Guardian

• Ethan

The walk through the city was a surreal experience for all of them in one way or another. They stuck to side roads and shortcuts as much as they could, advancing all together and constantly pretending to be fawning around Ethan. They passed by people occasionally, a man running across town on foot, ignoring them. Another man with two women in tow, all of them wearing the same barista uniform. The women looked at the man with a now-familiar gleam in their eyes as he dragged them into a beat-up car and they drove away.

Ethan felt a hand cling to his shirt as they passed by another man and a claimed woman, the two having sex in broad daylight on a patch of grass in front of an apartment complex. He straightened his back, hardened his gaze. It was just like acting class, he just had to become the role. “Stay close to me, slaves. If anyone comes close, you stand between me and them.”

He noticed Nadia did that a lot, and worried the other girls might give away the fact they weren’t claimed yet. Kaitlyn was in the same acting class he was, so at least he had faith in her, and Nadia of course was the real thing, but the others… It was a dangerous thing that they were doing. And Ethan figured that the longer this claim thing went on, the more people would be able to tell apart the claimed women from the free ones. Their body language, the way their eyes lit up when they looked at their owners, the blush in their faces when they made their owners happy or when they acted subservient… People would soon learn to pick up these details.

Their current plan had a time limit. And what came after… Ethan felt a shiver. Would he have to claim more women in order to protect them? Would they choose other people to claim them, for safety? He then shook his head. It was not his place to decide that, and the desires that came with such thoughts were… Dangerous.

“You! You’re a disgrace! Men like you are a disgrace!”

The loud voice broke his train of thought and the group as a whole reacted to an old woman hobbling towards them, still separated by a short hedge fence, about waist-high. She looked seventy or so, grey-haired and with thick glasses, walking with difficulty as she waved a walking cane towards Ethan. “Taking these poor women against their will! Dragging them with you for good-knows-what! Have you no shame? Didn’t your mother teach you any better?”

Ethan looked uncomfortable for a moment, and Nadia predictably jumped to his defense. “Lay off him!” She shouted back. “He’s protecting all of us from awful men! He is wonderful!”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, girl! I’ve seen girls like you… Like my poor neighbor. She was such a sweet girl before… Before they took her! And all because of men like you!” The old woman pointed at Ethan. “Because you’re shameless and - ”

Then the door to the home behind the old woman opened and a large burly man came out. “Ma, come back inside!” He rumbled.

“We’re happy where we are, serving our master!” Shouted Kaitlyn, backing up Nadia. She then gave Ethan an adoring look, and Ethan felt his heart beat faster. God, if she really was claimed he would not be able to resist her…

“But this is wrong! We shouldn’t - ” Protested the old woman, presumably the large man’s mother, but he walked up to her and gently, but firmly, took her by the shoulders.

“Come on, ma. I told you have to be inside.” He then glared towards Ethan and his group and sneered. The hatred in his eyes was visible, and despite his harem Ethan still took a step back reflexively, out of fear. The man was middle-aged and a full foot over him or so, with the thick arms and wide shoulders of someone used to physical labor. He could probably knockout the younger man with barely an effort. “Don’t get any fucking ideas.” He grunted, standing protectively over the diminutive old woman.

Ethan glanced at her, then back at him, and felt a moment of shame. The man was taking time protecting his family, and seemed like a nice guy. Maybe if circumstances were different they could have been allies. But now…

Ethan shook his head. “We’re passing through.”

And so they did, all ‘his’ women following in his footsteps.

They passed by many other scenes of chaos and sex, or the aftermath of either. Broken window fronts, discarded clothes and underwear on the ground, a purse with its contents spilling out on the street. Although these happened mostly in busier areas. But even quieter neighborhoods had changed. Many houses had curtains drawn and people nervously peeking out from behind closed windows or makeshift barricades. Nobody walked or drove leisurely either, they only saw people either running or walking furtively, sometimes with a weapon in hand or doing their best to avoid coming close to others. Once or twice they even passed by terrified women that gave one look at the man surrounded by a large group of women and immediately turned around and fled or jumped over a fence before they could say a word. It was demoralizing.

But worse still was when they came across another mixed group, two men along three women. The men were dressed in typical office clothes, dress shirts, ties and pants, although one of them had lost his tie and his shirt was unbuttoned to his navel, where one of the women rubbed his stomach while giggling happily. The other two women followed the other man, a large, older guy with dark brows that sat on his balding forehead like caterpillars. All women were naked except for stockings and high heels. They saw Ethan’s group but instead of avoiding them they made a beeline to intercept them. Nadia and Kaitlyn stood at the front, warily.

“Wow, look at that!” Said the one with the open shirt, openly whistling and ogling the women on Ethan’s group. “That’s…two, three, four… Six! Damn, good going man! Six girls for one guy, you can have one hell of a party with that! Bwa-ha-ha!”

“Thanks,” replied Ethan with a confident smile. He tried to walk around the men, only for the older one to step to the side and in their way.

“Hey, what’s the hurry?” Said the older man. “We just want to chat. Know how you claimed all these girls, for starters.” He gave Kathryn a look that was both cold and filled with lust. Kathryn balled a fist behind her back, but gave him nothing but a polite smile before looking at Ethan.

“I tricked them,” said Ethan, in the same calm and confident voice. Proud, even. “Got them to call their friends, saying they had a safe group. That they were escaping all together and then… Well, once they let down their guard it’s easy."

The man with the open shirt snorted. “Why you got them still with their clothes on? They don’t need that anymore, right?” He sniggered.

“Don’t want them naked,” was Ethan’s reply, sounding almost bored. “They’ll bare for me if I order them to.”

“So, why not show us some of them tits?” He replied, one of his hands moving to the woman beside him and fondling her breasts without even looking at her. But she pressed closer to him and arched her back, moaning softly. “Seems only fair since we’re giving you such a good show of ours. Ooh! Especially the brown girl! The one with the thing on her head!” He pointed at Zarina with his other hand, and her eyes widened. “I wanna see what kinda goods those girls are hiding under all that cloth. Oooh, show me the goods, baby!”

There was a brief pause, and Nadia interjected. “We would love to bare our breasts if you order it, Ethan!” An eager look on her face. "It's no trouble at all!"

Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly, as if considering it. Nadia's comment put him in a difficult spot. Would denying them look suspicious? Then, internally panicking, he shrugged while still showing no emotion. “Sure, I guess. So long as it’s just a look. Girls? Show them your tits.”

Ethan remained staring ahead, apologizing internally and not taking his eyes off the men as they grinned and leered at the others. He heard the rustling of clothes being moved, and felt Nadia press her breasts eagerly on his arm, reminding him of what had just happened. He saw a bit, off the corner of his eyes. He told himself he didn't want this, and he almost believed it. But he saw Kaitlyn grinning confidently while showing her pale and pert breasts, Roslyn red as a beet while showing her a-cups and Zarina, her dress lifted up above her head so they could see almost her entire body, revealed brown ample flesh spilling from her simple underwear that could barely contain her large tits- No! He **** himself to focus away and his smile remained steady, while the man with the low shirt guffawed.

“Niiiice! That’s a good selection, my man!” He laughed. But the other, older man didn’t laugh. Instead he looked from one woman to the other, thinking. Ethan didn’t like the look in his eyes one bit.

“Some of your girls…” Said the older man eventually. “They’re acting a little strange.”

Ethan shrugged. “Yeah?” His voice bored again.

The other man nodded, and his smile grew dangerous. “Are all of your girls claimed?”

There was a ripple of brief reactions from the women around him. Ethan still kept his eyes on the other group, but he knew… Some of them must have flinched or shown some sign they were scared, because the old man laughed. “Ahh… I’m right, aren’t I? You’re walking around with a few virgin girls in tow!”

He began advancing on the women with a predatory grin. The other man seemed surprised at first, but he quickly began walking around, trying to cut off any escape attempt.

“They’re all claimed,” said Ethan, an edge to his tone now. “And they’re mine. So back off!”

“Sure, sure,” chuckled the older man. “So you won’t mind me checking if they’re really claimed or not, right? Hey girls! Make a circle around this little crew!” He approached the group while his women spread out on either side and Kaitlyn raised her fists while Nadia stood protectively in front of Ethan

“Slaves!” Ethan shouted. “If any of these men lays a hand on you, attack the two men and don’t stop until they are dead!”

The old man immediately stopped in his tracks, while the naked two women behind him immediately jumped protectively in front, eyes alert as they looked at the other group. “Woah, woah! Calm down now - ” He yelled, only for Ethan to interrupt him.

“Do NOT touch my slaves without permission! They’re not yours to do as you please!” Ethan twisted his face into an angry scowl. Around him the women all raised their fists defiantly, crouching down and ready to fight. “They’re MINE! I claimed them, not you!”

The old man looked suddenly uncertain. “They… They were acting funny…”

“I don’t give a shit what you think you saw,” growled Ethan. “My slaves are off-limits. Don’t touch them!”

“Don’t you talk to him like that!” Shouted one girl. The other one nodded before speaking herself.

“Yeah, they did look weird. Claimed girls are always happy to do anything for their owners, but the short one over there looked scared when she showed her tits!” And she pointed at Anna, whose eyes widened slightly but she did not budge from her combative position.

“I don’t know anything about that,” Ethan shrugged. “And I don’t care what face a claimed woman is making, as long as she’ll do what I say.”

“We’ll do ANYTHING he says! AND we outnumber you” Added Nadia. “So neither you nor your masters are getting anything here. Scram!”

“Give the order, master,” whispered Kaitlyn, her eyes shining with devotion. “I’ll do anything to prove to them my commitment.” She smiled at him. “Anything.” Ethan did his best not to shiver with enjoyment when she said that.

The two women looked at each other, “those two actually sound claimed…” One muttered.

Zarina then added, “I can service these two men, if you order it, master. Anything for you,” her voice breathy and awe-struck.

Another moment of briefest surprise that Ethan suppressed, smiling calmly. “No need, ****. Do NOT let any other men touch you without my say-so.”

The two women looked even more uncertain, as did the older man. Meanwhile the other side of the group, the half-shirtless one was standing back a respectable distance along with his own woman. “Maybe…” He ventured, “a mix of claimed and free women? Maybe there’s one or two in the group he wants free for some reason? Like… A sister or some shit…”

Ethan chuckled, no humor in it. “Feel like gambling?”

Nobody spoke for a while, weighing their options as the women glared daggers at each other, pausing only to look to their owners for any cues.

At last the older man slowly took a step back. “Hey. We.. Got a good thing going on here, right? No need to rock the boat.”

“I don’t want to rock the boat either,” said Ethan, his voice level, but still with a bitter edge to it. “So long as nobody fucks with me or mine.”

“Sure, sure… Live and let live,” grumbled the old man.

Neither group took their eyes off the other as they slowly walked around and disentangled, each going their separate ways. And both made sure the other was not following until they both went out of sight. Then Ethan turned forward and began to walk faster. “Let’s pick up the pace, slaves,” he spoke and although he tried to sound commanding, his voice trembled slightly. His heart was beating fast and he felt at the same time tired and skittish.

Nobody said anything except fawning words of admiration, but they didn’t need to. Everyone in the group felt what a close call that was. And they did speed up their walking speed.

It was dark now, and they were trying their best to balance speed and caution as they approached Kaitlyn’s house. The lampposts were lit and it appeared things had calmed down slightly… Although now they heard the sounds of sex coming from all around them. They passed by a couple doing it in their own garden, the woman much older than the man. They also walked by another group, a man and two women much younger than him. One of the women whispered something to him and he seemed to recoil, as if shocked. “Don’t fucking say that to me ever again! You’re my daughter, for chrissakes!”

Kaitlyn briefly glanced at Ethan, shocked, before her expression adjusted into her simpering smile. Everyone was much more keen on pretending to be claimed after that last bad experience.

They were also checking around the corners, carefully, which is why when they turned a corner around a large fenced area, they spotted the man hiding behind a dumpster, arm wrapped around a woman. Both looked middle-aged, pale-faced, and their clothes looked stained.

Then the man stepped from behind the dumpster and raised a pistol he had in his hands, pointing it at Ethan. That is when he realized that what he thought at first was stains in their clothes looked in fact suspiciously like blood stains. Not too many, a few scattered drops. But neither of them looked hurt. As if in slow motion, he saw the bloody man point his pistol at him, take aim…

Nadia jumped in front of him, her arms raised protectively. “Run, Ethan! Run!”

They all stumbled suddenly to back away from the corner, all women scattering away except for Nadia, who stood in front of Ethan as both of them stumbled back, only for the man to turn the corner and point the gun at them. Ethan heard him cock the gun, the click audible amidst the footsteps moving away and the distant noise of sex.

Ethan gathered his courage, and his voice only trembled slightly as he ordered. “Nadia. Run away and hide behind something.”

He felt the tension in her body. “But… Ethan…” She pleaded, her body struggling between her two **** needs.

“It’s an order,” he insisted. “Now!”

She wailed, as if in pain, but did as she was told and ran behind a car where some of the others had hid behind. Only Ethan stayed… No, Kaitlyn was also there, a few feet behind him but still in view.

“Woah!” She said, her voice obvious in its fear. “Calm down! Let’s take it easy, ok?”

The man remained pointing the gun at Ethan but he frowned, looking at Kaitlyn, then at the car where Nadia and a few other women hid. Ethan felt cold when he looked into those eyes. Those were dead eyes, staring right through him as if he was never there. Eyes that had seen too much.

“We’re not a threat to you!” Said Kaitlyn. “It’s… It’s just us claimed girls and our master. You want us to go away? We’ll go away.”

The man blinked, slowly. He looked at Kaitlyn again. Finally he spoke, words spilling from the corners of his mouth. “Hmm. You’re not claimed.”

It was not a question, but a statement, his voice as devoid of emotion as his eyes. He sounded tired. Ethan swallowed nervously. “Why do you think that?” He asked.

“The girls aren’t throwing themselves in front of you,” said the man, still pointing the gun at him. “They all do that. But not your group… Only the tall one did it for you.. And you still ordered her away. Sweet.” His tone was bitter, almost mocking. The woman peeked behind him, eyes wide. Ethan looked at her and understood.

“So, the woman behind you,” said Ethan. The one with a gun narrowed his eyes, cocking his pistol again, but Ethan rallied. “She’s not claimed either, is she?”

The man was silent for a moment, as if chewing on something. “She was,” he said at last. “But not anymore.”

“Not any... You mean she was claimed and then… Unclaimed?” Asked Kaitlyn, her eyes wide.

“Hm,” the man nodded, but did not elaborate. Another moment of silence, and he kept the gun trained on Ethan, while deep in thought.

“Sir?” Said Kaitlyn. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but… This guy, Ethan? He is protecting us right now. He’s helping us from being claimed. Like… Like you are doing with the woman behind you, right?”

He sighed, before speaking. “He’s claimed her, though. The tall one.”

“I want to be his!” Came Nadia’s voice from behind the car, pained beyond belief. The terror in her tone was palpable, as was her grief. “Please… I just want to be his. Even before…”

The man with the gun, far from being moved, made a dismissive noise with his mouth. “Noise,” he said. “My wife was saying stuff like that… Until I put one between the eyes of the fucker who scrambled her brains. Snapped her right back out.”

He still pointed the gun at Ethan, as they all processed what he said. Kaitlyn was the first to respond.

“Wait! Women can be unclaimed if you kill the man who claimed them?” She asked, suddenly realizing the implications with that new information.

Ethan realized why the man was pointing the gun at him. Why he looked at him with such disdain… And yet also why he didn’t pull the trigger. “I…” He stammered. “All I wanted was… To protect them.”

“Hm.” The man trained the gun at him, as if considering his options. Then at last they saw the woman behind him, ever so gently, grab at his sleeve. And with that simple movement they saw the man deflate, as if all anger and determination had evaporated from him. He lowered his gun, and Ethan could breathe again.

As the man turned to walk away, he glanced at Ethan and said his parting words: “Good luck protecting the other girls.”

And even as the man left, and Nadia rushed to his side along with the other girls, all worried about him, he was still unsure whether the man with a gun had meant it sincerely or if it was one last sarcastic remark.