Three days go by. We hear nothing.
James and I return to the area, still searching. The police report finding a small building in the woods, a couple of miles from where we first saw the running women, but it is deserted.
______________________________
James’ phone rings. He glances at the screen, frowning at an unfamiliar number. “Hello? Yes, I’m James Alexanders.”
A voice blarts at him over the line. James’ eyes widen and he waves me over.
“A red-head?” he asks……. “Yes, give her whatever she wants. Is she there? Can I speak to her? What? Fuck! No, don’t hang up. I’ll get you the card details…. Hold on….”
He waves towards his jacket, hung over a chair. “Michael. My wallet….”
Light-headed with relief, I listen in.
James reads out credit card details, pauses, then, “No, it’s not a joke. She’ll come back. Whatever she was asking for, get it and make it ready for use. I want you to put a SIM card in there, on an unlimited usage contract. You can charge it to this card. And get the battery charged up fully. I want the phone to be ready for her when she comes back. And she will come back. …. I don’t care. Use the battery from your own phone if necessary. Charge me for it. But have that mobile ready for her to use, as soon as she has it. Did she ask for anything else? Apart from the phone….?”
He taps off the connection. “That was Domestic Electrics in Barnbridge. Charlotte’s in there trying to buy a smartphone, and an expensive data package with it. Also, LED flashlights and batteries. The assistant said she kept looking over her shoulder, and then disappeared.”
I find myself taking deep breaths, trying to clear my head. James, concern in his eyes, slaps me on the shoulder. “Calm down. She’s good. And she’s operating.”
I nod. “Barnbridge? That’s, what? Ten miles from where we lost her? But it must be fifty miles away from here. We can only hope she does go back to that shop.”
“If she doesn’t return there, she’ll try somewhere else. Keep your phone handy. Think we should set off for Barnbridge?”
I ponder for a moment. “Let’s give it a few minutes. Why does she want a data package? She’s still up to something.”
Fifteen minutes later, both my phone and James’ ping with an incoming message.
“I’m coming. Don’t tell ANYONE but Richard. DO NOT tell Will Stanton or police. They have an informer. Beth back safe?”
I tap a reply.
“Yes, Beth here safe. r u ok? Where r u? We’ll come 4 u”
“NO. Ur being watched. I’m coming to u at Hswl bldg. Yes am ok. Will msg when I can. Might take couple days. Gotta stay under cover. Love u both. Sorry disobeyed you."
“Watched? Who by?”
But there are no more replies.
We stand in awkward silence. “I’m beginning to understand why she got so frustrated at being locked up, not able to do anything….” says James eventually.
“Hang on to that thought.”
__________________________
A few hours later, we both receive a single short message.
“On my way”
Then nothing for a full day, until:
“Almost there.”
And again, nothing else for some time.
And we wait…. endlessly….
__________________________
Two days later, the alarms go off. Richard glances up and around “What the hell…? Francis, is there a fire drill going on they’ve not told me about?”
“No, not today Mr Haswell. I’m just calling Security now.… They’re reporting some kind of disturbance in the basement levels….”
“Well, get them to shut off that racket!”
The alarms die down. “Um, what were we talking about? Oh, yes, how Charlotte is returning. So, she’s not told you any details at all? Just a couple of one-line messages to say she’s alright and still on her way?”
James is pacing up and down the room. Patience is not one of his virtues, and my own is wearing thin. We are both stretched to breaking point. “All we know,” he says, “Is that she wanted a top-end smartphone and flashlights.…”
“She planned to travel in the dark?”
Francis pokes her head through the door, streaming tears of laughter. For the first time in days, I’m looking at someone with real joy in their eyes.
“Er, you’d better all get down to the parking level. You’re wanted there….”
__________________________
A blue boiler-suited plumber levers up a manhole cover with a crowbar. Heaving and puffing, he rolls it to one side. “Not had to go down here for years…” he comments, then, grinning, reaches down with an extended hand. “Come on, Love. Y’know there’s a reason they call these manholes. Usually women aren’t interested in wading through three feet of shite.
He heaves, and up comes Charlotte, filthy, her hair hanging in stinking rats’ tails around her, and coated in God-knows-what over half her body.
She stands there, breathing heavily, staring at her hands. “Oh…. that was fuckin’ awful.” Then she spies me, James and Richard. ”Um, hi Guys. Sorry it took a while. The plans I had didn’t quite match the reality down there, and I had to make some diversions. Got lost for a bit. Er…. I know you’re going to bawl me out,
but can I have a bath first? I had to come through the sewers part of the way, and there were places I had to wade….”
James walks up to her, arms out-stretched. She grins, all white teeth under the filth, but apology in her voice. “For God’s sake, don’t try to touch me….” Then she pauses. ”Beth’s okay? Yes?”
Richard beams at her. “Beth’s fine. Thank you, Charlotte.”
_______________________________________________
In the apartment, Charlotte charges straight into the bathroom, strips off and steps under the shower. Her clothes are disgusting. I scoop them into a plastic waste bag and dump the lot, hovering over the laundry chute, before settling for the garbage. She herself, even under the clothes, is filthy.
In the lounge, James and I wait together. “What’s our line?” he says quietly. “How mad at her are we?”
How do I answer that?
The woman I love, abandoned me, and left me numb with fear for her….
“Hugs first.” I say. “Mad later…. Mmmm…. I’m just going to take a look at her, now the worst of the dirt should be off. See what state she’s in.”
With the shower running, dousing herself from the head downwards, facing up into the water stream, she doesn’t hear me enter. On her arms and shoulders, down her thighs, all over her body, she is covered with bruises, just fading to blue and purple. And clean, her face shows more bruising; over one cheek and eye.
Her shower has the look of ritual. She is cleaning off more than honest dirt.
“How did you get those?” I ask, nodding at the blue markings over her.
She startles, spinning to face me, then, for the first time since the day I met her, seems bothered by her nudity. She looks down, not speaking, wringing her hands together, looking down, trying to cover herself.
“Charlotte…”
She bursts into tears. I step into the shower with her, still fully clothed, wrapping my arms around her.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry….” she cries.
I rock her in my arms. “Shhh…. It’s alright. You’re safe now. And so’s Beth.”
James appears at the door. I meet his eyes, head-pointing down her body at the bruises. A rainbow of emotions crosses his face: anger, pity, sympathy, horror… “I’ll get a medic here.” he says, and vanishes back into the lounge.
He returns five minutes later. “Doctor’s coming.”
Charlotte is still weeping uncontrollably. “I’m a bit wet.” I say. “Here, you take her. Get her into bed.” I pass her to James, who enfolds her in a large towel, then carries her out. Stripping off my soaked clothes, I go in search of dry ones.
I find the two of them in the bedroom, James rocking her in his arms, kissing her wet hair. After a few minutes, her breathing steadies and she falls asleep, her head resting against his chest. Laying her back against the pillow, he pulls the covers over her.
We sit in the lounge, but keep the bedroom door open a little.
“What do you think?” he asks. “Just beaten? Or raped too?”
“Raped too, I think. When I went in there, she tried to cover herself from me.”
He snorts, a sound of bitter laughter. “What could possibly be funny?” I ask.
“She’s gone out, against every protest and effort to stop her. She’s achieved what she set out to do; Beth is back with Richard. She’s certainly been beaten, perhaps raped. She gotten home, God alone knows how…. That’s obviously what all her interest in the City plans was about, so she anticipated that too…. She’s pulled up out of the sewers…. and now she cries…” He sweeps his hands back through his hair, his expression helpless.
“Did you ask for a female doctor?”
He nods. Mmm, yes.”
There is a knock on the door. “Ah, that should be her.” But instead, it’s Richard, with Beth.
They stand, wreathed in smiles, until they see our expressions.
“James? Michael? Is everything alright?”
“She’s been beaten. She’s covered in bruises. And we think she’s been raped.”
Beth brushes past us. “Here, let me talk with her….”
She returns after a few minutes, patting both me and James on the arm. “She hasn’t been raped. But she is pretty much at the end of her resources. She’s been running for days. She was beaten while we were held, and she took some more damage while she was running, and…” She gives James a long look. “She thinks you’re going to punish her. She really isn’t in any state for that right now.”
He stares down at her, his expression blank.
“James isn’t going to punish her.” I say. James swings to face me, arms akimbo. “Are you?”
For a moment, I think we are going to argue over this, then his eyes soften. “No, she’s been through enough. Perhaps it will have taught her a lesson.”
“That, I doubt.” I say. “Let me handle it.… when she’s ready.”
Beth nods. “Right now, I’d say that what she needs, is the pair of you, and to sleep.”
Richard stands. “We’ll come back later. Give me a buzz, James, when you think she’s ready to talk.”
As Beth and Richard leave, James eye-points the bedroom. “’Hugs’ then?”
As we enter, Charlotte is sitting in bed, finger-combing wet hair. She looks up at us, then looks away. “Are you very angry with me?”
James sits beside her, kisses her on the cheek. “Yes, we are, but that doesn’t mean we’re not happy to have you back.”
I can’t quite bring myself to touch her, instead standing, watching her, my arms folded. She looks up at me, then drops her gaze. “I’m sorry.” she mutters.
I nod, lost for words. “I’ll leave you with James, eh.” And I go in search of the wine bottle.
_________________________
Charlotte
I wake to find my Master sitting beside me in an armchair, long legs stretched out, working on his laptop. As I stir, he looks up and smiles.
“Hello. How are you now? Did you sleep well?”
“Do logs sleep? Yes, very well. How long was I.…?”
“About ten hours. You were exhausted.”
“Yeah.… I’d not slept properly for a few days. I didn’t dare sleep above ground in case they found me. And I didn’t dare below ground either….”
“Why not below ground?”
“Rats. Hundreds of ‘em. Not sure what they’d do with a sleeping human body, but you read stories….”
He says nothing, just looking at me. I can’t gauge his mood, his expression. “What is it?” I ask.
His head tilts, but his eyes are soft. I don’t think he is angry with me. Then he stares up at the ceiling. “Where do I begin?” His voice is almost a sigh.
“Are going to punish me? If you are, I’d rather just get it over and done with….”
He gives me a long look. “Believe me, it came up in conversation. What you did was brave and noble on the one hand, but reckless and inconsiderate on the other. Michael was beside himself, especially when we lost your signal. Even Richard was upset. He thought that we’d lost both you and Beth. And no, I’m not going to punish you. Looking at the physical state of you, I don’t think it’s appropriate. However, I believe Michael has something he wants to say to you.
“Oh….”
“Yes, ‘Oh’….”
“Where is Michael?”
“I’m not sure. I believe he wanted some time to think. He’s pretty unhappy right now about the way you behaved.”
“But Master, there was no other way we were going to get her back. The police had no idea where….”
He eyes me. “Are you going to tell me where you got all that bruising?”
“Um, different places….”
“You’ve been beaten?”
“Yes, some, but it wasn’t too bad. I thought it would be worse….” His eyes widen, but he says nothing. “Some of the damage, I took while I was running. It was dark and I was just going pell-mell; couldn’t see where I was head
ing, just away. I kept crashing into things, trees, rocks; I tripped and fell a couple of times. Then in the sewers, there was a spot; I had to cross the stream. I was trying not to have to wade, so I jumped instead. But it was slippery. I lost my footing, fell in, banged my head…. that was the worst….”
Still he looks down at me, dark eyed. After a moment, “Was that the worst?”
A bit disconcerted, “Um, yes. Not sure what you mean?”
He speaks quietly. “Beth thought you’d been raped? Michael too. But then you told Beth, no.”
“Raped? No…” Suddenly it makes sense, his attitude, his quietness. “No, Master. I’ve not been raped…. Um… I’ll admit it came close. for a while, I thought….”
“But Charlotte, Michael said that when he saw you in the shower, you tried to…. cover up. That’s why he thought…”
“Master, look at me. I’m black and blue. I didn’t want him seeing me like that… and... and…”
“And what?”
“They took my rings, Master. The ones you and Michael gave me. They took them.”
Suddenly everything wells up in me, and the tears come again, but now he sits beside me on the bed, wrapping his arms around me, kissing my hair. “Shhh… It’s alright. It doesn’t matter. They’re only rings, bits of metal. We’ll get you new ones….”
“But they’re not just bits of metal, Master… they’re special… and they took them…”
He chuckles as he holds me. “Every time I think I’ve got the hang of women, I discover I’m still on Mars and they’re on Venus.… Charlotte…. The rings are symbols.... That’s all. If you come out of what you did with no more damage than that, you should be thankful, not crying… Now… just calm down. We can talk about things properly when you’re ready.”
All I want is to stay there, in my Master’s arms, letting him rock me, but, “I’d like to do that Master, but there’s things I need to tell you…. and Michael and Richard…”
“Yes, I know. There’s things I want to ask you, but we can spare a few minutes.” He holds me close, and I relax into the warmth of him, breathing in his wonderful perfume, musky and male.