Read Corrective Treatment Online

Authors: Loki Renard

Corrective Treatment (2 page)

BOOK: Corrective Treatment
12.99Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

“That I am an influence at all is rather silly,” Sophie began.

“Silence!” The judge boomed the word and held up his hand. “We do not wish to hear from you. The evidence has been gathered. There is only the question of how you plead. Will you throw yourself on the mercy of this court? Or will you continue your rebellion against social order?”

How did she plead? It did not matter. She had already been tried and convicted in the minds of the five men sitting before her, five twisted, bitter souls who seemed to be taking a sadistic pleasure in making it clear that she had no power in that place, none at all.

Sophie started to get angry. Very angry. She was being made an example of. She was absolutely certain that the hearing was being recorded. They wanted her to break down, to cry, to beg for forgiveness and mercy, perhaps to confess her sins. That was not going to happen. Not ever.

“How do I plead? I plead for an end to this charade,” Sophie said in arrogant tones. “This court is a joke. These proceedings are a pathetic attempt to scare people. But the people are not scared. They see through…”

“Silence!” the judge boomed again, his face twisted with fury. This was obviously not how the judges had intended for the proceedings to take place. Sophie smirked even as she fell silent, pleased at the way the vein was standing out in the old man’s forehead. They had all the power, but they would not win. The courtroom footage would be useless to their cause; she would make sure of that.

“You are in contempt!”

“You are contemptible,” Sophie shrugged. “Five old cowards enforcing archaic laws that serve nobody but themselves. It’s sad.”

Bang!
The sound of the gavel rang out like a gunshot. The judge pointed a wizened old finger at Sophie, a finger that shook with barely contained rage.

“You are hereby found guilty!” he declared. “You will undergo corrective treatment until such time as you see the error of your ways and can be tolerated to once again join good society. Until then, I strip you of your rank and I declare you a convict.”

The words were supposed to break her, but they barely made her quiver. Corrective treatment was prison for the upper classes, a re-education. It was nothing compared to the daily lives of the laborers, or to the horrors of what true convicts endured. Sophie had heard all sorts of rumors about what corrective treatment entailed, but the process itself was secret, taboo. In fact, inquiring as to the nature of corrective treatment was, in and of itself, grounds for corrective treatment. She was half-curious to find out what it involved.

“Bailiffs! Take her away!”

Within seconds two strong bailiffs appeared at her side, wearing the dark blue uniform of the court. They were young men, just a few years older than Sophie. They seemed pleased to be able to touch her, their large hands curling around her slim wrists and forearms. Sophie made sure to flash a big, thoroughly unrepentant smile at the judges as she was led away. She did not resist even a little as she was led down to the chambers below. Instead she bowed her head and allowed herself to be taken to the place reserved for miscreants and criminals.

“Wow. You really annoyed the judge,” the bailiff to her left murmured as they escorted her.

A little smile passed over Sophie’s lips. The men holding her were from the military echelon, so they were strong and loyal to the authority. She did not expect much in the way of understanding from them. To them, her behavior was probably completely unfathomable.

“I have never seen the old man go that red,” the other bailiff said, speaking over Sophie’s head. “Did you see him? I thought he was going to stroke out. You’ve got some nerve, Sophie.”

They used her name as if they knew her. Sophie was used to that. Her name had been in people’s mouths since her birth. Everyone in Newtopia felt that they knew her in one way or another.

“I’ve never seen anyone talk to them like that,” the first bailiff spoke. “They’re going to have your ass seared.” The note of admiration in his tone almost made her smile. She got the sense that they were going to be telling that story for a long time. If nothing else, she’d managed to entertain them.

“You’re quiet,” the one who had first spoken observed as they loaded her into a vehicle. “Lost your nerve now you know you’re in for corrective treatment?”

Sophie looked directly at him for the first time. “Is part of the punishment having to listen to you two break down the trial like it was a game of two halves?”

“Giving us attitude too, huh,” the bailiff on her right smirked. “You won’t be so mouthy once the process starts.”

Sophie rolled her eyes at him, but he just smiled back at her as if he knew something she didn’t.

Both bailiffs were kind of cute in an authoritarian kind of way. Sophie was enjoying them, to tell the truth. She’d expected more cold judgment, but they were close to her age and they didn’t seem inclined to judge her at all, aside from repeatedly telling her how much trouble she was in. They were really enjoying that aspect of the whole situation, a little too much for Sophie’s liking.

The windows of the vehicle were dark and she did not know where they were going precisely. It didn’t really matter. For the moment, her destiny was out of her hands. It felt as though the journey took a long time, though she wasn’t really sure how long it had taken. From the moment she’d stepped into the hall of justice, time and space and perspective had been warped.

Eventually, the vehicle stopped and Sophie was escorted from it. The bailiffs became instantly formal as soon as they left the vehicle, strongly suggesting some kind of surveillance. There was a door looming before them, a reinforced brushed steel monstrosity with letters engraved in the thick metal.

 

Corrective Treatment Facility

 

The door opened for them, and Sophie found herself and her escorts in what looked like a waiting area. There was a desk with a nurse behind it, and the rest of the room contained couches and chairs. There was no waiting for her, however. The bailiffs escorted her directly through the area and into a relatively small medical examination room.

“This is a doctor’s surgery? I’m not sick.”

“This is how they do it, the corrective treatment,” the bailiff murmured to her. “It’s all medical.”

“It’s medical? What are they going to do? Take out parts of my brain?”

“You wish,” the bailiff smirked. Sophie shot him an annoyed look. They really did seem to be enjoying her innocence on the subject.

They were not being terribly professional. They were acting more like boys finding themselves unexpectedly in the presence of their crush. Sophie half-expected one of them to try to pull her hair. This was why she was still a virgin. Watching strong men turn into silly puppies wasn’t precisely a turn-on.

A moment or two later, the door opened and Sophie found herself looking into the face of an older man who had nothing silly or puppyish about him. Deep blue eyes locked on her the moment he walked in, an intelligent gaze set in a strong masculine face. His dark hair was cut close to his head, graying slightly at the temples and above his ears. His jaw was square and clinically clean shaven, his shoulders broad underneath a white coat. He looked at her with an intensity that caught her off guard. Sophie was used to being looked at with adoration, with judgment, with excitement, with yearning, but very rarely with curiosity and pure interest. It was as though she was being looked at for the first time, by someone who wanted to see her deeply.

She found herself looking back at him with equal interest, trying to read the expression in his eyes. It was not easy. He seemed professionally blank, more by design than reality. She could sense more to the man, but it was hidden behind a veneer. Sophie had worn similar masks herself many times, and she was not fooled by the doctor’s apparent sternness or coldness. This was the man who would try to impose the will of the authority. He was the one tasked with breaking her. If she was going to survive this intact, she would have to know him as well as he came to know her.

“Miss Eins,” he said, reading her name from the electronic pad in his hand as if he didn’t know precisely who she was—as if she didn’t have one of the most recognizable faces in the colony. He looked at her for confirmation. Sophie felt as though she were being tested, though she didn’t know what for.

“No,” she lied. “I’m not Sophie Eins. I came for the free candy samples. Is this not the candy factory?”

One of the bailiffs snorted with laughter. The doctor’s expression did not change. He looked at her without so much as a flicker of amusement. Strange how the judges who had sentenced her had so much less gravitas in all their glory than this man did simply standing there.

“This is Sophie Eins,” the other bailiff said. “We’ve escorted her directly from the courthouse.”

“Yes,” the doctor said. “I see her records and sentencing here.”

He glanced up from her file and gave her another one of those piercing looks that made her feel completely undone. She got the sense that he was somewhat shocked by what he had just read, though there was little obvious indication of that in his expression. He was definitely examining her more closely now though—odd. Perhaps he really did not know who she was? Sophie had not known there was anybody who wasn’t intimately acquainted with her life story.

“Remove your clothing, please, Miss Eins,” he said, putting his pad to the side. “We will begin with a brief examination to determine your physical health.”

“I’m not taking my clothes off for you,” Sophie said bluntly. The notion of being unclothed with this man who exuded a kind of sharp, strong masculinity she had not encountered before was intimidating. She crossed her arms over her chest, drawing her cardigan close about her.

“Bailiffs,” the doctor said. “If you would escort the patient to the treatment room.”

Was that it? Had she gotten away with telling him a simple no? Sophie somehow doubted it. The doctor left the room and began walking down the hall. Sophie soon followed, sandwiched between the two burly bailiffs.

“That was not a good idea,” the right bailiff murmured in her ear. “He doesn’t like noncompliant subjects.”

She could really do without the constant narration and wished the bailiffs would be dismissed already. Surely their presence was not necessary. The doctor seemed more than big enough, strong enough, and… handsome enough to handle her on his own.

Another steel door. Another word inscribed in metal.

 

Treatment

 

The door opened to reveal a much larger room that contained at its center a medical chair. It was surrounded by various medical-type instruments, monitors, and the like. Sophie didn’t really pay attention to the precise location of each item. She was far too focused on the chair, which she noticed had stirrups for the legs—and thick bands that looked to her like restraints. Her stomach performed nervous contortions inside her belly as the doctor came to a halt near the chair and turned to look at her once more.

“These proceedings go much more smoothly when the subject is cooperative,” he informed her. “Will you disrobe yourself? Or shall I call the nurses to do it for you?”

“You can call the entire military if you like,” Sophie replied boldly. “I’m not taking my clothes off.”

The doctor’s pupils narrowed ever so slightly. It was the smallest signal, but it sent a bolt of electric excitement rushing through Sophie. She felt the strangest urge to comply with him, but resisted it. This doctor had a way about him, that much was certain, but she would not roll over and let the authority have their way with her through this doctor. He was part of the punishment they had given her for daring to socialize with those below her station. No matter how handsome he was, she was not going to obey him.

The doctor reached for a button and pressed it. “Nurses, your assistance, please.”

Within seconds, three women in pressed white uniforms arrived to do his bidding. Caught between the bailiffs and the doctor and the nurses, Sophie started to feel much less sure of herself. One of the nurses appeared to be around Sophie’s age; the other two were old enough to be her mother. Their presence put the number of people in the room at seven. Six-to-one odds were not good. Sophie was starting to feel very outmatched and very scared.

“Nurses, if you would be so kind as to help Miss Eins remove her clothing for her examination,” the doctor directed.

“No!” Sophie’s anger blazed as the women turned toward her like obedient little drones. “You will not disrobe me. You know who I am. You have no right to touch me, you…”

“Settle down, Sophie.” The oldest nurse, a kindly looking round-faced woman spoke to her. “We’re just getting you ready for your examination, that’s all.”

“No!” Sophie repeated herself. But the bailiffs had her firmly in hand and she was not going anywhere. There was nothing she could do as the nurses began to work at her clothing, removing her fine shoes and tugging at her leggings. They slid down her thighs in one silken motion, her panties going with them in quick succession. A hot blush suffused Sophie’s face as she realized she was now completely naked from the waist down, her bright red shock of pubic hair visible to everyone.

“Stop it!” Sophie aimed a kick at one of the ladies, but found her foot caught by the young nurse, who had clearly seen it coming. Sophie was not a natural fighter, and she was certainly no match for the medical team.

“Now you settle down,” the same nurse said in maternal tones. “You’re being very silly and you’re making this much worse for yourself. The doctor will have to give you an extended treatment if you don’t calm down and behave yourself.”

The doctor. The man who was standing there watching her humiliation with a keen gaze. She didn’t know how she’d ever thought for a single second that she could like him. He was the mastermind of this entire twisted punishment, and he was watching her every move with eyes that missed nothing.

“Let me go!” Sophie tried twisting out of the bailiffs’ grasp, but her struggling only made them hold on tighter. The only saving grace of the whole matter was the fact that with them holding onto her arms, there was no way for the nurses to remove the clothing on the upper half of her body. Maybe she would retain some dignity after all.

BOOK: Corrective Treatment
12.99Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo
Touching Evil by Rob Knight
The Woman Next Door by T. M. Wright
Lovers & Players by Jackie Collins
Dancing With the Devil by Misty Evans
The Cone Gatherers by Robin Jenkins
Perfect Poison by M. William Phelps