An endless whirlwind of emotions. Pleasure mixed with pain at random intervals and intensities. Carmen was constantly trying to keep her mind focused on something, on anything, but, without any hint of how much time had passed and how much would pass before she was released, she couldn't know how useful were being her efforts.

She couldn't move her hands, her fingers, her head, or her limbs. She barely could breathe and the smell of her own sweat and some other excretions didn't help at all. Her muscles ached, especially those on her abdomen and arms. The intrudes in her mouth were small, fortuatelly, thus bearable. She could and would survive that but she was beginning to fear in what kind of physical and mental state would she be once freed. Not a good one, probably.

She thought on José. He would surely look for her. What would he find? A person? An empty vessel? A wreck incapable of doing anything productive? All that assuming that he could free her. What if Bizet had another coffin somewhere?

-No. These thoughts aren't helping. Patience, they are not going to leave me here forever.

Unbeknown to her each day the dildos and the white noise stopped for, at least,seven hours, so she could have a decent sleep. However, she was so tired that when she fell asleep, her dream was so deep that she couldn't dream, so she wasn't aware of the time passed. Each time, she was awakened by an electric shock, so even what was supposed to be healthy and pleasant was actually disgusting and harsh.

After what seemed a eternity, the coffin started to shake. For a brief moment she feared that she had already lost her sanity. They opened the coffin, filled again the bag with the nutritional liquid inside the chest of drawers and undressed her. They took off everything except the blindfold and the ring gag. After she had been released from the straightjacket and trousers they chained her again to four chains the same way as the other day. She was unable to resist anything and fight back.

-How are you?- Asked Bizet.- Have you enjoyed your first week with us?

-A week!?

-Anything to say? Beg for mercy? You are a though one, aren't you?- He laughed.

-Not yet, motherfucker. Not yet.

He opened a drawer and took a flogger with a bunch of leather straps. Carmen didn't understand the point of that, she was already harmless. Bizet's laughs gave her a hint. He was enjoying all that. There wasn't any particular reason more than his sick pleasure. Carmen hoped that he didn't have a wife or lover, for their own sake. Perhaps she had both, but he needed someone else to fulfill his desires. Finally he stopped, more concerned about her own arm than about her prisoner's wellbeing. There wasn't any blood but Carmen's body showed a lot of shades of red. She did her best not to scream, but, after a while, it was nearly impossible. Bizet made a signal with his hand and his goons lowered her making her kneel.

-Last chance.- He was panting slightly, probably more for excitement than fatigue.- Anything to say?

Carmen thought about a couple of insults and a good classical “fuck you”, but she didn't want to surrender not even that tiny part. Silence was the best offense. He smiled widely. She decided that, someday, she would make him regret all that. They made her stand up again. One of the goons brought a hosepipe through the open door, which had been open all the time, probably as a mean to humiliate her. They cleaned all the sweat and other substances with a strong stream of cold water. Again she did her best to avoid showing any sign of suffering, though, as time passed, that was becoming more and more difficult. Then they left her hanging for several minutes until she dried. Just like that began the process of her second entombment, with a new set of clean garments.

That second period inside the coffin was much worse. In addition to the dildoes and the immobilization there was a terrible pain all over her body and the persistent cold. She sometimes had enjoyed a bit of recreational roughness with José but not like this and not that much. That was just cruel torture with a defenseless prisoner. Only a very sick mind could think, plan or even write about that. Once alone she could cry and rant as much as she felt necessary. No one was going to hear anything, Not even her.

The story repeated itself some days later. It was another week according to Bizet, though Carmen couldn't believe it. Again, he bragged a bit, then whipped her and, once more, cleaned her like if she was an animal in a slaughterhouse. Again Carmen remained silent. The logical part of her brain urged her to ask for mercy but her pride was still in charge. The third entombment felt almost like routine.

The first time they opened the coffin, she felt relieved, if only for a moment. The third time the story had already become boring. She had started to feel like if she was a character into a shitty erotic story in a website for perverts. But when they took off all her equipment, including blindfold and ring gag, and she didn't saw Bizet, she changed her mind, if only for a moment.

Bizet dressed like a typical businessman. Slacks, blazer, white shirt, a tie, the usual stuff. And, yet, he was elegant. This new guy in front of her, though, didn't know shit about elegance even when he was using the same style. The guy seemed like if he didn't know his own size as everything he wore was too big. His glasses looked like those used in the 80s.

-Take her to her bedroom.- Carmen needed to hear her voice and take a good look at her face to figure out that she was a woman. One of the four usual goons injected her a syringe and she lost conciousness.



Someone knocked at the door. She woke up and took a look at her surroundings. She was in an actual bedroom, with an actual bed, windows, furniture and even a private bathroom. Around her right ankle a metal cuff attached to a sturdy chain that went under the bed, prevented her from leaving the bedroom, but allowed her to walk a few meters. She was naked but there was a housecoat on the bed. She had a leather belt on her. From the belt two thin steel chains at the front and another one at the back joined in a curved triangle of steel that covered her vagina. The chastity belt was tight but not uncomfortable.

-I'm coming in.- It was the same woman. She opened the door after knocking again. She carried a tray with a delicious looking breakfast, which she left on the bed.- Have you slept well?

-What is this? Some kind of joke? Mental games?

-My father was right, I see. You are not a talker. Good, I don't enjoy chit chat.- Carmen could take a good look at her face. She was pretty but the glasses and the fringe of her boyish haircut disguised her features. It was like if she didn't want to be a woman or to be recognized as such. Even the accent was different. Her voice sounded neuter, empty of emotions. Perhaps she didn't want to be a human.- We haven't been properly introduced, my apologies.

-Apologies?

-My name is Alexandra. Do you have a real name? Should I call you Hummingbird?- Carmen didn't answer. She was still trying to assimilate everything.- No? Ok, I will call you “Bird”. It's shorter. Please, eat. There is a button next to the bed, call the chef if you need something. I understand that you might be angry at my father or myself, but he is just an employee. Please don't hurt him.

-What the fuck!?

A few hours later Alexandra nocked at the door again. She didn't saw Carmen so she got in the bedroom to look for her. The prisoner had devoured her meal and fell asleep after that. She was still disoriented. Her muscles and senses were still trying to adjust. She needed more rest, but her dream patterns were very altered. Her short nap lasted just an hour with pauses in between so she didn't actually rest. When she heard the door moving, her instincts took control, as her upper brain functions were blocked, and she hid behind the door as best as she could. Emerging from Alexandra's blind side Carmen tried to kick her in the face but she dodged the attack and took a defensive stance.

-You are going to regret this.- Alexandra said again emotionless. The chain had a limit, she could have moved away, but she wanted to prove something.

Carmen threw another kick but Alex dodged again. Carmen threw a punch but Alex grabbed her wrist and slapped her face with her other hand. Carmen threw a combination of a straight and an uppercut. Alex dodged both and slapped her again, a bit stronger than before. Carmen tried to tackle Alex but she jumped back and quickly forward again, and slapped her once more. Carmen realized that the slaps were ment to be more humiliating than painful. She tried a rotary kick but Alex ducked and slapped her again. Then, in a quick motion grabbed both her wrists.

-Stop, please. You have been six days inside a coffin. You are weak and tired.

-Six days? Bizet said three weeks.

-I'm going to release you, but please, stop, or I will have to punish you again.

-A few slaps? That's the punishment? I though I was going to regret this much more.

-Did you like the food? We have a good chef.- Carmen again was too confused to answer.- I guess you did. So..., please, sit. I'm going to explain you your situation. According to my father you are his toy. I strongly disagree. To me you are an asset. Are you following?- She nodded.- My family has enemies. These enemies have safes with expensive stuff inside. My family has access to a good thief. Are you understanding my reasoning?- She nodded again.- Good. In a couple of hours I will bring your lunch. You have this time to decide whether you want to be my asset or my father's toy.- Alex got up and walked towards the door.- My father is sadistic and cruel, we both know it. I'm not. I don't enjoy physical punishment. So please, accept my apology and please, don't attack me again.- She took the empty try and left.

-What the fucking fuck!?

Indeed, Alex returned in a couple of hours carrying another try with Carmen's lunch. During that time Carmen took a look around her bedroom. In the closet there were the clothes she weared the night she was kidnapped, including the wig. The door was closed with an electric lock. Difficult to pick without the proper tools. Next to the window there was a grille. There wasn't enough slack for an adult between the thick metal bars. Outside the house she could see a rather big garden with a couple of workers irrigating some geraniums. Behind that a large plain next to a forest. She decided that her next flower around her navel would be one of those. She was sitting on the bed when Alex came in. She could have pick the cuff on her ankle but there was no point. She wasn't going anywhere for the moment.

-You want to hire me? You can't be so stupid.

-Really?- Carmen though Alex would lose her temper but didn't happen.- Your first sentence in six days and you insult me. And I am the stupid? Look. First of all, I'm not going to hire you. You are my property, I'm using you.

-Oh, I don't think so.

-Second, you will show me respect. You will call me ma'am, or miss or boss. Should you do what I request and do it well, maybe..., and “maybe” means “maybe”..., you will call me Alex.

-Yeah? We'll see.

-Third. That scar on the back of your neck? There is a chip under your skin. Thanks to it we can know where are you and some other data about your health and condition, whenever you are less than two hundred meters from my cellphone. That device on the back of your belt? It's a battery. I can use it to deliver powerful electric shocks to your most sensitive area. Also with my phone.

-Well, this is going to be a problem. Shit!

-So, clean slate. Hello, have you slept well? Have you enjoyed you breakfast?

-Yes..., miss Alex. Thank you.- As precarious as her situation was there was still room for a bit of mockery and a few unnecessary risks. Upper brain functions still mainly unavailable.

-Ey! Smart move. I like it.- For half a second she changed the neuter tone she had been using.- Do you accept my proposal, you nameless impertinent bird?

-I want to make a call. In a public telephone booth. You can listen to the conversation. Then I will accept your proposal..., ma'am.- Alex noticed the contained rage and childish defiance on that last word. Carmen had to accept her proposal and she knew, the other option was much worse.



Carmen was constantly looking through the window, trying to find something she could recognize. That wasn't her city. She couldn't know how far was from home. Bizet disagreed with that little trip to the city, but Alexandra wanted to start this strange business relationship as best as possible. Finally they decided that three of Bizet's goons had to join them in the trip by car and Carmen's wrists had to be handcuffed. They found a booth and the women got out of the car, Carmen's cuffed hands were covered by her jacket which she carried hanging in front of her waist. Alex held her cellphone, ready to push the button that would deliver the shocks.

-Who is it?- Asked José at the other side of the line.

-Hello, daddy, sorry for not calling earlier.- Said Carmen. Her lie had been convincing, Alex bought it.

-Daddy...? Who is...? Carmen!? I was so fucking worried...

-Daddy, listen, I'm going to live with a friend for a while. I don't know how many...- She interrupted him.

-What the...? What are you talking about? Where are you? Do you need a lift? Do you need something?- He interrupted her.

-I'm fine, daddy, I'm with a friend. Don't worry. I'm calling you soon, ok?- She was feeling a bit guilty for fooling her best friend, but she couldn't tell him the truth, as he would want to help her even if it was dangerous. She had gotten herself into that mess and she would have to clean her own shit.

-Carmen, what the hell is going on?

-Don't worry daddy, I will be fine. I have to leave. I love you. Bye.- Before hanging up she asked him to go pick up her bike. A good bike alone for a week in a deserted area wasn't a good idea. She hid her hands under the jacket again.

-Are you finished? Do we have an agreement?- Alex offered her hand. She used to close her business with a handshake. Carmen shook her hand, the other end of the handcuffs hanging open below. Alex took a step backwards and prepared herself for the upcoming attack.

-I accept your proposal, ma'am.- She hid her hand under the jacket again and handcuffed herself. They had found her once. She couldn't escape just running and fighting. That situation needed something else. She needed a plan, and it was already in motion.