Page 34 of The Captive Missing

Val managed two steps inside before her stomach revolted. Dropping to her knees, she retched violently all over the linoleum floor.

“Ah, Agent Finn, right?” Shane spoke casually, as if the stench of vomit hadn’t taken over the room. “I see you’ve returned one of my favorite girls.”

Agent Finn made no reply, only frowned deeply and bent to check on Val. Looping one arm around her waist, he used the other to brush at her hair, still mussed from their long trip. She could feel his gaze on her, feel the worry that suddenly flooded his system. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of eye contact, so she turned away.

“She’s fine.” Shane chuckled. “Aren’t you, Val?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“We see this a lot during intake, the time on the outside doesn’t sit well.”

Shane made a few notes on his clipboard, then took out his cell phone and placed a call. They heard him order a cleanup kit before he hung up. The male orderly finished arranging his tools and turned to watch them. His face was passive, clouded with disinterest and the repetition of routine. Nothing here was shocking to him.

“You can remove the restraints, I think the two of us can manage her well enough,” Shane instructed, eyes enjoying the reluctance that played out clearly in Finn.

The way his hands hesitated in searching for his keys. The way he glanced into her face as he removed the binds. It was obvious in the silence that Agent Finn had concerns about leaving her here with these men. But it was too late to change his mind. It was too late for different choices, different actions and consequences. It was never too late for regret, though, and it oozed out of his pores. Even Shane could sense it.

With the handcuffs off, Val wanted to rub at her wrists, but knew better than to do so. Shane motioned for her to come to him, and she kept her eyes averted, but followed his orders.

When she was within his reach he placed both hands on her shoulders and peered into her face with a triumphant grin. This was the man who had stood in the corner when they removed Bee. This was the man who had refused her food while urging Gabe to eat. This was the man who had told her trainer he wasn’t being brutal enough when they were trying to get Gabe to submit, so he made him turn around and try her again.

Body trembling beneath his touch, Val couldn’t stop the shaking that moved through her limbs. Her reaction was visible, causing her to jerk slightly. Shane’s eyebrows raised in delight. Glancing over Val’s shoulder, he noticed Agent Finn hadn’t left.

“You can go now,” Shane called. “Thank you for your service.”

When Agent Finn didn’t move, Shane’s expression changed to one of cold calculation. Turning Val to face Finn, he wrapped one hand around her throat, then let his fingers play along her jaw. He didn’t squeeze, didn’t grab her or hold on tight, but the implication was clear. Shane had the power here. Agent Finn did not.

And that was all that Shane really wanted. He was never the one to actually hit, never the one to force, or to shout. His pleasure derived from something else entirely. He liked to dominate, to strike fear, to feel other people’s submission. It didn’t matter who it was, or even what it was.

“Did you want something?” Shane asked calmly, eyes locked on Agent Finn. “I know you’ve worked closely with Val in the past. She’s a real beauty, isn’t she?”

Again, Agent Finn did not respond, but merely shifted on his feet. Val could see a new knowledge filling his eyes. It had taken coming here and experiencing it for himself for the reality of captive life to sink in. Through all of the fear and the trembling, the knot in her stomach and ache in her limbs, Val took a moment’s pity for Finn. He really hadn’t understood what he was doing.

“I’d offer you an hour with her, but we’ve got a waiting list a mile long stacked up already. Our clients just can’t get enough.” Shane sucked in a breath at the desperation that flitted across Finn’s face. This is exactly the reaction he wanted.

“It’s alright, John.” Val’s voice came out steadier than she felt. “This is what I’ve been trained for. Remember?”

The slap of his own words coming back to taunt him hit Agent Finn full in the face. She watched his expression shift between misery and guilt until he turned his back on her and fled the room.

After he left, Shane dropped his hands from her neck and resumed scribbling on his clipboard. For him, it had only ever been about getting a Federal Agent to submit. Once the object of his desire had left, so had the nastiness.

The process of intake was a slow and methodical one, filled with procedure. She was made to strip and change into a Cambric uniform. The slate grey dress with its numerous black buttons stopped just above her knees. It was form fitting, but not overly tight, and the stiff cotton fabric had been ironed free of any creases.

The male orderly performed a medical check. They documented her weight, height, blood pressure, temperature and listened to her breathing. He inserted a new tracker in her right forearm, careful to use the same line of scarring as the last one. They didn’t want any additional marks on her body. She was given a cup of water and made to swallow a tiny orange pill. Shane looked in her mouth after, making her lift her tongue to show it was gone.

By the time they were finished with her, Val felt completely numb.

She was escorted to an isolation room and locked inside. There was a thin mattress in one corner with a pillow and wool blanket. Her mind flashed back to her weeks spent here with Gabe. She wondered when she would be transferred to a dorm, or if they planned on keeping her set apart forever.

Suddenly, her knees buckled and she dropped heavily to the hard floor. Whatever drug they had given her was potent. Mouth dry, eyes starting to blur, she crawled on her hands and knees until she reached the bed. The last thing she remembered was feeling the blanket scrunched up in her palms. After that, it was all black.

* * *

When she woke, it was to the piercing pain of a needle being slipped beneath her skin. Val cried out and struggled briefly to sit up, but the male orderly pushed her back down.

“Easy,” he said quietly. “It’s just some fluids.”

Groaning she blinked her foggy eyes, trying to get the room to come into focus. How long had she been out? What time was it? What day was it? There were no windows in the narrow room, only the bed and the toilet. The far door had a single square of glass with which to see through, but it only led out onto a hallway. She knew from experience, remembering her weeks of confinement from years before.

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