Peter Howard looked at the computer screen in the ward clerk's office and cursed. 'Access denied.' It seemed as if everyone really did believe he was dead. He tapped in another code sequence; he wanted to connect up to a relatively secure corner of the computer network before he dared to try and open Magenta. His body complained, he was exhausted. He leant back and rubbed his eyes as Angela Ruskin appeared with a mug of coffee.
"Someone will be coming soon." She handed him the mug. "How's it going?"
Peter snorted as the computer denied him again. "I can't do it," he said, tapping in another access code. "There are other ways in but I need the time to chase around, back track, find a back door – shit – how long before I can leave hospital?"
Angela pulled a face. "Four or five days I guess."
Peter groaned. "Oh well…" He stopped mid sentence as a message scrolled up onto the screen. "Oh, my god!"
Angela read the message over his shoulder. 'They have Emily' She leant closer. "Emily?"
"My girl friend," he said flatly. He looked at her and decided upon honesty. "We plan to get married."
Angela didn't bat an eyelid. "And who has her?"
Peter sighed and ran his fingers back through his dark hair. "Some people who could do her an awful lot of harm. They want something I have. I have to get out of the hospital, I just have to! Can't I just walk out?"
Angela snorted. "Don't you mean just wheel out? Your body isn't much up to walking yet." She paused thoughtfully. "You basically just need rest and recuperation, you could discharge yourself into a nursing home."
Peter looked thoughtful. "Would that take long to arrange? I'd need computer access, arrange for some funds -"
Angela grinned. "Actually, I had a better idea. There are dozens of nursing homes in this area. No-one would be that interested in checking up on you. To be honest they'd be pleased to have the bed back. Why don't you come home with me? I could help you cook up a fictitious nursing home place for the forms -" She paused, eyes alight.
It was Peter's turn to grin. "And?"
She lifted her skirt slowly to reveal the ripe red hair around her quim. "Perhaps you will do me a favour. Didn't you say you would teach me discipline, like at Deuvar?"
Peter nodded. No harm in that!
Angela placed a form in front of him. She had been well prepared, it seemed. "Better fill this in then, Mr Roberts."
"Are you serious about taking care of me?"
"I've got a fortnight's holiday due to me. I'll ring in tomorrow night and say my mother is sick."
Peter lifted an eyebrow.
Angela grinned. "Well, all the others do it. About time I had some too."
Peter slid his hands up her thighs; they were warm to the touch. "Some of what?" he whispered darkly.
She wriggled around so that his fingers slid effortlessly into the thick matt of hair around her quim. He pressed deeper, sliding inside her, feeling the wet compelling pull of her sex.
"Whatever you have to offer me."
Chapter 4
Emily Lawrence was woken by a gentle touch on her shoulder; the merest fleeting caress.
Instantly conscious, she needed no time to collect her thoughts or struggle to remember what had happened to her. As she woke to the fearful darkness created by the thin mask she knew exactly where she was. She remembered the command to remain silent unless spoken to and struggled to stop herself from asking who was there, instead she strained to listen for clues. Her face and head felt desperately hot and uncomfortable under the rubber and her nipples and sex felt raw and vulnerable from being pierced.
After a few seconds she felt gentle hands undoing her wrist restraints, the movements accompanied by soft tuneless humming. A hand stroked her collar, there was a clicking sound, and then a soft tug.
"Come with me. We'll wash you now," said a foreign sounding female voice. The unseen woman re-enforced her invitation with a sharp tug on the collar.
Emily unfolded her body and put her feet on the floor. Her full bladder ached. The tug came again and she guessed that it was perhaps a leash fixed to the loop in her collar. Gingerly she took two small steps, hands in front of her.
Her companion laughed. "We'll never get there if you go so slowly. Here -" Emily felt a small cool hand linking though her arm. "I'll show you. I'd forgotten you can't see."
They walked arm in arm out into what sounded like a corridor, where Emily had walked the night before and then – still at a snail's pace – into another room. With every step Emily was conscious of the chains, afraid to snag or catch them, she walked as if she were on broken glass. Firm small hands guided her onto a bench and she heard another snick of metal on metal.
"Close your eyes." said the voice. "It will be very bright when I take this off." Emily complied as the mask was rolled back off her face. The cold air hit her moist sweating skin like a soft kiss. She moaned with relief as the pressure was relieved and instantly wondered if she was going to be punished. Opening her eyes she looked straight into the face of a small oriental girl, dressed in a clinical smock. Her companion smiled.
"Better?"
Emily nodded, unsure whether the question demanded an answer. They were in a large white-tiled bathroom. By the door was a man in uniform who was watching the two women without interest. Ahead of her were shower cubicles and open lavatory stalls – neither had any doors. Beside her, snaking away from the collar on her neck, was a long length of chain that was secured into a large ring complete with a small lock. It was so high on the wall that she could only assume her diminutive walker had given the security guard the chain as they came in – she certainly wouldn't be able to reach it herself.
The girl smiled again. "My name is Kai. You can wash and then I'll do these -" Her tiny quick silver hands cupped Emily's nipples, touching the silver rings. Emily flinched. The girl pulled a face. "It's all right. I'll make them feel better. Lie back a little." Carefully she removed the chain that linked each ring. As the links moved through rings Emily bit her lips, praying that they didn't snag.
Emily's body chain removed, Kai indicated the shower and the toilets. Emily glanced at the impassive face of the guard, wondering whether she could bring herself to use the lavatory while being watched. The neck chain was long enough to allow her to move freely around the room. Finally she realised that she had no choice and walked into the toilet stall, averting her eyes until she was done.
The warm water in the shower was sheer bliss. She let it course down over her, draining away the aches and pains of the previous day. It seemed almost impossible that her life could change so dramatically in less than twenty four hours. She was reluctant to climb out of the cubicle until finally Kai switched off the water.
"If you lie here -" Kai pointed towards the bench, now covered with thick cream towels. Emily climbed onto it. Kai secured her hands above her head, slipping short straps through her wrist cuffs, and then unfastened the neck chain. Emily glanced at the guard's rugged unsympathetic face; resistance would be pointless.
Kai looked at Emily's body appreciatively before patting her dry. The Oriental girl slipped on a pair of surgical gloves and poured something from a bottle onto a ball of cotton wool. She tended to each piercing with gentle thoroughness; the cool spirit of the cotton wool burned like fire and brought tears to Emily's eyes. Kai made tender clucking sounds in her throat, finger lingering on the sensitive peaks of Emily's nipples. As her fingers moved lower Emily held her breath. Kai grinned. "It will sting but it will feel better."
One finger slid down between the lips of her sex, caressing her clitoris. The knowing touch sent a flurry of unexpected pleasure through Emily's body, so unexpected that she let out a little squeal.
Kai looked pleased. "Feels good, doesn't it?" she said, repeating the move. The touch made Emily shiver. Kai stroked her clitoris again as she applied the spirit soaked cotton wool to the lips of Emily's quim; the contrast of the two sensations was breathtaking.