Joe was with another man dressed in a doctor's coat similar to the one who had implanted the necklace. He was giving him explanations and finally held out what looked like an electronic device and said goodbye to him, leaving through an adjoining door. Joe then turned his eyes to me, that was approaching led by the policeman. I unmistakably noticed the shock on his face when he saw me. Evidently seeing someone you know, with whom you have shared many moments, naked, completely bald and shaved and with that necklace around his neck, would be shocking for anyone, and Joe was not going to be an exception.
Before reaching him, the policeman who was taking me stopped me and quickly and with the skill that comes from a lot of practice, he put my hands behind my back and cuffed them again. Once this was done, he took me to where Joe was waiting and when he arrived he made me kneel down violently. The blow against the floor caused a deep pain in my knees.
-KNEEL BEFORE YOUR MASTER, SLAVE! AND KISS HIS SHOES! SHOW HIM YOUR RESPECT! -he aggressively shouted at me.
Feeling his truncheon on my back and filled with fear, I could do nothing but bow my head and kiss my former friend's dress shoe. When I looked up at him I could see the satisfaction on his face. The policeman handed him the key to the handcuffs, while saying:
-The slave is now in your custody, Sir. Do not hesitate to come to us if you need help in training him or if he causes you any further trouble. We know how to deal with unruly slaves.
-Thank you, Constable -Joe replied-. I don't think that will be necessary.
The policeman turned and walked away. Joe helped me up from the ground and led me to the gate leading to the compound's parking lot. It was already late afternoon. Fortunately it was summer and my nakedness was only embarrassing, not cold. As soon as we got out and we were alone, I told him:
-Joe, how could you...?
He cut me off with a gesture and said:
-Slave, it seems to me that you are not yet aware of your new situation. You and I used to be friends, but that is over forever. Now I am your master, you owe me total obedience and, of course, absolute respect at all times. So I am no longer "Joe" to you. From now on you will address me as Sir or Master, understood?
-Joe, you can't be serious, I... -suddenly the collar on my neck activated and gave me a painful shock, which doubled me over in pain.
-Are you going to go on that way? -Joe asked me-. I think we are going very badly. As I told you, you owe me absolute obedience, and one of the rules of a slave is that he never, NEVER, speaks unless asked.
I was going to answer him, but when I saw his angry face I restrained myself. I didn't want to get another shock. I realized the power of the infamous collar. It left us completely at the mercy of whoever wielded it, even if they were weaker than us. It wasn't my case, anyway. Joe was two inches taller and much bigger than me.
He led me to his car and made me get in the back. He then said to me:
-I was going to uncuff you, but seeing your attitude I don't trust you and I don't want to risk you doing something foolish.
My attitude? Was he crazy? what did he expect, that I would accept that willingly?
Joe got into the car and drove home. It was almost dark. When we arrived I remembered the times I had been there, in a relaxed and cordial atmosphere, and it seemed incredible to see myself in that situation. Joe helped me out of the car. As soon as we got out I said to him:
-Joe, listen to me... -I tried to make him reason. Another painful prick from the necklace.
-What's wrong with you? Are you stupid, don't you listen or what? -he said angrily.
-Please, Joe... -I begged in pain. Another shock, now bigger than the previous one.
-Well, I didn't want it to come to this, but it's clear that I have to do it -he said, and I saw him take out his cell phone and operate with it. When he finished, he looked at me and said: -I just programmed the collar to automatically activate every time you try to talk, and the more you try to talk, the bigger the shock. That will teach you to be quiet.
Stunned and terrified at what I had just heard, I wanted to protest, but as soon as I tried to make a sound, the collar shook me violently. I tried again and the shock was so strong that it knocked me to the ground. I couldn't believe that my heretofore friend was doing this to me. My expression of panic must have been such that Joe seemed to take some pity and said in a softer tone, as he helped me up:
-Well, well... if you behave I will deprogram it, don't worry. It is not my intention to mute you forever. Now I'm going to uncuff you. I hope you won't do anything foolish.
My fury at that moment was such that as soon as I was free, without thinking about what I was doing, I lunged at him. I didn't even touch him. A violent shock from the collar shook me and made me lose consciousness.
When I regained it, I saw that I was locked in a dog cage, cramped in it, since I could only fit kneeling. I looked around and saw that it was the room Joe had in his basement, where he held his BDSM sessions. I had been in that room once before and recognized the various instruments of torture. I also remembered the existence of the cage in which I was locked. I was alone in the room. At that moment all the emotions of the day exploded in my head and I burst into tears. A few minutes later Joe appeared. I swallowed my tears. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me broken. He approached me, and putting one knee on the floor so that his face was at the same level as mine, he said calmly:
-Let it be clear to you that I absolutely did not want it to come to this. In fact, I had planned to be quite gentle with you until you adjusted to your new situation. I had even arranged for the guest room to be your room and for you to sleep there. But you clearly don't want to accept your new life and I will have to act accordingly.
I looked at him with hatred and, forgetting my situation, I tried to answer him. As soon as I uttered a sound, I felt the painful sting in my neck and became mute. Without being able to help it, tears came to my eyes again. Joe ignored them and continued speaking:
-I know you hate me now, but I want you to know that I have done all this for your sake. I know that you were born to be a slave, that this is your destiny and that you will not be fulfilled or happy until you accept it. When we first met you did not want to give yourself to me, although I know you wanted it more than anything else in the world - what was he talking about, had he gone mad?- But your fear and your prejudices wouldn't let you give yourself to me. That's why as soon as I saw the opportunity that you were forced to do so, I took it. You should also know that when I took those pictures of you I had no intention of using them for anything other than my own personal enjoyment. Circumstances have led me to make another use of them. And for the record, I denounced you because I knew you would be mine. I would never have done it if I had thought you could end up in the hands of any brute or sadist.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing! I would have to thank him for what he had done! In the same calm tone Joe continued:
-Believe it or not I am still very fond of you, and I don't want to hurt you, but I will not hesitate to punish and hurt you if necessary for you to assume your new role in life -he gestured around him. You know these instruments and what I can do to you with them if I feel like it. But, believe me, I have no desire to do so. If you accept your situation and really submit to me body and soul I assure you that your life will be very good and you will be much happier than when you were free.
Finally, Joe stood up and finished his speech:
-You are going to stay there tonight, and as long as it takes until you surrender and submit to me. I know it's really uncomfortable and cruel, but it will help you reflect and decide what your attitude is going to be from now on. I assure you that I'm going to break you, by hook or by crook, it's your choice!
He turned and left, turning off the light and locking the metal door that gave access to the room. I stood there, cowering in absolute darkness and thinking about everything I had just heard. I was more and more convinced that this guy was out of his mind. Where did he get the idea that I wanted to be a slave? Because I liked a little bit the sexual game of domination/submission? Now I found the situation I was in and what had caused it even more unbelievable.
Shattered, I let myself fall as best I could into the cage, cringing and stiffening, as the immense darkness penetrated my soul....
I couldn't sleep a wink all night. Too many negative emotions in my head and, of course, too much discomfort in the cage I was in, meant for a dog. "I'm less than that now," I thought, "I'm not even legally an animal, just an object." The room I was in - Joe referred to it as a "dungeon" - had no windows, so it was totally impossible for me to tell if it was day or night. The hours went by for hours until finally the door opened and Joe, dressed again in a suit - I was surprised, because it was a Saturday - came in. Without saying anything, he approached the cage and, bending down, put a bowl on the floor, within my reach. Next, I watched as he opened a can. It wasn't hard for me to see that it was a can of dog food. He emptied it into the bowl.