Strictland Academy

by Carolyn Faulkner

  “Something wrong, there, Franklin?" Leclair asked, solicitously. "Where is your savior now?"

  Patricia mutely stared at her plate, her stomach in an uproar.

  Still, she refused Molly's repeated invitation to escape, trusting that Dr. Wells would rescue her. He promised!

  ***

  The upcoming visit with the State inspection team provided the inmates much-needed time to recover from any severe bruises, put on some weight, and have some of the lost expression removed from their eyes. Headmaster Judas declared that all punishments were to be by hand or beveled leather, so no significant bruising would be evident. Double portions of food were given, and chores were focused on cleaning and 'whitewashing' the dingy interior of the facility. Much grumbling also came from the attendants, as an influx of workers disturbed their discipline routines while installing State-required fire alarms and automatic dispatch units.

  The attendants practiced demure phrases with the girls, posture and gestures, such as classic curtsying and head-bobbing. Molly shook her head, watching as Strictland was temporary transformed into the proper finishing school environment originally promised by the judge. The hope that the State could see the place for what it really was slowly dissipated. The disguise was too perfect and the script flawless. She did find it interesting that the observing rooms continued to hold faceless viewers, especially when April was involved. She began to worry for her friend's future, agreeing with April's suspicions that she was being targeted by one of the creeps in the booth above.

  Molly planned to make her escape the day the State arrived, when all the attendants would be as nervous as long-tailed cats in a room full of rocking chairs. She felt certain that there would be no observers during the inspection and that more time would be given to the girls for use of the facilities. In the meantime, she took full advantage of the extra free time they had been given to rest, making a habit of leaning against a wall and pretending to read. When asked, she explained she could concentrate better when standing, since her bottom still carried deep bruises and that the area she chose had the best lighting. Certain that she was not being watched, she absently fiddled with the dormitory door lock and determined that a small piece of paper would effectively keep it from fully catching. A glance through the supply room door during the evening bathroom breaks confirmed that it was, indeed, kept open. That would be her portal to freedom!

  ***

  The knowledge of the upcoming inspection did nothing to dissuade Attendant Angela from hunting down April. She always managed to arrive when the girl was to be punished for either an actual or presumed transgression, and would pop out of the woodwork without warning. When viewers were present, she would loudly announce that no one other than herself was capable of providing what April obviously needed. By this time, the wrinkled woman had succeeded in producing so much fear in the tiny girl that every time April saw her, she dissolved into tears without having been touched. To worsen matters, the Attendant had started to point out that April was being watched while being punished, changed, and sexually stimulated. This brought the young woman to a place of absolute humiliation, shame, and dejection.

  The day prior to the State's inspection, April had spent her entire lunchtime in the corner, wearing a sign on her back that read 'Baby'. She was naked from the waist down, with both her diaper and her rubber pants at her ankles, effectively tying them together, while her bound arms were folded behind her. Any prefect who walked by was required to give her five smacks with their hand, the sole purpose being to keep her bottom (and face) warm and red. April tried to dance away from them, but the rubber around her feet prevented it, so she ended up fidgeting like a little child who needed to go to the bathroom. Little outbreaks of titters were heard every time she got a smack across her backside, and her embarrassment grew geometrically. All because it had been her enema day, and Attendant Angela wished to remind her of the reason for her humiliation.

  One more day, she silently chanted. One more day of that old bitch's attentions and I will be free of her and this place forever! I can make it through one more night. I have to ….

  That evening, Attendant Angela was right on time. Just as the first girls began shuffling into the lavatory, the old woman's face loomed over April, and she began the ritual that started the moment April had been marked as her target. Determined to win the battle of wills, April willed herself to give into the moment and not resist anything that was being done to her. She even offered an encouraging smile, inviting the molestation. April stole the attendant’s thunder by relinquishing control and allowing her body to respond with a very fast, and very intense, climax.

  Attendant Angela was livid. "Slut! LeClair, help me turn this wicked child over and give her a taste of the righteous judgment of whores upon her flesh! Someone fetch me a belt!”

  "The State, ma'am," LeClair said cautiously.

  "They will not have reason to look at this one's bum. Trust me. I have had it with her and her insolence. She will not make a mockery of me any longer!"

  While still in the throes of pure euphoria, April was flipped onto her stomach, her garments yanked down to her ankles. Her limbs were held down by other young women, while Attendant Angela lectured in a towering voice about how her lust would surely land her in the pits of hell and how she despaired of ever being able to turn “this one” towards the Path of Righteousness. All while the belt rose and fell in a terrible rhythm that had April nearly fainting one moment and screaming the next. Only a loud tap on the viewing window above caused the attendant to cease the angry lashing. A man stood, his silhouette dark, and he waved his finger to stop.

  With a growl, the attendant responded. The beating ceased and April found herself in the same position as she had been before, diapered like a baby and bound to the bed. Her bottom throbbed abominably within its very tight confines and, oddly, she felt grateful that the unseen viewer had stopped the assault. She looked up and mouthed the words ‘thank you’, hoping he could see that she was appreciative.

  Once Attendant Angela turned on her heels and left, and the viewing room was vacant, LeClair descended. April was subjected to a second, even more humiliating orgasm. She was appalled to realize that the girls who eagerly watched her violation were now betting on how long it took for her to reach completion. They used oral sexual favors as currency, which they referred to as 'special kisses', on her and one another. After lights-out, April turned her head to see Molly at her shoulders, skillfully untying the bindings that held her.

  "I changed my mind. We are going tonight," Molly whispered. "You are in danger. You were right. They have been watching you, and I think someone is going to take you away."

  "Are you sure? How do you know? What have you heard?" April asked, her voice panicked.

  "I've been watching. Those men who lurk in the shadows watch everything. Haven't you noticed that they are always up there when you are being punished? The attendants wait until they arrive and then focus all this attention on punishing and humiliating you. It is all for the observers, and I just have this sick feeling that one of them is going to take you away soon. Probably the one who just stopped your beating. We have to get you out of here."

  “What about these?" April asked, pointing to her locked red pants. With a dramatic flair, Molly produced the key. "Oh, my God! How'd you get that?"

  Molly gave April a look. "Don't ask." She made short work of the lock, and April gratefully shed her unwanted undergarments while Molly unpinned the skirt of her dress so that she was decently covered.

  “Put on your shoes and socks, then use your nightgown to make your bed up with lumps under the covers that will look like you're sleeping, if anyone should bother to look."

  “Huh?" April looked at her blankly.

  Molly frowned. "Haven't you ever done this to make your mom think you were in bed when you'd gone out?"

  April shook her head. "No. Never."

  “You are—were—a virgin, weren't you?"

  “Yes
,” April nodded, sadly. "I guess I was. Until they took me. I thought Dr. Wells would stop them. I trusted him...."

  "I am so sorry. Patricia is probably right about him being as stuck here as we are. He has not even been able to interview any of us without one of those beasts around him. It's almost over. I promise. We will get you out of here. Ready?"

  “More than I could ever say."

  They crawled out of the room on their hands and knees, listening in the stillness for the sound of movement or a change in breathing that would suggest they had been caught. Molly had previously slipped the paper in the door, preventing it from latching. She pushed gently, elbowing April as it slowly drifted open with a faint creak. Stealthily, and driven by adrenaline, the two worked their ways to the supply room and inched their way out the back door.

  They perused the area with their eyes, hiding behind trees while they sought a direction that would lead to their freedom. April silently pointed to a clearing.

  "It looks like a road," she whispered, clutching Molly's hand tightly. They crept to the area, looking over their shoulders for any hint of movement, and to the trees for evidence of cameras or wires. There was a big iron gate with bars about twelve inches apart at the end of the lane. It opened to about four inches, but, knowing that freedom was so close, Molly flung herself at it and shoved with all her might.

  Her heart leapt in her throat as she pushed the edge of the gate directly into Headmaster Judas, who had been lying in wait in the bushes on the other side. Both Attendants Hazel and Angela were there as well, their clawlike hands descending on the two girls' shoulders. Shaking his head in silence behind them was Dr. Wells, looking worse for wear, his clothing and beard in disarray.

  “What do we have here?" Headmaster Judas intoned, as if finding them there was a surprise. "Did you two decide that you needed some fresh air and took it upon yourself to take a midnight stroll around the grounds?"

  “I'd say we have ungrateful little sluts who don't appreciate what opportunity they have been given. Or the sacrifices their mothers have made,” Attendant Hazel proclaimed.

  "Our mothers were lied to!" Molly screeched, jerking away. "That judge is in on this farce, just like all of you. We are being sold to strangers, those men who watch everything we do! You have made it so that it looks like this is our choice and it's not! When the State gets here …

  "Oh my! What horrible accusations you are making! As for the State, they postponed their inspection for a month. Didn't you hear?" Attendant Angela mocked, tweaking April's ear.

  "Stop touching me! All she does is beat up on me, tie me down and forces herself sexually on me! They all do!" April screamed. "This is wrong! You people, ALL of you are a bunch of sick perverts who are using us for your own sadistic pleasures. Even you, you son of a bitch!" She glared at the silent doctor.

  She gasped as Attendant Angela tightened her fingers around her jaw and forced her to her toes. "Don't blame your little doctor friend for this. He's been somewhat ... indisposed … for the last few days since we caught him trying to make an illegal telephone call. Ask him how the solitary cells feel."

  "You … you hag!" April screamed, trying to jerk her jaw away.

  "Is that anyway to talk to Mommy? You will apologize this minute, little girl. For everything you said."

  "Let go of that child!" Dr. Wells shouted, shoving Judas aside as he stepped forward to glare at the attendants. "What do you mean the State inspection is postponed? Why wasn't I told?"

  "That does not concern you, boy. You are no longer an employee here, remember? We are just waiting for the police to come pick you up for forcing yourself on these girls."

  "That is a bold-faced lie and I will make that declaration under a lie detector any day. What about these other accusations? Is any of this true? Are these girls being molested by the attendants? Why would they think they are being sold? What the hell is going on here, Judas? Goddammit, answer me!"

  "And the prefects," Molly added, her eye shifting to a shadow creeping behind Headmaster Judas and out the iron gate. Was that Patricia? Had she used her and April as a decoy to escape? Molly watched the girl put her fingers to her lips and disappear into the night. How could she?

  Molly cleared her throat, the thoughts of Patricia being able to escape and possibly alerting someone to help gave her hope. "Since the day we got here, they have been using April sexually. They tie her down and she can't defend herself."

  "These sluts are liars," Attendant Hazel said, angrily. "None of my staff would ever do such an abhorrent thing. They are striving to earn your sympathy."

  "I wish I could believe you, but I have witnessed what occurs in the infirmary and in the punishment halls. I want an answer, Judas! You are standing there like none of this is a shock to you." With fire blazing in his eyes, Dr. Wells looked at the man.

  "Oh, Dillon, you have always been such a bleeding heart. Didn't you learn anything in solitary? I had such high hopes for you. Of course I know about this," the man chuckled, producing a revolver from inside of his coat and pointing it directly at the doctor's chest. "I had released you in the hopes you would fight me, and well, I would have need of self-defense."

  "Put the gun down, Judas." Dr. Wells lifted his hands in the air. "We can talk about this ... make it right."

  "Hazel, you need to monitor your staff more diligently. Damaged goods do none of us any favors. Our buyers want their little slaves in one piece and vulnerable. These ladies are worth a lot of money to us, and deflowering the innocents lessens their value. Take him," the headmaster nodded.

  "What the hell are you doing, Judas?!" Dr. Wells growled, suddenly finding his arms being torn backward and held in place by one of the male guards that patrolled the institution's perimeters at night.

  "Making life better for all of us. We get these little tramps off the streets and give them a chance for a life they would never have in this town. Their mothers are generously rewarded with a lifetime of financial assistance when the slut is purchased. And the rest of us," he grinned evilly, "are allowed to indulge in what we desire. You haven't seen the Attendants apartments, have you? They are rather ... posh."

  "You bastard! You sick, goddamned pervert!" Molly shrieked. "What kind of fucking monster are you? How much money do you get for buying our families silence and selling us into slavery? How much?!"

  "Much more than you can ever count. Take them away."

  The two Attendants moved their painful grasp of their captives to the scruff of their necks and began to frog march them back towards Strictland. April was silent, all hope gone from her spirit. Molly, on the other hand, struggled like a wildcat. She didn't have any intention of going back without a fight, and intended to leave causalities in her wake. She kicked, bit, scratched, and even managed to land a fist straight to Attendant Hazel's right eye. The sound of the two men arguing were all she heard through her own protesting screams, coupled by the string of deadly promises being whispered in her ear by the half-blinded attendant.

  The girls were not returned to the dormitory. As Molly was wrestled in the direction of a dark building located far behind the main facility, her anger grew as she thought of Patricia and how the girl had used them to gain her own freedom. The tiny ray of hope rose that Patricia would help them was shattered when Molly realized the girl had no proof other than a slightly-bruised bottom. Like the others, Patricia had been fattened up the last couple of weeks in anticipation of the State's coming; her hands were free of blisters from the steamroom-laundry, and she had no evidence of having been physically violated. Ultimately, it would be Patricia's word against those of the institution. As a sentenced 'criminal' who escaped from a reform facility, she would likely end up in the woman's prison, plus destroy her family.

  CHAPTER 10

  Molly and April were shoved in the receiving room once again, this time as prisoners of a war for survival. They were stripped clean of what little clothing they were wearing, gagged and held in place across the old conference table
while the old doctor was called in.

  “What do you want me to do with them?" he asked the attendants, looking a bit befuddled in finding himself there at that time of night.

  “I want you to search them for contraband,” Attendant Hazel explained, with a chilling calm. "These two were found wandering about outside, unsupervised."

  "Outside? How did you two manage to get outside?"

  "Never you mind about how; just do your job," Attendant Angela barked sharply. “There's no telling what kinds of things they might have secreted about their persons while executing their plot, or what they found hidden about the grounds to bring back into the Academy to harm the other girls. I won't take the chance that my wards will be sullied by drugs or anything like that."

  "Why would they do that? It makes no sense." Dr. Krouse still looked confused. "And where is Dr. Wells? He has been interviewing these women and might have some answers. I haven't seen him in three days."

  "He was trying to interview these women as a means to seduce them. We put a swift end to his plotting. The headmaster suspects that he was responsible for enticing these girls to escape and had him detained and placed in protective custody. Do not expect to see him again." The threat was loud and clear.

  The physician swallowed then licked his dry lips nervously. "Wells? I never would have suspected that of him. Couldn't you bring them to my office tomorrow, where I have all of my equipment?"

  Attendant Hazel stepped forward with a box of gloves. "Surely you can conduct such a basic exam without every little bit of technology?"

  “I suppose I can, although I really should have a tube of lubricant."

  He was rudely cut off. "No, you shouldn't. These girls aren't fit to have anything made easy for them. Do what you need to do, but make very certain that you are absolutely sure before you're through that neither of them is harboring anything they shouldn't ... internally speaking."