Jaden Baker (29 page)

The rod hit him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Jaden dropped his arms to his middle. He tried to breathe again, and the old man took advantage of his unprotected face. He slapped Jaden hard across the left side, then backhanded him across his right cheek.

Instinct couldn’t be reasoned with, and it wasn’t logical. His mind sought defense. Like every time before, the electric shock collar, connected to his spine and thus his nervous system, sent a powerful pulse of agony through his body, making him scream and crumble to the floor.

When it ended, and he stopped shrieking, he heard the man laughing. Jaden rolled on his stomach, his face on the floor. He’d stopped crying after all. His face stung, his back and stomach throbbed, and his legs felt like they’d been ripped open with dull knives.

And the man laughed.

“It’s such a part of you, isn’t it? You can’t help but try to use it against me. Oh, if Dalton could see you now. His favorite pet, defeated at the foot of his new master.”

Jaden shook, like he was having convulsions. He wanted to regain control. He was hyperventilating, too afraid to make any movements.

“Relax,” the man commanded. “Take a deep breath.”

Jaden tried.

“Take a deep breath,” he warned.

With all the strength he had left, Jaden took a deep breath, then another, bringing his breathing to normal.

“Now,” the man said calmly, all rage gone, “crawl over here and eat this food.”

Jaden didn’t hesitate. Without looking up at the man, he crawled toward the tray of food, his stomach inches from the ground. He did not eat right away. He stared down at the eggs.

The man laughed again. “Don’t be afraid. I’m giving you permission. Eat it while it’s warm.” He retrieved his rod, knocked it on the floor next to his face, then tapped it against Jaden’s cheek.

All hunger was gone, but Jaden took a bite of the lukewarm eggs. They had no taste. He chewed slowly, watching the man’s shoes walk around him. He stayed with Jaden until the food was gone.

“There,” the man said, “now doesn’t that feel better?”

Jaden fought to keep the sob from escaping his chest. “Yes,” he answered with a whisper.

“Good.”

The man picked the tray off the floor, dropped a single napkin in its place, then walked to the elevator.

“Oh,” he said, “I almost forgot. Who am I?” he asked.

Jaden wet his lips. “You’re my master,” he said.

“And who are you?” the man asked. Without seeing his face, Jaden knew he smiled.

“I’m your slave,” Jaden replied.

“Thank you,” the man said. He stepped onto the elevator, which took him up. “Wipe your face when I’m clear,” he said, before his feet disappeared.

Jaden lay on the floor, too sore to sleep. His mind replayed his encounter with the old man. He analyzed everything he did, and thought of what to do in their next meeting. Jaden should’ve waited. Next time he would wait. He wouldn’t move until the man told him. It was the only way to avoid torture.

Thinking about it made him want to cry. He would have to control that, too.

It was a while before the man returned. Jaden’s heart thrummed when the elevator came down. His mouth dried, and his body trembled when he heard the man walk toward him. Jaden shut his eyes and tried to make his breathing heavy.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Lying down,” Jaden said quietly.

“Are you tired?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t want you to sleep. You do not have my permission.”

Jaden licked his lips nervously. “Okay.”

“You won’t sleep?”

“No.”

“Do you promise not to sleep?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what will happen if you break that promise?”

“You’ll hurt me,” Jaden whispered, and shut his eyes tight to keep from crying.

“Yes I will. You don’t want me to hurt you, do you?”

Jaden shook his head. “No.”

“Then you’ll stay awake until I say it’s okay to sleep.”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now I want you to take a shower. I’ve brought you fresh clothes and a bar of soap. When you’re done with the soap, leave it on the elevator with your old clothes. Do not stand on the elevator, though. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Jaden said.

“Good. Now, who am I?”

“You’re my master.”

“And who are you?” he asked, smiling.

“I’m your slave.”

“Yes you are.” He put fresh clothes and a towel on the padded floor, and a small bar of soap on top of them, then left.

Jaden sat up, wincing as he moved. He pulled one arm out of a sleeve, then the other. He lifted the shirt over his head and looked in the observation mirror. His chest was covered in large bruises. It looked like his left side had been dipped in blue ink; his face was swollen and turning purple.

He walked to the shower, bracing himself on the wall to take off his pants. His legs were bruised as well, it hurt to stand. Turning the shower knob with his mitten-like cast wasn’t as hard as he anticipated. The water poured from the shower head, like tiny cold arrows. Using the soap wasn’t going to be easy. It was on top of his clothes. He stared at it, but it didn’t come to him. Sometimes reaching helped. He extended his left hand.

The soap rolled of the clothes to the floor.

Jaden sighed. He stepped from under the pounding water to better focus. The soap slid across the floor to him.

Please come up. Please.

The soap lifted into the air to Jaden’s eyes.

It’s going to hurt. It’ll sting, there’s no getting around it.

And it did. The soap dropped many times before Jaden mustered enough control to keep it sliding across his body, gently, enough to leave a trail of bubbles across his discolored skin.

He rinsed, summoned the towel, and dried. Dressing was almost as hard as washing, somehow he managed it. Now he was clean, however, another problem emerged. Showering, even in cold water, relaxed him. Jaden’s eyelids were heavy, he wanted to sleep. He was sure the moment he shut his eyes for any period of time, the man would come and break his legs.

His forearms itched again. Then he remembered the rest of the man’s instructions. He got off the floor and gathered his old clothes, towel, and soap, then dropped them on the elevator. It rose as soon as he stood back.

Jaden held his breath, waiting. After several moments, he was in the clear. He sat and tried thinking of something to keep him awake.

What was his favorite movie? It had been so long since he’d seen a movie, it was strange to think they still existed. He hadn’t seen many. So which was his favorite?

Oh yes.
The Mask of Zorro
. The sword fighting scenes were the best, and he liked how Zorro fooled his enemy and escaped from prison. If only Jaden could fake his death and get out of here. He could escape undetected, get a fast black horse, and take revenge on his captors.

Was he ever going to get out of here? He had come so close, had tasted the free air, only to be captured again. How was he going to break out this time? The stranger wasn’t going to be fooled and he wouldn’t ever feel sorry for Jaden. Was it hopeless?

No
.

It seemed that way. Malcolm and Curtis showed no mercy, and Sam, despite his one kind act of morphine administration, insisted it was safer for “everyone” if Jaden stayed here. So they would never let him go. He was a prisoner for life.

Never give up
.

But he had nothing left. That man, whoever he was, had taken everything from him in such a short amount of time. Jaden had no one.

He wanted to fall asleep. His head kept falling to his chest. If he could stay awake, keep his promise, then the mast—that man, could not hurt him. Jaden started counting again. It worked last time, it should work again.

It was ten hours before anything happened. His stomach grumbled violently. He didn’t care that he had to eat food off the ground, so long as he could eat. So it was a pleasant surprise when a tray of food came down the elevator alone. Jaden retrieved it.

A note sat beside it, reading:

You have my permission to eat this food.

~Your Master

Jaden wolfed it down as fast as he could, hardly noticing what he ate. It felt good to be full. He even licked the plate.

It was a few minutes later, while he leaned against the wall, determined not to sleep, that he realized he was drowsy. He slid to the floor and crossed his legs. How long had he been awake? Twenty hours? More? It had to have been more than a day. Jaden couldn’t remember how many hours he had counted since being discharged from the mini hospital. It seemed like forever ago.

His head felt heavy. He wanted to lie down, fall asleep. He had to stay awake or be punished for disobeying his mast—the man. Old man. Old, sadistic, evil man. Satan in human form.

His plastered hand slipped, and he fell, his face on the floor. He tried pushing himself up, but his arms wouldn’t move. Stuck. Crap, this isn’t good.

Maybe if he kept his eyes open, everything would be okay. The moment he thought it, though, it became challenging. The time between blinks shortened, and his eyes were closed more than open.

Stay awake for just a little while longer.

Jaden opened his eyes and looked around the room. No one here.

“I’m tired,” he said, slurring.

I know. Just another minute. That’s it.

“How do you know?” Jaden mumbled, his eyes closing again.

Because you’re falling asleep, and if he wants you to stay awake, he’ll come down to you.

Jaden opened his eyes again. “Will he hurt me again?”

Probably. He enjoys it.

“I know,” Jaden murmured. “But I don’t want him to.”

He won’t ever kill you. Everything he does can be fixed.

“It hurts so much.”

The pain always ends sooner or later. You can survive this, Jaden. You’re strong.

“Is he coming soon? I want to go to sleep.”

Yes, he’s on his way now. But you have to stay quiet. He didn’t give you permission to speak. Don’t give him any excuse to punish you.

“Okay,” Jaden whispered.

The elevator lowered into his cell, and the man stood with a rod in hand.

Jaden tried sitting—the lack of energy made it impossible. He stared at the man instead.

“You’re awake after all?” said the old man.

“Yes,” Jaden said. “You told me to.”

“Indeed. I’m pleased you followed my command. Now I want you to sit up.”

Oh no. Jaden rolled to his stomach and tried pushing himself up, but his arms and legs had no strength.

“Sit up,” the man said again, an edge to his voice. “Don’t you dare disobey me.”

“I’m trying,” Jaden said, his voice higher than usual. He
was
trying, but he couldn’t sit up. The man wanted Jaden to fail. This was all part of his master plan.

The rod struck the back of his legs, and Jaden cried out. He scrambled to get off the floor, but the man kept hitting his legs.

Don’t scream, that’s what he wants.

Jaden bit his lip and didn’t let the howls of pain escape. The man hit him twice then stopped. He grabbed Jaden’s upper arm and heaved him into a sitting position, shoving him against the wall. He squeezed Jaden’s cheeks in his hands and shook his head.

“Why do you push me?” he growled.

Say you’re sorry
.

“I’m sorry,” Jaden said.

“Since you couldn’t follow my last order, I’m going to have to punish you later. But I won’t let you interfere with my schedule. Understand?”

“Yes,” Jaden said.

“You deserve to be punished. I gave you a command and you ignored it. You know you deserve to be punished, don’t you?”

“I’m sorry,” Jaden said, fighting back his tears. “I tried to do it.”

The man back-handed Jaden then put his hand around Jaden’s throat. “Answer my question, and use the proper appellation, slave.”

The man was squeezing Jaden’s throat in his anger. His face was inches from Jaden’s.

“Fuck you,” Jaden said. He regretted it instantly.

The man’s face went from white to red in less than a second. He lifted Jaden by the throat and dragged him to the elevator. Off the elevator, Jaden was pushed down the hall and into room E. The man shoved Jaden to the padded floor, then collected something from the corner. Jaden scrambled to his feet, powered this time by adrenaline, and bolted for the door.