Chapter 1: The Train
Zuzanna opened her book and attempted to read from where she left off. It was imperative that she memorize the chapter entitled Pravidla Nevolnictvà prior to arrival, but as she stared down at the page she'd just read it became obvious that she hadn't committed a single word to memory. It was the heat. It was unbearable.
She craned her neck to observe the other passengers and concluded that she was the only one suffering. It was like a steam bath, her whole body aflame. Her blouse and bra had begun to stick to her skin; half moons of perspiration formed beneath her breasts. The anxiety of reaching her destination had induced another hot flash. Yet, despite her fears Zuzanna was sure she'd made the right decision. She reminded herself that yes, it was HER decision, and she was determined to see it through to the end with or without Jacobus' support. Sweet as he was he just didn't understand this part of her.
But that is the past, she reminded herself. For the next 9 months Zuzanna would be in a perpetual state of renewal and finally, hopefully- if she wasn't expelled from the program or worse, if she gave up- she would be reborn into the world as the person she knew she was meant to be. This was the most important undertaking of her short 25 years of life and she was already four years older than most of the females that had been accepted by the program. Of course, as had been made painfully clear in the acceptance letter she received almost three months ago now, Zuzanna would have to work that much harder to prove herself worthy of this highly specialized training. Add to that the fact that she didn't have a sponsor per se, as Jacobus, though willing on paper, hadn't the slightest clue as to what or really even why he was signing his girlfriend's life away for 9 months at her insistence. But, he loved her that much and was willing to do anything for her—which is precisely why she had to get as far away from him as possible.
"All passengers departing in Praha, please gather your belongings from your compartments. We will be arriving at the station in 15 minutes."
This is it, she thought. She wished she'd had the good sense to tuck another shirt into her carry-on. She was soaked through and feared her escort would not be at all pleased. She made sure she had all of her papers in order: her acceptance letter, passport, the results of her very thorough medical examination (she couldn't believe how rigorous the exam was- having been poked and prodded in places she herself had not yet discovered) and her sponsor's written consent.
The train slowed and the deep, resonant sound of the brakes against the tracks reverberated throughout her entire body. She realized she was trembling in time to the vibration of the steel against steel. Finally, after an eternity, the train came to a halt. Zuzanna wished she had eaten a little something as she felt lightheaded, but that was strictly forbidden, they had said. "NO food or water for 12 hours prior to arrival!"
She stood to line up with the other departing passengers, looking around nervously at the platform through the view from the window on her left in the hopes of making out which of the men waiting there might be her escort. She saw a handsome, older man of about 35, maybe 40 years old with a slight, welcoming smile on his face and she prayed he might be the one. But then she saw him take the carry-on bag from a pretty woman of perhaps 30, hug her briefly and walk away. Zuzanna's heart sank a bit.
For the past three months, or since she'd received the acceptance letter, Zuzanna had been incredibly aroused at the thought of her new life in Prague. Jacobus became the unwitting recipient of her eagerness and yearning for what lay ahead. Not that he had complained. But now that the day had arrived she wanted nothing more than to turn and run in the opposite direction. Again, she scanned the crowd for her escort. Perhaps she had time to duck down into one of the seats and allow the other passengers to depart while she found a place to hide. "Oh God", she thought, "what have I done?" She had to get out of there! She desperately wanted to just go back to the sweet but unfulfilling existence she'd left just hours before. She stepped to the right and found an empty seat that was partially obscured by an enormous woman reaching above for her carry-on. She sidestepped the woman and ducked down out of sight.
She had just begun formulating her escape plan when a pair of large hands descended upon her shoulders. A man's voice, almost fatherly in tone, said "Do not turn around. Do not look up at me. Now, stand." Zuzanna did as she was told.
The man led her to the door and they stepped onto the platform almost together. He had his arm was wrapped firmly around her waist but his face remained just out of her field of vision. She realized that she was unconsciously leaning into him for support as she definitely felt a bit dizzy now. He, on the other hand was quite consciously supporting her as they walked to an inconspicuous black car with an open back door. He placed his hand on top of her head now and ducked her into the car, got in beside her and closed the door. She desperately wanted to look up, but at that moment her escort tied a blindfold over her eyes and she could no longer see anything at all.
"It was made clear to you that you were to wear a skirt or a dress, was it not?" Zuzanna tried to respond that she must have missed that part of their correspondence but no sooner had a single syllable dropped from her lips than he said, "Do NOT speak! You may nod your head up and down for yes, or to the sides for no. You are never to speak unless given explicit consent to do so. Do you understand?" Zuzanna nodded her head up and down. "Perhaps you did not receive the telegram with your clothing instructions?" Zuzanna nodded her head. "That is too bad. Your handler will not be pleased at all. But, we will have to make do".
The car came to a stop. She was led out onto a sidewalk, up seven steps and through a doorway. The smell of freshly polished wood floors greeted her along with something slightly pungent but oddly familiar. She was then led down a hallway, through another door and told to stand absolutely still. Another man's voice, much deeper and more gruff, said "Good. I see you have collected my new charge. Now turn her around slowly and proceed with the inspection."
Zuzanna felt herself being pivoted and displayed as if she were a prized piece of meat for the neighborhood butcher. Her hands were tied behind her back by another, new set of hands and she heard the sound of buttons popping off of her almost dry but now too-tight blouse. This new set of hands bent her over and pulled her shorts roughly to one side, sliding two of his large, knobby fingers first into her cunt and then a third into her anus. "Why isn't she wearing a skirt or a dress?" the gruff man demanded to know.
"Apparently she didn't receive the telegram in time, Sir" said the escort.
"Bring her here", the deeper voice commanded. The new hand pulled itself out of her tight little velvet holes.
"Uhhnnn", Zuzanna involuntarily whimpered. The escort then pushed her forward a few steps, shoved his bent knee into the crook behind her own knees and she collapsed to the ground while he maintained a tight grip on her bound wrists. The blindfold was removed and she found herself staring down at a pair of large, shiny back shoes.
"You may now look at me, můj nový malé domácà zvÃÅ™e" (my new little pet). Zuzanna did as she was told. As she lifted her head to meet her new handler's eyes she was too shocked to be scared...she knew this face. She knew it well.
Chapter 2: The Cleansing of Zuzanna
"Ah, so I see you recognize me, domácà zvÃÅ™e. This pleases me. Did you know I have had my eye on you for some time now?" Zuzanna nodded her head no. "Then I have done my job well. You have already failed me with your choice of clothing attire, Zuzanna. Regardless of whether you received my telegram or not your common sense ought to have dictated that arriving to meet the most important person in your short, little life dressed in shorts is highly inappropriate. I can only assume that you do NOT, in fact, have any common sense. Now tell me, Zuzanna, what is the fourth rule in the Pravidla NevolnictvÃ? You may speak in order to answer me, but you must answer quickly and precisely."