“You’ll be timed, Penny,” William explained and set a timer on the rusty sink. “You have twenty minutes to shave your head, shower, and do whatever else you need to do to freshen yourself up. All necessary items you’re allowed have been provided.” William left but Landon didn’t move. There was no way in hell I was going to disrobe in front of the man that almost killed me. “Landon, let’s give her privacy,” William said. Landon responded with a salacious leer but he left.
William had started the timer and I needed to get my butt moving. The first thing I did was go to the shower controls to let the water warm up. There was a problem, however – there was no handle for the hot water. The basement was chilly and I knew I couldn’t take a cold shower so I decided a sponge bath would have to do. It was better than nothing, after all.
Removing my pajama bottoms was easier than my t-shirt. My shoulders cramped and shouted and I wasted a good two minutes just trying to pull the piece of clothing off. I kept one eye on the timer as I used an old rag as a washcloth, then used the hair clippers to shave my head. This was another difficult task because of my shoulders and I ended up sitting on the toilet and bending over to do the task because I just couldn’t move my shoulders in the way that was needed. They were so stiff.
The t-shirt I was allowed – black and with a few holes scattered about it – was too big but there were no bottoms to wear. You will share what you’re given. I guess that meant clothing also and assumed in a week, Jack would receive a clean pair of pajama bottoms but no shirt. The last thing I did, with just a minute to spare, was use an old toothbrush to brush my teeth. There was no toothpaste and the toothbrush looked as if it had been used before but I used it anyway, mainly out of fear of getting in trouble for not using what I was given.
My knees were done supporting me as the timer went off. I sat on the closed toilet and waited to be taken back to our ‘bedroom.’ No one came right away and I did my best to wrap my arms around myself as I shivered from the cold. I didn’t like the wait. What was taking them so long to come for me? My nerves got the best of me and my shivering increased.
My heart jumped when I heard the door open at the top of the stairs and footsteps descending. It was William and Landon again. William approached the cage but Landon went to one of the tall, stainless steel cabinets. He pulled out a set of manacles.
“Oh, God,” I whispered and wondered what hell I was going to be put through.
“You were ordered to shower,” William said as he entered the cage.
“There was no hot water,” I replied.
“This isn’t a fucking spa,” William growled and pulled out his gun. My breath stuck in my chest.
“I’m sorry,” I quickly said, “I wasn’t implying anything beyond that there was no hot water.”
“String her up under the shower,” William ordered. “And if you try, or even say anything, I’ll put a bullet in you, Penny.” I watched with intense fear as Landon approached. He shoved me under the showerhead. He tossed the shackles over the joist.
“Reach up,” he ordered. I shook even harder; I could barely raise my arms earlier and I was supposed to reach them up to be bound? William wasn’t willing to wait for me and jerked my hands upwards. I heard loud popping and crunching sounds from my shoulders and the pain accompanying these stomach churning sounds was succinctly intense to the point everything around me became very, very muted. I was on the verge of blacking out and William slapped me hard, bringing me back to the current terror.
“Strip her,” was William’s next order and handed Landon his hunting knife. The look on Landon’s face made me want to vomit. He took his time slicing the t-shirt off of me and his hands strayed in places they shouldn’t.
“That’s enough, Landon,” warned William. I felt the heat in my cheeks from the vulnerable position I was in. My tiptoes barely touched the cement floor and the pain in my shoulders was unbelievable. “You were ordered to shower,” William said. “And shower you shall. Although you probably wouldn’t have been in the water for twenty minutes, since this is punishment for disobeying, you will be taking a twenty-minute shower.” He stepped away from me, turned the faucet handle all the way, and left with Landon.
When the frigid water hit me from above, it took my breath away from both the force and the temperature. It didn’t take long before I was shivering and sputtering. The longer the water ran, the colder it became and I could not control my shaking. It was like being hit with millions of pieces of icy rice. I tried to keep myself together but between the cold and hanging from my wrists, the pain in my shoulders and trying not to drown, it was so difficult. The experience was weakening my strength even more. Time slowed down as a heavy numbness filled me and the muteness crept back. I couldn’t hold my head up and it flopped forward.
After what seemed like hours but I knew was just twenty minutes, William reappeared and turned the water off. When I was released from the shackles, I was too weak to stand and dropped to the wet floor. It was difficult to catch my breath and I began an uncontrolled coughing. This jarred my shoulders, causing more pain.
“Put this on,” William ordered and tossed me the t-shirt I wore when we were brought down to the basement. What movement I had left in my arms was minimal and I had no idea how I was going to manage to pull on the shirt. I was afraid of the consequences so I bit my lip and managed to get it on somehow. I was still wet and the cloth soaked up the water; I would be cold for a long while. “Back to your cell,” said William. I struggled to my feet as my arms screamed in pain. Each step was agonizing and I felt as if I couldn’t take another one the closer we came to the locked door. An appearance of William’s gun gave me enough of an adrenaline rush to walk into the cell which slammed behind me. My legs gave out and Jack caught me before I hit the floor.
“What the hell happened?” he asked and for the second time that day, picked me up in his arms. He lay me on the mattress but I was shaking too much to even talk. The piercing cold from the shower overtook my ability to communicate. “You are freezing, like ice,” Jack noted and started to rub my upper arms which were not rebound after the shower. He didn’t know William had injured my shoulders and Jack’s attempt to warm me up just caused more pain. The grayness crept in on me again but I didn’t want to pass out. I felt vulnerable from my torture and wanted to stay conscious so I could feel a little safe in Jack’s presence.
“Stop,” I cried. “Pain.”
“You are in pain?” he questioned and I nodded. “But I have to get you warmed up,” he countered and tried to rub my arms again but I cried out. Jack stopped and he looked at me with a worried face. I closed my eyes and tried to even out my breathing. My heart raced like a greyhound and the chest pain I kept to myself added to the rest of my aches and pains. “Penelope, what happened? Did they hurt you?”
I didn’t want to tell Jack what happened but I knew there was no choice. It took me several minutes to get the whole story out as I could barely speak due to the chills clamping my mouth shut. Jack was angry and began a determined pace during my explanation. This was of no help to me and between Jack’s anger, my shaking, and the pain everywhere in my body, I started crying. This kicked Jack out of his anger and he knelt next to me. With the gentleness I saw him use so often with his children, he pulled me into his chest and wrapped his arms around me.
* * *
Chapter 23
Jack was able to warm Penny up so her chills weren’t so body wracking but with her damp t-shirt and the chill of the room, she continued to shiver for many hours. She was in pain and exhausted from her ordeal and Jack coaxed her into trying to rest. Laying down hurt her the most so she sat cross-legged with her worthless arms in her lap. Jack paced most of the time until James came to lead them to the bathroom and give them lunch. Penny’s legs were so weak and even walking hurt her shoulders but as with so much in the ordeal, there was no choice due to the fear of consequences.
They were given ten minutes in the bathing cage and when they we
re done taking care of their needs, Penny spoke quietly to Jack as she sat on the closed toilet. “I don’t think I can walk back to the cell.” Her voice shook and she couldn’t make eye contact with Jack. This was quite the admission on her part which meant the pain in her legs coupled with her shoulders was extreme.
“Do not worry. I will carry you,” he said and smiled but she didn’t look up at him to see it.
“You exert yourself too much,” she countered, “and with them giving us less food, you…”
“No arguing, Penelope,” he admonished and crouched down in front of her so she had to look at him. “I will be okay.” She nodded and a few minutes later, William showed up. He had no problem with Jack carrying Penny.
“You have five minutes to eat,” William said as he set their dinner tray down next to the mattress where Jack set Penny down and he sat next to her. William walked out of the cell with the beep of a timer. Jack pulled the towel from the tray and revealed their inadequate lunch of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, small glass of milk, and a bottle of water. They made their time but it wasn’t easy.
They were both quiet, still stunned from what Penny went through that morning. Jack needed interaction to ease his anxiety that was building up. Penny was again sitting cross-legged with her arms in her lap. Her head was bent down and her eyes shut. He doubted she was asleep. Jack was pacing again and he forced himself down next to her.
“How are you doing?” he asked, keeping his voice quiet. The pain and shock in her eyes belied the okay that came from her lips.
“How are you doing?” she repeated his question. Her voice was also quiet.
“Worried about Sofochka,” he replied. Although Penny took up many of his worry thoughts the last couple hours, memories of his little girl crept into his mind. A small smile crossed Penny’s face and this warmed Jack a bit.
“The peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about her also. I think about all the kids but I worry the most about her.” Her chin quivered and her eyes shimmered. “The fever she had that night broke but what if it came back? She just wants to be held by me when she’s sick and I’m not there…” Penny’s voice trailed off for a moment. “The Employer knows us, knows me, hates me. What if I inadvertently did something to cause all this?”
“No, Penny, not this again,” Jack said.
“I’m not saying it was someone I knew this time, Jack,” she replied. “But maybe I didn’t pick up on something that might have clued us in this was going to happen,” she countered.
“Penny, you have always been vigilant. This is not your fault. Okay?” Reluctantly, she nodded. He reached out and touched her scarred cheek. “We will get through this.”
. . .
James brought dinner which was an unappetizing boiled chicken breast, two boiled potatoes, and two boiled pieces of broccoli. There was no taste to any of it but they didn’t complain. A little while later, William and Vivienne showed up. Ms. Mengele had her kit with her and Jack hoped Penny would be allowed medical attention.
“Check her shoulders out,” William ordered Vivienne who was again not happy about attending to Penny and showed this unhappiness by being rough with her. It must have been painful as Jack noticed Penny biting her lip hard enough to draw blood.
“Dislocated, broken,” she diagnosed. “I can feel the bones moving around.” The anger within Jack flared and it was his turn to bite his lip to remain silent. “She’ll be an orthopedic surgeon’s dream when she gets out of here between her shoulders and knees.” William snorted at this.
“You know that’s never going to happen,” he said. These words caused a familiar pain to brew in Jack’s stomach. William’s cellphone beeped at him and he cocked an eyebrow at it as he read. “Do what you can for her, Vivi. Pain medication, slings, whatever. The Employer has allowed it since we need her to be cooperative soon. Give her a little loving now so our job later is easier.”
“What does that mean?” Jack asked. He didn’t like the sound of that.
“Don’t worry your Big Brain over anything, Jack,” William replied. “I will explain when it’s time.”
“But you said I could use my talents,” said Vivienne, her voice almost in a whine.
“Don’t worry, darling,” he said in a smooth voice as he wrapped his arm around her waist, “you’ll get to have fun.” Penny had a fearful look on her face.
“Whatever you are planning to do,” Jack said quickly. “Please, do not do. Do not hurt Penny anymore.”
“What have I said about demands?” replied William and Jack knew he didn’t dare continue the conversation. He dropped his gaze and took a submissive step backwards.
Vivienne kneeled next to Penny while Jack observed. He was nervous; he didn’t trust Vivienne after she tortured Penny. After ten minutes or so, she had used several rolls of gauze to bind Penny’s arms in such a way to hold her shoulders still. Her arms were crossed in front of her in a pose that made it look as if she was ready for a casket and this made Jack sick to his stomach but he held himself in check. It didn’t look comfortable but he knew immobilization was important. The last thing Vivienne did was shake out a couple pills Jack recognized as Vicodin. She popped them into Penny’s mouth and then held a bottle of water to her lips.
“Done,” she said and packed her things away. “It’s not perfect but it’s better than nothing.” She left the cell without another word as did William.
“How do your shoulders feel now?” Jack asked, taking the spot Vivienne had left.
“They burn but it does help that they’re immobile,” she explained.
“And you should feel a little better soon as the pain medication kicks in.” Penny nodded. “Let me help you find a position you can lay in so you can sleep when the time comes.” Again, she nodded and her eyelids drooped. With little in her stomach, the pain medication was working fast. He worried they may make her sick to her stomach. He knew from his own experience from the car accident that although the medication brought relief, it could also bring nausea and vomiting. She had a couple bad moments with the Vicodin earlier and he decided to try and stay awake so if Penny vomited he could turn her head to keep her from choking.
“Ivan, I’m worried about what they’re going to do to me,” she said after he helped her lay flat on her back which was about the only position she was able to lay in bound as she was.
“How does that feel?” he asked, delaying the conversation Penny wanted to have.
“It hurts but I’ll be okay,” she replied and he heard a slight slur in her voice. “Jack, what are they going to do?”
“I do not know, moy laskoyy drug,” he said and gave her a smile. In return, her smile was lazy. The pain medication was kicking in.
“I’m not a drug,” she slurred and closed her eyes.
* * *
Chapter 24
Within a week, the lack of food kept Jack from carrying me to the bathroom. Even though it hurt to walk and became difficult for me as our lack of nutrition weighed on us, I was glad he didn’t have to exert himself with me. He was back to having to help with my basic needs. In fact, the only time I’d been able to wipe myself was the day William broke my shoulders.
The pain dulled a little each day and it helped I was allowed pain medication and my shoulders were kept immobile but I was so worried about what William planned to do to me. Since I wasn’t part of the original kidnapping plot, whatever his plan was, it was something that wasn’t part of the original plan. That’s what scared me the most.
I didn’t want to bring the subject up with Jack again – I knew he was worrying about it also – because I didn’t want to think about it but all I could do was think about it. As each week continued, I grew more and more anxious and found myself having trouble sleeping. I was allowed the Vicodin for just two weeks and we were no longer given any sleeping pills so I had nothing to medicinally help me sleep so I could rest my worried mind.
Jack made his second proof of li
fe video near the end of March and we both sat on edge in the cell waiting for word the network complied. They did but that still did not ease my worries or help my sleep. The video should have made me feel better as it was proof that Jack was alive and the FBI should continue searching for him.
At first, I was able to keep my insomnia from Jack but as a month in the cell drew to an end, he caught me awake in the middle of the night. I didn’t lie to him.
“We’ve seen what they’re capable of,” I said in a whisper. I was laying on my back and to try and share body heat, Jack lay close next to me. He was on his side, facing me, and he had his arm under my head so I could use it as a pillow. The room was pitch black. No light came through the painted over window which meant it was a new moon.
“I wish I knew what to say, Penelope,” he responded. “I just do not know what they would want from you.”
We found out two days later on April Fool’s Day.
The door opened and William entered with a tray. James led us to the bathroom and we did our business and returned. Vivienne joined the group and she unwound the bandages that held my arms still for a month. In that time, they had not been removed. This meant no bathing for me but Jack did get two showers. He wore no t-shirt – that was my half of the clothing – but wore just a pair of knit athletic shorts.
Vivienne tested my range of motion. I had very little and what I did have was painful. She reported this to William. His response added even more anxiety over the situation.
“That can play to our advantage,” he said before turning to Jack. “Breakfast is only for you, Jack. To be safe, your Pretty Penny should have an empty stomach. Plus, she’ll have to earn her food.” Jack could not hold his tongue.
“Please, do not hurt her. Whatever you want to do, do it to me instead,” he offered. The concern in his voice was thick.
“Yes, you could probably answer one of the Employer’s questions but the Employer has specifically asked that Penny be the one that answer it,” explained William.
Deceptions Page 23
