Page 18 of The Lost Zone (Dark Water #3)

After dinner, they were allowed an hour’s down time in the rec room without supervision before bed.

Four sat at the table stiffly reading the ironing manual they’d been given.

Two poured himself a cup of herbal tea, sat on one of the armchairs, and crossed his legs.

His movements were elegant and sparse, and there was always a languid, faintly amused expression on his face.

He reminded Alex of an actor in a movie from Pre-R times – the 1930s or 40s.

Three sat down beside Alex on the sofa with a heartfelt sigh, while Five loped around the room like a gangly foal who’d been cooped up for too long.

“I’m not criticising, I’m sure Ms B did her best, but it was all rather basic,” Three informed the room. “I could have taught it better.”

Alex refrained from pointing out that Three had only just scraped in ahead of Five and himself. Two had come top of the class, followed by Four, so if anyone should have been bragging, it was them.

“Ah, the mysteries of ironing. I’m sure we’ll unravel them all by the time we go home,” Two said mildly, stirring his tea.

“I suppose, given the expense and exclusivity of this course, that I was expecting something more, that’s all.” Three sniffed.

Two chuckled. “It’s only the first day. I’m sure it’ll liven up soon, and we’ll learn all sorts of interesting things. What do you think, One?” His eyes were twinkling as he glanced at Alex. “You seemed dissatisfied with the experience earlier.”

Alex shrugged. “It’s not what I expected, that’s all.”

“One wants more brutality,” Two said. “More hitting and shouting.” He winked at Alex.

“No, trust me, I don’t. I’m just confused as to why I’m here.”

“One thinks there’s been a mistake and he’s better than this.” Two grinned at him to make it clear this was a joke.

Alex rolled his eyes. “And Two likes to tease,” he riposted. “Look, this number thing is ridiculous. We’re alone now – why don’t we use our real names? I’m Al?—”

“Shh,” Four said suddenly. “I can hear F coming back.” They were all silent for a moment, but nobody appeared. “Sorry. I was sure I could hear him, and I didn’t want One getting into more trouble,” he said sheepishly.

“I think it would be safer to stick to numbers,” Two said firmly.

“If we get used to calling each other by our real names, then we might forget and do it when F is here, and I have no wish to see a repeat of what happened earlier. It’s brutal and unnecessary.

” There was a look of withering distaste on his lips as he spoke.

He was a natural leader, and the group all nodded their agreement.

“I don’t like being reduced to a number,” Alex said. “We must fight for our identities.”

Two shook his head, laughing softly. “Tell me, One, how long have you been an IS?”

“About eight months.”

“And it shows, my dear boy. I’ve been in service for thirty years.”

“Twenty,” Four piped up dourly from the table, without looking up.

“Fourteen,” Three said.

“Eighteen months,” said Five.

Two took a sip of his tea. “Fighting for your identity isn’t a priority for a servant, One. Maybe that doesn’t matter to you. How long is your contract?”

“Seven years,” Alex said quietly. “But it was a penal contract, and I was expensive, so it’s more likely I’ll serve life.”

Five stopped pacing and stared at him, aghast, Three took a sharp intake of breath, and Four stopped reading to glance at him with a concerned frown.

Two gave him a look of genuine compassion.

“I’m sorry, One. I won’t ask what brought you to such a sad pass, but you have my sympathy.

A word of advice – you’ll find your servitude easier to bear if you stop placing so much importance on your identity.

We’re all servants here. We serve – that’s our purpose.

Nobody cares what we think or feel about anything. ”

“I don’t think I can do that,” Alex said.

Two shot him a regretful smile. “I understand. You’re new to it. It’ll take time.”

This wasn’t advice that Alex wanted to hear, so he was glad that F’s return cut short any further conversation.

They were escorted back to the dorm, where they formed an orderly queue to wash and change into the standard-issue white tee-shirts and pyjama bottoms.

“Stand by your beds,” F ordered. They all scurried to obey, except Alex, who rolled his eyes and took his time, although he made sure to be in place just before F lost his temper.

“Now, you know the drill. I expect you to be faster going forward,” F barked.

“Your first day at Belvedere is over. I’ll be much harder on you in future. ”

Alex traded an incredulous glance with Two at that.

“We have a bedtime ritual here at Belvedere: every day I’ll receive a report from your tutor.

” F held up a white envelope. “The person receiving the highest score gets to use the bathroom first tomorrow morning. The person with the lowest score gets to spend the night in here.” He took a step forward and opened the white crate in the centre of the room.

“What?” Alex looked at Two, who looked equally shocked. The cage wasn’t long enough to stretch out in, and there were no blankets, pillows, or even a mattress. The bottom of the cage was made of hard, cold metal.

“Tonight’s lucky occupant is…” F made a big show of opening the envelope, although it was a foregone conclusion. “One! Get in.” He yanked open the cage door and pointed.

“I’m not sleeping in there,” Alex said, backing away. “I want to speak to A.”

F laughed. “These are A’s orders. Get in.” He grabbed Alex by the arm and shoved him towards the cage. Alex fought him, but F was stronger. He grasped Alex’s arm and grappled with him for a few seconds before forcibly shoving him inside.

“For that, you don’t get a pot to piss in,” F spat.

He knelt down beside the cage, padlocked it, and pocketed the key.

Then he stood up and surveyed the shocked room.

“First place goes to Two. You get to use the bathroom first tomorrow; One goes last. This is an old house with old plumbing – who knows if there’ll be any hot water left by then.

” He shot Alex a malicious glance, turned off the light, and left the room.

“Oh shit,” Five exclaimed when F had gone, hopping around the room in distress. “Man… that was bad. Oh shit.”

“We must all take a lesson from this unfortunate incident,” Three announced to the room, although he didn’t say what the lesson was. Four gave a dour grunt and got into bed.

Two crouched down beside the cage. “You okay, One?” he asked quietly.

“Oh yeah, I’m just peachy,” Alex muttered. He felt humiliated and wanted to slink away and lick his wounds, but instead he had to lie there all night in the cold. “Just leave me alone.” He buried his head in his arms and tried to block out the world.

He heard Two get up and return to his bed, and felt even worse for pushing him away. A few seconds later, there was a rustling sound by the mesh.

“Most of the blankets are too thick to push through, but I think this one might work,” Two said. Alex looked up to see him carefully weaving a thin blanket through the wire. “Give it a tug and see if you can pull it inside.”

It took some careful pulling, but eventually, Alex managed to drag the blanket into the cage.

“Sorry I can’t get a pillow in there,” Two said, sitting down on the floor beside the cage. “It’s going to be a rough night for you.”

“Compared to the place I lived before, it’s paradise,” Alex muttered.

He’d had creature comforts aplenty at Vertex Tower, but he thought he’d trade them all for not being forced to be anyone’s whore.

Also, despite all his threats, F hadn’t actually hit him yet, although clearly the stick wasn’t just for show.

He managed to sit up with his head bent over, his back against the mesh walls.

Two shunted over to sit behind him, back to back, which provided some welcome heat.

The other men had all retired to bed, but Two stayed, silently lending Alex warmth and companionship. He buried his head in his knees and wrapped the blanket around his body.

“What did you do to get sent here?” Alex asked after a long silence.

“Sent?” Two turned to look at him. “I asked to come.”

Alex moved so that he could see the outline of Two’s face. He had a very square head, his closely shorn hair and firm jawline making him look as if he’d been chiselled out of granite.

“Why?” Alex asked, bemused.

Two chuckled. “Belvedere is famous amongst indentured servants. It provides the most exclusive training in the country, increasing your value hugely – and your status when you return home. I begged to come here, and I was delighted when my houder finally agreed.” His face softened at the mention of his houder.

“Your houder? You like him?” Alex asked.

“Her – and yes, she’s the most wonderful woman in the world. I’d serve her for nothing if she set me free.”

“You’d rather live as a servant than a free man?” Alex tried to get his head around that.

“I enjoy service,” Two said, without shame or embarrassment. “The main reason I asked to do this course was so that I could be of even greater service to my houder. She deserves the best, and that’s what I want to be.” There was a reverential tone in his voice as he spoke about her.

“She must be very special,” Alex murmured.

“She is. She’s a wealthy businesswoman with a full life. She trusts me to take care of her house, meals, clothes, and all her day-to-day requirements, so she can worry about far bigger issues. I do everything for her.” He sounded almost dreamy.

“You love her.” It wasn’t a question; it was obvious.

“No, I worship her,” Two replied fiercely. “Oh, I can see what you’re thinking…” His lip curled in distaste. “It’s not that sort of love. I wouldn’t sully her with any thought of physical gratification. My love for her is pure.”

“And also, you’re homosexual,” Alex said drily. That much had been apparent on first meeting the man.