The Retreat Ch. 08

The Retreat

Chapter 8

Sleep had eluded Sara. She lay on the bed, letting her mind take her back to the very beginning of it all. She closed her eyes and let it play out. Maybe she could have seen it and done something about it.

As Sara entered the crowded bar, a wave of music, laughter, and the smell of alcohol swept over her. She didn't often go out by herself, but she was on a mission. She just wanted to get drunk, meet a guy, and get fucked. She wore her sluttiest outfit. A short black mini skirt, a tight white tank top, no bra of course, and knee-high black leather boots. She hadn't bothered to get fancy with her hair and kept it in a simple ponytail.

She noted that several guys noticed her as she walked up to the bar and smiled to herself. A couple of them were actually attractive and could possibly work out. She made her way through the crowd and up to the bar. She looked around as she waited for the bartender to take her order. It was pretty busy, which was to be expected for a Saturday night. The crowd looked to be fairly young tonight though. It seemed to be mostly college kids celebrating their school's win in a basketball game.

She turned back to the bar when the bartender finally got to her and asked what she was having.

"Vodka cranberry," she said, turning back and scanning the room while her drink was being made.

Her eyes caught Leah across the room. She felt her heart begin to flutter a bit. This woman was beautiful. She didn't typically go for women like that, but she couldn't help but notice. She was tall, her long blonde hair hanging loosely down her back. The cute little cocktail dress accented her curves in all the right ways. Her generous cleavage drew her eyes like a magnet.

Sara turned away reluctantly as the bartender returned with her drink, and she handed over her card.

"Keep it open," she told the bartender and turned back around.

The woman wasn't there anymore Sara noted, feeling a bit disappointed. She put her out of her mind and made her way over to one of the guys she spotted earlier. She hadn't taken three steps, when that women stepped in front of her.

"Well hello," she said, her voice rich and sensual,

"My name is Leah. Who might you be?"

"Sara," Sara replied, her mouth felt a bit dry and she couldn't think of anything to say.

This woman was even more beautiful close up.

"Would you care to join me?" Leah asked and gestured over to a table in the corner.

"Sure," Sara said and followed Leah to the table.

After they sat down, Leah began chatting away with Sara as if they were old friends recently reunited. Sara immediately felt more relaxed and comfortable and got caught up in the conversation.

She didn't remember much after that. She did recall Leah asking her if she wanted to go to her place. She remembered her hands, lips, and mouth over her body, and then nothing before waking up on that cross.

Just thinking of the cross started to turn her on. It took her a moment, but realized what was happening.

It must be that drug. Leah probably slipped something into my drink that night at the bar she thought.

She tried to remember what it felt like hanging there, the pleasure and pain of it. Even her memories seemed to amplify those sensations. That must have been why she came so hard, why she loved every minute of it. Something like that wasn't typically she fantasized about. Come to think of it, neither was being involved in a gang bang.

"Damnit!" she shouted angrily, punching the bed.

Sara wiped the tears of anger and frustration from her face. Every encounter, every orgasm, every thought and feeling since being here was a lie.

Even Gail? She whispered to herself, scared of what the answer might be.

As if she was summoned with that thought, Gail swept into the room. Sara sat up with a start, feeling at once happy that she was here and angry at the sight of her.

"I'm back... Oh dear! What's wrong!?" Gail cried and rushed to Sara, wrapping her arms around her.

As soon as Gail embraced her Sara started bawling. Despite being angry, she couldn't hold it in, and just let it all out. Gail just gently rocked her, whispered soothing words, and held her tight.

Several minutes later Sara pulled back out from Gail's arms, wiping her face and composing herself.

"What is it dear?" Gail asked, sympathy painted on her face.

Sara didn't know if she could really trust this woman. Not after that note.

"I guess I was just feeling overwhelmed with everything, and when I couldn't find you... I guess I just couldn't handle it," Sara lied.

"Oh my dear, I'm so sorry. I should have told you I was going away. It's all my fault," Gail said, tears now forming in her eyes.

"Well, you're back now, so all is well," Sara managed to smile, feeling guilty for lying.

"I promise, I won't go away again without telling you first. But if there is anything you need to talk about, anything at all, I am here for you," Gail said gravely.

"Thank you," Said smiled, giving Gail a quick hug,

"Now if you'll excuse me... " Sara said, getting off the bed and going into the bathroom.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she realized just how much of a mess she was. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying, her hair wild and desperately in need of a brush. She sighed, then washed her face and ran a brush through her hair. At the very least, she could try to look a little more presentable, despite feeling scared to death.

When she returned to Gail, she was feeling a bit better. Well, less emotional anyway. Gail still sat on the bed looking troubled.

"What is it?" Sara asked.

"I'm just worried about you and feel responsible," Gail said, sounding sad.

"Oh don't worry about that, I'll be fine. Must be part of that sub-drop you talked about earlier," Sara said quickly.

"Maybe, but still..." Gail said and took a deep breath.

"You've got another engagement. This one is a bit different, but I'll talk to Leah and have it re-assigned, " Gail said, her voice pained as she spoke.

"I promise, I'll be fine," Sara said, trying to reassure Gail,

"What's the job?"

Despite still feeling emotional, scared, and angry, she wanted to do this. If for no other reason than to forget about everything for a little bit. Even though she knew it was the drug, she did enjoy the intense orgasms and pleasure she felt. It was addicting.

"Well, it doesn't actually start until tomorrow, but... " Gail hesitated.

"You'll be engaged for a week. We have a cottage that you'll be staying in. The client wants a 'normal housewife' experience. Which means, you'll stay in the cottage with him for the week. He's made it clear that sex is not expected or demanded, but will be welcomed if you choose to do so..."

Sara noticed a bit of a hitch in her voice when she said that.

If I choose to? That seems odd... Sara thought.

"Do you know how to cook?" Gail asked unexpectedly.

"A little. Not super good at it, but it's edible," Sara admitted bashfully.

"That'll be fine. It'll enhance the experience," Gail grinned and winked.

Gail continued with her briefing, filling Sara in with the details that she needed to know. He went by the name Dave and worked as an Insurance Agent. Sara was a stay-at-home wife and managed the day-to-day things. She wasn't expected to have a hot meal on the table when he got home, but it would be appreciated. Again, sex wasn't off the table, but wasn't expected. Sara still wasn't sure what she felt about that. It seemed odd to hire a sex slave and not expect or demand sex. But hey, it was his money.

When Gail finished her briefing, Sara felt intrigued about this new assignment. It certainly was different, and maybe not having sex for a bit might actually help clear her head. It was up to her after all.

Gail stayed for a bit longer at Sara's instance. She was still feeling out of sorts but needed not to be alone. So Gail and Sara chatted, laughed, and carried on as normal. It was late by the time Gail left, and Sara was feeling sleepy. All the crying had drained her. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep after crawling into bed.

_______________________________________________

Sara woke the next morning feeling refreshed and much better than the previous day. She was feeling a bit excited about the upcoming assignment and quickly jumped out of bed and into the shower.

When she finished, she spotted another envelope lying in front of the door. Her stomach knotted up as she bent down to pick it up. She wasn't sure if she should open it. After the last one, and with her assignment, she didn't want to go through that again.

She took a deep breath and braced herself as she opened the envelope and unfolded the letter, her hands shaking.

Sara,

Time is short.

Stay strong.

-Mr. E

Time for what? An escape attempt? She thought.

She didn't like that thought. The one thing she did know for sure was that Leah and company were very good at what they did. She doubted anyone ever escaped this place and lived to tell the tale. She felt helpless and small. She didn't know if she could accept her life here, not after learning the truth, and knew escape was impossible. She wasn't willing to risk getting killed in the attempt though.

She sighed and tamped down the panic that started to rise in her belly. She tore up the note into tiny pieces and flushed them down the toilet for good measure. She didn't want any evidence lying around, especially since she wasn't going to be in here for the next week. Leah, or anyone really, would have free access to search her room.

I'm being paranoid She thought as she got dressed.

She decided on something simple, jeans, sneakers, a tank-top, and a red flannel button up shirt. If she was going to do this "normal housewife" thing, she felt that anything fancier would ruin the mood. She stood for a moment looking at herself in the mirror. She looked cute, she decided.

She had begun thinking about whether or not she needed to pack anything when a knock sounded on the door, and Gail stepped in.

"Ah, good. You're ready. It's time to go," Gail said.

"Um... should I start packing?" Sara asked, a little confused.

"Oh, that won't be necessary, everything you need will be at the cottage. It's all been taken care of. The only thing missing is you," Gail said with a grin.

Sara shrugged and followed Gail out the door. As they walked down the hallway, Sara imagined a set of eyes following her. It set her on edge and made her nervous.

"Are you doing okay?" Gail asked, eyeing her worriedly as they walked.

"I'm fine. Just a little nervous. A whole week with some stranger..." Sara trailed off.

"I understand," Gail nodded thoughtfully,

"There's nothing to worry about. I'll be watching the whole time, and if you need anything, anything at all, just pick up the phone. You're not alone."

Sara did feel a little better.

Maybe this won't be so bad after all she mused.

After what seemed like forever, they finally arrived in the foyer. A large set of double doors stood at the front. Each door is carved with birds, vines, and flowers. Despite seeing all the finery in the house so far, she wasn't prepared for this. Rich gold-streak marble lined the walls. Four carved columns flanked the doors, gleaming in the sunlight that streamed through a massive stained glass window. The window depicted what Sara took to be a hunting scene, a man riding a horse, and several dogs trailing him, all facing a giant bear. Green ferns stood at strategic locations through out the room, bringing a sense of vitality to the room. Sara stood breathless, taking in the grandeur of it all. It looked like a palace out of some fantasy novel. She barely noticed when Gail nudged her.

"It is beautiful, isn't it?" Gail said, a touch of awe in her voice.

Sara shook herself back to the present and followed Gail through the large doors and outside.

The bright sunlight blinded her for a few moments. It had been a couple of weeks since she was last outside, and the brightness caught her off guard.

When her eyes adjusted to the brightness, she almost gasped at the sight that greeted her. A large rectangular pool with swans floating lazily in the middle lay there. The pool was flanked by tall trees on either side, large stone vases filled with brightly colored flowers lined the white gravel walkway to the house, and the sound of songbirds filled the air. It felt almost magical.

It took her a minute, but she spotted Gail waiting by an electric golf cart. She was so caught up in everything that she failed to see it the first time. She hurried down the walkway and climbed into the cart, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Sorry, it's just... not what I was expecting," Sara said apologetically.

"I understand. I feel the same way every time I see it, even after all these years," Gail said, more than a hint of sadness in her voice.

Neither of them spoke as they drove down a wide white gravel path that led into a wooded area. Before too long they arrived at the cottage. It wasn't super large, but had the same 19th-century English aesthetic, though none of the finery as in the house. It was a simple farmhouse, painted white with forest green shutters on either side of the windows. A wide porch with a rocking chair and table guarded the entrance. It looked and felt like something out of a Jane Austin novel.

Sara and Gail climbed out of the cart and started toward the house. As they climbed the steps to the porch, Gail fished a set of keys out of her pocket. She unlocked the door with a flourish and pushed it open.

"Welcome to the cottage!" Gail pronounced with mock formality.

She led Sara inside and flicked on the light switch as they entered. The inside of the cottage was much like the outside. Simple, functional, but neat. Sara half expected the inside to be more like the house and felt a stab of disappointment when it was nothing like it. Where the house felt like wealth and power, this was quite the opposite. It wasn't shabby by any means, but was still nice. It reminded Sara of her mother's house. Nothing super fancy or extravagant, but still nice and well taken care of.

Gail led Sara on a brief tour of the house. None of the rooms were very large, the living room a bit smaller than her room back at the house. The kitchen was nice and not cramped. The two bedrooms looked to be the same size as any other bedroom she had seen. Nothing really was noteworthy in it all. Which made Sara feel comfortable being there. It was a sense of normality in the craziness of the past couple of weeks.

This won't be so bad Sara thought, feeling more at home than any time since she arrived.

"... and your clothes have all been brought over and put away. The kitchen is fully stocked with anything you might need," Gail was saying.

Sara was so caught up in the house that she hadn't noticed Gail was speaking. It took her a moment, but she realized Gail was explaining things to her.

"Got it. Thank you," Sara said.

Gail looked at Sara with an amused look on her face. She knew Sara hadn't heard a word she said.

"Well, Dave will be here soon. Remember, if you need anything, just pick up the phone. Someone will always be available. Don't forget, you will never be alone. I am always here for you if you should need me" Gail said, giving Sara a comforting look.

Gail gave her a quick hug and left, leaving Sara alone in the house. Sara sighed and decided to explore for a bit before starting dinner. She was to be a housewife after all.