Justine awoke from pleasant dream of lush grass and plentiful water, still tucked safely in her shell. Despite the situation that put her there, she found her nap refreshing. Perhaps more refreshing than any she had had in recent memory. She slid out of her shell and stretched, mindful of the restraints that still bound her wrists, and marveled at the sky above.
The night had come, with stars and a bright full moon shimmering in the black sky. Justine realized she had been allowed to sleep the day away and enjoy the pond without any interruption. No twisted mind games, no taunting notes. She was left to her own devices in a tranquil garden. The pond water felt heavenly on her golden skin.
She caught herself wondering if her kidnapper was really so bad. She wanted to admonish herself for thinking such a thing; to feel Stockholm Syndrome so readily. But the garden and pond were so lovely, and she felt so secure in her beautiful shell. Despite all of the stress, pain, and humiliation she had been put through, her mood was perfectly content.
Even stranger, she felt like she was in a better place than before waking up to her captor's machinations. She was a banker; a tense, high-stress job dealing with wealthy clients that demanded professionalism, decorum, and being on the ball. She worked long hours of overtime to see account corrections made and angry clients satisfied. And what did she get from it? A paycheck, and the benefit of doing the same, stressful work, day in and day out. Even her vacations were barely that, being on call away from the office.
But in that garden, at that very moment? Justine had to deal with none of that. She was perfectly happy to just while away the day and bask in the comforts of nature. Though, if she had one complaint, she could do without the restraints. They did put a strain on her arms.
Justine heard a rustle in the grass and looked up. A stylishly dressed woman approached. A redhead, she wore a green silk Chinese dress that covered a very curvy body, with large, J-cup breasts and round, round hips. "Good evening, Justine." the woman spoke with the inflection of an Irish accent. "Enjoying a bath?"
Justine, feeling defensive, was ready to duck into her shell. She gave her visitor a suspicious look. "Who are you? You aren't the one that kidnapped me, are you?"
"Oh, no." The woman brushed the accusation aside. "I work for that person, though. I'm just here to deliver a question for you."
"What sort of question?"
"Well, Justine, I can give you a couple of choices. If you like, I can undo the restraints on your hands, and you're free to stay in this little garden here, or you can keep those restraints on and I'll take you to a new little...trial, I guess they're called."
Justine blinked. She hadn't expected to be handed this sort of choice.
Sat Dec 20 01:10:20 2014