Always the Same

This chapter kinda sets the tone for the rest of the story.
Bondage/Torture/Adult Language
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If you only knew…that was a loaded statement. My problem was I didn’t know, remember or really care-just so long as the dream was kept at bay.

I stripped and showered to remove the night’s accumulation from my skin. I wasn’t really dirty but I wanted my skin clean. I toweled dry, pulled my hair up and out of the way. Flo had set out a clean tank top and pair of shorts for me to “rehearse” in-she knew how to take care of me. I carefully wilted into the Lotus position, closed my eyes and proceeded to clear my mind of all thoughts. I learned rehearsals were more tolerable after a short period of meditation. I inhaled through my nose and exhaled through my mouth. My mind slowly wandered…

*** ***
I ran across the roof. I heard the pounding of feet and then the sound of the roof access door being kicked open. Soon, I heard the voices of my pursuers as the started searching for me. I crouched near the edge of the roof as I tried to stifle the sound of my breathing. A stitch in my side, from running up so many flights of stairs I guessed, flared as I tried to weigh my options. ‘There she is! Stop her!’ someone shouted. I stood and, without hesitation, leapt off the roof parapet. The air was dark and cold…
*** ***

I gasped and lashed out.

“You bitch!” Marik snarled as my fist connected with his nose. Bakura laughed out loud.

“You forget…Dark Star of Ishtar has the reflexes of an asp. You got what you deserved, ass!” he snickered.

“Shut the hell up!” Marik muttered as he pinched his nose to stop the bleeding. “What in the name of Ra were you so deep in thought about anyway?”

“Never mind…it’s nothing.” I said. I stood up and grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat off my face. “And quit calling me by the stage name. You know I hate when you do that. Let’s go get this over with…”

I walked back out to the stage. The club was empty except for the cleaning crew and that Wheeler creep. I felt his eyes as they moved all over my body. It’s amazing how quickly you get used to people mentally violating you as they stared. But, I was out of his league and he knew it. He had to settle for what he could get. I looked around the stage for the items we would use in rehearsal: a hook hanging from the end of a chain, one set of handcuffs and a blindfold. Terrific…another bondage act.

“Do I need to strip?” I asked as I dropped my towel on the stage.

“No, just put the cuffs on,” replied Bakura. I wasn’t too crazy about the look he had I his eyes. I was in for a rough night. Marik had a similar look in eyes as well but the was something more…I couldn’t figure it out. I place the cuffs around my wrists. Marik dropped his hands from his nose and grabbed my restrained wrists. He squeezed the cuffs as tight as they would go and grinned at the wince I uttered when they pinched my skin too hard. Bakura shouted for the stage manager to lower the chain and Marik hung the cuffs on it.

“Now, when you perform this in a couple of nights, be sure to wear the leopard print drape,” Bakura said as the chain was hoisted up towards the top of the stage; I was forced up on to my toes. Marik placed the blindfold over my eyes. “You’ll get yours soon, you vicious bitch,” he snarled in my ear before pulling away.

Completely blinded, I had to rely on my hearing. Bakura and Marik were standing to the right as they spoke softly to each other. For some strange reason, I smelled blood and knew that Marik’s nose still bled a little; it made me smile. Then, I heard another person as they stepped on the stage: the stench of cheap cologne and cigarettes told me it was Wheeler. What the hell was he doing up here, I wondered. I soon felt his hands on my body as he ripped my tank top off. He traced small circles on my naked skin as he walked around me. His hands were surprisingly soft for a guy’s. He removed his hands from my body and I sensed he was standing in front of me again. His fingers touched my nipples and then, all of a sudden, he pinched one savagely. I winced but didn’t cry out. He pinched harder and harder as he tried to make me cry. I felt his hands as they shook with frustration. Finally, I became fed up and kicked out at Wheeler. I must have connected with his stomach because all his air whooshed out and he fell to the floor. I heard Marik stomp over to Wheeler’s prone body and kick off the stage.

“Enough screwing around…let’s go,” Marik snapped. I heard him walk around to stand behind me. Soon, there was a rasping sound as he pulled his boot blade from its sheath. He proceeded to cut my shorts off my hips. He was still very pissed at me-he nicked my skin because his hands were shaking so badly. He ripped the fabric away from my flesh and I was naked, bound and at his mercy. He started to drag the edge of the blade against my ass and I felt the sting as the skin parted slightly in places and left crimson trails behind. Bakura never participated; he only watched. It was his job to choreograph the moves that would be made in the show. He told Marik where to make the nicks and cuts.

“Now, move across the shoulders. Good…now, trace down the ribs and move over her stomach. Not so deep, ass! She needs to be able to heal up quickly if she’s to perform this weekend,” Bakura said angrily. I heard a voice shout to Bakura from backstage-he had a phone call. “Stop right here…I need to take this call. Don’t do anything else until I get back.” He walked off to the right.

I was covered with shallow slashes across my skin and I felt my blood trickle down my body to my toes. My fingers had started to go numb: the cuffs were too tight and the weight of my body pulled my wrists down in an awkward position. All of a sudden, I heard a low whistle and felt fire that burned across my lower back. It was followed by a second and third lash-the bastard was using a whip to get even for the nose! Marik laughed as he continued to swing the whip with deadly accuracy.

“Scream for me…and I might consider stopping. Beg me to stop, you arrogant bitch. I command it!” he thundered as the whip cut me across the back of my neck. I refused to give the sorry son of a bitch the satisfaction; I would not cry, beg or plead. I heard Bakura come back on stage.

“Stop it, you fool! What the hell do you think you’re doing? If you mark her up too badly, she won’t be able to perform!” Bakura shouted. Enough was enough; playtime was over. I listened carefully to the sounds of Marik’s footsteps. I caused my body to swing side-to-side and Marik stood in front to stop me. I grabbed the hook with both hands and pulled myself up. I swung my legs forward until I felt Marik’s head between my knees. I squeezed them together with every ounce of my strength until he gasped for air. He jammed his hands against my knees in an effort to pull my legs apart. I pushed harder until I felt Marik go limp. Bakura started to clap.

“I wondered how long it would take before you had enough, Dark Star. I am sorry Marik was so inconsiderate in using the whip. Had I known what he was planning, I would not have left the two of you alone. But, there is a certain beauty in seeing your skin covered by your very own blood. Very arousing, to say the least and we should see a capacity crowd. I’m actually considering on including the whipping; but I leave that entirely up to you. Get her down.”

I released Marik and I took vicious pleasure in the sound of his unconscious body as it hit the floor. I felt hands on me once again as two bouncers lifted me off the hook and set my feet upon the floor. The cuffs were removed and my towel was given to me to cover myself with. I jerked the blindfold off and wrapped myself up as I looked around. Sure enough, Marik was out cold and Bakura was smiling at me.

“Go and get some rest. Be sure to use the salve I gave you for the cuts.” Bakura said as he bent over to pick up Marik. I stalked backstage, cursing under my breath and I never knew that there were blue eyes watching me.