"Wake up sweet girl." Mae groaned as she sensed light through her closed eyelids while Jack stroked her.
Yesterday had been a weird day for Mae. Which wasn't too different from how all Maes recent days had been. She told herself that the only reason she reacted so strongly was because she was afraid she'd be stuck in the damn house forever.
A nauseating part of her almost did seem worried about what had happened to Jack. No, she wasn't getting Stockholm syndrome, she refused to. Although it would logically make sense to develop absurd caring like feelings for someone who fed and took care of you-but no matter how Jack treated her-she wasn't a dog. She wouldn't automatically love her source of food supply.
Stroking her hair away from Mae's face, Jack began peppering soft kisses on her temple and nose.
"Time to get up Mae."
"Please Sir. Can I just stay in bed today?"
"Stay in bed today and it becomes a habit. It's good to get up."
"It's not like we're going anywhere."
"Well certainly not with that attitude."
Normally, such a comment would make Mae sit up and ask more questions. Yesterday had drained her however and all she could do was open her eyes slightly in question to Jack.
"I won't say anymore and I won't ask you again." Jack said as he shrugged and got himself up.
"Where are all your clothes little girl?" Jack asked as her surveyed the closet.
"What do you mean they're in the closet." Mae smiled at Jack with her most innocent eyes yet.
She had forgotten she had hidden her more revealing clothing right underneath where she currently lay and it took everything in her to keep from giggling hysterically.
"Mmhmm. Well until all your clothes are returned, I guess there's no other choice but for you to go naked."
"What?! But I have perfectly good clothes right there."
"Go ahead and undress Mae, and I'll take your clothes for safekeeping until we can find out why they're disappearing."
"As long as I get to stay in bed." Mae said as she took off her clothes and threw them at Jack in a huff. Turning away from Jack as he stared in angered amusement at Mae, she closed her eyes once more.
Expectedly, Mae felt Jack's hand around her waist, pulling her. Resisting, Mae held tightly onto her headboard.
"Oh, now come on. This is like a scene straight from a movie." Jack laughed as he tugged her once more, but Mae held on tight. Tickling her, Jack finally managed to get Mae to let go, and he slung her naked body over his shoulder.
"You can't give me one fu-lipping day?!" Mae quickly course corrected. "Especially after last night."
"I think we settled our score last night, and I don't give in to brats."
"Hardly. And I asked so nicely at first!"
All of a sudden Mae felt her heart stop as Jack threw her in the air. She screamed and then hit the water where she came out screaming. Jack laughed and laughed as she swam out of the pool still screaming at him.
"You-f-you--you-you-ugh! I hate you! I really really hate you!" She continued to catch herself from cursing but as she came up from the pool she began to hit his arms. Jack only grabbed her and threw her in the pool again.
"At least Five laps, or however ever many it takes for you to cool down." Swimming to the other side, Mae got out of the pool before even doing a full lap. Mae lowered herself into the hot tub.
"Five laps Mae!" Jack called at the other end of the pool as he began walking towards her. As soon as Jack had gotten closer, but still within distance, Mae booked it to the opposite side of the pool.
"Don't you fucking run!" Jack yelled as Mae sprinted. He sounded angry. No, not angry, furious.
Running, Mae almost slipped several times but safely made it to her closet. She had grabbed the rope from last night and locked herself inside her closet using the rope on the two door handles. Mae knew Jack would eventually take the doors down, but at least she had a moment to angrily sulk by herself.
Using a sweatshirt Mae wiped down her shivering body that became cold after the adrenaline died down, and she felt the cold water through her scalp. Mae got dressed in the dark and cramped space of the closet.
Waiting in the dark, Mae didn't hear any sound of Jack, even in the distance. Although, it could be because everything was slightly muffled by Mae's own heavy breathing.
Mae didn't know when she fell asleep, but she startled awake to Jack's voice. She couldn't believe she fell asleep when her adrenaline had been so high.
"You will have five minutes to come and meet me in the living room to discuss your punishment. If you don't, I will come and retrieve you myself and your punishment will be tenfold." Jack's voice came out calm, stern, and dripping with warning.
While trying to calm herself with breaths before Mae left the closet to face Jack, Mae realized she was only psyching herself out more in anticipation. Opening the door to the closet, Mae slowly and cautiously tip toed to the living room.
Waiting for her with his back turned Jack sat in his chair. Circling around to keep her distance, Mae found herself standing about ten feet from Jack, staring at the ground.
"Smart decision." Jack said and paused, analyzing Mae. "Take off all of your clothes and come kneel in front of me."
Slowly and shakily Mae removed her clothes. Jack did not rush her only observed and waited patiently. Finally, Mae came and knelt before Jack, like he had taught her.
"Today it's really important that we talk about why you are going to be punished. I need you to fully understand why so that you never ever do such a thing again. Okay?"
"Yes, sir."
"Now, I'd like to hear why you think you are being punished."
"Because I didn't get up and then I didn't do your stupid five laps."
"Watch it little girl. Is that all?"
"And I hit you and ran." Mae was starting to become irritated. With herself for continuing this annoying pattern of misbehave and be punished, but mostly with Jack.
"Okay. And what could have happened when you were running away?" Jack pushed.
"Can you just get on with it and just tell me what I need to say?"
Jack slapped Mae's face, hard. "You are in no place to be snappy with me little girl."
After a beat Jack continued, "For God's sake Mae, you could've cracked your head open. Running, wet, on the cement."
"Oh, I see! Either way you would've been exposed. Take me to the hospital and you're a kidnapper. Try to dispose of my body and you're a murderer. Seems like the blame lies with you on that one."
"This is not the time to joke. Are you done?"'
"No! You're the one who threw me in the fucking pool. I just wanted one day! Okay? One fucking day, but you couldn't even give me that. I've tried okay? We've both tried and it's clear I'm not meant for these rules. All I'm going to do is keep messing up. And you'll keep punishing me. Please, let me go. I won't tell a soul. It's clear I'm not the right person for this." Mae's speech had started out fiery and soon turned to rain as she sobbed and sobbed.
Stroking Mae's cheek with his thumb, Jack tried to comfort her. Until finally he had to pick her up, hold her in his lap, and stroke her hair until her sobs died down.
"Mae you are bound to make mistakes. That's why I'm here, to assist you when you make them, so you can do better next time. Besides that little show you did just now, you have been doing so well not swearing. You are so special to me, that your safety is my number one priority. So if you threaten your safety, you will be sure to expect the worst punishment you have ever received. You need to learn to be careful with yourself because intentionally or unintentionally harming yourself is the absolute worst thing you could do. Even more than running away.
As you belong to me, I will not have you endangering yourself no matter how mad you are at me. You must now be aware of your safety at all times no matter your head space. Understood?"
Mae wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. Safety with Jack was only ever a false feeling. At the same time, she couldn't admit how his words caressed and held her.
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Now, here's what's going to happen. We are going to eat. You will stay in my lap while we do this. After we eat, I will put you in your cage. You will stay in there as long as you need until you are ready for me to give you your punishment. When you are ready, you will ask me to punish you, and why you deserved to be punished. I will not punish you until I believe, that you believe, you deserve to be punished. Understood?"
While his words ran circles around Mae's brain, she believed she understood. "Yes, sir."
"Good. Let's eat."
They ate together, with Mae on Jack's lap as he fed her and ran his free hand up and down her body. When they finished, Jack had Mae take a quick shower. Keeping the water on cold, Jack watched as Mae washed herself. Washing as quickly as possible to get out of the cold water. Leading Mae to his office, Jack locked her into the cage.
"You are being kept in your cage because like a dog chasing a car, you don't have any regard for you safety or understanding of what can hurt you."
"Yeah, and because you are a sick bastard." Mae wanted to shake herself, how she still had any sassy remarks was beyond her.
With that Jack locked the cage, and walked away swiftly. As soon as he had gone, he was back, with something in his hand. Mae could smell the sickening sent as he appeared, and she backed and turned away from him. Dragging Mae out by the collar, Jack shoved the soap in his hand directly in Mae's mouth and held it there.
"Five minutes, though it should be more for all the horrible things you've said today. I hate to punish on top of a punishment, but I can't have you picking up old habits."
Uselessly, Mae thrashed against Jack, until she finally gave up and cried into the soap. This time however, Jack only gave her a towel to wipe her tongue on, before sending her back into the cage with soap residue still lingering.
