Katie sat on a hard wooden chair looking disappointedly at the place she's inherited. What the solicitor had described as 'commercial premises' was not on the high street, but up a small, rarely use alleyway. No passing traffic and no chance to realise her initial hope of opening a high class clothing store.
The place itself comprised the basement and ground floors of a unit in old brick built commercial block. It had a small reception area and an empty room behind that didn't seem to serve any purpose. In the basement there was a further room containing three large cupboards. The place was clean and stylishly decorated in white with red feature walls. She stood up and walked around her new place, trying to imagine what, if anything, she could do with it.
Katie had recently quit her job as a shop assistant, one of a long line of failed jobs. She had the intelligence, but hadn't found anything to inspire her to make the necessary effort. She was 21 years old, limited qualifications, even more limited cash and no idea on how to make more. But she did now own this place.
For the last year she had lived in a bedsit, which was small and always in a mess. Her sink was always full and she was always behind with her laundry. The underwear she was wearing right then had been dirty when she'd put it on that morning.
Katie looked up with shock as she heard a knock on the front door. She stood totally still, wondering whether she'd imagined it. There it was again. Katie felt her heart race up as she slowly stepped forward in her old worn out, sockless trainers. She reached the door and turned the large silver key that was sitting in the deadlock.
Outside was a good looking guy who must have been in his late thirties. He was wearing a suit, without a tie and with a few shirt buttons undone to give him a casual look. As soon as he saw Katie, his casual smile changed to a look of surprise and then to a look of slight embarrassment.
"Is Emily here?"
"No," Katie stammered in reply.
"Oh. Sorry to have bothered you." He started to walk away.
"Emily was my Aunt," Katie called after him.
He stopped and turned, with a look of concern. "Was?"
"She's no longer with us. Car accident."
He stood there in slight shock as he ran a hand through his salt and pepper hair. He didn't seem to know what do to or say.
At Katie's invitation, the guy followed her into the small reception area and they sat down on the wooden chairs facing each other. Having each said their condolences to the other, they sat saying nothing.
He watched the slim girl sitting in front of him. She had her hands on the edges of her chair and was nervously fidgeting. Her eyes darted around the room, occasionally resting on him for just a second. She was sniffing slightly, although he wasn't sure whether that was from a cold or just grief.
Her long brown hair was up in a very untidy pony tail. Her white t-shirt and denim shorts were unironed and in need of a wash. Her shoes were in need of chucking out. She was medium height, slightly slimmer than perhaps she should have been, but attractive enough, particularly on the rare occasion she smiled.
He watched her eyes. They were large, brown and surrounded by unusually long lashes which gave her a slight Disney appearance. After a few more minutes to reflect on the news, he stood to leave.
"What did my Aunt use this place for?" she asked, not moving from her seat.
"Oh... you know," he knew it was a poor answer as soon as he's opened his mouth.
"No I don't!"
Katie had now stood up and walked over so that her back was resting against the front door. Although she looked light enough for him to pick up with one hand, he knew he couldn't leave. She crossed her slim arms and looked at him.
"Tell me!"
"Storage, mainly," he replied.
"Storage? Of what?"
He was starting to feel uncomfortable. He would either have to forcefully move the young woman or tell her things he had no intention of sharing. He watched as she reached to her side and turned the key in the door before withdrawing it and slipping it into her pocket. The 'forcefully move' option was getting harder.
"People," he finally said as he stepped back and leaned against the small counter.
Her open mouth and look of complete surprise confirmed his suspicions that his girl was not ready to learn more about her Aunt.
Still in possession of the key to the front door, she walked passed him, down the stairs and into the basement. Unable to open the front door, he followed.
The small windowless basement had three heavy steel doors along the back wall and behind each door was a small windowless space; 6 feet by 4 feet and only 6 feet high. Each had a heavy grille in the middle of their concrete ceiling.
It had been a warm summer and the heavy brick and concrete walls seemed to act as a heat sink, creating an oppressive atmosphere. The dim wall lights in the basement only added to the unique ambiance that had no doubt led many astray.
"You mean my Aunt held people in here?!" the young brunette exclaimed.
He didn't reply, but even so it only took Katie a few moments to get the full message.
"That's why there's a tap and drain in the corner!"
He nodded.
"And I bet it I go back upstairs I can see down through that metal grille."
She ran back up taking two steps at a time. With one foot either side, she bent down and pulled up a metal hatch. Looking down between her long legs she could see through the heavy grille and into the cell beneath.
"At least I could explain the mystery for you," he smiled as he walked back to the front door.
"I just don't understand why anyone would want to be locked up."
"Yes, I know."
"Well you came here today!" she said having taken up her previous position between him and the front door.
"It's hard to explain," he smiled as he waited for her to open the door, "I guess it's just the opportunity to give away complete control to someone else and remove all need to think or make decisions."
Katie considered this for a few moments.
"You know... I can always lock you up if that's what you want," Katie offered.
He smiled and shook his head, "Thank you, but no that's fine."
"Why? That's why you came."
"Well yes, with Emily."
The truth was that Emily had been both incredibly attractive and incredibly seductive, with a way of controlling him that extended way passed just sexual.
"What's wrong with me?" her hands were back on her hips.
"Nothing..."
