Punitive Measures

The next few days pass by slowly and uneventfully, with the majority of your time spent confined in the vault room that has become your cell. The only times you're allowed out, is to wash and use the facilities, with even your meals being spent in lonesome solitude. After nearly a week passes without further visit from the leader, you begin to wonder if he's given up on you. Though you're sure if he had he would have passed you along to the others by now. Why take up the space and resources needed to keep you if he's no longer interested in you? Questions like this continue tumbling around your head as another day comes and passes. The following morning you're paid a surprise visit by one of the guards, who of course enters without notice. Quickly pulling the covers up around your frame, you can feel the man's thirsty stare pierce your skin.

"This is for you." He states bluntly, tossing a bundle of clothes onto the bed.

Slipping an arm out from beneath the blanket, you pull the garments closer to inspect them. The leader had promised to provide you with something more appropriate and you had begun to think he forgot about it or changed his mind. However, upon closer inspection you're not entirely sure it is what he would have picked out. Frowning at the slightly too large pair of jeans and the faded and stained tee-shirt, you shoot the guard a skeptical look. While it's certainly better than the ill-fitting outfit you've been **** to don since your capture, it's not quite what you had been expecting.

"Who is this from?" You inquire carefully, keeping your doubt out of your tone.

"Kessler." The man replies casually.

You don't care for the slick smile that covers his face as he looks at you expectantly. He seems to have anticipated this reaction from you and is eagerly waiting for your next question. Frowning, you decide to play along if only to gain some information.

"He wants me to wear this?" You probe further, watching as the man nods in affirmation. "Why?"

That seemed to be the question he had been waiting for as the unnerving smile on his face widens. His dark eyes rake over your covered form, seeming to spend a moment envisioning what's beneath the covers.

"He's putting you to work today." He informs you smugly, before also tossing a pair of sneakers over. "Said something about you getting a taste of what your life will be like should you remain... difficult."

"Difficult?" You can't help scoffing before snatching the pair of shoes. "And here I thought I'd been more than compliant putting up with this **** incarceration and solitude."

"Don't shoot the messenger." The guard smirks, throwing his hands up in mock defense .

Sighing in frustration, you glance at the pile of clothes then at the guard pointedly. Picking up on the hint, he glances over your figure one last time before retreating. It seems the leader is still imposing the same rules as before regarding you. You suppose you ought to be thankful for the privacy given the alternative. However, you're actually looking forward to getting out even if it involves physical labor. After all, you might be able to interact with sympathetic minds who could aid you in escape. You're certain you cannot be the only other person there out of ****. Quickly donning the shabby outfit and shoes, you knock on the door signaling your readiness. You are somewhat surprised to be led straight to work, skipping the usual meal you're provided in the mornings. You suppose this is all part of the experience the leader wishes you to endure.

If he thinks that a few missed meals and hard labor are enough to break you, he'll be sorely mistaken. The work itself is nothing you're unable to handle; washing piles of dirt covered clothes, cleaning some of the many large rooms in the bank, and tending to the neglected kitchen area before being made to prepare a large meal for the building's inhabitants. You don't mind the work, however, you had hoped for some company instead of working in solitude.You've worked up quite the sweat and appetite by the end of the end of the day. The aroma of the food cooking on the gas powered hotplates drawing several of the occupants to hover around the area. Having had limited options and ingredients you ended up making a large pot of stew, a skillet of plain biscuits, and one filled with a mix of wild berries and topped with a sweet crumble. It appears it must have been sometime since the group has partaken in such a flavorful meal. While you're certainly no chef, you've spent enough time in the kitchen to have picked up a few tricks, allowing you to make the needed substitutions and adjustments needed to create the dishes. All in all there were about ten men in total who were housed in the bank, eight guards, the greasy attendant who's name you learned to be Jensen, and of course the leader, Kessler.

"Okay, get out, get out." You order, noting how crowded the small area has become. "Everything will be ready shortly."

You're surprised to see the men playfully groan in protest while dragging their feet to comply, their usual lustful and irritated demeanor seeming to have momentarily changed to those of good nature and contentment. You quickly slap a hand away from the plate of biscuits before shaking your head. It had previously escaped your attention how young some of the men are, some appearing to be near you in age if not younger. To your surprise you feel a small twinge of sympathy towards them, realizing they may have as little choice in their roles as you in your current one. Still, you're hesitant to let your guard down too much, having seen first hand the true nature of man. Eventually though, you're unable to suppress a natural smile at the sight of the men joking around and playfully shoving each other as they pretend to make a swipe at the food. Rolling your eyes, you decide to humor them, gently swatting their hands away as you begin dishing out the food.

"I didn't realize I had given everyone the day off."

The cheerful atmosphere of the room quickly dissipated at the sound of the leader's deep voice. Quickly straightening up, the men swiftly begin to exit the room looking rather uneasy. Your own back stiffens nervously as you swiftly turn your attention back to your task. There's a brief pause as the man waits for the last of the guards to hurriedly leave the area before you can sense his large form standing directly behind you. Keeping your gaze low, you remain silent as you continue portioning the meal out.

"You made all of this?" You hear him question somewhat skeptically, as he leans over your shoulder.

"Don't sound so surprised." You retort, still refusing to look at the man. "Or did you really think that I'd be so lost in here I'd come running to your arms for comfort?"

A sharp gasp escapes your lips when the leader's large hand wraps around your arm, spinning you around to face him. Swallowing nervously, you marginally regret reacting with such hostility. A displeased expression has come over the man's face as his pale gaze looks over your soft face. There seems to be a hint of distress and frustration in his eyes, causing you further guilt. You can't logically ration why you feel remorseful, however, you manage to suppress your natural desire to apologize.

"That tongue of yours is liable to get you in trouble." He states roughly, his grip around you somewhat tightening. "And it seems you're not as susceptible to the type of punishment it's already earned you."

"Quite on the contrary." The words tumble out before you can stop them. "Today has been vastly more enjoyable than any other I've spent here."

Anger quickly flashes across his face, making you acutely aware you've gone too far. Your brow creases in concern at the pain surrounding your incapacitated arm and the wild look in the man's eyes. Exhaling sharply, he releases his grip before roughly pushing you away.

"I don't understand you." He growls in a low tone, appearing to attempt quashing his emotions. "I can provide you with everything - shelter, food, protection. I've shown myself to be gentle and more respectful than anyone else who might try to claim you. Yet you show me nothing but hatred and contempt."

He pauses for a moment, looking at you as if waiting for you to correct him. It pains you slightly to remain silent, however, you know you can't trust yourself to speak right now. Seeing you make no move to dissuade his assumption, he swiftly takes a step forward before seeming to think better of it.

"I can understand you not feeling at complete ease around me yet." He mutters somewhat bitterly, his usually warm gaze becoming suddenly icy. "But to see you smiling around those that would harm you, when you've shown me nothing but callousness, was certainly unexpected. Do I need to hang off your apron strings, following you around like some lovesick pup in order to gain your affection?"

"If I didn't know any better, I might venture to think you're already lovesick." You suddenly realize, eyeing the man with a new sense of confusion. "After all, why else do you care so much what I think of you? There's no doubt you can easily take whatever you want without failure. So why put all this effort into obtaining my compliance?"

Though the man scoffs haughtily in response, you notice the look in his eyes soften slightly. Running a hand through his already ruffled hair, he sighs again before leaning back against the counter across from you. His steady gaze remains fixed on your own, seeming to be all you can focus on.

"You're still stuck in the past aren't you?" He questions lightly, as if just now realizing this fact. "Thinking eventually civilization will rebuild and you'll be able to resume some part of your old life, right?"

"It's possible." You feebly mumble under your breath, failing to convince even yourself.

"It's not." Kessler states bluntly, sounding slightly annoyed at your **** to accept the fact. "The world has changed, as has what's left of society. You hold hope of an idealistic fantasy where you eventually meet someone you connect with and perhaps even love.

"But where do you think you'll find such a person? It's hard enough coming by people you can trust, let alone tolerate. I'm the leader, for now but that doesn't mean there isn't a constant target on my back. People passing through and even those in my own camp vying to overthrow me and take this land for themselves. Do you think I have the luxury of meeting someone naturally, let alone time to court them?"

Biting your lip, you can't help feeling the twinge of guilt returning. Regardless, you're still not completely willing to accept his reasoning. Though the world has become increasingly dangerous, that's no excuse to take what he wants without consent.

"That still doesn't explain why you care how I feel about this." You note after a moment, furrowing your brow inquiringly.

The man throws his head back, letting out a harsh laugh before his sharp gaze quickly returns to yours. A look of disappointment has returned to his expression as he obverses you somberly.

"Is it so shocking to think I too might desire companionship?" He spits out somewhat harshly, seeming genuinely troubled. "I'm not some callous monster without feelings. I care because I want you to desire this, to desire me."

Your eyes widen as you're completely caught off guard by the man's admission. It hadn't occurred to you that there might be some form of morality beneath his hardened demeanor. You feel your own emotions become increasingly confused at the thought the man could actually be sympathetic if not caring.

"I don't know what to say." You answer honestly, not entirely convinced this confession is enough to change your own feelings towards the man.

After all, you can hardly condone his methods of finding companionship, let alone his forwardness with you so far. He's made it entirely clear that he wishes for you to be more submissive and obedient towards him, something you cannot imagine doing at the moment. Glancing at the floor awkwardly, you can feel his sharp gaze remain on your figure before he exhales in frustration. You continue staring at the ground, watching with your peripherals as he exits the room, leaving you to contemplate this new development.