Caged By Them (Descent Into Darkness 1)

“That’s not a confession.” He exhaled sharply. “I’m bored. I think you need more time to think. Maybe you’ll be more forthcoming after a little more time in the darkness.”

“No—wait!” I reached out as he started to stand. “I need—I need food.”

“Then that sounds like an excellent thing for us to bargain for when I return.” He walked towards the door and turned off the light.

“No! Please!” I stared into the darkness and felt my stomach twist into a knot when he slammed the door shut behind him.

Just tell me what I did—please tell me why I’m in this cage…

One month ago

“I need to get away for a little while.” I sighed and looked over at my best friend, Cassie. “We should plan a vacation.”

“Why? Are you getting bored of all your online boyfriends?” She leaned back against the couch and laughed.

“I don’t know…” I shook my head back and forth. “I feel bad about it. I know what I’m doing is wrong—but I’ve tried to find a job…”

“With your computer skills, I’m surprised you need a degree to find a job.” Cassie leaned forward to grab the can of soda on the table in front of her. “Our IT guy at work sucks and I’m sure he makes more than I do.”

“He’s probably got a wall full of certificates—I didn’t even graduate high school.” I lifted my hand and pressed a finger to my temple. “Staring at that screen all night is giving me migraines too.”

“Then take a break. You don’t have to work every single night.” She looked over at my laptop. “I’m sure all your online boyfriends will be there when you get back.”

“Yeah…” I nodded. “Maybe your right. I’m not broke right now. A break might be what I need.”

“Oh shit.” Cassie looked at her watch. “I’m going to be late for the damn party—are you sure you don’t want to come? I need a plus one…”

“Nah.” I shook my head back and forth. “I’m not really in the mood for a party.”

I picked up the television remote once Cassie left and started mindlessly scrolling through the channels. I really didn’t want to get online—I didn’t want to have to sit in front of the screen and pretend like I was enjoying everything that I did. It was hard to stop thinking about it though. I had a few targets that were close—close enough for me to close the deal and make them pay for what they wanted—even if they weren’t going to get it. That’s what they were really going to pay for—their mistakes. It got harder to ignore my laptop as the hours passed by—each little chime signaling a new message—someone that could potentially pay my bills for a month with one simple mistake.

Fuck it. If I can just finish up with that guy from Ohio tonight, I’ll take a break after that—he’s loaded.

I wasn’t proud of what I did, nor did I take pleasure in it, but it was the way I supported myself. There were always men online looking for sex, and while I was still a virgin, I knew how to pretend to be a whore. I made their fantasies come true without even taking off my clothes. But that wasn’t the part that made me feel bad. It was what came afterward that left me with a sick feeling my stomach—the blackmail. I chose the men I engaged with carefully—men with families, wives, children—people that wouldn’t like to know about the dark thoughts in their head. As long as they paid my price, I kept their secret—and I knew a lot of secrets.

Secrets that could ruin.

Secrets that could destroy.

Secrets that made sure my bank account never went into the red, a roof stayed over my head, and as long as I could stomach the guilt—the money kept coming in.

Bill4Buckeyes: Hey there!

MissBrat: Hi!

Bill4Buckeyes: I missed you…

MissBrat: I missed you too. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get online earlier. I had company.

Bill4Buckeyes: I hope it wasn’t another guy.

MissBrat: No way! My parents would kill me!

Bill4Buckeyes: Turn on your camera. I want to see you.

MissBrat: Okay :) But only if you do.

Bill4Buckeyes was actually William Edwards and he was a big fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes. His wife was beautiful. His children were adorable. His dog was cute. That wasn’t what caught my eye when I saw his Facebook page though—it was the mansion behind him in most of the pictures. The company he worked for—his position as an Assistant Vice President. He was forty-five years old, fairly unattractive, and he liked it when girls called him Daddy. He liked it a lot. He also liked it when his girls were naughty—because then he had a reason to spank them. As for me? My name was MissBrat and I was barely eighteen years old—to him at least. I had a face that could still pass for eighteen even though I celebrated my nineteenth birthday six months prior. As far as he knew, I lived a sheltered life, was starting to discover things that I never knew I liked before, and my parents could come bursting through my door at any minute. I was being very, very naughty.