StripSearch

24. At the police station

Melissa was kneeling next to Arbek. She was naked and collared as usual with her hands cuffed behind her back.

They were in a back office at the local police station. Next to her was Arbek, and they were in front of the desk of the judicial officer who was tending to them.

The thought that she might soon be freed lifted her spirits. She had suffered being naked like an animal and being locked in this demeaning collar and the treatments that came with it for two weeks and her quarantine period was officially over. That meant Arbek could finally take her to the police station and have her collar swapped for his own, which he could then remove to set her free.

—

Over the last ten days, Melissa had reluctantly assumed the role of a slave, subjected to numerous instances of being cuffed, zip-tied, or leashed. She never grew accustomed to this treatment, and the nonchalant manner in which it was inflicted upon her always disturbed her. She was used to having rights, to the notion that no one had the authority to restrain her. But since being stripped of her rights, it appeared that every shop or restaurant owner believed they had the power to cuff her, leash her, or, in particularly unfortunate situations, confine her to a stable during her visits.

One establishment required slaves' hands to be bound inside for hygiene reasons, to prevent them from touching anything. They had opted to sit outside to avoid this, but when it started to rain, they moved indoors to finish their meal. Without handcuffs at hand, the restaurant supplied zip ties for the purpose. Zahara had taken it upon herself to restrain Melissa, instructing her to turn around and cross her wrists behind her back. She then secured the zip tie, adjusting it multiple times until, with a final tug, Melissa let out a sharp "ouch" as the plastic bit into her skin. There was no loosening the zip tie once it was set, so Zahara left it as was, and Melissa had to find a way to relax her hands to ease the constriction. From that day forward, she preferred handcuffs to zip ties. She had even reluctantly asked Arbek to buy handcuffs for her so she wouldn’t end up in a situation in which she’d be zip tied.

—

Upon arriving at the police station with Arbek, the receptionist had casually handcuffed Melissa. There was no need for slaves to use their hands at the station, so cuffing them was considered a standard security measure. It was akin to the straightforward rules for leashing or muzzling a dog depending on the location. At the police station, it was routine to cuff slaves.

As she knelt, she gave a slight tug to the cuffs, which firmly kept her hands restrained behind her back, rendering them useless. She lowered her head in acquiescence to how things were.

Her new collar was on the desk. Melissa didn’t want any collar at all. But Arbek couldn’t set her free here in front of the judicial officer.

If the judicial officer knew that Melissa was free then he would look into her and find that she didn’t have a visa. If she was free she would require a visa as any non-citizen would. Since she didn’t have one she would be arrested and deported. Melissa wished for nothing more than to leave this country, but she wanted to do this on her terms. She wanted to first have some clothes again and maybe even get the ear tag off. And if Arbek could get her belongings back she would even have her passport again. Then, she would surrender to the authorities at the airport a few hours before a flight went out. That way she wouldn’t have to go into immigration detention at all.

And so it was crucial that they kept up the appearance that she’d remain enslaved before the officer. They had bought a collar for her at the “Yoke and Lock” shop. Arbek had proposed "Arbek's Mischief Maker" as the engraving, but Melissa hadn’t found this funny. The shop owner had proposed the more traditional “House Slave Melissa, Property of Arbek Gurtan”. And they went with that.

The judicial officer had written down Melissa’s collar ID and was typing something on his computer.

After reading for a while, he said, “According to her file, a lien has been recorded against your slave.”

Melissa winced at those words. She didn’t know what this meant, but she sensed trouble incoming. Arbek asked, “What do you mean by this?”

“I can see from her file that your slave is subject to a lien in favor of the Grain and Gain Bank. Here is a scan of the signed contract. Is this not your signature, Mr Gurtan?” The judicial officer swiveled the screen around.

“Oh yeah, this is the loan I took out two weeks ago for… something,” Arbek said, peering at the screen. It was the loan used for the bribe money to get Melissa out of the Health Office. Luckily he caught himself before finishing that sentence.

“What does this mean?” Melissa blurted out, alarmed by this.

She got a judgmental look from the judicial officer but no answer. Melissa remembered that she had spoken without permission. As a slave she was legally incompetent, so even if she had permission, the judicial officer would not have dealt with her.

“What does this mean?” Arbek said, confused.

“You have put your slave up as collateral against this loan,” the judicial officer explained. “That means you don’t have full ownership of Melissa. Because of this, both you and the Grain and Gain Bank have legal claims on Miss Maurer. The purpose of the state collars is to ensure that the contractual obligations of both parties are met.”

“So we can’t use my collar then?” Arbek asked.

“No,” the judicial officer explained. “The collar signifies ownership, but since you do not have complete ownership due to the lien held by the Grain and Gain Bank, you cannot replace it with one of your own. The lien establishes that a third party has certain legal rights over the slave, which must be considered.

"The purpose of the state collars is to ensure that all claims are verified prior to any action being taken. For instance, you cannot sell her or take her out of Grabesian jurisdiction without considering those rights. This system guarantees the protection of all parties' interests, as you can appreciate."

"So, I can't have the state collar removed?" Arbek inquired, his voice tinged with concern.

"You are certainly able to have it removed," the judicial officer responded. "Upon repayment of the loan, the lien will be discharged, thereby restoring your full ownership rights, and we can proceed with the collar exchange."

"But I don't have that kind of money!" Arbek exclaimed.

"Of course," the judicial officer acknowledged. "I can see that there is a structured biweekly repayment plan in place, scheduled to align with typical pay cycles. Though I am not familiar with the specifics, these appear to be standard contractual terms. By adhering to these payments, you will regain full ownership."

“So there is nothing we can do now?” Melissa asked with a trembling voice. She was freaking out. She hated this collar. Arbek had promised her freedom after the two weeks of quarantine were over. She had served her time, and now she wanted this damn collar off her. She yearned for the simple dignity of clothing and the freedom to no longer have to kneel before ‘free people’ and be casually chained and caged like an animal. But her hopes were being dashed. She would continue to be enslaved to Arbek, and she couldn’t make out from the discussion how long her enslavement would last.

"Mr. Gurtan," the judicial officer continued, disregarding Melissa's question, "this is not a significant issue. It's merely a matter of the collar. You retain control over your slave in all other respects. She will continue to serve you as before. Just manage the repayment schedule, and once the debt is cleared, you can affix your own collar."

"And it does look nice," he said looking at the Arbek’s collar on the table and then smiling at Melissa. “Not like the dull steel collars the state uses. This is a nice quality collar. You must be really fond of your slave, Mr Gurtan. She is such a cute one.”

—

“How could this happen?” Melissa exclaimed. They were walking on their way home. Melissa was next to Arbek, naked as usual and visibly upset. During the last ten days she had had to maintain a meek demeanor in public to not rouse public suspicion for being out of character. She was supposed to be in quarantine at the Health Office, so the wrong kind of attention could have uncovered this and brought her friends into trouble who had gotten her out early.

But now those days were over. She was officially dismissed from the Health Office and was no longer bound by her promise to keep up pretenses. And she was furious.

“Arbek, you promised you would free me today!” she said. “How could you put me up as collateral for a loan? That’s nuts! Completely nuts!”

Her mind raced with scenarios of what might happen if Arbek couldn't repay the loan. Could she be taken away from him? Sold to someone else? The thought of being repossessed like a car made her stomach churn with fear. Her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to steady her trembling body.

“I don’t know…” Arbek said. “I didn’t put you up as collateral.” He tried to remember what happened on that fateful Friday. “I.. I asked them for money… And the guy at the Grain and Gain Bank asked for my ID. He typed it into his computer. And then… Oh yeah, he said that, uh… I have a title on a slave. He said your name. I was in their system as your owner. And I said ‘yeah’ and then he said something like ‘sure, no problem, I think we can do something for you.’”

She felt her nudity more acutely now, not just for her physical exposure but the feeling of having her hopes dashed and that she would continue to be naked like this for an unknown amount of time. She wrapped her arms around herself in a futile attempt to cover up and felt the eyes of passersby on her, poking into her like needles.

"Melissa, I had no idea what he meant by that. I swear… He never said the word collateral or what this guy said today… what was it… ‘lien’. He offered me a loan. And I took it. We needed the money quickly to get you out."

Melissa was angry and frustrated. But she heard the regret in his words and what he said did sound like something he would do. He had wanted to get her out of the Health Office. That was all that had mattered to him.

The prospect that she might remain a slave, bound to this life of subservience and nudity, felt to her like a cold chain wrapping around her heart. Her collar felt heavier than ever. She imagined another day, another week, another month being forced to be naked with that hated collar locked on her, and the thought was suffocating.

—

“Arbek, how long will it take to pay off this loan?” Melissa's voice trembled, her tone desperate as they walked back home. She felt the warm air against her bare skin, her heart pounded with a mixture of fear and urgency, and she felt the weight of her collar around her neck.

Arbek's face was a canvas of guilt and confusion. He hesitated before speaking, his gaze avoiding hers. “Uh, well, if we stick to the schedule they've set up, it’s... it’s about two years,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Two years?” Melissa echoed, her voice rising in shock, her steps faltering. The ground seemed to tilt beneath her. Two years chained to this life, this identity she hadn’t chosen, felt like an eternity. Her mind reeled at the thought, despair clawing at her insides.

“I know, I know it sounds bad, but it’s not set in stone, Mel,” Arbek hurried to explain, his words tumbling out as he tried to grasp her hand to steady her. “If I can get more money, if I can find some way to earn more, we can pay it off faster. Two years is the maximum, it's not guaranteed to take that long.”

Melissa pulled her hand away, her emotions were a chaos within her. She felt betrayed, not just by Arbek’s actions but by the cruel twist of fate that now held her in chains beyond what she had imagined. The feeling of the sand under her feet reminded her of her captive state, of the freedom that had been so close but had been pushed back so impossibly far. Her skin prickled with goosebumps forming from the dread of her extended servitude.

“But how, Arbek? How are you going to get enough money?” Her voice was sharp with the edge of panic. She looked around, seeing the natives give her curious or indifferent glances. Her nudity, once a symbol of her temporary plight, now seemed like a permanent brand.

“I’ll work, I’ll find extra jobs, maybe I can get help from friends, from my family...” Arbek's words were laced with determination, but Melissa could hear the uncertainty in them. His attempts at reassurance felt weak against the overwhelming reality she was facing.

“And if you can’t?” she countered, her gaze piercing into him. The reality of her life as a slave, potentially for years made her throat tighten. Her breaths were shallow as she fought back tears of frustration and fear. “I can’t live like this, Arbek. I just can’t,” she whispered.

“I will, Melissa. I promise. We'll figure this out together. You won’t be like this for two years, I swear,” Arbek insisted, his tone more resolute now. He moved closer and hugged her. She stiffened, and the warmth of his clothed body against her bare skin felt more like a reminder of her nakedness rather than comfort.

Melissa's mind raced with desperate plans, each one more far-fetched than the last. The idea of working, of doing anything to hasten her freedom, was appealing, but as a slave there wasn’t anything she could do. She felt trapped, not just by the collar around her neck but by the invisible chains of bureaucracy and ownership.

She remembered how Tariq had wondered out loud why a bank would give out such a loan to Arbek. And Arbek had explained it with his ‘Arbek charm’. Well, now she knew what really happened. She was the collateral to this loan. He could not free her until he had paid the loan back.

25. Back home

“You put Melissa up as collateral?” Tariq was stunned. “Dude… This is serious! Do you understand what that means?”

—

Melissa and Arbek had returned home. Markus was hanging out with the pensioners with their two slaves at the pool and seen the upset couple. Over the last ten days she had seen him frequently with them. It seemed as if despite their great age difference, they always had something to talk about. She had wanted to listen in sometimes, but they spoke in German, and she couldn’t make anything out. When she had asked him he had said that they were talking about their lives.

“Hey guys,” Markus said. “Hey Mel, why are you still wearing the steel collar? I thought you were going to swap it for Arbek’s?”

“Apparently not,” Melissa hissed with suppressed anger.

“Whoa, what’s going on?” he said. He followed them inside to get some answers.

—

“I know,” Arbek replied, “this is all just a horrible mistake. I’m so sorry. I’ll pay back the loan as quickly as I can.”

Melissa was angry. This was the moment she should have been freed. She would have walked back with Arbek’s collar instead of the state collar. And as soon as they were back home, he would release her from it, and she would be free once again. Then she would have put on some of Arbek’s clothes, and they could have gone out for clothes shopping and maybe even make an appointment at a vet, no, she corrected herself, a medical doctor, to get this ridiculous ear tag off her.

But none of that had come to pass. She remained shackled by the same steel collar she'd worn since her arrival at the airport. Up until this moment, she had harbored a firm belief that there would be an end date to her wearing this collar. Now, however, its removal was contingent on the loan being fully repaid. The uncertainty loomed large—if the loan went unpaid, her liberation was no longer guaranteed. The prospect of the bank ‘repossessing’ her was chilling; their goal would certainly not include her liberation. The terrifying realization settled in that she might end up enslaved to someone who viewed her solely as a slave, with no intention of ever granting her freedom.

“What does it mean? I mean that I’m ‘collateral’.” Melissa asked, her voice fraught with tension. She was standing with them. Over the last ten days she had become used to not being allowed to stand among free people. But the ten days were over, and she was no longer bound by her promise to keep up appearances. And she was too distressed to sit or kneel anyway.

“It means exactly that,” Tariq replied. “If Arbek defaults on the loan, then the Grain and Gain Bank has the right to repossess you.”

“And what does ‘repossession’ mean exactly?” Melissa followed up, quivering with anxiety.

“Well, I’ve never seen it happen, but my understanding is that they can take you and then sell you to cover the cost of the loan.”

“Sell me?” Melissa repeated in a voice now tinged with panic. “To whom?”

Arbek leaned forward, his voice firm with resolve. "I will repay the loan, Melissa. That was always my plan." He glanced around at the others, seeking some measure of support. "Over the last ten days, I've been looking for jobs. I got a reply for one, but I have to go to England for the interview."

The riots in England had subsided almost as rapidly as they had erupted. In hindsight, the situation hadn’t been as dire as the media had portrayed it. After Melissa's liberation from the Health Office, she learned from Tariq, Amina, and Zahara that they had only used the riots as a pretext to switch to distance learning for their studies. Markus had joined them out of curiosity about Grabesh, and it became clear that even Arbek hadn't been genuinely concerned about the riots; he had simply gone along with Melissa's decision.

Arbek had already told her about the invite to the job interview a few days ago. She had been happy for him. At the time she had imagined she would be freed today, and they would be going back to England on their next flight. As a free woman, leaving this nightmare behind her.

But the judicial officer had said that she couldn’t leave the jurisdiction of Grabesh. She was stuck here. She began to realise that this meant that she had to stay back when Arbek went to England for the job interview. And as a slave she was completely helpless on her own.

Melissa's eyes widened in alarm, her voice rising with panic. "England? You're leaving me here?" She struggled to steady her breathing, her fingers clutching at the collar around her neck. "I have no money, no papers, literally nothing. They took everything from me at the airport, and as a slave," she emphasized with a tug at her collar, "I can't do anything here!"

“Yeah, I know. I’m so sorry. This was good news at first, but now that you are stuck here it complicates things,” Arbek said. “But I need to get a job to pay back the loan.”

Tariq, ever the pragmatic one, offered, "I could take care of her while you are away, Arbek."

Melissa couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her eyes darted to Arbek.

Arbek paused in thought and then nodded in agreement. "Yes, I think that would be best, Tariq. Please look after her."

Melissa's heart raced as she processed Arbek's words. The thought of being handed over, even temporarily, to someone else to be her ‘master’ was an affront to her sense of self. She felt like a free woman trapped in a nightmare where her autonomy had been wrongly taken from her. Her fingers tightened around her collar again, the steel feeling harder than ever.

Why should I need a master at all? She thought, her mind reeling. I'm not some piece of property to be passed around. But reality was harsh; without Arbek, she had no rights. Slaves couldn’t use money, so even if Arbek left her with any, she still would not be able to rent a place on her own or even buy food.

She looked at Arbek, her eyes burning with an unspoken question - How could you do this to me? But she knew the answer. This wasn't his doing alone; it was the system, the culture, her misfortune. She had no way to survive in this country without being under the control of a free person who looked after her because she couldn't do it herself, not as a slave.

Arbek watched her, his expression one of regret and resolve. "Tariq will make sure you're safe," he said again, as if trying to convince himself as much as her.

Melissa's thoughts were a whirlwind of resentment and pragmatism. She couldn't just reject the idea outright; she had no choice but to accept the necessity, no matter how much it stung her pride. I have to survive. I have to trust them. She bit her lip, her gaze shifting from Arbek to Tariq, then to Amina, searching for any sign of an alternative that wouldn't require her to agree to submit to Tariq as her ‘master’.

But there was none. She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat not just from fear but from the bitter taste of her own powerlessness. I can't fight this. I can't live without a master here. The realization was a heavy weight, but it was also the key to her immediate survival.

With a deep breath, she prepared to voice her compromise, hoping against hope for a solution that felt less like a surrender.

Before he could continue, Melissa interjected, her voice now pleading, "Can't Amina be my master while you're gone? It just feels... wrong to be left under another man's control."

Amina's expression softened, a smile touching her lips. "Oh, Melissa, that's so sweet, and I'm truly touched. I would be honored to do it." She then looked at Tariq, her tone shifting to one of practicality. "But, Tariq handles most of our paperwork. He's been working with Arbek to get your belongings back from the airport. It makes sense for him to be your legal guardian while Arbek is away."

Tariq nodded, sensing Melissa's apprehension. "I understand this isn't ideal, Melissa, but it's the most practical solution. We'll make sure everything is as comfortable for you as possible."

Melissa sighed, the reality of her situation sinking in. "Is there no other way?" Her voice was small, defeated.

"There's not, I'm afraid," Tariq said gently. "But I promise, we will take good care of you."

Arbek interjected, trying to reassure her, "Tariq knows what he's doing with this kind of thing. He's been a big help already."

With a reluctant nod, Melissa accepted the inevitable. "So, if you're my legal guardian, does that mean you'll be my master while Arbek is gone?"

Tariq confirmed with a nod. "Legally, yes. Arbek is still your owner, but the control over your day-to-day life would be with me until he returns."

Amina reached out, placing a comforting hand on Melissa's shoulder. "We'll both make sure you're looked after. You won't be alone, Melissa."

Tariq added, "You'll be in my care, but we're all here for you. We'll keep things as normal as possible."

Melissa took a deep breath, the weight of her situation heavy but slightly eased by the reassurances.

"Okay," she murmured, her acceptance more out of necessity than agreement. She was stuck, but at least she wouldn't be completely alone. “Sir,” she added.

Arbek didn’t care about the use of honorifics. But she knew from the last ten days here that it was different with Tariq, Amina and Zahara.

Having grown up in Grabesh, they were accustomed to slaves adhering to specific behaviors and speech patterns. Even though they saw Melissa as a friend and supported her, in their eyes, she was legally a slave. If she acted like a free woman around them, even in minor ways like neglecting honorifics or standing in their presence, she knew it felt grating to them. A cultural faux pas as it might be to someone in the West seeing the wrong items tossed into the recycling bin or hearing a beloved song played out of tune.

In her situation, she needed every help, every ally she could find. It was not worth alienating them over matters like this. She would kneel in their presence and call them “Sir” and “Ma’am” to keep them on their side. And now with Arbek away and Tariq her ‘master’ for the time being, she was even more dependent on him. It was a means to an end. Once she was out of this slavery mess, she would leave this group anyway, never to see them again. So it didn’t matter in the long term.

"Yes, we'll look after you as if you were one of us," Amina affirmed, her voice soft but resolute.

Melissa let out a long, resigned sigh, trying to accept the situation. "Okay... if you say so. But promise me, you'll keep me out of trouble and... and try to keep this as normal as possible?"

"Of course, Melissa," Tariq replied, his eyes meeting hers with sincerity. "We'll make sure everything is as normal as it can be. No trouble, I promise. You'll be with us, and we'll manage everything together."

Arbek placed a comforting hand on Melissa's shoulder. "I'll be back as soon as I can. I'll sort out this job, get the money, and we'll clear this mess up. You just need to hang in there for a little while longer."

Melissa nodded, her face a mask of anxious acceptance. "Alright, Arbek. Just... come back soon. And thank you, Tariq, Amina, for looking out for me."

She recoiled at the thought of having to thank Tariq for agreeing to be her master. Thanking him for agreeing to have control of her. But there was no other way. Here, she depended on someone owning her. And she had to hope that this someone would treat her well.

Zahara, who had been quiet, spoke up, "I need to go back to England as well to take a few tests." Her voice was casual, but it didn't escape Melissa's notice.

Melissa felt a stir of suspicion, her brows knitting together in a slight frown as she glanced between Zahara and Arbek. The coincidence of them both needing to go to England at the same time seemed too convenient.

Oblivious to the tension, Arbek clapped his hands together, "Then we could book the flight together. We could sit next to each other; it would be fun!"

Melissa's gaze lingered on Zahara, trying to read between the lines. Her heart sank a little, the situation feeling more complicated by the minute. She didn't like the idea of being left behind, but even less so, she didn't like the idea of Arbek traveling with Zahara. Yet, she knew she had little choice in the matter, bound by her current circumstances and the decisions of those around her.

Tariq gave Melissa a look meant to convey trust and protection, while Amina's smile was one of genuine concern and comfort.

26. Repossessed



Melissa was walking along the beach of Ngalawa Bay. It was close to the housing complex they lived in. The view was beautiful, and it was sunny and warm as usual. The warmth enveloped her. The breeze played with her hair and brushed it against her back and shoulders. Sometimes it tickled her skin in a way that reminded her of her nakedness. She could smell the salty sea and the aroma of fresh seaweed. The breeze was gentle yet persistent, carrying with it the cries of seagulls and the distant hum of life from the village behind her.

The beach itself was a broad expanse of soft, golden sand that felt warm under Melissa's bare feet. Palm trees lined the coast. Their leaves provided patches of shade. The water was a clear, inviting blue, and the waves rolled in with a rhythmic sound that was both soothing.

Around her, life continued unabated. Fisher boats bobbed on the horizon, some approaching the shore with their nets full, the fishermen calling out to each other. Closer to the water's edge, slaves, their naked bodies gleaming with sweat and salt, were busy unloading the day's catch. Their movements were practiced and each slave had his neck enclosed in a steel collar.

As she walked, she saw slaves collecting litter from the beach.

She heard the sounds of conversations from tourists and locals enjoying the beach and the laughter of children playing near the water.

When she had first arrived here it had been odd walking around naked like this. But she had become used to being naked to an extent. In situations like now when she was walking on her own along the beach her nudity felt good. She felt the sun and the wind on her body and the sand under her feet. Her nakedness put her more in touch with the world around her. The soles of her feet had become more resistant as well. She could walk for a longer time with no pain in her feet. It also helped that the people around her weren’t paying much attention to her. They were going about their own business. She caught many glances because she was pretty and because she was white, and she didn’t mind that. After a few moments the people went about their business again.

But there were other times when her nakedness did bother her. That was when she was at the pool, and she saw Markus or the pensioners looking at her. They were looking at her with sexual interest. This bothered her. At the same time they remained fully clothed and didn’t have to present themselves with the same vulnerability she had to. They should not be allowed to see her like this to gratify their desire to see her nude. It should be her decision if she wanted to grant a man this privilege. If they wanted to see her naked, they had to make an effort. Win her over with dates, with being charming, maybe some gifts. And then she would decide if they were worthy of seeing her naked.

But with her enforced nudity, everyone could see her naked. It bothered her because this cheapened her. No one had to do anything for her to see her naked. These were the situations in which she was still bothered by her nakedness and she didn’t know if she would ever get used to that.

She walked on the sandy beach but didn’t have an eye for the beauty around her.

Arbek had left with Zahara a few days ago.

Normally she would have seen him off at the airport. But that would have meant riding the bus going to the airport. And she had no intention of spending hours in some trailer cage again. Arbek fully understood that.

After that there hadn’t been much to do for her. Tariq let her do whatever she wanted. In the previous days she had joined the group on their outings. Not because she really wanted to, but because she felt suspicious about Zahara and didn’t want to give her any chance to cozy up to Arbek. She planned on breaking up with Arbek anyway. But she needed him to be on her side, and so she told them that she wanted to join and see more of Grabesh with them, but mainly she didn’t want Zahara to be with Arbek without her.

And for that she had paid dearly. She had been made to kneel during their visits to cafés and restaurants. She had her hands cuffed or zip tied a few times when they went into a grocery store for “hygiene reasons” and of course the general indignity of being singled out as the one member of the group who was naked.

Arbek seemed to have found some pleasure in her being naked. He no longer had to engage in some foreplay to negotiate taking her clothes off. To him, she was always ‘ready’ for the taking, he just had to take his own clothes off. And there was something about getting so much sun that made her get aroused more quickly. She wasn’t used to much sun in England. And the little sun they did get mostly touched her face and her hands. But here the sun was not just more intense but in her naked state she absorbed it with all of her skin. And without the protection of clothes she constantly felt her entire environment more intensely. When she walked, she felt the different types of ground under her feet. When she sat she felt the texture of the carpet under her butt cheeks. Even when she was just walking she felt the wind dance on her entire body, on her breasts, her abdomen, her vagina and between her legs. And she felt her hair on her back. There was just so much more sensation on her skin. She wondered if the constant stimulation of wide areas of her skin made her become aroused more quickly.

She regularly yielded to his advances. She couldn’t constantly hold a grudge against him. And if she kept him satisfied, he would be less receptive to whatever Zahara might be planning. And she had expected to be freed soon and the prospect of this and being free soon had put her in a good mood.

—

Melissa saw what looked like a black couple from a distance. As they came closer, her heart skipped a beat as she recognized Nala and Killian approaching. Her initial reaction was one of surprise mixed with a twinge of dread, remembering the invasive procedures and the humiliating times she had endured under their care at the Health Office.

Good grief, she thought and instinctively reached to touch her collar. Despite her nudity feeling somewhat liberating in solitude, the sight of these two from her recent past made her feel exposed and vulnerable once again.

Nala was the first to spot her, her face lighting up with recognition. "Melissa! What a surprise to see you here!"

Killian, on the other hand, had a smirk that Melissa knew all too well. "Well, look who we have here. The white girl from the Health Office," he said, his eyes scanning her up and down.

Melissa forced a smile, her mind racing. She was no longer at the Health Office under their control, but she was still a slave and still naked. And the sight of these two, who had once held power over her at the Health Office, made her anxious.

"Hello, Nala, Killian," she greeted them, her voice cautious. "What brings you to Ngalawa Bay?"

"We're on a little break," Nala explained, her voice kind but oblivious to the discomfort she might be causing. "Just enjoying the beach, you know. I didn't expect to see you here though. How are you doing?"

Melissa felt an urge to stand and talk with them as equals, at least as much as one could without clothes in public, but an awkwardness washed over her. After over two weeks in Grabesh, she understood the cultural expectation that slaves should not stand among free people.

It reminded her of the duty to salute in the military where people of a lower rank had to do a military salute when they encountered a soldier of a certain higher rank. They had to salute whether they wanted or not and they could try to get away with not doing it, but they risked getting into trouble.

And just like these soldiers had to salute those of higher rank, she had to kneel before those who were free. She could try to get away with not doing so, but she could get into trouble for what would be seen as rebellion.

Against her will, Melissa had absorbed this sentiment, feeling out-of-place standing in their presence.

She began to see herself through their eyes, and the survival instinct that had been growing within her since her enslavement compelled her to conform. She knew from experience that resisting these norms could lead to punishment or further humiliation.

Her mind urged her to resist, to challenge these expectations, but the instinct to conform, to avoid drawing negative attention, was strong. With a sigh of defeat, she slowly sank to her knees. The sand felt gritty against her skin and she felt the degradation seep into her bones.

Nala stepped closer, her eyes on Melissa's ear tag. She gently touched it, turning it to inspect both sides. "It's healed nicely," she observed. "I remember when we put this on you. It's strange to see it outside the Health Office."

"That tag really suits you. It's like your personal ID card now," Killian quipped.

Melissa felt a sting of shame. She hated the ear tag. It had been on her ear for more than two weeks now, and she had not been able to get it off. She had pleaded with Arbek to have it removed, but they would have to pay a vet to do it and at the moment it was more important to save money to repay the loan.

As Nala inspected her ear tag Melissa’s mind flashed back to the moment Nala had fixated her into the ‘restraining pillory’ leaving her exposed in its iron grip. She recalled the surge of fear when she had realized what they were about to do to her and the pain in her arms and legs when she had struggled against the restraint. She remembered the helplessness she had felt as she had been locked into this exposed position unable to stop the vet from stapling the ear tag onto her.

Killian chuckled, "Your boyfriend must be enjoying having such a pretty slave at his beck and call." His comment made Melissa's skin crawl, but she kept her composure from her knelt position.

"How's life at the Health Office?" Melissa asked, trying to steer the conversation away from herself.

“I've been practicing with my cattle prod,” Killian replied. “Shame you aren't at the Health Office to practice on. I miss you.”

Melissa shivered slightly at his mockery but tried to maintain her composure, "I'm glad I'm not there for you to practice on anymore, Sir."



Nala admonished him, "Killian, that's not something to brag about. Remember what I told you about using it responsibly?"

“Yeah, yeah, and the head nurse is always moaning about something. That old hag needs to get laid,” Killian mused.

"Anyway, it's the same old, same old," Nala replied, ignoring him. "But it's nice to get away for a bit. This place is beautiful, isn't it?"

Melissa nodded, looking up at Nala and Killian, her mind wandering to the freedom she once took for granted. "It is. I wish I could enjoy it more," she said, her voice tinged with a longing for normalcy.

Nala, still standing over her, remembered their previous conversation at the Health Office. "Melissa, didn't you mention your boyfriend was going to free you? What happened with that?"

Melissa, still on her knees, kept her eyes downcast, not wanting to reveal too much. "He... he didn't free me, Ma’am," she said, her voice a mix of resignation and guardedness. She couldn’t tell Nala that she was collateral for a loan because the loan had been taken out to bribe her out of the Health Office. Nala and Killian couldn’t know that her friends had freed her. They had to continue believing that she had been transferred to another outstation. She hoped they wouldn’t ask her details about what had happened after she had been picked up from the Health Office.

Killian snickered from the side, "Guess some promises are just too hard to keep, huh?"

Ignoring Killian's remark Melissa admitted, "You were right Nala. Men don’t free their slaves," the weight of her words heavy. She remembered the conversation with Nala, how she had told her she would soon be freed. It seemed so long ago now. She added, “Ma’am.”

Nala sighed, her expression softening. "That's how it is, Melissa. There's just no incentive for men to free their sex slaves. I'm sorry it turned out this way."

Killian chimed in, “Looks like you're wearing that collar for the long haul then, huh?”

Nala gave Killian a look of disapproval before turning her attention back to Melissa. "I hope things turn around for you soon."

"Thank you, Ma’am," Melissa murmured, the gratitude in her voice genuine but strained under the circumstances.

“Otherwise you’ll be kneeling for us free people a bit longer,” Killian concluded.

As they walked away, Melissa felt a mix of relief and resentment. She remained on her knees until they had passed her, then slowly stood up. She pondered how much longer she'd have to endure this before she could reclaim her life, her freedom, and her dignity.

—



Melissa returned to the hut, her mind still reeling from the encounter with Nala and Killian. As she entered, she found Tariq and Amina in the living area, their faces set with concern.

Tariq looked up, his expression grave. "Melissa, there's been a letter from the police for Arbek. I've opened it since he's not here. It says you need to be brought to the police station for repossession."

Her heart plummeted and a wave of cold dread spread through her like ice water. "Repossession? But Arbek promised he would make the payments!" Her voice was a mix of confusion and anxiety. The promise of freedom seemed to be moving further away once again.

Tariq shrugged his shoulders, his voice heavy with uncertainty. "I don’t know what happened, Melissa. I've tried reaching him, but there's been no response."

"But, but… repossession?" Melissa's voice cracked, panic rising in her voice, her mind racing through the implications.

"I don’t want to be 'repossessed'!" Her hands flew to her collar. Her fingers wrapped around the cold steel. She tugged at it, as if she could somehow free herself from this nightmare, but also in fear that this might end up as a permanent fixture on her.

Tariq shook his head, trying to calm her. "We can’t ignore this, Melissa. It would only make things worse. It will be easier to sort this out if we cooperate. If we don’t do anything and bailiffs have to come to pick you up, it'll just increase the costs and create more issues for Arbek to deal with."

Melissa's mind raced. "But, can't we do something? Try contacting Arbek again or—"

“I'll continue trying,” Tariq offered. “Maybe he is busy with his job interview or there is something else. We need to handle this ourselves for now. It is best to be proactive in these matters and sort this out at the police station tomorrow.”

Melissa felt trapped. Her hands dropped from the collar. She wished she could just walk away from all this and reclaim her life and her dignity. But as she stood there, the reality was clear—she was at the mercy of others, and the collar around her neck was the chain that bound her to that reality.

—

The next day was tense as Tariq and Amina prepared to take Melissa to the police station. Melissa was visibly distressed, her hands trembling.

Tariq, sensing her fear, tried to reassure her. "I'll talk to the police. I'll see if we can prevent them from actually holding you on behalf of the bank. If need be, I'll pay the missing installment. There's nothing to worry about."

As they left the house, they passed by the pool area of the complex. Markus was there, hanging out with the pensioners, but he immediately noticed the group's somber mood.

"What's going on?" he asked, his gaze shifting from one to another.

Tariq explained briefly, "Melissa's being called for repossession by the bank. We're heading to the police station now."

Markus frowned, his concern genuine. "Can I come with you? For moral support?"

Tariq nodded, "Sure. That would be good, Markus. Thanks."

The walk to the police station was silent, the air thick with tension. Melissa felt as if she was being marched to her doom. Her nudity, which at times had felt liberating on the beach, now felt oppressive again. She felt the glances from passersby on her skin like needles.

Markus walked beside her, occasionally offering a silent gesture of support, like a gentle pat on her shoulder, mindful of her condition and the societal norms of Grabesh.

—

When they arrived at the police station, the atmosphere was relaxed, the air inside cool and stale compared to the warmth outside. Tariq talked to the receptionist and showed them the letter they had received. As a slave Melissa was routinely handcuffed at reception like the last time when she had been here with Arbek. Then they nervously waited for a few minutes.

Melissa and her friends sensed the tension as two officers approached Melissa and guided her further into the building. Tariq, Amina, and Markus followed. Their faces were etched with worry. They entered a clinical room.

One officer, with a dispassionate expression, pulled on medical-grade rubber gloves, the snap of latex echoing in the small space. Melissa's heart pounded, her dignity feeling like a fragile thing about to be shattered. She glanced back at her friends, her eyes wide with fear and humiliation.

The sight of the gloves being lubricated sent a shiver of dread through Melissa. She knew what this meant. The officer approached Melissa, his demeanor professional but devoid of empathy.

Tariq, attempting to take control of the situation, interjected, "Look, this is all a misunderstanding. I'll pay the overdue installment and any penalties right now. There's no need to detain her."

The officer, with one hand holding Melissa's cuffed wrists up behind her back, gently pressed her torso down against the table, positioning her so her back was against one of the legs, preventing her from straightening up.

While the officer was handling Melissa he began to explain to Tariq, "We're taking Miss Melissa Maurer into custody on behalf of the Grain and Grain Bank."

With a gentle kick, he spread her legs apart, exposing her to everyone in the room. Melissa's cheeks flushed, and through her legs, she saw her friends' faces contorted with shock and helplessness.

"Any negotiations need to go through the bank," he added.

As the officer's finger entered her vagina, Melissa felt a violation so profound it left her gasping. Her body tensed, her mind screaming in protest, yet she was powerless to stop this intrusion. She bit her lip hard, wishing this could have been done somewhere else so she could maintain some dignity in front of her friends. The feeling was invasive, both physically and emotionally.

“We can’t agree on settlement terms on their behalf,” he concluded.

Amina turned away, unable to witness the indignity, her fists clenched in silent fury. Tariq, accustomed to the treatment of slaves in Grabesh, was nonetheless grappling with guilt, his resolve hardening to resolve this issue.

Markus was shocked as well to see Melissa treated like this. But under a layer of concern for her, he felt a twinge of desire. The sight of Melissa, so vulnerable and controlled, stirred a dark curiosity in him. He wished that he was the one in command of her, that he was the one she submitted to so unconditionally. She would no longer reject him then. He quickly masked his thoughts with a look of worry, but the thought lingered.

“I’ll talk to them,” Tariq said. "Look, officer, I understand the situation, but can't we come to some kind of temporary solution here? Melissa could be released into my custody until this is all sorted out with the bank. I assure you, she'd remain in Grabesh, available for any further legal proceedings or discussions with the bank. This way, we avoid the immediate need for repossession."

As the officer was pushing in his finger and twisting it in Melissa’s vagina he paused to turn to Tariq and replied, "I understand, but the bank's priority is ensuring their asset, Miss Maurer, remains accessible due to the default. She has to be held here to ensure that."

"But she's followed all local laws and customs," Tariq argued. "She's no flight risk; she's cooperative and respectful. I'll personally guarantee her behavior. There's no call for such severe action."

The officer concluded with Melissa's vagina and moved to her anus. The officer applied some more lube to his gloved fingers. As he was pushing his finger into her anus she couldn't help but groan, the sensation both painful and humiliating. Her friends' presence made it even more excruciating; being subjected to this in front of those who knew her as a person, not merely as property, made it worse.

The officer turned to Tariq and replied, "I see your point, but the bank's primary concern right now is ensuring the asset, in this case Miss Maurer, is accessible to them due to the payment failure. The bank has applied that the police hold her to guarantee that."

Melissa was trying to suppress groaning to not direct attention to her. But as he pushed his finger in so deeply she couldn’t help but groan again.

"But consider her character, officer. Melissa has complied with every local custom and law since she's been here. She's not a flight risk; she's been cooperative and respectful. I can vouch for her behavior, and I assure you, there's no need for such drastic measures."

With his finger still wriggling and twisting within her, the officer replied, "I hear what you're saying, but the repossession order is in place. For that to change, you'll have to negotiate with the bank or seek a court order."

Tariq's jaw clenched, realizing his pleas were futile against bureaucratic procedure. His frustration was evident.

Finally, the cavity search was over, leaving Melissa feeling shaken. The officer gently pushed her down towards himself and Melissa sank to her knees to kneel before him.

Amina asked with worry in her voice, "Will she be locked up with criminals? That could be dangerous for her."

“No, she won't be with criminals,” the officer assured her as he took his gloves off. “Miss Maurer isn't a criminal; she's being held on behalf of the Grain and Gain Bank. She will be kept separate, with no contact with other inmates.”

The officer clipped a leash into the D-ring of her collar. She was led away, her movements mechanical, her mind numb with shock.

As she was led out, Tariq caught her eye, his voice urgent. "Melissa, I'll contact Arbek, see what happened, and talk to the Grain and Gain Bank. We'll get you out as soon as possible."

Melissa nodded. She felt betrayed by fate, by Arbek's absence, and by a system that viewed her as mere property.

She was led into a small, cold cell where the door clanged shut behind her. The reality of her situation sank in—she was now truly at the mercy of legalities she couldn't control.

Tariq's expression was one of determination mixed with guilt; he felt responsible for her plight, even though he knew it wasn't his fault. Amina was visibly shaken, her usual composure shattered by the spectacle they had just witnessed. Markus was trying to come to terms with his feelings towards Melissa. His mind was racing with thoughts of how he could help, how he could get Melissa out of this.

In the cell Melissa was alone with her thoughts. She laid down on the bed. Her emotions were a tumultuous sea. Anger, fear, despair, and the persistent thought that none of this should be happening. She should have been free by now. On the plane back to England with Arbek a few days ago. Instead, she was locked in this cell naked and collared, with no choice but to wait what would happen to her.

Dear Reader,

Thanks for reading this far. If you've read the entire story up to here from the first chapter, you have read 217 pages or 90k words!

As usual, what did you like, what didn't you like?

Let me know what you think and don't forget to enter a rating at the poll at the top!

The story continues great!

Another unexpected plot twist with a real cliffhanger. I'm really interested to see where this development goes.

Great chapters, can't wait too see the out come.

Who is going to buy her! Can't wait for the next chapter.
Love the way you integrate picture in the story.
And I especially love the fact that for once in the legal slavery universe the slave doesn't love slavery

I've truly enjoyed this well-written story. That being said I'm waiting for the collar to fall so to speak on Melissa and it could be in the next chapter. Hope springs eternal. It was simply a matter of time ever since she naively agreed to "Arbek’s slave ruse" to avoid the visa requirement. It is not like she enslaved herself to her fiance or longtime boyfriend. Now, she'd been dating him for about a week when, in her panic, she agreed to become the slave of a young man that does not appear to be all that responsible which he then proved with how he mismanaged the lien payments. I like the way that Melissa appears to be adjusting to being naked in public as evidenced by her walk along the beach. She does appear to be learning the local customs of kneeling when talking to your betters. I fully expected Arbek to sell her off at a nice profit but that hasn't happened, ... yet. It is hard to feel sympathy for Melissa when she intends to dump Arbek at the first chance upon regaining her freedom while also foolishly refusing to contact her parents for their financial assistance out of hubris. She's only having sex with Arbek out of a sense of obligation. She should be really worried now, especially after learning from the female slaves at the restaurant slave bathroom that sexual service is part of being a slave. I fully expected the jailer to require a quick BJ as the chapter concluded.

I might have missed it, but how long is Melissa's term of enslavement if she is repo'd? How long can she be sold for if Arbek makes that decision? I'm waiting for a fat banker to meet with her at the jail to see how motivated she is.

Great job!

Mr. Smith wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2025 7:07 pm I've truly enjoyed this well-written story.

Thanks!

Mr. Smith wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2025 7:07 pm I like the way that Melissa appears to be adjusting to being naked in public as evidenced by her walk along the beach. She does appear to be learning the local customs of kneeling when talking to your betters.

How she feels about walking around naked and kneeling before others are two interesting points that I was grappling with when I was writing these chapters.

I tried to put myself into her position to figure out what she must be feeling, but it is such an unusual situation that it is hard to do.

Regarding the nudity:

Being naked was hard for Melissa initially. But at this point she has been naked for more than two weeks straight.

I would think the physical feeling of being naked is not that hard to get used to after a few days.

What makes walking around naked in public in the West difficult is that we know that others would view us as crazy in some way. It is the social stigma that makes it hard for normal people to be naked in public in the West. And depending on your jurisdiction it might be outright illegal or subject to someone complaining about this being a "public nuisance".

However, there are certain designated areas for nudists. And in those areas people do go about their business naked, and it is not a big issue.

And I think that for Melissa in Grabesh these obstacles have been removed. She has been naked for a long time now, so it does not feel too unnatural anymore. And during her walk on the beach there is no social stigma for her being naked. Nobody there will look at her and think of her as crazy or doing anything wrong.

And that is why I think she'd be quite relaxed about being naked in public. Not about being a slave, that bothers her a lot, but just the nudity. In fact, she is forced to be naked and the flip side of that is that she bears no responsibility for it. She can enjoy the feeling of being naked without being judged for it.

It would be different when someone looked at her with sexual interest as Markus does. But that is not the case during her beach walk.

Regarding the kneeling before Nala and Killian:

I'll admit that a strong motivator for me to write that, was that I thought this would be really hot.

But there are also in-story reasons that she does this.

Again, I find it a challenge to put myself into Melissa's head and say for certain how she would feel.

I tried to find analogies with something we have in the West. I thought of when young men are drafted into the army. There is a "duty to salute" in the military where people of a lower rank have to do a military salute when they encounter a soldier of a certain higher rank. They might not want to do this, and they have not chosen the military life and the solider with higher rank might not even be a superior of theirs or even work with them at all. Yet, they would have to do the military salute for him. They can try to get away with not doing it, but they risk getting into trouble. So they usually just do it.

And as a slave, Melissa has to kneel before free people. She could try to get away with not kneeling before Nala and Killian. But I thought that just like drafted soldiers do the military salute, Melissa would feel compelled to show her deference as well and kneel before them and pretty much for the same reason.

I'm wondering if that makes sense to people or what people's thoughts about this are. Do you agree she would behave like this? Has it been explained sufficiently in the story?

Mr. Smith wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2025 7:07 pm It is hard to feel sympathy for Melissa when she intends to dump Arbek at the first chance upon regaining her freedom while also foolishly refusing to contact her parents for their financial assistance out of hubris.

Melissa makes her friends promise not to involve her parents in chapter 23, "Dinner":

hoggle123 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 01, 2025 3:29 pm "I have some money too, but I don't want to ask my parents," Melissa interjected, her tone laced with humiliation. "It's too much. I’d rather die than have them see me like this. They can never know what happened to me here. Seriously guys," she looked into their eyes.

That was before she knew that she was collateral to Arbek's loan and at risk of permanent enslavement.

As far as she knew, she just had to wait ten days, then Arbek would free her. She would be able to go back to her old life and no one else would know about the embarrassing things that happened to her.

The reason why her feelings don't allow her to ask her parents for help are hinted at in chapter 19, "The Weekend". She was raised by controlling parents, so she never got to make her own choices. She resents her parents for that. As an adult she suddenly had to make choices, and they have gotten her into this mess. If her parents found out about her trouble, they would likely help, but it would also prove to them that they were right all along in not allowing her more freedom while growing up. And this fear that they would be vindicated for doing what she has resented them for for most of her life and the shame of them witnessing her failure is what creates this strong obstacle to her asking for help:

hoggle123 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 08, 2024 8:46 pm How did this happen to me?

[..]

Melissa had felt suffocated at home under the watchful eyes of her overbearing parents. They had not allowed her to grow into her own person, questioned the choices she made and wanted to control every aspect of her existence. When her mother started talking about her having babies with her boyfriend at the time, it made her feel she was heading for a future in which her life would be controlled as well.

Upon graduating from school, Melissa secured a place at a university in another town. When she moved, people saw her as dedicated, sacrificing the closeness with her boyfriend and her family. She let them believe this narrative, but in truth, moving was her liberation, not a sacrifice. It was her first taste of real freedom.

University life was like a breath of fresh air. Not because of the lectures, they were boring, but because she enjoyed her newfound independence, her relationship with her housemates, and the absence of her parents' controlling presence. She avoided trips back to her hometown, realizing she didn't miss the stifling environment or even her boyfriend at the time.

[..]

She fervently hoped her parents would never learn of her enslavement. If they did, they'd force her to return home and never allow her to leave again. They would use this incident as leverage against her for the rest of her life. Any disagreement with her choices would be met with reminders of where her decisions had led. No, she decided, her parents must remain oblivious to this disaster under all circumstances.

[..]

No, no one at home could know what had happened here. If people found these pictures and they got to her parents, she couldn’t even imagine the nightmare she would be in.

I'm always interested to know if this makes sense to readers. Or whether this needs more explaining or if people don't think that this is plausible.

Mr. Smith wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2025 7:07 pm I might have missed it, but how long is Melissa's term of enslavement if she is repo'd?

Being a slave has no time limit.

If she is she is sold after being repossessed, then she will have a new owner. There is no time limit. Just like when someone's car is repossessed and sold, then they don't get it back after a certain time. If the sale of the car raises more money than is necessary to cover the debt and fees, then the debtor is paid the surplus.

Mr. Smith wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2025 7:07 pm Great job!

Thanks!
Hoggle.

P.S.:

Mr. Smith wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2025 7:07 pm It is not like she enslaved herself to her fiance or longtime boyfriend. Now, she'd been dating him for about a week when, in her panic, she agreed to become the slave of a young man that does not appear to be all that responsible which he then proved with how he mismanaged the lien payments.

[..]

It is hard to feel sympathy for Melissa when she intends to dump Arbek at the first chance upon regaining her freedom while also foolishly refusing to contact her parents for their financial assistance out of hubris.

This is another theme of the story. My idea here was that because she was finally free from her controlling parents, she wanted to experience some fun and excitement and found this in Arbek.

But now that she is in trouble, she realises that she misses that there is no loving bond between her and her boyfriend. And that means she can't be sure that he will do everything to help her. The story touches on that a couple of times:

In chapter 6:

She thought about Arbek and their relationship. She called him her boyfriend but they had really only met a week ago at a party. Their relationship had taken off so quickly. Arbek was spontaneous and full of joy, unburdened by excessive concern, markedly different from her usual circle of white friends. His spontaneity had initially charmed her, but today, his lack of foresight had led to a day with more suffering and humiliation for her than she could ever have imagined.

Melissa wondered what Arbek was doing. He would probably be in bed by now. Was he worrying about her? She hoped so. Her life was in his hands. These people here viewed her as his slave now. That meant he owned her. Once he had her, he could do with her whatever he wanted.

If he decided not to free her he could force her to serve him. To do whatever he wished. She had no rights. He could whip her into compliance. He could sell her if he wanted. As a white girl she would fetch a high price, she was sure. People would pay for having an exotic slave girl like her. Arbek could make a lot of money selling her if he wanted. Then she would likely end up as a maid and sex slave to a rich Grabesian man for the rest of her life. She shuddered at the prospect. Could he have deliberately tricked her into coming here and becoming his slave to do that? Had it all been part of a big plan? If so, it had worked. She was enslaved and at his mercy. The idea seemed too sinister, yet it haunted her.

But Arbek would never do that to her, would he? No, he wouldn't, she was sure. Although she had only known him for a week she was sure that he was not mean spirited. There was no malice in him. And he had great friends. Three friends to be precise, one guy and two girls. All three were from Grabesh. She knew them and they had accepted her into their friend group. No, they would not be friends with Arbek if he was a bad person, she concluded.

He would get her out of here. He would track her down, wherever Karel was bringing her, to this elusive Health Office. And get her out of the clutches of this system. But would he? New doubts entered her mind. He was not mean spirited, but he also lacked discipline and was easily distracted. Would he persist in searching for her or simply move on when he didn't find her at the airport? She hoped he would.

They had not been a couple for long. She called him her boyfriend, but had he ever called her his girlfriend? She tried to recall an example but couldn’t. Did she mean enough to him to be worth the effort of rescuing her? Yes, she told herself. He would not give up on her so easily. She was a pretty girl and he couldn’t keep his hands off her. But what if he met another woman here? Would he be distracted and forget about her? No, that was absurd. She had to stop worrying, she told herself. She had to sleep.

And chapter 10:

While she waited, thoughts of Arbek occupied Melissa's mind. Where was he? She clung to the hope that he was aware of her situation and was planning to pick her up once the health authorities released her. It had been more than a day since they were parted, she reflected as the foul-smelling liquid continued to seep from her. She needed to be sure he hadn't abandoned her. Melissa didn't truly believe Arbek would leave her, but she desperately needed confirmation. Couldn't he contact the Health Office and leave a message for her? Perhaps she could even speak to him on the phone. She needed the comfort of knowing she wasn't alone. Arbek was her only connection in this foreign land, and the last time she had seen him was at the airport, expecting a quick reunion after some formalities with the airport police.

He was her sole hope for liberation from this nightmare of slavery.

Chapter 13:

Her thoughts raced, imagining the loss of freedom, and the uncertainty of her future with no word from Arbek.

Chapter 17:

The truth was that she had not done this because she placed so much stock on Arbek being a man of his word. He was not a liar, but she only knew him for a week and would not have placed that much faith in a promise had she known how much was at stake for her.

And in chapter 23:

"You didn't even check on me in that cage," she murmured as they lay in the afterglow.

All these experiences reinforce in Melissa the importance that having a loving bond is important in a relationship, and it should be with a man who is sensible. And that she does not have that with Arbek. The events have shown her that she and Arbek are a poorly matched couple.

That is why she wants to dump him as soon as she can.

I'm looking forward to where you take this. Right now Melissa's future is looking rather bleak. In the short term, I suspect she is about learn more about sexual servitude.

I have updated chapter 23 "Dinner" with the info about why Melissa wants to dump Arbek and why she is so dead set against involving her parents. I think the story benefits from these clarifications. I've also added the comparison to the military salute to chapter 26 "Repossessed" and removed the more abstract reasoning that was there before. It makes more sense to me now.