Glimpses of the Island

Before the Interview

In any journey there comes the point of no return. A point in time where events dictate the only choice is to go forward. Looking down at her hands Elise knew the return point had come and gone. She leaned back against the cool concrete wall and closed her eyes. In retrospect there had never been a point where she would have stopped, even if they had given her the opportunity.

Her nose was itching again. It had to be psychosomatic, a cruel trick her mind played on her body. Her nose never itched when she could scratch it. Turning her head to one side she rubbed her nose against the rough surface of the block wall. Instant relief, but she knew it wouldn't last. The cure was to rub her nose with her hand, but that wasn't possible at the moment.

Her eyes were still closed but she could describe exactly how she looked if anyone asked. She had on the special uniform Mrs. Yates had given her: long sleeved blouse, the skirt ending below her knees, and low heeled sandals. Around her waist was the wide leather belt that was locked behind her back. Behind her back where she couldn't reach it, because the steel ring riveted to the front of the belt held the handcuffs locked on her wrists. She had never been given the key that fit those cuffs, but even if the key were sitting on the bench next to her it wouldn't make a difference. The training she'd received at the Facility the last few months had taken hold and grown within her. She would never even consider trying to escape from the restraints.

Jewelry was forbidden, as was just about everything else, though the cuffs on her wrists might qualify as a set of matching bracelets. She had been told they made her look attractive. As an accessory they would not have been her first choice, but no one had consulted her. Neither had she been asked if she would like to wear the matching leg cuffs now locked around her ankles. In some ways those were worse than the handcuffs. She could stand up, and even walk around, but the short eight inch chain between her feet limited her to a slow and clumsy shuffle.

Her eyes flew open at the sound of an opening door in the hallway. Immediately she sat up straight on the bench and checked her position: legs together, knees not quite touching, shoes precisely two inches apart on the floor. She had been taught to present herself in a certain way, to the point where it became a reflex. Failure to act in the proper manner was unacceptable, both for her pride in the person she had become and to those who now determined her fate.

Elise strained to hear any footsteps on the hallway floor. She held her breath in expectation as she heard faint male voices, but the loud sound of another cell door sliding open told her they had not come for her this time. She relaxed, slowly letting her breath out. She did not move, for they might still walk past her. Even the slightest mistake on her part could earn her some unwelcome attention. When her turn did come it had to be for the right reason, not for disciplinary review.

The cell door down the hall closed. She had been brought to this place, blindfolded, along with two other women. The three of them had been ordered not to talk at the start of the trip. When they had arrived at her current location they had been separated and placed in holding cells before the blindfolds were removed. Elise's cell was the most distant from the entrance to the holding area. Her only instructions had been to sit quietly on the bench and wait to be called. Twice they had come now, doubtless to take the other women away. Unless someone else was in another cell she would be next.

This place must be on the same island as the Facility because they hadn't boarded the ferry. There had been no explanation as to why she and the others had been brought here, or even what purpose this building served. As it should be , Elise reminded herself, I'll be told when I need to know. But it would be nice to have some advance warning now and then.

She heard the hallway door close. Leaning forward she turned her head to one side to check if she could hear anyone left in the hallway. After waiting a few moments she leaned back against the wall again and stretched out her legs. Of course, she could stand up and walk to the cell door, and then look out through the bars to see if anyone was there. But she had been told to sit on the bench. The door, and for that matter even standing up, were all out of bounds.

She straightened her legs, trying to move them as much as she was allowed to avoid sore muscles. She had no watch, nor was there a clock on the wall, so she had no idea how long she had been waiting. Telling time was a difficult task these days. The Facility had no clocks in the section where she lived. Those who supervised her and the other trainees rarely wore a wristwatch. And naturally the trainees had no watches, clocks, or much else. They were not allowed personal possessions.

The rings surrounding her ankles gleamed, reflecting the light from the fluorescent fixture overhead. No running away, certainly no kicking, nothing but a slow hobbled walk. Not that she wanted to fight or escape, but they saw to it the thought never got past a short-lived fantasy. The chains made her easy to control, whether or not it suited her. At first the restraints had scared her, made her feel like a criminal who couldn't be trusted. Patience, familiarity and education had helped her overcome her fears, to where she now felt comfortable when helpless.

Not just comfortable , she told herself, but excited . She had looked forward to this day ever since she had first arrived. She had been restrained and confined before, for longer periods, some times as a punishment, some for training purposes, but this time was different. Today she was sure she would be interviewed. Today she might well meet the man who would own her. In a few hours her life might change forever, and her dream come true. Maybe she'd even learn the answer to the mystery of her new change in uniform.

No one had told her the reason she had been brought here, but it was the only explanation. She had been outside the Facility before, always escorted and usually restrained in some way. But for those trips the chains had been removed while she was in a secure area, like the cell she occupied now. This time they had left the cuffs on, deliberately, to affect her state of mind. It worked too. Even though Elise knew the reasons, still she was on edge, anxious for someone to come back for her. With her hands and arms all but useless and only very limited use of her legs she could be easily controlled by anyone.

It was an ideal mindset for her upcoming interview. Her interrogator would be in charge from the moment he walked in. Her assignment would be to comply with his commands, to answer each question honestly, and to ensure she did not deceive or displease him in some way. The weight of the cuffs did wonders to remind her of her status. From her training she had an idea of what to expect but her instructors had stressed how potential masters could be unpredictable. She had to be alert to every nuance, his tone of voice, his body language, the expression on his face. It would be his decision whether or not to accept her but Elise still wanted to do her best no matter what type of man he was.

Lost in a daydream about some white knight and a castle she jumped when the sound of the hallway door opening reached her. Once more she sat up straight, ready for them to come for her. This time her hopes were answered as two men stopped outside her cell.

"Stand up, turn and face the wall," one man spoke softly. Elise immediately came to her feet and turned her back to the door. She heard a key in the lock followed by the sound of the door sliding open. One of the guards came in and stood behind her. He did a cursory check of the belt and her handcuffs. Satisfied she wasn't about to free herself, overpower the two of them and make her escape he took hold of her arm to turn her around. "You will be interviewed in a few moments. You will conduct yourself in a respectful and dignified manner, as you have been taught. If your behavior is in any way deemed rude or inappropriate the consequences will be severe. You will be representing the Facility. Do you understand?"

She understood all too well. In the classes it had been drummed into them over and over what this moment meant. "Yes, sir, I understand." She understood that if she failed, if there was any complaint about her attitude or degree of cooperation then she would be forced to start over in her training. And not just repeating her training, but starting in a disciplinary class. Her instructors had made it clear that was the last thing in the world she wanted.

The guards didn't remove her handcuffs or leg shackles. Instead they walked slowly, so she could keep up. They were on either side of her, one holding her left arm and the other her right so she wouldn't fall if she lost her balance. Without the blindfold she could now see the route they had taken earlier in the day. They passed two empty cells before reaching the solid metal door in the hallway. The man to her left let go of her arm and took out a key from his belt. He opened the door so the second guard could lead her through to the corridor on the other side.

Beyond was a carpeted hallway and numbered wooden doors. From this side even the door to the holding area appeared to be of wood when closed. There were pictures on the walls and indirect lighting in the ceiling. It would be easy to mistake this place for a hotel.

"You are in number seven," the man to her right said, gesturing ahead. Firmly in the grip of the men on each side she started forward, peering at the room numbers as they passed doors. Even at the slow rate she could manage they reached her room quickly. The man to her left opened the door and held it for her, nodding his head to indicate she should enter.

Elise wasn't sure what to expect but the room was a surprise only in its bland decoration. There was a desk and office chair near the door and beyond it in the middle of an otherwise empty room an armless wooden chair. She looked up at the man holding her right arm, unsure as to what she should do next.

"Stand in front of that chair," he told her while pointing to a spot in the middle of the room. "Do not sit down unless told to do so. Face the rear wall, look straight ahead and do not turn around until given permission, even if you hear the door open and close. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir." He led her past the desk into the room. Once he had her in position he released his grip on her arm. The other guard had already left the room and was out in the corridor. Elise couldn't see him but she heard him leave as he brushed past the desk. The remaining guard checked her restraint belt and cuffs one last time. "Remember, eyes forward, don't move, and do not turn around unless you are told to do so. Do not speak unless you are given permission or asked a direct question." He stopped but didn't leave immediately. She sensed there was something else he wanted to say, something that wasn't in the script.

"Elise, one last thing. We are all proud of how well you've done at the Facility. We want the best for you. From now on you're on your own. Remember what you've learned; trust your instinct to do what's right. And Mrs. Yates says not to fidget." With that warning he left. She heard the door close behind him.

She risked a quick look down at herself to make sure her skirt and blouse were straight. She crossed her hands and shifted her feet further apart to raise the connecting chain off the floor. She focused on a point on the wall, staring at it, concentrating on not looking around. Her heart was beating wildly with excitement. Breathe in, breathe out, stay calm Elise, you can do this .