Locked Together (In Chains)

by Abbott, Michelle

  It feels like an hour has passed and finally they lead us back to the dorm. I’m cold and tired. A few of the slaves are giving me dirty looks. I crawl onto my bunk and wrap myself in my blanket to try to get warm again. I don’t blame them being upset at me but surely the guards didn’t need to have the drill in the middle of the night. They’re beyond childish if they did this to get back at me for making the complaint. I close my eyes and try to get some sleep. I’m in some kind of steel refinery, everywhere I look are shiny pieces of metal. Two women and a man walk past me carrying a metal table. They put it down in the centre of the room and suddenly a crowd of people form a circle around them. Someone in the crowd hands them some short steel poles. The man starts singing, he has a gravelly voice and he’s singing a heavy metal song. They start hitting the table with the poles, the loud clanging sound forms a rhythm. It sounds good; I’m smiling and tapping my foot. The guy is swinging his head, his long black hair falls onto his face. He suddenly stares right at me. I avert my eyes, I know I’m blushing, I hate it when I’m at concerts at the singer looks at me. “Get up,” he screams. “Get up, now.” He begins banging the pole on the table. “Get up.” I open my eyes but I can still hear the clanging of the poles and then a female guard stops in front of my bunk and smacks the metal poles of the bunk with her baton. “Get up; it’s time for a shower.”

  A shower? What time is it? I stagger out of bed and line up with the others on the yellow line. Everyone seems to be yawning. It feels as if I only fell asleep a few moments ago. Two guards lead us to the showers and let ten of us in at a time. There are rusty looking shower heads protruding from the walls along the length of the room and drainage holes in the floor beneath them. There are no shower curtains. “Strip,” orders the male guard. “Put your clothes in a pile over here.” He points to a corner of the room. Both guards are standing there in the doorway. You’ve got to be kidding me; they expect me to undress in here in front of everyone, in front of men I don’t even know. Everyone but me is undressing, and I’m saddened by how thin they look. Most of them are shivering, it’s so cold in here I can see my breath.

  The female guard strides over to me, taking her baton out of her belt loop as she approaches. She taps the baton on the palm of her hand. “Disobey me and you will be punished. Strip. Now.” The look in her eyes tells me she’s serious so I swallow down my embarrassment and undress, trying to cover my private parts with my hands. We’re ordered to stand under the shower heads and face the wall. Dirty, brown water rains down on me. I gasp, it’s freezing. I step out of the way of the flow, and jump as I feel a burning pain across the back of my legs. “Get back under the shower,” the guard yells. I move back under the freezing water and look down at the red stripe forming on my legs. I let my tears flow and mingle with the shower water. The water stops abruptly. “Showers are over. Pick up your clothes and line up by the door. Move it.” I grab my clothes and line up with the other shivering slaves, no one has handed out towels, this is ridiculous. I’m pulling my t-shirt over my head when the guard yells at me, “Take that off. I didn’t give you permission to get dressed; you can do that in the dorm.” Holding my clothes in my hand I trudge back to the dorm, I can’t stop shivering. The minute the guard leaves I put my t-shirt on and struggle to pull my jeans up my damp legs.

  “This is all your fault,” shouts out one of the male slaves. “You’re the one who moaned about the fire drills. I’m cold and I haven’t had any sleep thanks to you.” Several other slaves murmur their agreement.

  I head over to my bunk. As I pass by Amy’s bed she mutters, “You’re trouble.” I curl up into a ball on my side and pull the blanket over my head; I’ve never felt so alone.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Simon

  “You’ve been staring at your sea bass for the past ten minutes.” Christina reaches across the table and rests her hand on mine. Her diamond engagement ring sparkles under the candlelight.

  I lay down my fork. “She’s been there for over a month and she hasn’t contacted me, she hates me.”

  Her brow creases. “Of course she doesn’t hate you.” She rubs her thumb over the back of my hand.

  “I should never have interfered; it’s my fault she’s in there.”

  “That’s not true.” She squeezes my hand. “Let’s go home.”

  I pinch the bridge of my nose. She’s been so understanding, I’ve been like a wet blanket to be around yet she’s still here. I pick up my fork and take a mouthful of the now cold fish, and grimace. “No, let’s stay and enjoy our meal.” I take a large sip of my Sauvignon Blanc.

  She places her hand over the top of my glass. “You’ll enjoy the evening much more if you feel like you’re doing something. You must still have the number of the slavery lawyer you hired for Savannah. Give him a call, maybe he can set up a visit for you.”

  Putting down my fork I push my plate away from me. I really can’t stomach cold fish. “That’s a good idea.” Taking my cell-phone out of my jacket pocket I scroll through my contacts till I find the lawyer. Checking my watch I see it’s 7:30 PM, outside office hours, I hope he takes my call.

  The phone is answered after a few rings and I’m pleased to hear a real voice, not an answering machine. After exchanging the usual pleasantries I get down to business. “I need to know that my sister is okay, I’ve got no way of contacting her. Could you liaise with the slave Compound and perhaps arrange a visit?”

  “I will try but I can’t promise any degree of success.”

  I take a sip of my wine. “I appreciate that but I’m not asking them to construct a visiting room. It must be within their capabilities to allow us to use a spare office; they can fill it with armed guards if it makes them feel more comfortable”

  I hear the lawyer sigh. “I understand your concern Mr Morrison and I promise I will do what I can. At the very least I will set up some way for her to contact you. Leave it with me and I’ll be in touch as soon as I have some news.”

  I pick up the dessert menu and glance across at Christina. She looks stunning; I haven’t been paying her enough attention recently. “Let’s have dessert and then we can go home and spend the rest of the evening making love.” We order peach cheesecake and polish off the remainder of the bottle of wine. She’s right; I feel more at ease now that I’m doing something.

  I’m woken by the sound of my phone ringing. Bleary eyed I fumble around on my nightstand, knocking a glass onto the floor. I eventually locate my phone and hit ‘answer’ to silence the offending noise. “Mr Morrison, it’s Adrian Briggs.” I lean up on one elbow, facing Christina and mouth to her, “It’s the lawyer.” She smiles at me before snuggling back down under the duvet.

  “I’ve just got off the phone with the manager of the Compound; you’ll be pleased to hear that I’ve been able to arrange a visit. He graciously agreed to make an exception in your case; however, you will need to be there for 10:00 AM today. Can you make that?”

  Rubbing my eyes I glance at the clock, it’s 8:45 AM, I won’t have time to shower or eat breakfast. “I’ll be there, thank you.”

  Christina looks up at me. “They agreed to a visit?”

  I quickly grab a shirt from the closet and pull on my pants. “Yes, but I’ve got to be there in just over an hour. Would you like to come along? You’ll probably have to wait in the car but we can go out for brunch afterwards. I may need some moral support.”

  She scoots out of bed to stand in front of me. “Of course I will sweetheart,” she says as she buttons my shirt.

  We’re in the car in five minutes flat and I floor the gas, it’s Sunday morning, the roads are empty. We pull into the Compound parking lot with five minutes to spare. After giving Christina a quick kiss I head towards the reception. There’s someone in front of me and from the sounds of things he’s negotiating the purchase of a slave. I’m suddenly filled with shame. My sister is here, it would turn my stomach to hear someone discussing a price for her as if she were an item, a thing, yet I did the self-s
ame thing when I purchased my slave, the man that my sister fell in love with. She’s a much better person than I am. I wrack my brain, what was his name? Keith? Kevin? Kirk? I tap my foot, this man needs to hurry up, he’s eating into my visiting time.

  My turn finally comes and the guard must have been notified about my visit because he doesn’t look surprised. He takes my I.D and then asks me to take a seat while he calls for another guard. Another five minutes go by and then I’m led to an office. A grey haired man rises from his chair and holds out his hand to me. He introduces himself as Basil Porter and puffs out his chest as he explains that he’s the manager of the Compound. I don’t like him, I can’t put my finger on it, he seems smarmy and insincere. He gestures for me to take a seat; there are two empty chairs in front of his desk. He picks up his phone. “Could you send Savannah to my office please, her brother has arrived.” He smiles at me but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “I want to assure you that your sister is fine,” he says as he adjusts his glasses. “We are well aware she is not a slave.” He stops to clear his throat. “Between you and me, she is receiving preferential treatment.”

  Someone knocks on his door, he smiles. “That will be your sister.” As he turns the handle to open the door, an alarm sounds; I cringe and cover my ears. “It’s the fire alarm. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave. I’ll escort you out,” he says.

  I stare at him. “These things are usually false alarms. I’ll wait in the parking lot.”

  He opens his office door. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible Mr Morrison. Health and safety rules you see, only slaves and staff are allowed to remain on the premises.”

  I follow him out of his office; Savannah is nowhere to be seen. “I want to see my sister.”

  “She’s been taken to a place of safety.” He strides towards the Compound entrance. “Right now I must deal with a potential fire.” He opens the main door. “I’ll accompany you to your car; someone will be in touch to rearrange your visit.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Savannah

  I didn’t think it was possible to feel any more depressed or alone, but today has proven me wrong, I was moments away from seeing Simon when that stupid alarm went off. It’s been raining all day, my wet clothes are clinging to my skin and everyone has been ignoring me. Amy is washing the dinner dishes and I’m drying them. I’ll be glad to get to sleep and put today behind me. I line up with Amy to be taken to the dorm but the guard tells me to wait here, she and Amy leave the kitchen. I wonder what I’ve done wrong. A few minutes later she returns, her face looks grim. She holds my arm. “Come with me.” She leads me out into the courtyard and past the field; we’re heading towards a large grey building. “Permission to speak please, ma’am.”

  “Go ahead,” she replies.

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “You’ve been making waves,” she says, “the boss doesn’t like troublemakers.”

  She stops at the entrance to the building and presses her thumb against the pad. I’m trembling and I feel light headed, I think I’m going to vomit. The door opens into a small lobby and ahead is another door with a thick glass panel. I jump at the sound of the door slamming shut behind me. Again, she presses her thumb against a pad and the glass panelled door opens. A male guard is sitting behind a desk, enclosed in a cubicle, surrounded by re-enforced glass. He’s balding and overweight. He heaves himself out of his chair and exits his little prison. He’s red in the face and he looks unfit. My heart is pounding, I consider making a run for it, I could out run him, then I remember the locked steel door. “I’ve brought you a new resident, number F51199GH” the female guard tells him. Is this some kind of segregation unit?

  He stares at me with his small, piggy eyes, then he goes back into his little cubicle and comes out holding some metal bands. He hands one to the female guard and she orders me to hold still as she places it around my neck and locks it. My mouth goes dry and I swallow hard. She places her fingers between the metal band and my neck. “It’s too big,” she says to the male guard. “Have you got a smaller one?”

  He shakes his head. “They are all the same size.” He reaches for a fob attached to the loop of his belt, points it at me and presses a button. My muscles twitch a little as I get a mild electric shock. The two guards look at me, and then at each other. My stomach is churning; it’s obviously a shock collar. I hang my head; I’m feeling more like an animal every day. They order me to hold out my hands and they remove my metal cuff and snap on two new ones. The new ones are heavier and thicker. I drop my hands to my sides and there’s a clatter as the cuffs fall from my wrists and hit the floor, I look down at them with morbid fascination. “Take her collar off,” the male guard says. “We’ll tell the manager we don’t have any to fit her.”

  I’m shoved into a room. My mouth falls open as I see Kayden sitting on the floor; he looks as shocked as I feel. As he scrambles to his feet, the guard plonks a bundle of grey cloth into my hands. “Put those on,” he says, leaning against the door frame. I glance down at the clothing; it’s the same shade of grey that Kayden is wearing. I catch movement out of the corner of my eye, the guard is lunging at me, he’s scowling and red in the face. I gasp as Kayden steps between me and the guard and pushes me into the corner of the room. He surrounds my body with his, shielding me, his arms either side of me, his palms flat against the wall.

  “Put the scrubs on,” Kayden says to me, “before he blows his stack.”

  “Get away from her,” the guard yells. I quickly yank off my t-shirt and pull the scrubs over my head. It’s at least two sizes too big and comes down to my knees; it’s more like a dress. As I’m tugging off my jeans Kayden cries out and his hands shoot to his neck, his body stiffens and he falls to the floor, convulsing. I scream. In a blur I see the guard’s hand coming towards my face, then I feel a burning pain on my cheek and a ringing sound in my ear. “I told you to put them on,” the guard says, pointing to the grey pants in my hand. Kayden slowly gets to his feet; he’s glaring at the guard, his fists clenched. I pull on the grey pants. “Pick those up.” The guard points to my clothes that are now on the floor. I bend to retrieve them and he snatches them from my hands. “You won’t need these anymore.” He stomps out of the room and the door slams behind him.

  Kayden, pulls me close, his arms encircle me. “What you doing here? Why have they put you in level three?”

  I throw my arms around him and bury my face in his neck. “Are you okay?” I ask him.

  He rubs his cheek against mine. “Yeah.”

  I burst out laughing, I can’t stop. “This is so funny.” I’m laughing so hard I’m shaking. “They think they’re punishing me but I’m right where I want to be, I’m finally with you.”

  I feel him shaking his head and feel his warm breath on my neck as he lets out a sigh. “Baby, you’re crazy but I’m glad you’re here where I can take care of you, I’ve missed you.”

  I reach up and hold his face between my palms. “I’ve missed you too.”

  He gives me a beaming smile. “I love you, I love you so much.”

  “Can you love each other with a bit less noise,” comes a male voice from across the room, “I’m trying to sleep.”

  For the first time I notice there are two other guys in the room. The one who spoke looks about Kayden’s age, the other much younger, just out of his teens; they’re both lying on the cement floor. I glance around the room. There are no bunks, mattresses, pillows or blankets. The room is empty. There are two bright fluorescent lights but no windows. “You guys don’t have beds?” I ask.

  Kayden shakes his head. “No, but you can lie on me baby, I’m not as comfortable as a mattress but more comfortable than the floor.” He takes my hand and leads me over to a corner of the room, then he lies down on his back. I climb on top of him, my legs resting on his, my head on his chest.

  “I’m not crushing you am I?” I know I’ve lost weight but having a body on top of him when he’s lying on a hard fl
oor can’t be very pleasant.

  “I’ve got your gorgeous body pressed against mine, there’s only one part of me that’s uncomfortable right now.” He grins at me and we both bust up laughing. The guy across the room yells at us to shut up, which makes us laugh even more. Kayden doesn’t know it but he’s way more comfortable than my lumpy mattress, he’s warm, he smells safe and familiar and his heartbeat soothes me. He wraps his arms around me and I fall asleep within minutes.

  I wake with a start. It’s dark and it takes me a moment to remember where I am. My heart is racing; I can’t breathe and I want to get out of here, I’ve got to get out of here. I quickly climb off Kayden. “Baby, are you okay?” he asks. I stumble in the dark, trying to find the door. I run my hands along the wall until I feel steel under my palms. I form a fist and raise it to bang on the door. A hand closes around my wrist and someone moves in front of me, arms slide around my waist and I’m crushed against someone’s chest, Kayden’s chest. “It’s okay baby, it’s okay,” he says as he rests his cheek against mine. I relax into his chest, I can hear his heartbeat, he’s gently rocking me back and forth.

  I close my eyes. “I think I went a bit stir crazy,” I tell him. He takes my hand and leads me back over to the other side of the room. We sit on the floor and I rest my head on his shoulder. My heart is still racing, the walls feel like they are closing in on me, there isn’t enough room.

  “Let’s sing a song,” Kayden whispers in my ear. He starts singing the words to Skyscraper and as I focus on his voice my breathing begins to return to normal. “Sing with me,” Kayden says, “it’s dark, no one can see you.” I smile, I’m more worried about them hearing me than seeing me, but I sing along with him anyway. I’m expecting the other guys to complain about the noise, but they don’t. I guess they realise I was freaking out.

  We finish singing; I reach for Kayden’s hand. “You’ve got an amazing voice, I could listen to you sing all day,” I tell him.