Warning: Rated for language, some violence and adult behavior.
The main characters of this story are based on characters from the cartoon 'Code Lyoko.' I do not own, nor do I claim, any copyright to these characters.
Rachael lowered her head. "I'm sorry I offended you," she said, "I'll leave now." She stood up and started to go. Before she left, she said "it's just, I've had to do this before. I've visited 'friends' before and had to take late night visitors."
"No, I don't want you to leave," Miko quickly said taking Rachael by the arm and motioning her to sit again, "Hiroki should not have walked in on you like that last night, but he was concerned for you, we all are. And, I have never stayed anywhere where sexual favors were required of a guest as payment."
"Then you haven't stayed in some of the places I have," Rachael replied. She was silent for a moment, then she told her story.
Rachael Kline was in her twenties when she fell in love with her brother's best friend, Deiter Stern. Deiter was a Business Major just out of college, an ambitious young man looking to make his mark in the world.
Rachael and Deiter dated for two years. During the whole time, Deiter was a polite, attentive suitor, and Rachael loved him deeply. Eventually, Deiter asked Rachael to marry him, and she gladly accepted. The couple married, and for the first few years, they were happy. Then things started to change.
At first, they were just two newlyweds getting to know each other's bodies, and sex was a wonderful gift they gave each other. But after a while, things got, well, routine. Deiter wanted to keep the spice, the excitement alive in their lovemaking, so they started experimenting with different things. And that experimentation led down some dark roads.
Rachael said she was a little frightened, as well as excited, the first time Deiter blindfolded her. Not being able to see what was happening, just feeling, tasting and hearing it, added a new dimension to their sex play. So eventually did the ropes.
Rachael knew nothing about the games she and Deiter had started playing. She trusted that her husband knew and respected the limits that had to exist in this world they began to explore. And that was her mistake, one she didn't discover until it was way too late.
Deiter either didn't know, or didn't care about limits in their bondage play. He truly believed he was Her Master, and she His Slave, and whatever he wanted, no matter how painful, no matter how sick, she would do for him.
Unfortunately, Rachael didn't discover this until he had broken her down so much that she couldn't function without him. This was the beginning of the nightmare Rachael called her life.
Since that day, she was his slave and plaything. He would come home from work at night and expect her to be waiting for him, ready to do whatever he commanded. And she obeyed. Sometimes, she would just have to kneel naked in the middle of the room, while he entertained guests. Other times, she would have to 'perform,' to earn things like her dinner, or sleep without a beating.
Oh yes, Rachael told Miko, he beat her. She slipped off her shirt and showed her friend the fresh stripes he painted on her back the night before she arrived with his belt. They shone bright red over the remains of older scars. She put her shirt back on and continued.
Things got even worse when Ulrich was born. A son was what Deiter wanted second most in the world, beyond power, and he was overjoyed when she bore him one, so overjoyed, he left her at peace for three whole weeks after birthing him.
Then Deiter told her of his plans for the boy, how he would raise him to know just where a woman's place in life was. That began the first and last fight the Sterns ever had.
She just said, "oh no, you won't," and he beat her within an inch of her life. Then just to prove he wasn't kidding, he bound her up and raped her for the next three days while her newborn son watched. He would continue even when the child cried, making her suckle him while she was bound. He then told her that she would breast feed Ulrich until He told her to stop, as a reminder of what her place in life was.
Something, someone, somehow told Ulrich to stop suckling when his first tooth came in. Deiter would rage on, accusing Rachael of somehow thwarting his plans, then try and force Ulrich to take her breast. Ulrich would refuse, and Deiter beat her.
That's when Deiter started using Ulrich as his leverage over her. He would tell her things he would do to the boy, then make her beg for his life. She did, and Deiter would drag her farther down into the depths. He told her he had spies watching her, watching Ulrich. And he would prove it by recounting some small thing she or her son did during the day, then savagely punish her for it, always reminding her that he was All Powerful. And she was truly broken.
As Ulrich got older, Deiter would teach him the way 'men' were supposed to behave, just as he told Rachael he would. He would recount business deals he had done where he cheated and defrauded his client; the women he had debauched and discarded, and then laugh at their stupidity. Ulrich would lap up his father's tales like milk. And Rachael was heartbroken.
Then, a few years ago, Deiter tried making an arms deal for a Swiss acquaintance, one which blew up, almost literally, in his face. To hush it up, Deiter had to sell almost everything he had accumulated. And, he had to find a scapegoat.
Rachael's brother, Lemuel, was Deiter's business partner when the deal went sour. Deiter arranged it so Lemuel looked like the one that brokered the whole deal. When the police investigated, they arrested Lemuel, tried and convicted him. To make sure the frame stuck, Deiter turned state's evidence and testified at Lemuel's trial. That act turned Ulrich against his father, and gave him a chance to escape.
The years after that were the darkest of Rachael's and Ulrich's life, if one could believe that. Deiter had to send Ulrich to Kadic Academy instead of the fancy Swiss school where he wanted to send him. Ulrich always had to worry about what his father was doing to his mother that allowed him to stay there. And Rachael had to do despicable things to see to it he remained there and had a chance to get away from Deiter.
And now Ulrich was at Ravensbrook Academy, having God knows what done to him. Deiter would taunt her at nights about what was probably happening to Ulrich at that moment, and won't it be wonderful when he comes home and performs the tricks he learned there for her. At other times, he would tell her about bringing Yumi back from America and breaking her down, making her a plaything too.
Rachael finally stopped, her tale ended. The tears running down her cheeks we no longer tears of shame, but of relief. Someone Else Now Knew. Whatever came next, she was no longer the only person holding those secrets.
"Rachael," Miko said, "men and women do not act that way towards each other. Takeo and I have had our arguments over the years, some of them terrible fights. But he has never abused me, or any of my children. If he would have, I would have killed him."
Rachael's eyes widened at that.
"Years ago, before Yumi chose Ulrich; yes Rachael, she chose him; things were bad between Takeo and I, so bad that we were considering divorce. But even at those times, which I thought were the darkest a person could ever experience, he never acted the way Deiter does to you. And since Ulrich came into Yumi's life, both Takeo and I have changed for the better."
"I have heard about people who use bondage as part of their love play. And even from what little I have heard, I know that what Deiter does to you is out and out torture. He has no right to do the things to you he does. And you are not an evil person for allowing it to happen. Rachel, I've come to love you like my sister, and your son as my own, so I must say this: you must break free of this man, or one day he will kill you, either accidentally or on purpose."
"He may be getting ready to now," Rachael softly said, "when I left the house yesterday, a young woman arrived. I think she is my replacement."
"Then you must not go back," Miko said, "stay here, we can protect you. You don't have to spend another night in that monster's house if you don't want to."
"But I have to go," Rachael replied, almost in tears again, "I may escape him, but Ulrich can't. If I run away, he'll hurt Ulrich. You don't know him like I do, Miko."
"And he does not know me, my family or his son like he thinks he does," Miko told her. She got up and went over to a desk and opened a drawer. She pulled out some letters kept there.
"Read these. Ulrich has been writing to us ever since the day you first came here alone last fall," Miko told her friend.
Rachael read the letters from Ulrich. They were addressed to Miko, but they may have well been written to her. She read this from the first one:
My time here at Ravensbrook has been made a lot easier. I don't know how, but somehow Yumi and I are able to talk in our dreams together. She's really scared about school, and all that money, but she'll do okay, I'm sure of it.
Sometimes, during the day, I can almost feel her next to me, giving me her strength, her love. And sometimes, when I'm resting, I try and reach out to her, and send her some of my strength, and all my love.
In another, she read:
Some guys tried raping my roommate last night. It got ugly for a little bit, but I managed to dissuade them from following through. The Commandant tells me they'll be in jail for a long time. Sounds to me like they'll get their fill of raping there, but not the way they wanted it.
Then:
I worry about my mother a lot. I wish I could tell you why, but you probably wouldn't believe me if I did. I told Yumi in so many words years ago, but she still didn't quite get the reality of it until the last night we were together. Mrs. Ishiyama, Mother, if there is any way you can find to help my mother, please do it. She is in desperate danger and I can't help her yet.
Rachael cried at that last sentence. Miko then showed her one more letter:
I've been thinking about joining the European Union Combined Armed Forces. Something about it draws me to it, like that's what I'm supposed to do. The only problem is I can't enlist until I'm eighteen, unless one of my parents signs the form with me. I know my dad won't; I'll just bet he has something else in store for me. Mom could, but she's too afraid of dad to even try. I guess I'll have to find some other way to get in.
"Are these the writings of a boy being tortured and abused?" Miko asked her friend, "the only thing that hurts him is the separation from the women he loves."
The only thing Rachael could do in reply was to softly weep.
"Do you want to break his hold over Ulrich and you?" Miko said after a moment.
Rachael ceased her crying and was silent. Then she replied, "yes."
"Good, then get your things," Miko said, "we're going on a road trip."
Miko left a note on the refrigerator, telling Takeo and Hiroki they were going for a drive and might not be back until late.
The two women got in Rachael's car, and they drove off.
It was late in the afternoon when they arrived at Ravensbrook Military Academy. They went to the Commandant's office and asked to see him.
"The Commandant is with a student at the moment, but I'll see if he can make a few minutes available to see you," the secretary said.
Not a minute after the secretary had set the phone's handset down, the Commandant opened his door and walked out.
"Mrs. Stern! What a pleasant surprise," he said.
Rachael introduced Miko to Commandant Krieger, and he said to her, "ah, yes. Cadet Stern has mentioned a Miss Ishiyama a few times. It is my great pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
He ushered the ladies into his office. There, standing at attention, was Ulrich. Rachael ran over and hugged her son.
"At Ease, Stern," the Commandant said, "we'll take a break for a few minutes."
At that, Ulrich melted and returned his mother's embrace.
The Commandant poured sweet tea for the ladies, then sat at his desk.
"Now, Mrs. Stern, what brings you here on a beautiful Saturday afternoon?"
"I... I... heard that Ulrich would like to enlist in the military," Rachael said, "if he really wants to, I'll sign the papers."
"Well, now that's interesting," Commandant Krieger said, "Mr. Stern, when did you ask your mother to do this?"
"I didn't, sir," Ulrich replied, "I did happen to mention it in a letter I wrote to Mrs. Ishiyama a couple of weeks ago."
"Ah, I see," he replied, "you realize, Mrs. Stern, that you would have to come back here during the week to sign the papers. They have to be signed in the presence of the recruiter in order for them to be legal."
Rachael's face fell. She would have to come back, risk Deiter's displeasure...
"Mom, don't do it," Ulrich pleaded, "I'll find another way."
"No," Rachael said after a moment, "at least one of us will escape him. Tell me when the best time to be here would be, Commandant, and I will be here."
Heinrich Krieger eased back in his chair a moment, looking at Rachael and thinking. He made a decision, then picked up the phone and dialed.
"Hello, Deiter Stern? Yes, this is Commandant Krieger over at Ravensbrook. I'm sorry to disturb you on the weekend, but there's been an accident, and your son Ulrich was involved. Now, I don't think he was seriously injured, but I had to send him to the hospital, just as a precaution. I'll need you to come here in case the hospital needs authorization to perform any medical procedures; I used up whatever authority I have when he was admitted."
The Commandant listened at the reply on the phone, a frown growing on his face.
"I see. Is there someone else that could come? Um hm, um hm, I see. Could I have her cell phone number? Yes. Um Hm. Right. Got it. I'll give her a call. Thank you very much, sir." He hung up the phone.
"Mrs. Stern, it seems your son was involved in an accident today, and had to be taken to the hospital for observation. Now, I can't tell you how serious the injuries are, and I don't know how long Ulrich will have to stay in the hospital, but given my past experience in these matters, I think I can safely say that it will be at least... Tuesday before Ulrich is discharged. Would there be any possibility that you could stay in the area to authorize any treatment he may need until then?"
Rachael smiled. "Why, yes sir. For my son, I will do anything."
The Commandant made some calls, and gave some instructions to his staff, and for all practical purposes, Ulrich Stern was a patient in the local hospital, under observation for unspecified injuries received in an unspecified accident.
Rachael and Miko were given guest quarters at the school. Ulrich's special study sessions with the Commandant were suspended for the weekend, given that he was in the hospital and all. He too spent the rest of the weekend in the guest quarters with his mother.
On Monday, Ulrich, Rachael, Miko and Commandant Krieger went down to the EU Combined Armed Forces Recruiting Station, where Ulrich enlisted. Rachael signed the form giving her permission for Ulrich to enlist before the minimum legal age. The recruiter administered the Oath to Ulrich and said that he would be scheduled to start Basic Training about two weeks after he graduated from Ravensbrook. Any further paperwork that would be needed would be sent to Ravensbrook. The Commandant assured Mrs. Stern that he could handle any further arrangements that needed to be made.
On Tuesday morning at 6 am, Miko Ishiyama was in the Principal's Office at Kadic Academy.
"I know this is unusual Mr. Delmas, but I need to see Jeremie Belpois for a while. Would that be possible?" she asked him.
"Why whatever for, Mrs. Ishiyama? If you were his mother, I wouldn't mind a bit, but seeing as you aren't..."
"It has something to do with Rachael Stern, Ulrich's mother," Mrs. Ishiyama said.
Jean-Pierre Delmas was silent for a moment, then said, "would you like to meet him here, or someplace else?"
"Someplace else."
"I'll arrange it immediately."
On Tuesday morning at 6 am, Rachael was kneeling in her position, awaiting Her Master's pleasure.
"So, your little boy got a little boo-boo, and you had to run and help him," Deiter sneered, "well, there's not much more that can be done about it now. But I do have wonderful news, my dear. I have Ulrich's future all mapped out for him..."
Deiter went on to explain how he would use the boy to advance his own fortune. He even explained that he had arranged for Ulrich to have a proper wife, one that he could use as his own plaything. She was perfect for him, pretty, docile, and unspoilt. Oh yes, Deiter said, Ulrich will have a wonderful life, until he decided it was time to take it all away from the boy.
All the while, Rachael knelt there before him, listening to him drone on and on. She smiled a little smile, one he couldn't see.
One of us will get away from you, you bastard, she thought to herself, I've got a secret.
