My eyes open and I am bombarded with the sight of darkness surrounding me and the feeling of damp cold air. I am dressed in jeans and a plain purple v-neck shirt. I have ankle socks on, but notice I don't feel my shoes. My hair was out of its pony tail and tangled in my face. And my head hurt slightly, like I had bumped into something.
I sit up and hear metal against stone, then I feel something heavy on my wrists and ankles. Fuck! I knew what I felt without looking. But I did and saw metal manacles around my wrists, a key hole in each, and a chain trailing from them, a little on the ground, then up to a set of bars. Those bars seemed to be all around me, a large cage, shaped like one of those oval bird cages. I glance back down and saw my ankle manacles were also connected to a chain which trailed around and down into the floor.
Where am I?
I now take in my surroundings. I was in a dungeon like room that had stone walls and floor. There was a table a few feet away that held a huge clipboard, which had four notepads on it. Beside that, there was a pencil and a mechanical pencil sharpener. On the other side of the table, there was a pile of what looked like clothing, folded neatly into squares. Under the table, there was a red rubber made tub that had no label. Beside it was a box that had switches and wires and bulbs and clamps.
I swallowed a lump of anxiety and moved on. Beside the table was a simple metal chair, like you might see at a school assembly. Some feet away was a green hose that was coiled up and in the middle was a water spout with a handle you had to lift instead of turn. Above that on the wall was different swimming equipment: foam noodles, flippers, diving rings, floating boards I see people using to practice their strokes. I didn't understand what they could possibly be used for since I didn't see or smell a swimming pool.
Next to the hose and water spout, there was a basket of different balls: base balls, basket balls, golf balls, tennis balls and more. On the wall behind those were bats: metal, wooden, and plastic. There were also golf sticks, hockey sticks, tennis rackets and what looked like ping-pong paddles.
Whoever brought me here must love sports...
"Enjoying yourself, Caroon?" came a soft, sultry voice from behind me. I jumped and turned, but couldn't see anyone. "I am happy you are awake. I had thought you would have woken earlier, but it was a hard hit to your head and I apologize."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Milura."
"How do you know my name?"
"First, because I looked you up and watched you, but only after someone gave it to me." He paused. "You are very interesting, Caroon."
I cringe. "Who told you my name? Why did they tell you about me? And where am I?"
Milura chuckled. "I don't give the messenger's names to anyone. As for why they gave you to me, I will tell you soon enough." I scowled and he chuckled again. "And you are in my home, my sanctuary, my most prized creation."
"Why am I in a cage?"
"Because I don't want you running away, and because I like to keep things locked up."
"I'm not a bird or a dog."
"No. But you are valuable. And I can't lose anything valuable to me."
"How am I valuable to you?"
"As I said, soon." I heard movement and prepared for anything: even pain. But Milura didn't appear, neither did anything come flying at me. "Look down at your shackles, Caroon. You will see a key hole and a tiny square slightly lifted above the rest of the metal. Press it."
"Why?"
"It won't hurt you. Just press it."
Wary, I looked down and found the small square. It was only as big as a pencil tip...maybe a little bigger. I pressed it. My left wrist shackle came undone. I gasped.
"Go ahead and do the others, Caroon."
I did and rubbed the spots where the metal dug into my skin slightly. "I don't understand."
"You will." Milura said nothing, and I thought he had gone away, but then, the cage shivered and I heard a groaning sound. I turned back towards the table and saw a man holding the cage door open. He seemed to be in his late twenties, early thirties. He had deep brown eyes and black hair that was streaked with white at the temples. He wore a tux, a bow tie at his throat and the breast pocket filled with what looked like pencils and small notebooks. "Step out for me, Caroon."
He stepped aside, gesturing for me to leave the cage, but I now didn't want to leave it. "No."
"I am sure you would like to use the bathroom and shower. I have clothes for you, and there's soap and towels prepared and waiting for you."
"Why?"
He smiled, showing white teeth. "Because I said, Caroon."
I scowled. "Stop saying my name!"
"Why? It is your name and I have to call you something."
"You say it all the time. Like, almost with every sentence."
He blinked. "I see. Step out and I will take you to the bathroom. I am sure you'll feel better once you are freshened up. I will have food prepared when you are finished."
I did have to pee, but I didn't trust him. He had shackled and locked me inside a cage without reason. He brought me here without consent, and I had a bad feeling about where this was leading to.
"I won't ask again. If you don't do it now, you won't have another chance for six hours. Decide wisely."
Shit! Shit! Shit!
I slowly stood and walked out of the cage, having to duck because of the small door. Milura grabbed my arm as I began to go explore, and stopped me. "Stay here for a moment."
I stiffened and watched as he gently shut the door and turned to me. Smiling, he kept a hold of my arm and led me to the table, gesturing to the clothes. "I don't like wearing someone else's clothes," I say softly.
"They're new. I don't like wearing someone else's clothes either."
I picked up the stack and looked through them. "There's no underwear or bra."
"No." Milura pushed me away from the table and towards a door hidden within the darkness. He opened it, pushed me through, and led me down a hall a few yards before another door appeared on the right. "Here is the bathroom. I will give you one hour to do as you need."
I grabbed the knob and turned. The door opened and I saw a spacious bathroom equipped with a shower, a bathtub, a sink, and a small cabinet. It was twice the size of a normal bathroom but was still nice. I stepped inside.
Milura let go of me and said, "if you shut the door and look at the knob on your side, you will find two buttons. The blue is to tell me you are ready if the hour isn't up and you're finished. The red is if you need something."
I looked at the knob and saw what he meant. Then my brain caught up. I looked at him in shock. "You're locking me in?"
"Yes. You will always be locked in or locked up. I will not take chances."
"But-" I stop and shut my mouth. He raised a brow. "Nothing."
He stared at me a moment, then said, "One hour, Caroon. I do not want any delays."
"Can I ask a question?"
"Always."
"Will I ever go home?"
Milura was silent a long time, making me fear the worst. He didn't look sympathetic, but neither did he look cruel. "That depends on you, Caroon. Now, go freshen up. I'll be waiting." He reached over and closed the door tightly. I didn't hear a lock click, but did hear his footsteps move away. I hesitantly grabbed the knob and twisted. Damn it! He wasn't bluffing. Milura was serious and didn't play games. I was doomed.