This is a short chapter but it preludes the next one so I am posting it. I will get up another one today though to make up for the shortness lol.
Joey had no idea what was going on, but that was often how things were in his life. One minute he was sitting in his wrong, laying on his bed in a t-shirt and boxers the way they loved them to be, and the next, he was being gagged and tied up, then shoved into the dungeon. It wasn't really the dungeon, but they called it that because it was cold and complex even though it was a simple bedroom. There were tools of torture against the wall and a hardwood surface for the ultimate pain. This is where you went to be punished, and sometimes you didn't return. And Joey was afraid he hadn't done anything wrong, so why was he being punished. God, he hated his life. He wanted out, needed out.
River knew he needed to keep Sam within the Elite. He also knew how close his favorite little toy had grown with Joey. He didn't often interact with the young man; he wasn't really his type. Besides, since Rose loved him so much, River wasn't about to step on her toes.
He had the men tie him face down to the bed, elevating his hips with a large pillow to raise his ass into the air. They left, and the room fell completely silent. River watched the man in silence for a few moments before approaching slowly, making sure that his footsteps echoed through the room. "Hello, Joseph."
Had Joey been claustrophobic, he would have long died from the ways he was tortured. He waited quietly, trying to still his racing heart, and just when he finally got it to calm down her heard River call him by his full first name, and fear went to work overtime. "Ma-Ma-Master R-River I - I promise I-I-I was g-good." Damn, he was terrified.
River ran his hand down Joey's back before resting it on his ass. "I know," he replied. "You're a good boy." He patted his ass before removing his hand. "The best boy.""
Shit was the first thought in Joey's mind. This wasn't good. "T-Thank you, M-Master River," he said, very aware of the man standing above him.
"So polite." He smirked, even if Joey couldn't see him. "So beautiful." He paused for a moment before leaning down to whisper in the young man's ear: "So trapped."
Joey froze. Yeah, he was definitely screwed. Nothing good ever came from these talks.
"What's on your mind, kiddo?" he asked carefully, pulling over a chair so he could sit next to his prey.
"N-Nothing Ma-Master River." Joey knew better than to complain; that meant torture and punishment. That meant pain, and Joey didn't want it if he could avoid it.
River rested his hand on Joey's lower back. "I'm sure there's something on your mind."
Joey shook his head fast. "N-No, Sir." He wanted to crawl away, wanted to cry, wanted someone to come in and save him, but he knew that wasn't going to happen.
He got up. "Such a shame," he sighed. "And here I thought we might come to an agreement."
"An agreement?" Joey tried to turn his head. "Pl-please don't b-be mad." He shook his head; he was screwed.
"Yes, my boy. But it seems you'd much rather go back to your pathetic little bed in your pathetic little room."
Of course, he would, but that was not the right answer. "I-I want t-to talk M-Master River."
River returned and patted Joey's head. "Now that's a good boy." He paused for a moment. "How would you like a chance to earn your way out, hm?"
This was a trap; this had to be a trap; there was no way out. "S-sir?" He questioned. No way he was that lucky.
River sat back down again. "It won't be too terribly difficult. Are you up for it?"
Joey was scared to know what the man was thinking, but he would do almost anything to leave this place. "Y-yes, Master River." he managed.
"I need you to help me with something," he replied, running a finger down the man's spine. "Sam needs to stay here with us. We can't have him leaving. So what I need is for you to get him to stay."
Joey shuddered. "H-how can i-i do that?"
"You're a smart boy. I'm sure you can figure something out."
Joey closed his eyes. Sam was his best friend, his pseudo big brother, and now it was either his freedom or Sam's? That seemed unfair. But that's what this place did. "I-is his debt c-cleared? That wh-why?"
"Not even close," he lied. Of course, his original debt was clear, but everything else was adding up. "But we need him to stay and think you can help."
"We can't leave," Joey said meekly. "H-how c-can I help?"
"But you can leave," he cooed. "We need you to convince him that staying is the only option."
He couldn't do that; Sam deserved to leave. "I-i don't u-understand...we d-don't get choices." How could Sam go if none of them could?
"Someone wants to pay a great deal of money for him, but we cannot have that." He continued to run his hand up and down Joey's back. "But you have that choice now."
So he heard right, and Sam was close to freedom. But now, so was he. "I-i understand." was all he could say.
A predatory smile formed across his face. "That's a good boy."
Joey was scared but not for him, for Sam.
"Now... how do you feel about me making you feel good? hm? a little reward._
Reward, he was considering betraying his best friend. But he also knew River didn't take no for an answer. "M-Master River, I just want to be good." He knew those words were music to his ears.
Oh, it was music. "You're so good, Joey. So good."