Page 25 of Something Like Hail

His arms were yanked harder behind his back.It kind of hurt!

“Excuse me?”

“Yes, sir,” Noah said,catching on.

“That’s better. Now startwalking.”

The hands released him. Noah didn’t move atfirst. He couldn’t see! If he walked, he could—

“Now!” Dougbarked.

Fine. Noah took one step at a time, feelingaround with his hands and using the tip of his shoe to detect anyobstacles.

“Better watch out!” Dougsaid. His voice sounded far away.

Was Noah meant to follow? He turned, movingtoward where he thought he’d heard the voice. Something jabbed intohis leg. A sharp corner. Judging from its height, the object wasprobably a coffee table. He heard laughter, the sound like a tirelosing air. Doug was enjoying himself.

Noah tried to imagine the living room. If hewas next to a coffee table, that meant a couch wasn’t far away.Most people put their couch against a wall so…

He kept walking, managing ten steps beforehis hands touched books. He felt around them, detectingshelves.

“I’m getting bored,” Dougsaid.

Noah reoriented on his voice. He found aclear path and walls to either side of him. A hallway! At least hewouldn’t have to worry about furniture being in the way.

A dog started barking, the sound dangerouslyclose. Noah froze and gasped. He heard a chain being yanked, then agrowl.

“Down, boy,” Doug said. “Wedon’t want to upset our guest.”

A little late for that! This was freaky!“Where am I going exactly?” Noah asked.

“Did I tell you tospeak?”

“No, but—”

“From now on you speak onlywhen spoken to. Understood?”

Noah hesitated. He had pride, but itwouldn’t serve him well in this situation, so he did his best toabandon it. “Yes, sir.”

“That’s better. Now takeoff your clothes.”

Yay. Suddenly he missed George. Noah wouldprefer a friendly dinner followed by way too much pineapple juiceover this any day. He took off his clothes, not feeling remotelysexy, and tried thinking dirty thoughts to get an erection. Itdidn’t work.

“Very nice,” Doug said. “Imight just keep you.”

What the hell did that mean?

“Now turn to the right.Walk! Keep going. Faster! FASTER!”

Noah did what he was told, making goodprogress until he collided with a wall, but at least his extendedhands braced him somewhat. He turned around again. Hands snatchedhis wrists and lifted his arms. He could feel someone close to himand smell the stale stench of cigarette smoke. A leather cuff waslashed around one of Noah’s wrists, then the other, until both wereraised high above his head. He moved experimentally, hearing therattle of metal above him. He didn’t have much leeway. Noah couldtake a step forward but that was it. He was captive.

“You’re very beautiful,”Doug said, his breath on Noah’s neck. “By the end of the night, youwill have learned to serve me. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir,” Noahreplied.

He felt cold fingers on his nipples. Thennothing. Noah was left there, arms above his head. It didn’t takelong before they started to ache. He squirmed, hoping to relievethem and maybe arouse Doug enough that something would finallyhappen.

“He’s cute,” a voice said.It didn’t sound like Doug.