Before we could think of defecting, we were overpowered by her unspoken authority, to my left I could see Jeff; the changed, bright and sunny Jeff, made over to the extent to he was unrecognizably confident--now on hands and knees, face to the ground, back bent upwards. It was a silent begging, one that didn't need words for the the recipient to understand. My legs trembled as my body was dragged me down to the floor. It wasn't my choice, my hands were reaching for the carpet, my voice betraying me, my senses overloading with a feeling I couldn't quite make out. Shock. Confusion. Fear.
As I fought an inner battle for possession of my body, I managed to turn to the corner. Maybe it was to signal for help. Or to call for a doctor, but the words wouldn't just come out. I managed to get my mouth open, my tongue to move, but that was about it. I ended up drooling, my head stuck sideways, body violently shaking, and with a bunch of laughter from the maids watching nearby.
"Look at you two. I haven't even moved, and you're already reacting." she said, with a chuckle. She stepped closer, and though I couldn't look at her directly, I knew she was the real deal. Her figure was massive, with arms bigger than my own, a toned body and hands that could fit around my head. That was an ogre if I ever saw one.
She leaned in and softly whispered in my ear. "Kneel". I'm pretty sure my brain didn't fully register the information before my body came crashing to the floor. I didn't kneel, I fell flat on the floor. The maids racket only grew louder and louder. It was cinema for them. How was this funny? I thought we were going to a jet somewhere? Did Avery agree to this?
"I thought I told you to kneel, not lie down" she said. With that I felt something--a whip to the buttocks. My arms which felt weak and flimsy earlier grasped the ground and my knees straightened up. That wasn't my doing. I gnashed my teeth and clenched my jaw. I've suffered embarrassment all my life, but this, this is too much. I struggled to move at first, then I felt an arm come loose. First and elbow, then my shoulder. I crawled away from her, fueled with anger. Jeff remained still, not counting the aggressive dog-like drooling.
I inched closer and closer to the door, but it was too quiet. The maids, the ogre, none of them moved to stop me. I hindsight, that should've felt weird, but at the moment, all that mattered is my escape. But, the farther away I got, the more of her dominating presence I felt. That's when it hit me. I was day dreaming. I haven't gone anywhere. I was just scratching the ground. Something else hit me. The whip. For a time that felt like an hour, I was hit over and over, ruthlessly.
"I've gotten tired of punishing you. Though, you're friend here is a good prospect, properly aware of his place."
She walked over me, now a complete mess. My clothes rumpled, my groomed hair now pointing in all directions. At this time Jeff was still in a state of shock, his unrecognizable grumblings proving that fact. She raised her arm and whipped him hard. So hard, his grumbling were now moans of pain. I wanted to stop her. If anyone caused this, it was me. My terrible relationship with Avery was the catalyst.
"Are you going to step up? Or does seeing your friend's dignity being crushed tickle your fancy?". She laughed as she let loose on Jeff, whose grunts turned to screams of pain.
"L-Let him" I said under my breath, my eyes dizzy and chest heavy. I couldn't make out the ceiling anymore, but in the corner of my vision I managed to make out her outline, holding her arm to hers head, cupping her palm over her ear. Mocking me.
"Maybe this will give you motivation." She took out a rhino skin whip, from her back pocket. I dont know how that fit there, Or how I had now seen it, only after she reached for it. Those things are dangerous. She lightly hit Jeff, and his stature crumbled. He dropped face first. And for some reason, she stopped. That's when I heard it, a ringing noise. And right after, a thud. The ogre threw her phone across the room, and her face was familiar, us a few minutes ago.
Then came the kicker. The massive sized doors swung open to reveal a short, blonde woman. In a second, all maids were gathered before her, bowing their heads in unison. The ogre-woman fell on all fours where she was. There was no hesitation like us, no squirming or useless movement. All coordinated, revised and trained. Like dogs would be.
"I tell you teach them some manners, and you end up doing this? I have no reason to not fire you. Instead of firing you however, you will serve these young gentlemen, until they have no need of you."