shh...

The basement was cold, lonely, and not her favorite if she was going to be honest. While her nerves still felt uneasy, she was more than ready for a change of scenery.

”You remember what I said, Liebling?” Strade finally looked to her, eyes full of adoration for his new treasure. Willow’s mind had already been worn thin, but he was the one thing that didn’t confuse her. “A bath..and a meal..?” She assumed she’d guessed correctly, Strade’s smile now beamed at her. “Very good.” 

From his back pocket, he pulled a set of keys. A novelty keychain hung in between the 5 keys depicting a German flag with a bottle opener attached at the end. She leaned closer against him, afraid of possibly falling down the stairs again. That would be embarrassing. Strade’s arm held onto her, wrapping tenderly around her shoulders. 

She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but it wasn’t the middle class suburban home. 

Muted green walls welcomed her into a hallway, the front door sitting at the end. Her collar adjusted naturally onto her neck, wondering if anyone would peer through the curtains to see her injured form. 

But this was normal now. She decided to try her best to stay away from the front door. 

Strade helped her up the final step, closing the cursed basement door behind her and turning the deadbolt. “Welcome home, Willow.” She turned to him, attention moving from the door. He seemingly couldn’t stop grinning. She wondered if it was the high of getting a new pet. 

“Now where’s Ren? I was wanting to introduce you both..” He pondered, not knowing that she’d seen him before. Sure, there wasn’t a formal introduction behind meeting his yellow eyes in the dark, but Willow could only assume he was the other captive. Strade started off through the house, leaving Willow to either follow or stand in the hall. 

Did he not consider her leg? Willow now used the wall to hold herself up, panic boiling under the surface finally. Walking on her leg wouldn’t be smart with the swollen knee and definitely fucked up shin. She looked around frantically, pictures on the wall staring straight through her. 

How many of these people did he kill? Am I next? Where am I?

Her mind raced again, now with Strade fully gone from her sight. A yelp could be heard from deeper in the home, but she couldn’t even tell if it was real. Her other hand grasped the wall as she called for a savior. “St..Strade..?” Softly, she called. Unsure if she could even muster a scream. Feeling her legs finally wobble in response to the panic mixing with her pain, she considered just dropping on the floor. It would surely hurt worse than trying to tough it out, but would it upset him? Her weakness after making it this far?

”Willow?” Strade’s voice interrupted her terror, she searched towards the sound of his voice. She managed to hobble around the corner of an archway in the wall. He stood in the center of a split room. The kitchen and living room were separated by an island with a tacky “Home” sign displayed next to fake flowers. It all would feel very staged if there weren’t beer cans and small plates littered on the coffee table. 

“Come here, how about a hug?” He held his arms open, his smile transformed into a knowing smirk. 

Willow looked around the straight path to his arms.

There wasn’t anything to hold onto. 

“Um..okay..” She agreed without much hesitation. A small bead of sweat formed on her forehead from the exertion. Willow thought about begging for mercy, collapsing, then dying in that order. The idea of the collar wasn’t appealing. Walking was concerning, but she figured ten steps was worth it to push towards. 

Her first two steps weren’t too horrible, but somewhere between the fourth and sixth step she could feel her heartbeat throb in her ears. Her body began to tremble, subconsciously she reached out for stability only to find nothing waiting. Willow looked up to her goal, waiting with his arms out still. “Come on, I know you can do it!” He offered support, but she wondered if he took a step back to taunt her. 

She couldn’t help the whimper that escaped her, taking another weak step towards him. Tears prickled at her eyes. Her vision closed in as the rushing in her ears grew louder. Just as she began to fall forward, Strade quickly grabbed her. 

With no effort involved, Strade lifted her into his arms. She took the safety and wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to stifle her sobs. 

“I couldn’t have my angel falling again, could I?” He spoke softly now, letting her hug onto him. His gentleness felt out of place, but she fell for it easily. Her face buried in his chest, the smell of tobacco masked the underlying smell of sweat. She wondered why she liked it, allowing herself to feel comforted before Strade started walking towards the sound of running water. 

“W-Wait..” Willow looked up, eyes adjusting to the darkness of another shorter hallway. No yellow eyes were gazing right through her. “Where’s Ren..?” She looked at him, and could swear his eye twitched slightly. “He’s off hiding in his room, don’t worry. He’ll come around.” The bathroom grew closer, but her eyes drifted behind Strade. A door with the light peeking out from underneath. She remembered the sound from earlier, the scream from somewhere. 

Willow decided to close her eyes, and try not to think too much about something terrible.

The bathroom was honestly the least surprising, mismatched shower curtain and a towel for a bathroom rug. An assortment of 3-in-1 bottles, half used soap bars, and even a toilet seat left up. She looked at the almost full bathtub with bubbles rising, emitting a subtle lavender. “A bubble bath?” She looked up at him, but he only laughed. “Everyone loves a bubble bath.” Strade used his foot to kick down both toilet seats, then set her onto the cold porcelain. “Before you get in, let’s get you situated.” Then, he kicked the door shut. 

They were alone, in a much smaller room. Willow watched him work, grabbing a first aid kit from under the sink. He turned to a cupboard that held a neatly folded gray shirt, then grabbed a towel and wash cloth. It looked like he’d kind of prepared for her. The shirt also looked far too large for her, but anything was better than her blood splattered panties and tank top. 

He gently unwrapped her shoulder and arm bandages, then took the prepared wash cloth to the crusted on blood. “Willow, you’re healing so well.” She shuddered at the praise, watching his motions as he tended to the wound. Wiping off her thighs, then moving lower. He worked off the bloodied bandage and tossed the makeshift stint towards the door. She tried to hide her discomfort, but he could clearly read it. 

While she couldn’t hide her pain, he couldn’t stop smiling. Wiping off the bruised leg and taking extra care around the knee. “Don’t worry, Liebling. I’ll take good care of this leg..” His pointer finger traced around the drill hole, then down to the break in the skin where her bone had almost split through. “Let’s get you into that bath, eh?” Without warning, he pulled out the knife that sat on his hip.

Willow held her breath. Eyes widening at the blade coming for her. 

Strade let out a low chuckle as the blade cut through her ruined tank top. “Can’t have bloody clothes lying around, what did you think I was using this for?” He smiled, letting the knife casually wave around as he spoke. Willow felt like she’d shrunk smaller. “I..I thought…” She looked to the floor, too scared to even face the familiar weapon. Her legs began to throb again. 

“No matter, let’s move this along.” He turned off the bath, then back to her. Hoisting her up with one arm. “Hmm…how should I take these off then?” Strade looked down at her, a blush warming on his cheek as the knife dropped lower to her stomach. Another shudder went down her spine as her eyes clamped shut. 

The tip of the knife trailed down, moving lower as he happily hummed a tune she didn’t know. The feeling of the blade made her want to cry, but she knew better. Willow looked up, he was biting at his bottom lip as he traced along her body. Hooking onto her panties, he finally met her eyes. Willow averted, heat spreading on her cheeks as she looked down. Small, light curls peeked out as he pulled further out with his knife. He examined the inside of the fabric,. As if he hadn’t spent days examining her carefully.

“P-Please…just cut them..?” As she closed her eyes, she felt the rip of the fabric fall to the floor. “Wie konnte ich ablehnen?” He muttered, patting her head before sheathing the knife and lifting her up. “Are you ready?” Strade smiled, not waiting for an answer before lowering to his knees. 

Lowering her into the steaming surface of the bath, she tensed as soon as the water touched her lower back. The bubbles fizzing around her with the ripples of contact. She almost felt like covering her exposed body, but the bubbles saved her the work. Instead, she held on tighter as he continued. Just hoping he wouldn’t drop her in.  Finally submerged, Strade removed his hold on her. For a moment, she allowed herself to relax. His sleeves soaked at the bottoms. Bubbles trailed after the droplets, padding on the floor as he fooled with the buttons. He stripped off the green button up, tossing it to the small pile of her clothes. 

Willow stared. Unashamed. His black, tight-fitting tank top was enough to heal a small part of her brain. 

The fabric stretched in his favor, his body hair peeking from the edges. 

“You’re staring, frau.” 

Willow snapped her gaze from his chest, no longer distracted. “I didn’t mean to…” 

She didn’t know if he was ignoring it or choosing to hold onto it for later. He was being careful of her injuries as he sponged around her body, tilting her head back as he lathered her hair, being too nice after teasing her. It felt nice to be cared for after everything. Cherished. She wasn’t sure what it was, but it was hard to hold back any tears threatening the surface. 

After suffering through his cleaning of her leg wounds, he allowed her a moment to soak. Sitting back and watching her as she rinsed the soap from her long ash blonde hair. “Are you comfortable?” He broke their silence, leaning against the tub. Now looking through the slightly red water at her body. His hand softly pawed at the water. 

“Yes..” Willow allowed herself to admit it, this was the most comfortable she’d been in days. It was an improvement on how she’d been feeling. “Thank you, Strade..” 

He hummed, moving his hand from the water to her head. “You’re welcome, Liebling..” His hand followed down her hair, then to the collar. Lightly tracing the metal before his hand went lower. “You’ve earned it..” Two digits centered on her budding nipple. Her back arched, breath hitching off the tension. He squeezed lightly, then twisted before pulling away. 

Willow wondered if he was holding back.

The constant heat on her cheeks seemed to grow hotter after his teasing. He simply didn’t notice, pulling the drain on the bath and turning to pull her out. Willow was thankful not to stand again, even if she felt totally exposed. 

Humming another unfamiliar tune, Strade turned back with the fresh towel to dry her. First, her hair. Then, the rest of her body. He took extra care not to be too rough around the still harsh injuries. He seemed to be in his element as he tended to and wrapped her leg back up. Now, a properly cleaned bandage with gauze over the open wounds. Willow almost considered the basement painkillers again, but she refused to give in and ask. The pain wasn’t pleasant, but she couldn’t complain to the one who gave her the injuries. 

Freshly wrapped, she was finally offered the shirt. Gray fabric fell over her frame, drowning her. Willow was certain this was one of Strade’s shirts. He brushed at the knots in her hair, the feeling of clean hair was almost foreign to her.  After everything was taken care of, he stood admiring his work. Willow felt his eyes, but didn’t shy away. The shirt was so large that it didn’t matter that her only underwear laid in a corner, ripped in half.

“Hungry?” He held out an arm, Willow pulled herself up without hesitation. “I could eat.” She offered a small smile. Ready to take another step, Strade lifted her up without warning. Not that she ever expected a warning. “Watch the doorway.” The shirt had slipped up, Willow could only hang on around his neck. She was certain he could feel her pussy against his arm. It was only supported by the purposeful adjustments he kept making. 

Her grip tightened, and Strade didn’t acknowledge it. 

Not that it was really an issue, but Willow found herself confused by his lack of libido.

Coming from the man who fingered her senseless after swabbing fresh blood off her body– It was odd seeing him so casually navigating the kitchen while his captive sat half naked on his couch. 

He rummaged through the fridge before returning to her with a sandwich and glass of clear water. “I can’t have you starving, you’re much too small!” He collapsed into the couch next to her.  His arm draped behind her, his legs spreading out, and he just watched. 

She was surprised he wasn’t feeding her with how attentive he’d been.

Willow quickly examined the sandwich. She didn’t put anything past him, but she was starving. If there was a giant pill in the middle, she would swallow it whole just to eat after a full day. “Thank you..” She mumbled before taking a massive bite.

It wasn’t the roast beef sandwich from the mini-fridge, but it would do. 

Halfway through the mediocre sandwich, Strade pulled a silver container out. Unscrewing it, then placing two small blue pills on the coffee table. Wordlessly, he sat back. Willow picked up one, looking back at him uncertainly. She couldn’t read the smile on his face, but the pills looked like the ones in the basement. Willow decided to trust that concept, rather than refusing them altogether. 

After both pills were chased with water, she resumed her sandwich. Strade’s touch soon found her, his fingers playing across the top of her shoulder. Choking on her final bite, she twinged at the pain. Her shoulder hadn’t gotten the memo about the possible painkillers. His hand moved slowly, touching at the nape of her neck to move damp hair out of the way. “How are you so…willing?” He mused, finally breaking his silence. A soft moan escaped, his fingers tracing behind her ear, lacing through her hair as he tightened his grip. “So...cute…” Angling her head back, he admired her flushed face before locking lips.

Strade pulled at her hair, her neck bending uncomfortably to reach him. Giving him full access. Willow moaned into him, hands reaching to his lap. He laughed, separating to shove her face into his thighs. 

Her legs shifted uncomfortably, but soon she was met with his belt buckle snapping open. 

“Open.” He ordered, his free hand petting her hair out of her face. His other working his dick free from his plaid boxers. 

She remembered the table saw, but she’d never seen his cock up close. Now the shaft sprang free. Rocking in her face before standing still. She almost caught herself gasping, but only adjusted herself to have a more comfortable position. Willow wasted no time kissing at the base of his shaft. His legs tensed as she made her way up. Slowly kissing along, and occasionally allowing her tongue to drag against a vein. 

He watched her, brows furrowed as he huffed. She barely had a chance to take a breath at the top before Strade was pushing her mouth onto him. He swore, loudly. Willow choked as he rested halfway down her throat. Her hands grabbing at his thighs, struggling as he pumped her head a few times. When he let her go she pulled off coughing. Precum dribbling from her mouth, but she didn’t stop. Her fingers trailed down, from the head to the base, just to pump slowly as she tongued at his tip. 

His free hand snapped over his mouth, letting out a deep groan. “Willow..” He managed to choke out.

Hips bucked against her again, this time she gladly went down further. His dick pressing on her inner cheek, she repositioned to take him in again. Her throat stretched as he filled her deeper. His moaning had become more frequent, breathier. “Haa..Oh…” Pumping deep into her throat, she had no other choice but to swallow.

He thrusted a few more times into her throat before pulling out. A sigh escaped him as he looked down. Straggling tears rolled off her cheeks, softly panting to catch her breath. She was grateful for the mystery painkillers now. Strade began petting her hair back again, cooing softly. “Would you like to go to bed, mein Schatz?” He wiped away the traces of tears, and she nodded.

In hindsight, it was stupid to imagine staying in a separate room. Strade carried her to the opposite end of the hall from the bathroom, then pulled out the familiar keychain to unlock the bedroom door. Clothes littering the floor greeted her, his bedsheets unkempt, and an alarm clock sitting on his dresser. 

Willow was set onto the bed, left to watch as he unloaded his pockets and knife into his bedside table. The keys followed, she took note of the now shut bedroom door. She was locked in, but assumed it was safer than being alone. At least with Strade she wouldn’t have to worry about a surprise electrocution. Willow touched absentmindedly at her collar, watching as he stripped off the well-loved tank top and jeans. Favoring just his boxers now, he returned his attention to her. 

Quirking an eyebrow, he looked at Willow as if she missed an important step. “Do you need help with your shirt?” She looked down at the fabric hanging off of her. “Might choke you in the night, it’d be a shame!” 

Bullshit, but she still found herself lying naked next to him in bed. 

He’d propped up on an elbow next to her, “Comfortable?” He questioned, but she knew it didn’t matter. There wasn’t much to hide with him, but she was glad to have at least a sheet covering her. Despite the pills, she still felt her outstretched leg throbbing. “I guess so..” She adjusted on the pillow, sinking deeper. Strade smiled, stroking her hair. Lulling her into a sense of security with each brush against her. 

“You’ve been so good..” Her body tensed, his hand moving lower to her chest. Her nipples peaked at his finger’s contact. He only traced around the raised skin. “I knew I made a good choice bringing you home.” His gaze was serious, locked in on her as he caressed her body. 

From her waist, to her hip, he played over stitches with a delicate touch.

Willow squirmed, feeling utterly defenseless. Even if she wanted to move from his touch, she was so intoxicated by his gaze, it was impossible to break. Even as he moved in between her legs, she couldn’t take her eyes off his. 

Stalking over her lower half, he pulled back the comforter to reveal her body to the room.

Willow scanned the dark for any blinking red lights, but found none.

His fingers now played over her pussy, dripping onto the fitted sheet below. Strade chewed at his bottom lip, focused on inserting digits slowly into her. Willow tried clasping a hand over her mouth to muffle any moans, but he only grabbed her wrist to pull it away. Holding on tight as he worked her with three fingers. 

Willow twinged at the pain in her wrist. Closing her eyes as the ache mixed with her climax that closed in on her. Expecting an end, she was robbed as Strade pulled out his slick covered fingers.

Admiring them in the moonlight breaking through the curtains, he held her attention as he licked the mess from his hand. His half lidded eyes planning something, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to know what was on his mind. 

“How is your leg feeling?” He brought it up out of nowhere. 

It was tender, but the painkillers helped with the throbbing pain. 

“I-It’s fine?” Willow shrunk further into the bed as he moved a hand over her knee. 

“That’s great!” He sat up, moving his boxers down to his thighs as he moved his hips closer to hers. “I’m sure you’ll be fine if I just..” Intense pain rippled through her body as Strade lifted her legs to his shoulders. Slipping inside her as she cried out. Willow writhed, unable to take her leg off without causing more damage. 

“S-Strade…” She struggled as he met her ass with his hips. A sick smile spreading across his face as he held onto her calves. “Yes?” His face blushed with love as he slowly began thrusting. “Hurts..” Willow choked out a sob, but Strade only started moving faster. “Ohh, I know.” Rubbing circles with his thumb on her knee, as if it was comforting and not a sharp pain. 

No pills could help Strade’s treatment.

“I know…I know it hurts…” His grip moved to her shin, causing another sharp feeling to tear through her leg. She couldn’t help the scream that escaped, but it only encouraged him more. Holding tightly at an awkward angle just to get him off, and what made her feel worse is how much she was getting off on it.

Willow hadn’t been in sound mind since the basement, but this had to be the lowest point she could remember. She felt shame in the moans that made their way out in between the tears. Laying back as he fucked into her, she only could see his love for her. Kissing her bandages, over the worst injuries, moaning her name as he became rougher. 

“Willow…Is it too much? A-Are you in pain..?” He huffed, laying his head against her leg as he moved his hand back under her thigh. Making it easier to keep grinding into her. 

“It hurts…but it’s okay..” Willow moaned out, now reaching out for him. He gladly lent her a hand from her non-injured leg, letting it hook on his hips. Tears streamed down her face, the pain in her leg was so intense that she’d begun shaking. She wasn’t sure if it was from the pain or the orgasm, but Strade’s pace had picked up faster, which made everything feel fuzzy.

“I’m going to…ugh..” He grunted with every thrust, fumbling over his words as he relaxed his grasp on her. He released her hand, now holding her face to look at him. Pumping deeper into tightening walls, his breathing became more stuttered. “Willow…fuck…” His thumb mindlessly caressed at her cheek, head dropping as he loudly came. His mess of mousey brown curls falling onto her bare stomach, his breath hot against her skin. 

The room stopped spinning, her pain calming without the pressure of his grasp. Her hands moved on their own, entwining in his hair.

In the palm of her hand, she thought how easy it would be to catch him off guard.

He stirred from his break, looking up at her through thick curls. A sly smile on his face, “You sure know how to make me go over the edge, Willow.” His voice tired, he laid a soft kiss above her navel before sitting up. He examined her leg, taking care not to touch it. Making sure not to move from his place in her, Willow squirming slightly at the feeling. Full, as he seemed fully unbothered with his dick still in place. 

“St-Strade..” She murmured, not attempting to move him. He didn’t seem to acknowledge her whimper, instead finally pulling out with a sigh. 

Spilling from her, she tried clenching her thighs to ease the awkward feeling. Willow only found that tensing her leg muscles hurt too badly. It was just easier to deal with it. 

Strade seemed too happy with himself. Stretching with a satisfied sigh, then looking back down to his new pet. “Get some rest, you deserve it!” Without dressing, Strade left the room and headed toward the bathroom at the end of the hall. 

Willow laid alone now. Her mind finally gaining the opportunity to take hold.

She looked around the room again. He’d left the bedroom door open. On purpose? To see if she would run? As if she could even leave the bed. 

Willow looked down the hallway. The bathroom light slipped under the door down the hall. Though, another door opened. 

In the middle of the hall, a crack into the room she assumed to be Ren’s.

Willow stared back at the golden eyes. Examining her in the dark, just like he watched her from the stares. Still watching her, Willow smiled. 

His door quickly shut, and the bathroom door opened again.