Page 45 of The Captive Missing

“Charlie mentioned I would have to be re-trained and then submitted. That hasn’t happened yet.” Val leaned back and took a quick survey of the room. “Where is he by the way? I haven’t seen him for days.”

“I think he’s down in breeding.” Amber sipped at her orange juice casually. “His clients only ever keep him for one night.”

“He’s in the breeding program?” Val choked on her last bite.

“Yeah.” Amber frowned at Val’s reaction. “After Gabe was sold, Cambric’s birth rate took a dive. They decided to move Charlie there instead.”

“I guess I just didn’t think about it.”

“Well.” Amber smirked ruefully. “We’re all going to end up there eventually right?”

Val nodded, trying to seem casual, but inside her brain screamed and screamed and screamed. For a split second, she thought she might be sick but then she shoved the feeling away.

It was true that most monthly subscription girls ended up in the program. Cambric wanted more of them. They were beautiful, highly skilled, compliant, successful, money-making machines. Why not have them duplicate as many times as possible? And you didn’t need a lot of males if you could get one or two that were capable of outperforming the rest.

“Listen-” Amber’s chocolate-brown eyes softened in their close examination of Val. “Maybe you should get back on the meds for a while. You were out longer than any of us and you haven’t been back all that long. The first couple of months is the worst.”

“You were out?”

“For a whole glorious year before Cambric started up again.” A look of joy crossed Amber’s face before she hid it away. “But we don’t talk about that here, it’s dangerous. And not just because Cambric might hear you, but because it makes living like this impossible. Those who can’t forget, can’t conform. And those who can’t conform…”

Val waited for Amber to finish her sentence, but the rest didn’t come. Instead, Amber stood abruptly and grabbed her red tray. Looking down at Val she addressed her with almost sad eyes.

“You better get moving.” Amber blinked. “You don’t want to be late.”

* * *

Room 115 was located on the ground floor of a single story building that connected the two apartment towers. Hair dripping down the back of her uniform, Val beeped her way into the section that had been so familiar to her as a trainee. Inside these rooms is where she had been trained, groomed, educated and awakened to the demands of D2 service.

This is where she had lost her innocence, if she ever truly had some to claim. This is where she took classes with Bee and watched her fall for Gabe. In fact, in a room just down the hall, Val had been outfitted and styled for that trade show in the city. The one where Jason had seen her for the first time.

Sucking in a breath, Val stomped at the longing that leapt inside her at the thought of her husband. Purposefully she shoved him from her mind, knowing that having him present with her here would only bring on more weakness.

Coming to a stop in front of one tall door, Val held her right forearm beneath the scanner that hung on the wall. The beep came, and then the click, and a gentle opening as the door swung silently inward. A blank expression fixed itself over her features as she crossed the metal threshold.

“Val-” Shane’s voice sliced at her from across the room. “Right on time, that’s good. Please, have a seat.”

He gestured to a black stool positioned at the front of the room. Ducking her head, Val did as instructed, eyes darting all around, trying to gauge her surroundings.

It was a standard sized room with closets that ran the length of each wall. The white doors were all closed, but Val knew that inside them were a myriad of outfits in all sizes and colors. Cambric never sent captives to see clients in their uniforms, not even by request.

As she took her place on the stool, she noted a small table covered in makeup with a variety of brushes, a curling iron and a hair dryer.

“Let’s start with the red silk dress and move on from there.” Shane spoke to a person positioned just over Val’s shoulder.

Shifting around to look, Val spied a long-faced woman with shaggy red hair who refused to make eye contact. It was Alicia. The same Corporate Captive that had prepped her in the city. The same one who had once passed a message along to Bee. It would be best for both of them if Shane didn’t know the connection. Val focused her eyes on the floor.

* * *

Over the next hour, Alicia worked her magic. Running her fingers through Val’s hair, she applied product before slowly blowing the full length dry. Taking a curling iron, she methodically twisted the ends into sections, then wound them around, spraying them before letting a chestnut ringlet fall.

When she had finished with Val’s hair, she moved on to makeup. First there was a creamy thick foundation, followed by powder, bronzer, blush and lip stain. Eye color would be next, along with lashes.

All the while, Shane paced the room behind her. Val could hear the shuffle of his steps. Occasionally he would murmur to himself, though not explicitly about her. He seemed to be working on something. Despite not being able to see him, Val sensed that he clutched a tablet in his hands.

When Alicia was finally done, she held up a small mirror. The reflection that stared back was one so intensely familiar that it was slightly unnerving. Val had seen herself look this exact way before, but she couldn’t quite place it. It was like looking at an old photograph.

“All done?” Shane came around to stand before the two women, eyes appraising. “You really are good, Alicia. She looks just the same.”

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