Dog Days of Summer (finished)

[imanewb]

[Author's Note]Thought I'd play around with a different approach for (part of) Emily Jane's back story. It was only meant to be a vignette, but it's kinda grown over the last couple of days... Any constructive criticism/feedback welcome [/Note]

June 18th

"So, everything's ready, right? This is going to be soooo much fun." They were words I didn't hear spoken, by a girl I couldn't see, and they ruined my life. Again.


June 13th

Dear Diary,

It's finally here. Tomorrow's the big day, I'm so excited I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep a single a single wink... the last day of school, my last day in Junior High and two whole months of freedom from homework and tests and classes... Freeeedommm!!! Ooops, sorry, not sorry, guess I was too loud... the witch has put her foot down... laters!

E


June 14th

Dear Diary,

I can not freaking believe it... he asked me! He left it right until the end of the day too, the fink... C said I should have made him wait for an answer but come on, it's Taylor freaking Monroe... with those eyes, and the pouty lips... he's so drool worthy!!! It's my first high school party too, so thank god for C (Bryan asked her too, natch, they're just sooo perrrrfect together). Me and my besty are hitting the mall, manis & pedis, maybe I'll find something cute for the party. Gotta shower, laters!

E


June 17th

Dear Diary,

Did you miss me? C and me have been hanging out, but I'll make it up to you, promise... not tomorrow tho, tomorrow it's paaaaaaarty time... and my first ever date! Well not a date date, le sigh, it's only a silly welcome to Cardinal High (goooo firedogs!). C said it's tradition for the seniors to invite an incoming freshman for some reason, whatevers, I just hope things are more fun this year, last year must have been pretty dull, C said she could barely remember a thing about it.

Oh yeah... I can't believe I let C talk me into buying that bikini, it's sexy as heck, but don't want to give daddy a heart attack! He'll realise I'm growing up one of these days, right? (if you're reading this daddy, shame on you, and it's not thaaat bad, honest)... but I'm not taking it anyway, the electric blue one piece with the cut outs is H.O.T... gonna put a smile on T's face for sure.

OK, gonna try and sleep... want to be fresh for tomorrow, laters!

E


June 18th

#Just give me a reason, just a little bit's enough# - Pink's voice blared from my alarm clock as I lay staring at the ceiling, not quite ready to force my way from my cocoon, I threw my hand out, trying to slap the snooze button... again... it may be summer but my body hasn't realised that yet and I've been laying here awake for what feels like hours.

I groaned, it looked like my lie in was officially over when my hand knocked the alarm from the bedside table, Pink's voice grew muffled but it was loud enough that the witch would be up and in my face if I didn't do something about it. Cursing my clumsiness I killed the radio and headed for the bathroom.

Once upon a time twenty minutes would have been enough, a quick scrub, some lotion and a spritz of deodorant, and I would have called it good... but no more, I was determined that the quiet, bookish girl with braces and lifeless hair was gone for good. High school was going to be a fresh start with a brand new me... and today I was going to take the first step and show the world the brand new me.

Forty minutes later and I was and ready to go, not that I had anywhere to go, yet... a quick look at the clock, returned to its proper place, told me I still had a few hours to kill before Case'd be arriving. I had my learner's permit, sure, but holding my breath waiting on permission to use 'his' car would probably be fatal... the evil bitch just didn't want me to have any freedom I'm sure - it's not like my step-brother was going to actually use it, the damn thing had been collecting dust ever since he moved away to college last year!

No, I told myself, you're not going to let them spoil today... think about the party... the pool... the boys... A slow smile crept across my face as I allowed the thoughts of the party to chase away the last of my step-induced-grumpiness, my steps were light as I waltzed into the kitchen, snagged an apple and slipped out onto the patio unnoticed.

Headphones on and feet up, I fell back into The Inheritance Games - losing myself in the world of Avery Grambs and Hawthorne House. So sue me... I never said I was going to give up books completely, and let's face it, they're much better company than pretty much everyone else in this house!

I looked up when a long shadow fell across the page to see C's looking down at me, fighting the grin that was trying to force her lips up. I grinned sheepishly when my back and neck popped and crackled like a string of firecrackers as I stretched, not having meant to read quite that long.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," I said with a smile, "I just couldn't put it down, ok? Gimme five and I'm good to go..."

Case dropped my already packed bag on my lap with a shake of her head.

"Or not," I laughed, I guess she really did know me too well. "looks like I'm ready now!"

Casey cranked the stereo up loud the moment the car started moving, we couldn't talk, well not and be heard - but what was there to say? We were soon singing along at the top of our voices, if you can call the noise we were making singing. It didn't feel like any time had passed at all as we pulled through the gates to the park's lot.

Casey looked around for the perfect parking spot. I don't know why she bothered, there were plenty of spaces - our entire school could fit in this lot, twice over! The stereo fell silent as the engine died. I was halfway out of the car before I realised Case hadn't moved, hadn't even undone her belt.

"Come on," I chided, "if it's as dull as last year we can always slip away early, yeah?"

Her eyes lifted to mine, a weird look on her face that slowly morphed into a bitter smile, "Yeah," she replied as a hand landed on my shoulder, "I guess... let's just try and have fun, K?".

"Looking good Em," Taylor's chocolatey smooth voice sent shivers down my spine as he twirled me round to face him, pulling me tight against his rock hard chest, "ready for some fun freshy?... Em?... Emily?"

Shit, was he talking to me, heat flooded my face and spread over my chest, as I looked back up to his face, his smirk letting me know he'd caught me staring, wondering if I could learn on those chiselled muscles.

"Play nicely Tay," Casey said, a sharp edge to her voice, "she's too nice for you."

Taylor only snorted in reply, but he did let me go. I turned, ready to ask Casey what was up, but glance was enough for me to guess why she was looking glum. She was looking awkwardly around, searching for the fink who'd apparently decided to stand her up.

"C'mon C," I said, trying to sound positive, "maybe he's inside already, right Tay?"

Casey didn't reply, but she didn't resist when I looped my arm through hers and pulled her along with Tay and me towards the music we could already hear.

[imanewb]

We weren't the last to arrive or anything, but the party was already in full swing as we walked into the crowd of excited teens.

"I'm gonna, yeah, gonna see if he's hiding somewhere." Casey declared a little hesitantly, pulling her arm free and moving towards one of the larger throngs, putting words into action before she'd even finished speaking.

"Do you want..." I started at the same time, cutting myself off as she wandered away. I guess that answered my half spoken question.

"Well," I said, turning to Taylor, "what are we waiting for?"

It must have been about twenty minutes before the music cut out. We'd been mingling, saying hi to the odd person I recognised, getting introduced to random seniors. I even tried dancing at one point, falling flat on my butt as I tripped over god only knows what, my own two feet probably. There were a few laughs at that, Taylor included, he was certainly smiling as he offered his hand to help me up - but I didn't think I could hold that against him, or them, it was pretty embarrassing, but at least I hadn't flashed them or anything - and it probably looked funny as all heck to anyone looking on.

The speakers squealed with feedback when an all too familiar figure stepped up onto the small stage, waving a hand in embarrassed acknowledgement as the crowd cheered. Most of the crowd at least. I can't say I was pleased to see her, MC or not. I hated the stuck up bitch, and she knew it... and the feeling was entirely mutual. If I'd known she was going to be here I might have stayed at home and party be damned.

My step brother's girlfriend waved the microphone at the crowd generating another god awful feedback shriek before realising her mistake, waving us to silence instead.

"Welcome," her amplified voice rang out over the crowd, "to the hunger games!!!"

Weird, but whatever. I guess I wasn't the only one confused as only a few of the seniors seemed to be giggling at her lame introduction.

"OK folks," she continued all bubbly and happy, seemingly unaffected by the flat reaction her comment had got, "we've got a whole lot of fun and games coming up so I won't keep you long," yeah, that got a cheer, "just a quick PSA - we're not responsible for your shit, so if you don't wanna risk losing it, lock it in your trunk or something. Tents're over there to change in, so let's get the swimwear out and get this party started!!!"

People all around me started slipping off their outer layers, I froze as more and more skin came into view, was I the only person who'd been stupid enough to not already be wearing their suit? At least, I thought, I hadn't locked my backpack in Casey's car, and the tents gave me somewhere private to change, but what was I going to do with my stuff then?

"Sup?" Taylor asked, probably wondering why I wasn't doing anything.

He already had his shirt off, and was busy hopping on one foot trying to work his jeans over his sneaker when I turned to reply. I couldn't help the fiery blush or the nervous giggle that squeaked past my lips as I took in his glorious body...

"I'm going," I said with a nervous titter when his eyes lifted to mine, thinking 'Down girl!' as I stumbled over my words, "change to I... I'm going to change, but, umm, need Casey's key..."

My voice cut off as I looked around to see if I could spot her, a little panicked when I didn't spot her flame red hair immediately - surely she wouldn't have just dumped me here and headed home, would she?

"No worries," Taylor said, "I'll store them with my stuff until you can catch up with her if you like."

"Yeah sure," I said, distracted by my search, "great, lock me up with you, umm thanks I mean..." Be still my traitorous tongue, I did not just say that, did I??? I rushed off to the tents before I could make a bigger fool of myself.

A frustrated groan passed my lips as I looked down at the emerald green bikini in my hands... nope, that gorgeous one piece had somehow morphed into this bundle of strings and triangles. Somehow being Casey, of course... I should have known better, this was just the kind of stunt she'd pull. She must have gone through my bag before collecting me from the garden... to be fair, she probably knew I wouldn't have packed it before even I did, but it's not like I had a choice now, right?

There wasn't a mirror so I snapped a few shots with my phone to check myself out, twisting enough to crack my back again as I tried to get a shot of the rear. Well, I thought, giggling as I looked over the pictures... it was a little cheeky, but everything that was meant to be covered was and, I figured, I could always slip my T over it later if needs be...

Taking a deep breath a texted C: 'Biatch.... luv you too', attached a photo, and headed back to the party.

Some of the looks I got made me a little uncomfortable, but my nerves started to settle as I neared where I'd left Taylor waiting, most of the girls were wearing swimsuits even skimpier than I had on, and if they could do this then so could the new me, dammit.

Now I've never been the competitive sort, but when the games and the 'grand mystery prize' were announced, something sat up and said 'hello' deep inside me... this was the perfect chance for me to ditch my bookish, nerdy persona for good, and make the right impression on my future classmates.

I couldn't say how long we played for, I was too busy having fun to notice, throwing myself into everything with gusto, even if I didn't do so well at the physical challenges... positive mental attitude could only do so much to overcome two left feet but hey, I wasn't complaining.

Eventually, things started to wind down. I realised it must be getting late when the music was cut off and Bitchy Briony called us back to the stage.

"I hope you've all had fun," she called out as we slowly gathered round her, "I know I sure have... and it's not over yet! Let's have a big hand for all our finalists as I call them up to the stage... Peter-John Miller... Aaron Newell.... aaaand...." her enthusiasm seemed to dim before she read the last name, my name, "Emily Saunders."

[imanewb]

She'd recovered her smile by the time I was stepping onto the stage, it didn't even falter as she pulled me close beside her, draping an arm over my shoulder to hold me in place.

We'd never got along, I hadn't even seen her once since their relationship went long distance, and now she was 'claiming' me in front of all these people... My skin crawled wherever her skin touched mine but it's not like I could back away, not without looking like an idiot anyhow.

"For anyone who doesn't know," she continued talking to the crowd, "this is my boyfriend's little sister, and she has no idea just how pleased I am to see her up here."

Again it was only the seniors who seemed to find anything funny in Briony's statement, rest of the freshman looked about as confused as I felt at the sniggers going round the older parts of the crowd. My gut was telling me something wasn't right here, but I couldn't imagine what it might be.

"Not that I'm going to play favourites, I don't even get a vote," she continued with a mock pout, "but I really hope she blows these boys out of the water... girl power, right!"

"Anyway," she said, quieting some surprisingly loud cheers, "we can only have one big winner, so we're going to play some more games so y'all can help pick who that is!"

"In round one," she said, turning and pulling a piece of paper from the cup in Taylor's hands, "our finalists are going to be play-ing.g.g.g..." She drew the word out like an announcer on a cheap Saturday night quiz show, "Sleeping Beauty!"

Taylor ushered the boys and me off the stage so, he'd said, we wouldn't know how anyone else performed and we'd each be encouraged to last as long as possible, to give us the best chance of winning whatever this mystery prize was.

"You'll go out in alphabetical order," he explained, "but you're in high school now, so we're gonna make it a bit more exciting, ok?" I don't know why he bothered asking, he barrelled on before any of us had a chance to say anything either way, "each round will last five minutes, and it's best of three. You'll be blindfolded so you don't have to try and keep your eyes closed, and people will be allowed to touch you..."

He must have seen my shoulders stiffen at that proclamation, the refusal ready on my lips as I started to edge away from the group because the next thing I knew he'd grabbed my wrist. His grip wasn't hard enough to hurt, but was still far too strong for me to readily break.

"Umm, maybe I could have phrased that better," he said a sheepishly, "you can all relax, it'll just be a few of the other freshman, and nobody will be allowed to touch you anywhere covered by your swimsuits, me and the other seniors will make sure of that. So Em, you ready to continue?"

He looked right at me and I stared back, my heart kicking into a higher gear, most of my higher brain functions deserting me as I drowned in the depths of those liquid pools... I guess I was silent a beat too long, he had to give me a little shake to get me to respond. I managed a bashful little nod, and basked in his smile when his grip fell away and he continued explaining how we were supposed to play.

I would have to be the last to go, wouldn't I? After half an hour I was a bundle of nervous energy, shaking with anticipation - wondering if it was too late to escape as I contemplated the torments I'd soon be enduring, my traitorous imagination oh so unhelpfully filling in what they might be with every shriek and howl of laughter that had rang out from the boys who'd gone before.

Taylor appeared once more, hood held out to me, just as it had been when he collected Aaron. I took a steadying breath, snatched it from his hand and slipped it on before I could chicken out and run for home. I jumped, giving away my nerves, as Taylor took my hand and led me out in front of the stage.

He helped me to lay down on what felt like a thick yoga mat, shifting to try and get out of a strange sticky patch.

Bryony's voice echoed round the stage as she counted down slowly from five. 'Deep breaths,' I told myself as I tried to prepare myself for whatever was about to happen when she reached zero... My whole body tensed, the breath I held rushed from my lungs as I awaited an onslaught of fingers but nothing happened. My breath was ragged in the silence as panic consumed me - I could feel the whole crowd holding their breath, waiting for something... something bad.

And then it began. Icy cold drops of something sticky fell on my chest, drawing a shocked gasp as I fought my instincts not to squirm away. It wasn't what I'd been expecting, but it was manageable... for now... I bit my tongue as the cold splashes continued, hoping whatever this liquid was it wouldn't ruin my new bikini.

I felt so alive in that moment. Heart pounding and aware of every sensation as the cold spots started joining together, leaving trails across my skin. A gentle breeze brushed over me raising goosepimples wherever the liquid lay and something soft yet pointy, a feather maybe, pressed into my armpit, swirling in expanding circles before tracking through that liquid, drawing patterns on my quivering thighs. The goosepimples slowly disappeared as the torture continued and the once icy liquid started heating up.

Something cold and metallic traced over my shoulders, drawing my thoughts from what they'd dripped over me, its sharp edge scraping against tender skin before vanishing and reappearing on the sole of my foot. And I lost it, I couldn't hold it in any longer. Great gales of laughter erupted from me as I squirmed away from the unbearable tickling.

"Three minutes and, umm, eighteen seconds," Briony's amplified voice stated, "not bad for round one... let's give a hand to our volunteers while we give Emily a chance to prepare for round two..."

[imanewb]

"Three minutes," I thought, struggling to bring my breathing back under control, "was that all?"

It had certainly felt a lot longer than that to me, especially after that pause at the start but what did I know? I didn't exactly have a lot of extra bandwidth to worry about timings as the once icy cold sticky stuff had continued to warm up. OK, it wasn't hot enough to be painful, but it was certainly uncomfortable enough to make me whine.

"Getting warm?" Taylor teased smugly, running his hand down my arm. I would have jumped but his heavy footsteps were hard to miss, "Don't worry, it's harmless, and probably as hot as it'll get by now. Yeah, just a mix of deep heat and sunflower oil we kept on ice for you guys..."

I couldn't see him, obviously, but could easily picture his kind face looking down on me as he told me why my skin felt like I had ants crawling all over me, the mental image was enough to calm my racing heart... until I started to think about the next round. Was it too late, I wondered not for the first time, to back out? Would they even let me quit at this point?

As he explained what was going to happen I started to worry a little, even if I couldn't help but admire whichever evil genius came up with the plan for this round... lay on your front, balance a tray full of sodas on you back and spill as little as you can.

Simple right? Not when you're wearing a skimpy bikini and panicking about who might be staring at or, worse, be about to touch the half your butt that's hanging out from its sides, all while you're already squirming, trying to ease a burning itch, before the rest of the 'torture' even starts, not simple at all, oh no it isn't.

The only good thing was that I knew what was coming this time, right? Wrong.

"You're quite the sight Emily," Bryony's breathy voice surprised me, so close her breath tickled the back of my neck, "not quite a full moon," she giggled lightly patting my butt, "but getting there!" and then she was gone, voice ebbing as she walked away from me working the crowd, calling more and more people to the stage.

My heart was racing, breaths ragged on the verge of a full blown panic attack now. My hands twitched, desperate to reach back and find out just how exposed I was, or if Bryony was simply messing with me... but I couldn't do that, not without spilling at least some of the soda... And the world paused in a moment of perfect clarity. She had to be trying to psych me out... there's no way she'd want me, of all people, wining at any game she was running.

I took a deep, cleansing breath and forced myself to relax... I'd show the bitch she couldn't mess with me so easily...

And then the music started up again, I kinda recognised it, something my dad liked to listen to...

#I see the bad moon a-rising... I see trouble on the way... I see...#

Heat flared across my face and down onto my chest as the words registered, she had to be messing with me, didn't she? My certainty crumbled as I pictured myself lying there, butt hanging out for the world to see, my flush growing deeper by the second as I refused to give in to the urge to move.

I heard her start her countdown again, dragging it out, calling out numbers in the gaps in the music...

"...3 #Don't go round tonight ...2 #It's bound to take your life ...1 #There's a bad moon..."

Hands suddenly clamped around my wrists and my ankles, holding me in place - I didn't have time to scream before she reached zero and the first hand smacked into the exposed flesh at the side of my butt. I found my voice then, screaming out my shock and anger at the sudden assault. The sting hadn't hadn't even settled before the other side got the same treatment. The crowd was going wild as I was spanked on stage for their amusement.

A mix of embarrassed and pain laced tears streamed down my face almost as fast as the soda running down my my back and sides, sticking to my front as it pooled atop the yoga mat.

I fought futilely against the hands holding me down, my body rocking side to side under a ceaseless rain of slaps until, as if by some unspoken command, the music died and everything suddenly stopped.

"I may be many things," a familiar voice softly mocked as his finger trailed along my ribs, dipping into the liquid pooling there, "but I'm no liar... everything under your swimsuit is off limits, sooo..."

Fingers snatched at the strings holding my bikini in place. My whole body tensed, my perception sinking to a single point as I realised what he intended to do. I snapped my head backwards, driving it home with all the strength my adrenalin fuelled rage could muster. The pained grunt that followed brought a grimly satisfied smile to my face, knowing that this wouldn't go unpunished.

"Bitch," he lisped vehemently, "you'll regret that!" And punished it was, the slaps came back harder than ever, and kept coming until I lay limp, utterly defeated, the fight literally beaten out of me.

I was so wrapped up in my misery, mind now numb with horror, that I didn't immediately notice when they stopped hitting me... nor when the many hands released me from their cage.

My sobs, once loud in my ears - drowning out what little sound passed through the hood, slowly faded to whimpers as I rocked in place, unable to process what had just happened to me. I don't know how long they left me there, but it wasn't long enough. It could have been minutes or hours later when hands roughly pulled me to my feet, easily holding me aloft - something I doubted my legs were capable of just then.

Bright light suddenly flooded my eyes as the hood was yanked unceremoniously off my head. I blinked the spots away from my vision automatically and three pairs of feet slowly came into focus. A hand lifted my chin, forcing me to look at the people standing before me.

Bryony was there, of course - flanked by Casey and Taylor. Bryony's words came rushing back to me full of new meaning as I flinched away from her smirk... "she has no idea just how pleased I am to see her up here"

And see me she could, beaten and laid bare in front of her roaming eyes. My whole body flushed conscious of what they were staring at even as I trembled with rage at what they'd done to me, all of them, Casey and Taylor especially, they'd known, they'd known and they'd let me walk right into whatever this was.

The sting of Casey's betrayal cut deepest, stoking the ice cold flames I felt forming around my heart. I stared back at her, every ounce of loathing I had for her evident on my face.

"Congratulations! We choo-choo-choose you!" Bryony cheered sarcastically, laughing at her own joke, before her faced turned hard again, "we need to talk."

[imanewb]

If looks could kill she would've been dead ten times over by now, but I guess I already have enough evidence proving I'm just not that lucky. Bryony eventually stepped into my personal space when she realised I wasn't taking my eyes off of Casey, acting as a wall she blocked me off from one target of my ire, forcing my attention to fall squarely on her.

"I'd like to say it's nothing personal," Bryony stated completely earnestly, prompting an incredulous snort from my cracked lips, "just business, tradition... but that'd be a lie... I know I'm going to enjoy this, hell you might too if you let yourself relax a bit and just go with the flow but, after what you did to poor Taylor, I don't think anyone's planning on going easy on you..."

Tears threatened anew, my throat tightening with the intensity of the indignation I felt at being treated like this. The emotionless way she was spelling out my fate, looking not at me, but through me was probably the worst aspect of her monologue, proving that I was truly nothing to her, some toy put here for her and her demented friends to play with.

And throw away when broken? The thought slammed into my consciousness sending a fresh spike of adrenalin through my body, the pounding in my ears drowning out whatever nonsense she was spouting - what were they going to do when they were finished here tonight - surely they couldn't think I'd just go home and pretend this'd never happened? How far were they planning on going to keep this from getting out. Eyes wide, I made no effort to disguise my frantic search for a path that could carry me to freedom... but I was deluding myself, how far would I get even if I could get free - hell, I couldn't even hold myself upright.

"You're not paying attention," though the words were delivered as flatly as everything else she'd been saying, the sharp pain that accompanied them quickly forced my attention back to Bryony. "You must pay attention Emily, how else will you learn about the fun we're going to have. Now, you're going to be a good girl aren't you, you're not going to make me repeat myself again, are you, you're going to pay attention, aren't you..."

Every non-question was emphasised by a fresh brush of pain as she savagely twisted a nipple. Though words burned on my lips, I refused to give her the satisfaction - closing my eyes like a small child might to hide from the monster in the dark, like that might keep me safe from the very real monster in front of me.

"Stubborn bitch," she snarled, slapping my face, the first sign of real emotion breaking through her façade, "you're going to listen or..."

"Or what," I spat out through clenched teeth, unable to resist the urge any longer, as I gave voice to my fears, "Gonna rape me and then kill me? Gonna throw in a bit of torture to amuse these sick bastards? Gonna..."

"Oh stop being so dramatic," she sighed, "trust me, nothing we're going to do to you this year will hurt, well, not much..."

"Trust you?" I all but screamed in her face, all sense of self-preservation long since gone, I'd rather walk naked through a nest of vipers than believe anything that comes out of your lying, filthy, perverted mouth..."

I probably should have been surprised by what happened next but, ya know, after everything else they'd done to me, why wouldn't someone force a rubber ball between my teeth to shut me up?

"Right," Bryony said placidly as I felt the gag's thin strap tightening, digging into my cheeks and locking my jaws in place, "as I was saying..."

My eyes grew wider as I was forced to listen to lay out their plans and bullshit rationalisations - who cares how long this 'tradition' has been going on, it's still sick, designating one freshman to suffer all the abuses and humiliations they cared to inflict... An honour to be the designated victim, to 'protect' the harmony at school and the wellbeing of every other student, right? Who was she frickin' kidding?

I really began to sweat, my heart racing and breath ragged as I struggled to breathe around the gag while she told me more than I cared to know about some of the 'pranks' that had happened to previous 'chosen ones' (victims) and their punishments if they didn't play along... public spankings, being stripped and tied to the flag pole, getting locked in the opposite sex's changing room (naked, of course), being forced to degrade themselves - masturbating on the school bus, and being passed around the football team to help 'celebrate' a winning season...

Fear crushed my heart and I stilled, completely frozen in the boys hands as she told me about that last one, she had to be trying to scare me into going along with this crazy scheme of hers surely. What kind of person threatens someone with gang rape. What, I wondered, was I willing to do if it wasn't an idle threat...

"And now," she said gleefully, an almost manic look in her eye, "for some real fun... our guarantee and our promise, but where, oh where shall we begin???"

It seemed the senior class had been busy while Bryony was talking - as the supporting hands turned me around I got my first look at the large frame someone had dragged out onto the stage. It wasn't much to look at, nothing more than a wooden rectangle with ropes hanging loose through eyes in each corner. I stared trying to put the puzzle together in my frazzled mind as I was carried towards the, whatever-the-hell this thing was.

My eyes slid down as my arms were pulled out turning me into a human T in front of the frame. I watched helplessly as a leather straps were wrapped around each wrist, felt warm breath on my calves as more were added to my ankles. There was no way I could mistake the frame's purpose now.

"Ready to be a star slut?" Bryony asked breathily, nodding to the tripods being erected all around the frame as she ran a finger through my bone dry lower lips.

"You'll be begging us to let you cum by the time we're finished," she whispered straight into my ear, "and everything, and I mean everything, will be on camera... that's our guarantee... and our promise... be our good little slut and nobody will see, not these videos anyway, and after your year, they'll be gone, permanently destroyed... or... well, you're a smart girl aren't you, I don't really need to explain what'll happen if you're a bad girl now do I?"

Skip to the next part (note advisory caution)

<possible spoiler alert>





[Note] That's it for now, but I hope to finish this up over the next couple of days... anyone who's read/glanced at Emily Jane Abroad will know that she ends up with some 'interesting henna artwork' - but I'm drawing a blank on what that might be... suggestions on a postcard?[/Note]

[Legoman2]

Will she be tattooed and get her body pierced?

[imanewb]

Will she be tattooed and get her body pierced?

In this prologue/back story - almost certainly not

Although, saying that, a nice shiny 'slave ring' clit piercing might be something she could carry forward without disrupting events the events I've already written about...

In the 'main story' neither would be impossible - not that I can see quite where that might happen, yet (although I kinda put that mentally on the back burner, so to speak, over the last couple of days to knock this out).

[SDS]

Very fun start looking forward to more!

[imanewb]

Caution: This chapter is, necessarily, darker in tone, implies/refers back to a previous incident of sexual abuse and includes elements of coerced sexual behaviour including forced orgasm.

Skip to the next part

"Oh but you're a smart, stubborn girl," Bryony continued as the ropes were tied to the straps they'd wrapped around my limbs, "I can see you're already thinking, wondering how we'll keep you quiet without anything to hold over you..."

She was wrong, nothing of the sort had occurred to my stressed out and overwhelmed brain. But she was right, I realised, just how did they plan to keep me quiet if they destroyed their blackmail material?

"...Thinking you might go to the school, the police, or the press even once we're done with you? I'd be shocked if you weren't... Others have tried, you know. Many others, maybe. But let me tell me what happened to them, what would happen to you if you tried anything like that..."

What she was saying couldn't be true, could it? She was manipulating me, had to be, but if she wasn't... could I face being expelled, being called a liar, again, when everyone had seen me 'willingly' doing whatever they demanded for a whole year. I'd sound like a lunatic, a fantasist spreading unbelievable tales without any evidence to corroborate my story, facing down scores of 'horrified' witnesses decrying my 'falsehoods', I'd be a pariah in my own town...again.

I'd have a reputation as a whore, a troublemaker, a liar following me wherever I went... I'd ruin not just my life, but my father's too - just as certainly as they would if I failed to 'play my part'.

"...but you're not ready to beg just yet are you slut, you're too stupid to just rip off that band-aid and get this over with. You need to suffer first, don't you slut, you want..."

Bryony continued talking down to me as I shook my head, the only part of me I could still move now the ropes had pulled tight. They'd dragged that out too, slowly stretching me open, forcing every once private place to be openly displayed for the cameras, to be exposed to the kids' eager eyes to maximise my humiliation as they demonstrated the power they held over me. I trembled with revulsion as several of the boys I could see stood shamelessly adjusting themselves, proud and very happy to see me.

"...a little taste... Guys!"

I tensed against my bindings, a fist lodged in my throat and closed my eyes knowing what happened next. I couldn't face watching their hungry, predatory looks as they sauntered up to me, didn't want to see their glee as they surrounded me, see them work themselves into a frenzy until...

"Good legs... too thin, too fat, like tits - only smaller, pubes? virgin!!"

The girl's voices distracted me from my swirling thoughts. The comments merged together into a single stream of constant judgmental bitchiness - grading me like a piece of meat at market, while the crowd roared with laughter, as if this was the funniest thing they'd ever heard. My eyes snapped open, a small relieved smile creeping unbidden to my lips - this hadn't been what I was expecting when she'd called the 'guys' forward. These basic bitches had nothing on the Witch, you try living with her, experiencing her barbed tongue as you try to meet her impossible standards and perhaps you'll see why their words held little sway over me. No, this wasn't anything I hadn't heard a million times before. Every. Single. Day. At home, in the car, at the mall even - to think, all this time she'd been training me to deal with these wannabes...

I didn't mean for it to happen, but the ironic laugh slipped past my lips silencing the girls with all the power of a gun going off.... Oops, I thought, guess that's not the reaction they were hoping for!

And then Casey stepped up, a familiar looking book in hand. Any sense of relief I'd felt deserted me. She knew me, knew my dreams, my fears, my insecurities... she was the one person here who'd know how to cut me to the quick with all the secrets, laughs and tears we'd shared since we'd met. The laugh died on my lips and my smile faded as an arctic chill settled over me. The embers of my rage dying once more as I faced her, impotent to act. But I wouldn't look away, I couldn't, not yet. I continued to pour every ounce of my contempt for her into my stare as she read from the pages from my darkest days, too cowardly to even meet my eye when she suddenly stopped with a gasp.

It was only me and her now, the audience stood forgotten as silent, rage filled tears slipped down my face as she forced me to relive those desperate days and weeks after my innocence died, was stolen from me, to remember the sting of the blade, the months of therapy that followed.

And they descended from the silence like sharks who'd smelt blood. Taunting, stroking, teasing... forcing my body to react against my will the way it had before, eating away at what little remained of the walls I'd built around my memories.

My first moan was met with a raucous cheer and a doubling of their efforts - more hands reached out, their feather-light touches lighting my skin on fire. I worked my jaw about the ball gag, and still couldn't hide the way my breath hitched from the exultant crowd when bolder fingers entered the fray, pinching & twisting my sensitive nubs, slowly bringing them to life, sending electric jolts straight to my throbbing sex.

The hands suddenly withdrew. Depriving me of their heat, releasing me from their sweet torment and drawing a muffled groan from my lips before I could clamp down on the shameful anguish I felt at their loss.

"Such a good girl," a voice echoed the words from my past, dragging me back to that night as his warm body pressed gently against my back. Hands reached round cupping me, searching for my button, "you're my good little girl aren't you. You want to make ol' Harry happy don't you..."

The name was different, but it didn't matter, my mind was swept away to the trailer as His grinning face appeared before me, His scent wafted towards me on the breeze. His voice layered over every word I heard until I found myself nodding, unable to resist... I was His, again.

"My good girl," His voice followed me to the ground, "you know what to do... cum for me... for us..."

One hand dropped down. Its fingers curling in to me, collecting the moisture I'd need to prove my obedience. My hips twitched, trying to force the contact my body craved as I teased my entrance, my button aching with need as I pushed first one, then a second finger into my dripping sex... one pump, two... I was so close already, but I knew what He wanted. How He demanded I prove my devotion.

My fingers withdrew with an obscene slurping sound. Warm, fragrant liquid pooled under me as my hand dropped lower, ready, waiting... My other hand moved from the nipple it'd been squeezing, trailed it's way across my stomach and hovered, ready, waiting...

Until I could wait no more. My hand dropped, crushing my button flat against the pubic bone just as He'd taught me. Once, twice... again and again until I stood balanced right on the edge. With one final vicious swing I was there, my fingers fluttered over where they'd landed as my waiting hand rose, brutally plunging fingers deep into my waiting butt. I screamed my release into the cold night air and, mercifully, faded into unconsciousness.

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[imanewb]

Very fun start looking forward to more!

Thank you for the kind words.

There won't be too much more of this particular story, as it's merely the prelude to my other (first) attempt at writing this type of material.

Having, I think, started to get better/more confident in this style of writing (it's soooo different from the 'day job') I'm sure we can eventually look forward to more 'one offs' / vignettes featuring previous 'chosen ones' (ideas are forming in my mind even as I write this) - but I doubt I can concentrate on more than one story at a time, not without losing the plot entirely!

If anyone's interested in writing something in the same world I'd love to see what they come up with (and maybe steal an idea or three, hundred )