A delicate perfume invades his senses, soft touches skitter along his bare legs. He whines, pleading for escape.

Tinkling laughter greets his cries, and the hands go deeper, deeper, deeper.

He’ll never be able to get them out.

Darkness.

Warmth replaces the cold. Gentle moans breathe in his ears, bringing him back. Pulling and twisting, back and forth, up and down.

He wails a name. Caretaker. But Caretaker is far, far away now.

Lips lock onto his mouth, tenderly smothering his pleas into the silence, stealing away his breath, pushing him back down.

Darkness catches him as he falls.

Warmth turns to heat. Fear turns to shame. Strings of heat pull him out of the numb darkness. Tears trickle down his face, even as he groans. His body twists and arches, the world goes blindingly white.

Sweet whispered nothings echo around him, clawing at him, tearing at his mind and flesh and soul. They pillow the sounds of his own screams.

His mind flees from the scene, from gentle horrors, from waking reality, and jumps.

Darkness swallows him in its embrace. ~*~*~

Whumptober 2022 no 19: Enough is Enough

Master sneered. “He’s a bad dog, needs to be punished. Just a dumb mutt, only good for fighting.”

“If he’s too dumb then stop hurting him! He won’t learn—take it out on me instead!”

“You think you’re some kind of good samaritan?” Master scoffed. Dread trickled down Caz’s spine as he realized what he’d just said. He hadn’t meant to go that far, he only wanted to stop the man.

“He’s a stupid dog, he isn’t loyal to anyone but me. Look.” Master snapped his fingers and whistled. “Trigger!”

The young man raised his head mechanically, eyes flashing. Master pointed at Caz.

“Attack him.”

On instinct, Trigger crouched aggressively, tensing his muscles to attack. His lip curled into a snarl.

But he did’t move.

“Trigger! Attack!”

Trigger shut his eyes and whined. Caz could hear the tiniest bleed of an earsplitting alram. How loud was it for the kid?

“Can’t,” Trigger gritted through the loosened muzzle, shaking his head, “Pet’s not a threat.”

Master reached down, twisting his tight curls.

“Did I ask you if he was a threat? No. I told you to attack, you goddamn idiot.”

Trigger’s dark eyes met Caz, scared and pleading. The burly man followed his look.

“What, you think you’re saving him, Trigger?” Master chuckled.

He stormed over to Caz, wrapping a meaty hand around his neck before he could react. Caz’s limbs lashed out wildly, but Master soon lashed his arms together, slinging the cord over a support beam. His arms were raised high above his head, forcing him to take shallow breaths.

“Trigger, watch what happens when you disobey orders.”

Keep it together. Keep it together for the kid.

Metal links hit his back. Caz jerked forward, a broken yell sucked into his lungs. Before he could recover, another cold line of fire crossed the back of his legs. His arms shook in the restraints. There was no rhythm, no gap of time for his body to adjust. Line after line of pain blurred his mind. His shoulders, his back, his legs: everything was on fire.

He could hear Trigger sobbing, pleading. Master cursed and yelled at him to be quiet. The chain caught him in the side, under his ribs. Caz screamed, twisting in his bonds.

“Master please! Stop!” Trigger screamed. “It’s my fault!”

This isn’t Trigger’s fault. He shouldn’t think that. Caz wheezed and coughed, red spattering out of his mouth onto the tiles below.

“Sir, I’ll—I’ll be good, I’ll obey!”

Silence. Nothing but the whimpering of the young man and the his own ragged breaths, loud in his ears. Master threw the chain down with a curse. Caz’s body flinched at the noise. Rough fingers fisted his hair, tugging his head backwards.

“If you ever interfere in my discipline again, Pet, I will break you in half. Do you understand?”

Caz shut his eyes, adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “Yes, sir,” he choked out hoarsely.

Master grunted. “You got him punished, mutt. Get him down.” The door slammed and clicked shut.

“Are you okay?” Trigger scrambled up to him, fumbling with the ropes.

Caz hung his head weakly. “Yeah….yeah… ‘m o-okay...he-help me down?”

He slumped to the floor, uncaring that he was staining his clothes with blood. They were ripped anyway.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. It should have been me.”

“Shut up. If I didn’t think I could take it I wouldn’t have offered.”

That was a lie. He hoped Trigger didn’t know that.

“But you’re not a guard dog, I should have handled it.”

A grin flickered across Caz’s blood speckled lips. “I can take a few punches, kid. You’re thin as a reed. Save it up for a big fight, okay?”

Trigger bobbed his head, his face flushed and streaked with tears. Caz nodded weakly, then let his head fall against the cold tiles.

“I think I’m gonna need a minute.”

~*~*~

Whumptober 2022 no. 21: Famous Last Words

Caz wasn’t a religious man, his god-fearing papa had beaten any belief of a heaven out of him long ago. But in that moment, as that slight figure drew close, he found himself praying to any and every higher power to spare him.

“Liselle knows how to get what she wants.”

Caz flinched at the ghost of her fingertips. “Stay the fuck away from me!” he shouted.

“Cassidy, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Won’t you let me have this one thing?”

“Are you out of your mind? Fuck you!” Caz yelled. “I told you no, I kicked you to the floor and elbowed you in the gut! What else do I have to do to get you leave me alone?” His voice cracked on the last word.

Pure unfiltered rage flashed across the woman’s face for a single moment before fading back into a playful pout. “Aw, did somebody think he was being a big strong man earlier? Someone that your wife would be proud of? Somebody she’d want to save?”

Maya’s face flashed across his memory, and Caz shut his eyes.

He didn’t see the needle coming.

“I figured you wouldn’t be good for me. Not yet. But I’ll keep working with you until you see how good this can be for you too.”

Fuck you bitch--

The words didn't come. His tongue wouldn't work.

“W….Wha… thafuck di you do to me??”

Everything was heavy, everything was muddled in a fog. He wanted to move away, to scream.

“Wow, Eric was right. This really does harden you right up.”

He felt her hands pulling at his pants, tugging them down over his knees.

Stay away from me!

“…sta...stoppp…”

“Mmm, look at you. Weak as a kitten.”

Nails scraped against his inner thigh. With a single gesture, she plunged her hands underneath his waistband. Every touch burned his skin, building heat to a painful throbbing. He thought he’d swore and bucked his hips away from her; it’s what he’d meant to do.

But his limbs didn’t move an inch, and his voice was quickly giving out on him.

“You think your wife is going to want to see you again, hm? Or that crackpot brother of yours?”

Liselle tilted the back of the exam table, giving herself more space. Then she straddled his legs, pinning him down completely. Cold fingertips slid underneath his torn shirt, feeling up his stomach and chest.

“Pl...ease..”

She stroked his cheek softly, drawing his face towards her own.

“No one is coming for you, ‘Siddy.”

“Nnnn!….”

“You need to settle in and enjoy the ride.”

Caz’s head dropped back limply as Liselle braced herself above his hips. His eyes filled with tears.

“Because this is your reality now.”

“No, sir,” Caz said softly.

Jingo stretched out his arms, arching his back to get closer to Burns.

“Jingo boy also told me that he saw you in the north hall less than five minutes before the resounding crash.”

Caz drew his brows together, then shook his head. He’d been assigned to tasks on the main floor all day.

“I wasn’t in the north hall today, sir.”

“But I saw him there, Master!” Jingo piped up, “I swear on it.”

Master’s flicked to the pet standing in front of him. “So, you’re telling me that Jingo is a liar?”

Caz licked his lips nervously, ducking his head towards the floor. Jingo was Master’s favorite pet. “No, sir. I think— I think he might not know all the facts. He could have mistaken me for someone else.”

“Hm, there aren’t many pets as old and as ugly as you,” Jingo muttered in his soft british voice, rubbing his head against Master Burns’ fingertips. “You’re hard to miss.”

A couple giggles echoed around the lounge.

His survival instincts screamed at him. They’re not going to believe you. Just go with it and take the punishment.

But he hadn’t done anything wrong. And pets always had to tell the truth. They were punished harshly for lying.

“I—I didn’t touch the display, Master. I swear it.”

“Master, he’s lying!” Jingo whined, jumping up and putting his hands on Burn’s lap. His eyes were wide and his lip trembled. “He’s trying to blame me for it!”

“Enough.” Burns firmly pushed him down. “Get on the table, Ziggy.”

Caz’s face blanched. The table was only when Master was really angry.

“Sir, I didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Now.”

Burns snapped his fingers. Jingo’s frightened, innocent expression twisted into a sneer for a single moment.

Two other pets approached out of nowhere, drawing Caz back till the tabletop struck his hip.

One of the youths shoved at his shoulder, pushing him down. Smooth, polished marble pressed into his back, and the cool white lights burned his eyes. Tilting his head down, Caz could see the two still beside him, their hands loosely gripping his shoulders.

“Master, please—” Caz tried to shrug off the pets, but they didn’t budge.

Burns walked back into his field of view, holding a tea towel and a bottle of water. “Hold him down, lads. Keep him steady.”

Jingo hopped up to help the other two youths, fingers digging deep into his arms and hips. Caz’s eyes darted around in fear.

“I don’t need to be held down, sir. I can—I won’t fight it.”

“You do. You might not think you need to be—” he put the towel over Caz’s face, “—but you do.”

Master Burn's fingers coiled in his hair, firmly tugging his head back. His heartbeat started to flutter.

No. No. No. NO. NO. NO!

The cloth was thick and rough, coarse fibers brushing against his face. It already felt suffocating. Was this his punishment?

Then water struck him out of nowhere, clogging his mouth and nose.

Caz lurched forward in the man's grasp, adrenaline sending his nerves into panic. His legs kicked out violently. I can’t breathe. I’m drowning. Stop! Stop!

The water didn’t stop. The pets’ grip shook but held tight as he thrashed and twisted. He tried to scream, but the water choked him.

I’m going to die. I’m dying. I’m drowning.

For one second, he lost consciousness. Then another, and another.

Master Burns lifted up the damp towel. Caz lunged upwards, choking and gasping.

“Turn him on his side.” He motioned to the pets.

Jingo shoved Caz, holding his head back by his collar. Caz sputtered and coughed, vomiting up water. Panic slammed his heart against his ribs, chest stuttering with thousands of shallow breaths. Get it out, get it out! I need to breathe!

“I don’t appreciate liars, Zigs.”

Caz looked up at Master Burns, eyes blown wide with fear and shaking all over.

Master Burns calmly unscrewed another waterbottle. This time Caz screamed.

“No, no! Stop! I did it, it was-- it was my fault! I-I-I broke it! It was me!”

I’ll say anything you want, anything.

Burns clicked his tongue. “If you’d just admitted it right away I wouldn’t need to punish you twice. But you lied—"

"No!"

"—and you put blame on another pet. That’s not acceptable.”

Caz shook his head desperately, his expression crumbling into panicked tears.

“Master, pet’s learned his lesson. He won’t—I won’t do it again.”

“You know, there’s something about a man fastened to an exam table. Helpless, vulnerable, pathetic. Makes me want to open his legs right up.”

His heart stopped. She’d never acted this way before. Sure, she would make lewd remarks and pointed comments about his body, but she wouldn’t actually…?

As if on cue, Liselle walked over to Caz. She reached towards his belt. He pushed into the chair, his hands jerking violently.

“N-no, shi—what are you doing?” Liselle shushed him, unbuckling the leather and pulling it out of the loops.

“Have I ever whipped you? Burned you? Kicked you in the face? I’ve been so good to you, ‘siddy, just let me have this one thing.”

Climbing up onto the step, she hoisted herself onto his hips, grinding down softly. Caz twitched underneath her, trying to shift away.

“No, I said no. Stop.”

The woman laughed softly, teeth shining out of her blood red lips.

“What’s your problem? Scared of fucking a woman?”

Liselle unlocked his left hand, making ready to tie it above his head. She climbed closer, her grin widening as he pushed his shoulders deeper into the upholstery.

Get off! his brain screamed, getoffgetoffgetoffGETOFF “Or is this about your wife?”

“Fuck you.”

“What was her name again?”

Caz turned his face away from her. Lisselle followed his movement, ghosting her lips against his jawline.

“Are you afraid to think that I could do better than that bitch--”

He rammed his skull against hers, throwing his whole body forward. Lisselle staggered, falling off his lap. Caz desperately freed his other hand, thanking the gods it was his dominant hand she’d uncuffed first.

“Hey!” She lunged to her feet. “Stop!”

Without a second thought, he kicked out, knocking her back down. He scrambled off the bed, landing awkwardly on the floor. His legs were shaking as the blood rushed back into them for the first time in days. Caz rushed to the door and yanked on the knob with all his might. By some unnatural stroke of luck, the handle jerked downards and the door cracked open like a gunshot.

“Don’t you fucking dare leave this room!”

Caz ran out of that door without looking back.

He didn’t know where to go. He’d had no plan. He just had to get away from her, from that. There had to be another door down the hall, find the next door--

A deafening shriek pierced his ears seconds before her nails dug into his shoulders. Lisselle body-slammed against him, shoving him to the floor.

“No!” he rasped, dragging himself forward. Liselle wasn’t a heavy woman, but she hadn’t been chained up and malnourished for the last two days like he had. And she was fighting like the devil.

“You don’t get to say no to me, pig!”

Caz had never seen her like this. She clawed at his back, tearing the thin shirt he was wearing. A flash of pain seared through his ear. Was she--? Gods, she was biting his ear.

With a yell, Caz shoved his elbow back as far as he could, hoping to hit his attacker. He heard a strangled curse and her hold loosened for a moment.

“Get off me, bitch!”

“Stop moving—gah!”

Leather pulled against his neck, forcing his head upward. Caz sputtered and hissed, frantically clawing at the tightening fabric. A belt, she was choking him with his own belt.

A heavy thud, and a pair of sturdy boots dropped into view.

“What’s all this?”

Attacker and victim both froze, looking up. Rawbone stood over them. And he did not look happy.

“Mr. Eric,” she stammered, climbing off Caz, “He’d escaped containment and—”

“Clearly,” he nodded curtly. “Go to my office, Liselle. Immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

Without another word, the woman scampered off. Caz wheezed violently, shaking on the floor, too weak to move.

“Well now,” Rawbone's mouth widened in a cold grin that never reached his eyes. “Looks like someone is in for a dressing down.” ~*~*~

Caz shrugged the man's hand off and rubbed his wrist. The man was older, fifty perhaps, but virile and trim. As he paced towards the booth, the gold-tipped cane seemed more a status marker than an actual aid, he walked perfectly.

"So tell me about yourself, young man."

"You're a silver fox with rawboned cheeks, and a filthy rich suit," Caz slurred under his breath, "What do they call you around here, Rich Rawbone?"

"Excuse me?"

He giggled softly, shaking his head. "Nothing, nothing."

The phone vibrated angrily in Caz's pocket. A low battery alert glared above the latest text message:

Hey bro cmon Maya's been blowing up my phone. she's worried. if you dont wanna talk to her then call me.

"Husband or wife?"

Caz looked at the guest blankly. "No, that was my-- what?"

"The ring on your finger: is it a husband or wife?"

"Oh. Um, wife."

"You close?"

Something in the man's gaze made him hesitate. "No. No, we're heading towards a divorce. I needed some time away from her."

"And yet you're wearing your ring out here." Rawbone nodded pointedly.

"Old habits." Caz gave a tight smile, squinting as a jackhammer drilled his skull. "What about you, why do you guys have a red glowstick? I thought we got issued blue ones."

"You wanna know why we have the red band? Well, I'll tell you. We're hunters. Trailblazers. Entrepreneurs. And them, the blue ones?" He pointed with his cigar. "They're the guinea pigs, the basic bread and butter of humanity, the banal median required to keep the world turning but never move it forward."

"I like to think they're the future, the next generation," Caz said, glancing around the room. "Don't you?"

"They are, technically. But history is dictated by the great, momentous breakthroughs in time and space that shift the gears of humanity's progress. The grand few against the meaningless many. Tonight, out of that many, we give a portion a chance to be part of the future, not simply vapid participants dragged along in the tide."

The hammering had changed into a white-hot iron compressing around the sides of his head. Caz groaned, digging his fingers into his temples.

"Okay, well. That's weird. Definitely not what I'm here for."

"You have some interest in this. You're at this party, and I watched you spend some time talking with our hostess. If you don't want to know, then stop asking questions."

I didn't even catch half of what you were saying because of this fucking migraine. "Hey, I was just curious about the colors and the age gap, wondering if I had the wrong one. I'm not looking to be a part of any weird shit."

"Oh, but you got invited, Mr. Eubank. You're part of this whether you want to be or not. Everyone has a part to play."

This guy is bizarre and a creep, Caz thought as he shook his head and stood up. "Can you show me where the bathrooms are at?"

The man waved his hand, "I think there's one out the left doorway, down that hall and to the right. You can't miss it, just listen for the groans and pounding bodies."

"Um. Okay, well, enjoy your night."

"I most definitely will, Cassidy," the man answered.

His head was spinning, and he needed to find the restroom. He hoped it was marked clearly or he'd end up vomiting all over the polished marble floors.

He turned down a small corridor with a wooden door nestled in the wall. This was probably where he'd directed him. He cracked it open.

And a scream hit his ears.

The first thing Caz saw through the door were the young man's eyes burning into his, begging for help.

Then he saw the blood. And the bonds. And the knife.

"Help...you gotta let me go, man... please!" The young man writhed in his bonds, his bracelet shining sickeningly blue against his brown arm.

"Shut up, cunt. You were made for this, pretty boy. "

Caz's eyes followed the knife to the hand holding it. Blood trickled down pale flesh onto a red glowstick.

Red and blue glowsticks.

The great few and the meaningless many.

Hunters and prey.

His legs nearly slipped out from under him as he stepped away. Fuck this headache, he had to be seeing things. There was no way this was real. That kid didn't look like he was out of college. This had to be some fucked up sugar daddy bondage porn thing, right?

Another scream pierced through the ambience. Caz staggered down the hall, he couldn't keep his nausea down any longer. The next hall had a trashcan and Caz heaved violently until it was over. Searing agony shot through his skull, and Caz slumped against the wall, his head spinning.

He had to call the police. And he really fucking wished he'd taken up Salem's offer to call earlier but there wasn't time for that now. Never had his phone been so hard to hold in sweaty hands. With shaking fingers he pushed "Emergency Call."

Nothing happened. He forced his thumb down again. For a split second it showed "Dialing 9-1-1."

Then his phone went black.

"Shit!" Caz hissed. The phone wasn't turning on, no matter how hard he pushed the power button.

"You lost, little boy?"

Rawbone's lip curled at the fiery panic that tore though Caz's body. "I thought you were looking for the restroom."

"I-I was. Yeah. But I took a wrong turn. This place is huge."

"Hm, you took more than a wrong turn. friend."

An angry empty red battery flashed across the screen. Caz's stomach dropped. He needed air. He needed to get outside.

"Hey, uh, can I borrow your phone?" His throat was dry from vomiting, that was definitely why his voice cracked. "My wife, she's been trying to reach me. I won't hear the end of it if I don't get back to her tonight.

Holy shit. What the hell was he going to tell Maya when he got back?

"I thought you said you two were heading towards a divorce," Rawbone asked, tapping a rhythm across the top of his cane.

Caz swallowed. Fuck, he had. His heart was now pounding faster than the throbbing in his head. "We are, but... I don't want her to worry. It'll be a quick call, just two minutes."

Rawbone cocked an eyebrow, but passed his phone.

Caz stepped backward, trying to block the view of the screen. It was now or never. Call 911, pretend it's Maya, hang up after two minutes because no way would this guy let him stay on the line.

He pressed the right combination of buttons as nonchalantly as he could, then slid the phone against his ear.

9-1-1....

Hello. No one is here to answer your call. Please stay on the line.

"Hello? Maya?"

We're sorry, but currently no operator is available to take your call. Please wait until an attendant is available to help you.

"Maya it's me, it's Cassidy. I know you've been trying to call all night..."

Please hold until the next available agent is able to take your call.

Why the hell wasn't 9-1-1 working?

"I know you're upset with me... umm--"

"Time's up, Mr. Eubank."

Wood cracked across the back of his knees. Caz shouted and stumbled forward, throwing his hands out against the wall to steady himself. The blue bracelet shone on the phone for a split second as it bounced out of his hand to the floor.

"You didn't think I'd actually have a working access to 911, did you?"

White dots speckled his vision as Caz pulled himself up the wall. The room needed to stop twirling right now.

"Tsk tsk," Rawbone scrolled through his phone. "How blasé. You know prank calling emergency services is a punishable crime?"

Caz grunted, forcing his legs to move forward. Every step felt like walking through molasses.

"Need a hand?"

Rawbone's fist crashed against his face, and the hall turned upside down. Before Caz could try to get up, the man stepped on his chest.

"Would you believe I told the hostess to drug that drink of yours? You shouldn't have been able to stand, yet here you were." He ground his boot below Caz's ribs. "Snooping around, poking your nose in places it didn't belong, the whole gamut. You're stronger than I thought. "

He gasped beneath the man's weight, tugging at his boot.

"Mmm, I'd love to beat you to a pulp in this hall and make you lick the blood off my shoes this instant, but there are rules to this place." Rawbone crouched down and brought his hand over Caz's face. "For now, this will have to do. We'll have all the time in the world to do that later."

Caz jerked and thrashed underneath the man's grip, weakly hitting his arm, but it did nothing. His lungs sent fire up his throat, his brain stuttered in panic.

Stop...Let me go... Please...

Darkness creeped on the sides of his vision as more figures approached.

Need help...Salem... Maya...

His ears started ringing, muffling out the voices around him, only picking up the words "trunk," "checkpoint," and "Elephant."

Nobody knows where I am...

The last thing Caz saw before going unconscious was the garish red glow of the man's wristband.

tbc