Emerald's heartbeat was echoed by the thumping drums coming from the stage. Thrumming guitar heightened the feeling of elation of the crowd. He skulked through the crowd to hang around the bar looking for Ashe. Emerald checked his phone for the umpteenth time that night to check and see if Ashe had posted any more updates since saying he was coming to this bar with his sister tonight to see a band. It was the perfect opportunity to get to him. Looking from one side of the venue to the next, Emerald scanned the crowd for the tuft of curly green hair. Entering from the patio, Ashe merged into the crowd and headed toward the bar.
Ashe looked back behind him to where he'd left his sister and her boyfriend out on the patio where they were smoking. He was charged with getting them drinks. Muscling his way through the crowd, Ashe managed to find an open spot at the bar when a larger man moved aside to let him through. The man was over a head taller than Ashe and had his long black hair down. Ashe could see a boa constrictor tattoo coiled around his arm. Emerald looked down at Ashe and smiled.
**
Sleep eludes me now. It had taken me like a gentle lover when I first arrived within this hell. Now it deserts me. I pace and exercise like a madman now. I do sit-ups, push-ups, and anything I am able with this damned chain still around my leg. I stopped counting the days. It has been over two weeks since I have been here and there is no doubt in my mind that anyone who cared for me would think me dead. After all, isn't the first forty eight hours the most important?
Panic overtakes my nights and as Emerald sleeps beside me I can only think about how far away the door to the basement is and if he will ever let me out of this small confined space. He says I will go outside again, but I don't believe him. I think he will keep me here like a caged rabbit till he is bored of me. I fear what will happen then.
"You haven't been sleeping lately." Emerald said, matter of fact as he set down my lunch tray. I ignored him and continued doing sit-ups in the corner of the room, huffing for breath as I yearned for the ache in my abdomen. He frowned and walked over to me. "Ashe, you need to eat."
"And you," I grunted. "Need to." Breath. "Let me go." It was the same retort every time ever since he'd captured me. My position was clear even when my body betrayed me in his embrace. He knelt down and pushed my shoulders down so I was just laying on the floor. I fought against him, broke his hold and rolled away.
"Ashe." His tone was warning as I stood and dusted myself off. I was still naked, still nude lest he deem it a special night in which he would bring me lingerie to excite him. I glared in his direction. "Ashe, please. You've lost weight."
"Oh? Have I? Have I lost weight?" I said in a mocking tone. "Could it be that I don't do well in captivity?"
"Ashe." He warned again.
"I'm not hungry. Could be that without my medications I don't have an appetite. It's only the shooting pain in my guts." I sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the wall, my leg bouncing nervously.
This time he didn't speak; didn't warn me. He stalked over to me and grabbed me by my short curly hair and pulled my head to look at him. "You will eat or I will punish you. I'm done playing games."
"You can't force me to eat." I lied. I could eat. I would just feel horrible pain after eating. If I could have changed this about myself, I would.
"I can, and I will." He pulled me close so that he could whisper in my ear. "For every bite of food you leave on your plate, I will spank your pretty ass. If you leave something whole then you'll face something worse. Understand?"
I swallowed and tried to shake the fear trickling down my spine. It mingled with arousal. I'd always been a fan of being spanked, but this wasn't the time to think of that. I closed my eyes for a moment before sighing. "Fine."
"Good." He released me, pushing me away. Then, he sat down against the wall opposite me and waited for me to start eating. I did. I was more hungry than anticipated and ate with vigor, finishing the whole meal shortly much to his delight. I felt ill.
**
Emerald didn't come to my bed for several blessed nights in which I managed to get some sleep. Then, suddenly, he was with me consistently for several days. The first day, he came to me with another gift. After the lingerie, I was wary.
"What is it?" I asked as he set the large box down on the floor at the foot of my bed.
"Open it and find out." He said. I did so and was surprised to find several pieces of clothing that were more to my taste. Several black t-shirts, button-down shirts, and even new boxers. Clothes. Finally. I'd been naked for several weeks and, while I normally wouldn't mind, I was glad to finally have some sense of modesty.
"Thank you." It was genuine. For a moment it felt like I was being treated like a human rather than a captive. Then, the other shoe dropped.
"You didn't finish your breakfast." His voice was even betraying none of the anger that I expected to come from this.