Teri tried to gather herself as though nothing had happened, but took Janet's threat to heart. She stayed at the table another minute, then got up and walked outside the restaurant.
As she did, she saw the escorts emerge from the dungeon after securing Jenny to the whipping post. When the escorts left, Maurice entered.
Maurice took the whip that hung on the wall and walked up behind Jenny. "I'll give you one last chance," he said. "Agree to go with me or agree to obey."
Jenny began crying again. She didn't want to be a martyr, but going with her master under threat of punishment was out of the question. She almost agreed to obey, but then pictured herself having sex with Janet for an audience of classmates. She said nothing, hoping her master would forebear.
"Stubbornness and pride are two things a slave cannot afford," said Maurice. He took a step back and raised the whip.
As an instrument of punishment, or torture, the whip is nearly unsurpassed. Its effect on its victim is threefold. When it lands, it swiftly compresses the flesh, imparting a ferocious sting. Immediately thereafter, it bludgeons the victim's skeleton, bruising the bones that lie beneath it. If it is heavy enough, relative to the victim, it can cause serious internal damage by violently rearranging the victim's internal organs. Lastly, when the whip is removed from the victim it takes with it hundreds of pieces of flesh which are embedded in the whip's braiding. If the braiding is fine enough, the whip will remove entire strips of flesh, similar to the effect of dragging a hacksaw across the body.
DiMarcos understood that inflicting permanent internal or external damage on slaves was counterproductive. It reduced the value of their property. The ideal whip, from DiMarcos' point of view, caused great pain, bruised the bones enough to be felt for a few days, but made no scars. Finding this ideal whip was a process of trial and error, but DiMarcos, being a large operation, was fortunate enough to have at its disposal a sufficient number of subjects upon which to experiment. Once a whip with the right heft and braiding was finally found, the masters could flail away nearly at will.
It was this whip, after first raising it, that Maurice brought down on Jenny's back. As every slave did, she screamed like a regiment of banshees. The first lash angled across her back from her right shoulder down to her left shoulder blade. Maurice expertly applied the second lash just beneath the first and at the same angle across Jenny's back. Proceeding down her back, he landed the tenth lash about midway down her back. He then changed his angle of attack so that the whip angled up from right to left. The eleventh lash landed at about the same point as the tenth, and Maurice then worked his way up until the final lash crossed Jenny's back from her right shoulder blade to her left shoulder.
Jenny was not sufficiently detached from the proceedings to appreciate her master's skill. She wailed continuously, at times finding it difficult to catch her breath. She could feel the whip crashing against her ribs then, gasping for air, felt her skin being ripped away. The whip made the cane seem like a completely benign instrument.
After applying the twentieth lash, Maurice carefully hung the whip on the wall. He looked at his slave for a moment, shook his head, then went to the escorts' office. He instructed the escorts to fetch Jenny back to her room then, still shaking his head, walked out of DiMarcos' and went home.
CHAPTER XIX
As Maurice made his way home and reflected on his slave's behavior, the escorts took Jenny back to her room. Janet, having already been led back to Jenny's room after dinner, was waiting for her. Jenny fell onto her blankets when the escorts let go of her arms. Janet took one look at Jenny's back and burst into tears.
"Why, Jenny, why did you let him whip you?" she cried, sounding like the most bereaved mourner at a funeral. She reached out to touch Jenny, but her hands only hovered uncertainly above Jenny's back. Shocked by the sight of Jenny's injuries, Janet was temporarily immobilized.
"Jenny," she said, still crying, "we've got to take care of all those cuts."
She went to the bathroom and grabbed as many sponges as she could carry.
"Here," she said when she returned, "these have a little antiseptic in them." She tentatively dabbed one of the sponges on Jenny.
Jenny's body jerked and she let out a loud cry.
"Oh, gawd, Jenny, I'm sorry," wailed Janet. "I'm only making it worse."
"It's cold, Janet," croaked Jenny.
"Here," said Janet. She put a sponge in Jenny's right hand, then gently curled Jenny's fingers around the sponge. After putting a sponge in Jenny's left hand, Janet went to the bathroom and soaked a sponge in warm water.
"Most of the antiseptic was probably rinsed out," she said before she tried to use the sponge. "But I can at least clean out some of these cuts. Let me know when the sponges you're holding get warm."
Crying softly, Janet began to daub away the blood seeping from Jenny's wounds. None of the cuts were very deep, but Janet was overwhelmed by the by their number. To Janet, Jenny was a mass of unrelieved gore.
Painful as Janet's ministrations were, they were mild compared to the whip. Jenny did her best to restrain her voice, crying out only when the pain was sharpest. It took an hour for Janet to traverse the length and breadth of Jenny's injuries. After going over Jenny once, she went back and tended to the cuts that still oozed.
"Jenny," she said finally, "I can't put any salve on these cuts. They're not like welts from a cane. But," she sobbed, "I think they'll all heal. Jenny," and here Janet began crying again, "why did you let him whip you?"
"It was worse than I thought it would be, Janet," Jenny said slowly, "much worse."
Jenny's voice was so weak and pitiful that Janet couldn't bear to hear it.
"OK, beautiful, try to relax and get some rest."
"Uh huh," came the weak reply.
Janet sat next to Jenny and rested her hand on Jenny's arm. As Jenny had earlier that day, Janet dissected Jenny's situation and tried to find an acceptable alternative. Janet wasn't sure how Jenny would respond the next time her master asked her to obey, but she could not believe that Jenny would submit to another whipping. Perhaps, she thought, this will be only an unpleasant episode, a very unpleasant episode, which will convince Jenny that her only choice is to obey.
The next day, Sunday, Jenny was very stiff but she was able to walk under her own power. At breakfast, Janet gave Teri a look so baleful that for once Teri was silent throughout the meal. Lunch and dinner passed off similarly. Between meals, neither masters nor escorts called on the slaves. Since Jenny spent all her time lying face down on her blankets, Janet had ample opportunity to observe Jenny's wounds. She was relieved to see that none showed signs of infection. On Sunday evening, Janet thought that Jenny was well enough to discuss her situation.
"Jenny, you really have to think about what you're going to do the next time your master comes to see you. I just couldn't bear it if he whipped you again. I know you don't want to go with him alone and I know you don't want to perform for him, but you're going to have to do one or the other."
"I can't go with him now, Janet. It's like being kidnapped."
"I think you should go with him, then dump him as soon as you get out of the country," said Janet.
"What if he doesn't ask me again?"
Janet was encouraged by Jenny's apparent change in attitude.
"Then ask him yourself. Turn on the charm, be as sweet as you can be. He's a dope. He'll get you out of here if ask him the right way."
Jenny sighed. "I'll think about it, Janet. But I hate to leave without you."
"I know, beautiful, I know. If it was me, I'd hate to leave without you. But if you can get away, you've go to do it."
Though Jenny was still stiff and the marks from her lashing were still visible, she went back to work on Monday. Her master did not call on her, but she did entertain a few classmates. The flow of Elmhurst jocks slowed enough that Eric was finally able to wedge in a visit. He was so horrified at Jenny's description of her punishment that he couldn't ask her
for sex. Unable to understand how anyone could punish someone as wonderful as Jenny, he spent his hour with her bemoaning her condition and wishing he could find a way to free her. Eric's opinions didn't count much with Jenny, but his mention of freedom did not go unnoticed.
To the surprise of both slaves, an escort brought Janet to Jenny's room last thing Monday evening. Maurice had not thought to countermand his instructions that Janet be left with Jenny every evening, nor would he have done so if he had. His thoughts about Jenny took a significant turn after he whipped her. As he had when he first met Jenny, he again compared her to Mary, the slave who had asked to be killed. He was afraid that Jenny might repeat her refusal to obey and thus lead him down the same path on which Mary had led him. He cringed at the thought of repeatedly punishing Jenny and then, perhaps, of consigning her to the S & M section at DiMarcos. Though Jenny would probably submit before it came to that, Maurice had to admit that it was possible she would not.
If Jenny were a felon with twenty years to serve, Maurice could reconcile himself to forceful methods. But Jenny had only lost her freedom for three years. She would barely be out of her teens when her time was up. Maurice could not justify risking Jenny's life for a mere three years of service to DiMarcos. And even if Jenny did submit, what of all the years after she was released? What sort would she be when she was finally free?
Maurice therefore ruled out punishing Jenny again, but the larger problem remained unresolved. If he let Jenny and Janet coast along, day would come when Richard, Janet's master, would demand to see Jenny and Janet perform. So far, Richard had been satisfied with Maurice's management of the two slaves, but sometime before they became sophs he would want evidence that Jenny and his slave were ready to work together. If Jenny refused to obey Richard, Maurice knew he would be forced to treat his slave severely.
The only course open to Maurice was getting Jenny away from DiMarcos. Owing to Jenny's refusal to leave without Janet, the risks were large and the satisfaction, for Maurice, would be spiritual rather than physical. Late on Wednesday afternoon of Jenny's seventh week as a slave, he went out for a drive. For two hours he cruised about the city in which he lived, but knew so little of, then set his course for DiMarcos. He appeared in room six well after Jenny and Janet had eaten their evening meal. After seating himself in the chair, he briefly surveyed the two slaves sitting in front of him.
"You don't have to sit like that if you don't want to," he said. "Just relax. I have to talk to you, both of you, for a while."
Though it was uncomfortable for them, Jenny and Janet assumed more casual positions.
"Jenny," he continued, "I apologize for punishing you last Saturday. I should have found a better way to handle things, but I didn't. I want to make it up to you, if I can." He paused. "I'm willing to try to get you and Janet out of DiMarcos and out of the country if you want me to."
Janet's eyes got very wide, but Jenny showed no reaction. When Jenny said nothing, Maurice repeated his offer.
"How do I know you're really going to take both of us?" Jenny asked. "At the last minute, you might try to take just me and leave Janet behind."
Janet clenched her teeth. "Jenny, if he wants to take us both," and here she nearly growled, "let him."
Maurice was pained by Jenny's suspicion. He tried to reassure her by laying out his plans.
"I think the time to make our escape is Saturday evening. After the escorts leave, I'll bring some clothes for you and have a barber cut your hair. You'll have a better chance of avoiding detection if you're dressed like boys, so your hair will have to be short. If we can get to the airport before anyone notices you're missing, we're home free.
"As for a guarantee that I'm going to take you both, I will contact your parents and tell them what's up. You won't have any way of knowing that I've actually done it, but it's the best I can do."
"We're ready to do whatever you want, sir," said Janet. "You can shave my head if you like."
"Jenny?" asked Maurice.
"Yes, master, I'll do whatever you suggest," she said without emotion.
"OK," said Maurice. "Give me your full names and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of your parents. I'll contact them as soon as I can and get back to you."
After Maurice left, Janet was giddy with anticipation.
"Jenny, we're going to be free! Gawd, girl, you did it! You got your master to take us out of here!"
Jenny's back was still sore. "Maybe you're right, Janet," she said, "just maybe. I'll believe it when we're both out of the country."
The next morning at breakfast, Jenny, as she usually did, ignored the slaves around her except for Janet. She had noticed that since Sunday Teri had not sat directly across from her, but she attached no significance to it. She didn't look up as she began to eat.
"Jenny," she heard a familiar voice say.
Jenny lifted her eyes and was dumbfounded when she saw Alicia taking the seat opposite her. Speechless, Jenny couldn't return Alicia's greeting.
For the past four weeks, Alicia had listened to a seemingly ceaseless string of accounts about Jenny. Every boy Alicia met went on and on about how sexy Jenny was, how pretty she was, how great it was to visit her. Alicia's jealousy had mounted with every report and she had finally taken the fatal step. At first, she planned to lose her freedom for only three months. When she gambled, her loss was exactly what she wanted. DiMarcos, however, saw no advantage in having a slave for less than a year and let her go. Angered by DiMarcos rejection, Alicia returned and gambled again. This second time she let herself fall behind in the first two games of solitaire. She then she tried to play even in the remaining three games, but instead fell further behind. She was now serving her first day of four years of slavery. She wasn't happy about her miscalculation but she wasn't particularly depressed either. At the moment, she was feeling rather triumphant.
"I met my master last night," she giggled. She spread her hands apart like a fisherman describing the one that got away. Jenny and Janet looked at each other, their mouths hanging open.
"I guess you won't be seeing many more football players, Jenny," continued Alicia haughtily.
Jenny, astounded, realized that Alicia had apparently lost her freedom on purpose.
"Take all you want," said Jenny disgustedly.
Teri was sitting next to Alicia. When she heard the new arrival speaking to Jenny, Teri saw an opportunity to emerge from her enforced silence without angering Janet.
"You know her?" Teri asked Alicia while pointing at Jenny.
"Well, yeah," said Alicia, as though she were admitting something she didn't want to admit.
"Oh, gawd," said Teri, "another damned lesbo. I suppose you and the brat were lovers before she got here."
"What?" exclaimed Alicia loudly.
Teri misunderstood Alicia's outburst. "Well, I've got bad news for you. Teen angel has been shacking up with the blond there for weeks."
"What do you mean?" asked Alicia looking wildly from Teri to Jenny and back again.
"Just what I said," answered Teri. "Your girlfriend has been stuck on Janet almost since the day they met."
Jenny could barely hide her amusement. She perfectly understood Alicia's surprise and now grasped at the opportunity for revenge.
"That's right, Alicia," said Jenny apologetically. "I'm really sorry, but I'm in love with Janet. I hope you didn't lose your freedom just so you could see me."
Jenny's rebuke caused uncontrolled mirth among the felons. Teri couldn't restrain herself.
"You've got to be kidding," she said laughing. "You lost your freedom just so you could be with your girlfriend?"
"No," said Alicia loudly. "Jenny's not my girlfriend. She never was. And I'm not a lesbian."
Teri snickered. Just then, the sophs got up to leave. Jenny and Janet also got up. As Janet turned to walk out of the restaurant, Jenny took her arm. When Janet faced about, Jenny embraced her lover.
"Kiss me," Jenny whispered in Janet's ear. Janet willingly c
omplied.
Teri leaned closer to Alicia as Alicia, open mouthed, stared at Jenny and Janet.
"I know," said Teri quietly, "it's tough. If you get lonely some night, come over to my room and I'll let you eat me."
Alicia gave Teri a horrified look, then pushed her away. Completely confused, she followed Jenny, Janet, and the felons out of the restaurant.
Alone in her room after breakfast, Jenny again marveled over Alicia. For once, Jenny hoped that she would be visited by some football players. She was not disappointed. Two boys whom she did not recognize but had already visited her twice called shortly after noon.
"Hi, guys," said Jenny sweetly. "I'm kinda surprised to see you."
"Why, Jenny?" asked one as they stripped off their clothes.
"Why?" asked Jenny with mock surprise. "You could be fucking Alicia instead of me."
"That bitch is just a tease," came the reply. "I've never heard of any guy getting in her pants."
"She's not a tease any more," said Jenny. "She's a slave, just like me."
The two boys looked at each other and whistled. "Well, we'll just have to pay that bitch a visit," said one.
"She's not only a slave," said Jenny, lowering her voice as though she were revealing a secret, "but she became a slave on purpose. She wants you guys to bang her. She said so this morning at breakfast."
"Well I guess the football team has two mascots now," said the boy as he sat down in the chair and motioned Jenny to blow him. "But you're better looking, Jenny."
Jenny by now was so experienced at entertaining football players that she coasted through the first half of the afternoon. When Janet was shown into her room before lunch, they had a few minutes alone together.
"Janet, I'm going to do my best to make Alicia's life here miserable, just like she did to me. I want you to be super friendly with me at lunch."
"Don't have to ask me twice," said Janet.
"I'm gonna have fun making that bitch squirm. Besides, if we get caught trying to escape it may be the last fun I ever have."
At lunch, Alicia tried to keep up appearances but disillusion was already setting in. Her only two customers before lunch had been middle aged men and the sex with them had been anything but hot.
JENNY: A Novel of Sexual Enslavement Page 27
