Page 21 of Master B-0361
A smile came to the Main Master’s face.
“The nights are long, and I have nothing but time for my enemies. Thing is…I don’t see your brother like that anymore. The shit he goes through.” Elec’s head shook back and forth. “I have a new respect for him. Who knew he had such a hard job. Oh well. An outlet would have been good for the shit he’s dealing with. Maybe at a later date.”
He nodded a goodbye, taking off down the hall.
“Wait.”
He stopped but didn’t turn to face me.
“I’ll think about it. I want to talk to Hale first.”
“Of course. You know how to find me. I’ll be around.”
I stepped back in, cringing as I headed back to the room. Margaret wouldn’t even look towards me. She stared up at the ceiling, a constant stream of tears leaving her.
“Maggie-Lynn.”
Nothing besides a jolt. She didn’t stand. She didn’t scream or get up to attack me.
“I fucked up.”
Nothing.
“Margaret, I—I’m not going to apologize. Get up. You need to shower."
Her head rose, but she kept her stare ahead as she spun to dangle her feet off the edge. The beige material was sticking to her as she stood and headed for the bathroom. Even the back of her hair was wet with piss, all the way up to her neck. My jaw clenched repeatedly as I watched her disappear through the door. I took in the bed, pulling the sheets free to reveal the plastic-wrapped mattress.
“God dammit.”
But I’d been here before. Countless times. It didn’t hit me like it did now. Before, it had been an inconvenience. It wasn’t now. It was regret wrapped in guilt, and I liked that even less.
The water cut on in the distance. I threw the blankets towards the doorway, reaching for the disinfectant not feet away. The scent had my head pounding even more, but I finished cleaning up her bed, even putting new sheets and a blanket on. When I had the soiled ones bagged up, I called for a pickup, outside the main door. Time passed, but the water continued. I knew I should leave her alone, but I found myself going inside anyway.
Margaret was sitting on the marble seat, staring ahead as one of the numerous streams sprayed down on her. She looked like a zombie. Like she was no different than the lifeless woman I’d woken up to. It was how I wanted it. It was fine.
I tore off my shirt, not believing shit my mind was telling me. Her head turned the smallest amount, but only enough to glance my way and go back to staring ahead. I pushed down the soiled pajama pants, kicking them off as I made my way to my slave.
“You’re not going to say anything? Nothing?”
“Like what?”
I swung open the door, shutting it behind me. Margaret didn’t balk. She didn’t curl into herself or show fear. She stood, tilting her head up to me as she tried keeping her lip from trembling. She failed.
“Anything. Say anything you want.”
“You won’t like what I’ll say, and we know what will happen then.”
“Say it.”
“You want to know what’s on my mind?”
Tears left her as I nodded.
“Yeah, I do. I want to know exactly what you’re thinking.”
Her fist slammed into my chest. “You’re a son of a bitch for leaving me like that.” She hit again, sobbing, but I grabbed her wrist, pulling her wet body into mine.
“And I’ll do it again. And again. Do you want to know why?”