II

She didn’t hear him open the door. She woke up when he pulled her off the mat. Time to go, he said with a sense of urgency in his voice. She managed to not ask him any questions as that was against the rules. She figured it had something to do with her punishment. He blindfolded her and cuffed her wrists behind her back. He led her out of the basement and out of the house into the cool night air. It was three in the morning. Flora was breathing hard, she was nervous at the prospect of being transported. She hoped it wasn’t to his friend Tudor’s place. She had trespassed onto his property and that’s what led to her predicament. She knew the previous day’s treatment was a precursor to the hell that awaited her.



He secured her to the floor of his van and hung a water bottle with a straw over her neck. She sipped some water. He drove off. She sat on the floor, her legs folded and secured to the floor by cuffs on her ankles. A belt around her chest secured her body to the back of the front seat.



They drove for a while, longer than Flora had ever experienced in her two years with Master. When they finally stopped the sun was beginning to rise and the birds were getting louder. He brought Flora out into the open. She could feel the breeze coming off some body of water. She didn’t know there was a lake or sea nearby. The ground was damp but not quite sandy.



He said to her, your punishment continues. You are going somewhere where you will be given a task to complete. It can take you three days, or it can take you thirty days. A former slave took 43 days so you better not break her record. You’re in good hands and I’ll be back to check on your progress. Don’t screw up and stay out of trouble. He kissed her on the lips and removed the water bottle from around her neck. All yours, he said to Tudor, who smiled and stepped forward to claim his cargo.



He led her onto a boat where she was once again secured to the floor by her ankles. The motor switched on and off they went, across the huge lake towards a private island in the middle of the lake.



Once they reached the island and docked, Tudor led Flora off the boat and onto the sandy beach. It was past six in the morning and Flora was hungry and had to pee badly. She stood on the beach, waiting for orders. She was still blindfolded.



Tudor finally came up to her and removed her blindfold. She averted her eyes as the sun was getting bright. When she finally adjusted, she looked at him. He was smiling.



“Welcome to my island, Tudor said, I hope you’ll enjoy your stay.”