Another day began, like the one before, but this time Mac could at least sit up. He struggled a little and he winced and sucked in a breath as he did, his ribs were on fire, he supposed they would be after sleeping on a hard floor. His mouth once again was drier than the Sahara, he desperately wanted to take the material off but knew that even though it was morning if he did it himself his father would be furious. He just hoped that he noticed that Mac was awake soon and came down, he couldn't even have any of the water that was so tempting on the other side of the room.
Mac leaned against the wall, his shoulders hurting with the position his arms were in, he was hoping he'd get a shower today, the one time that he was free of any bonds. Just as he was starting to think maybe he should get up and walk around, his father was taking a while, the door opened.
"Good morning Angus, I'm so pleased that you waited for me before removing that gag, it must be starting to get uncomfortable," James said, approaching from the stairs. "It shows that you can do as you're told without any trouble."
He motioned for Mac to sit forward and he took the material away carefully, the splits in his lips opening again slightly. His father than undid the wrist cuffs, doing the same with his ankle cuffs, leaving the chain attached.
"I'll leave you for a bit to take care of business, you can then come and have a shower."
Mac was grateful that his father left so he could make use of the bucket, he drank some water first, dabbing some on his lips. He was moving a little stiffly; he hoped the hot water helped with that.
Soon he was upstairs in the shower, his father had said as he'd behaved well that night he could spend longer than normal under the spray, Mac guessed that James had the same thought about the hot water. Soon though there was a knock on the door.
"That's enough Angus," his father called. "Be ready in five minutes."
Mac sighed, the water felt so good, he got dressed and stood ready, his father entering a minute later, securing his hands.
Breakfast was simple again, toast and an orange juice, his father gave him some more painkillers but told him it wouldn't be a regular thing. They then discussed what was going to happen that day.
"I want to start your exposure therapy this morning, we'll begin with the blindfold as your lips are still sore and you wore the gag through the night," James said, getting up to retrieve the material. He soon tied it around Mac's eyes, plunging him into darkness. "You can sit there while I clean up and then we'll move to the living room, you haven't been in there yet."
Mac sat still, he would normally be looking around the room while his father cleaned, but of course that wasn't possible that morning. He prayed James wouldn't make him wear it for too long, he knew that he had to listen to tapes later, so he'd be wearing it again. He felt James approach and the restraints were removed.
"Let's go to the living room." James led the way, pulling Mac towards the room.
Mac felt himself be positioned in a chair; it didn't feel like an armchair, but he couldn't be sure. His wrists were attached to the chair's arms and ankles to the chair legs.
"Don't think I've forgotten the last time you were in a living room, this chair is here especially for you, there was no way to restrain you properly in an armchair."
Mac wasn't going anywhere, not tied as tightly as he was, and not that he could see to anyway. The TV turned on and James started watching, Mac could hear it, it was strange not to see it, he now knew what it felt to be blind.
Time ticked by, James had been watching a film and those were usually two hours long, it had finished a while ago. Mac was getting impatient, and uncomfortable, the chair was better than a hard floor, but he'd been in it too long. He was also getting thirsty again, his lips were still quite cracked.
"Dad?" Mac asked, hoping that he didn't get in trouble for asking. "Could I have some water?"
There was no reply, but he thought he heard movement, something was pressed to his lips and he drank, it was soon taken away. "Thank you."
Again there was silence, Mac stayed sitting, he couldn't do much else, he felt movement again and felt something else be pushed against his mouth, this was soft and he opened his mouth instinctively, material was pulled around his head and tied tightly.
"We'll have the gag in for a bit now and I'll leave the blindfold on too. I'm leaving the room for a bit, I was going to leave the TV on for you, but I think you should sit in silence for a while."
Mac heard his father walk away and then the room was quiet, he shouldn't have spoken. The gag was obviously used because he spoke, his father had said the night before that he should stay quiet unless James was talking to him. A simple could I have some water and he was being punished for it. Great.
Mac sat there for another hour at least, although it might have been longer, there was a sound off to his left and then his father was removing his leg and arm restraints, he was pulled up and taken back to the kitchen, from what he could remember from the steps. He was pushed down and restrained once again, that was getting old fast, his gag and blindfold were then removed. Mac's eyes adjusted to the light a bit quicker than last time and he looked over at his father when he spoke.
"Do you understand why I put the gag in when I did?"
"Because I spoke without permission," Mac replied, internally cringing saying those words.
"Good, I'm glad you understand. I'm going to do the same thing every time you do it, maybe that will be a lesson of its own."
James turned to make lunch and Mac sighed and closed his eyes, now it seemed he'd hardly be able to talk. Was there anything his father was going to let him do.
Lunch was a quick affair and James left Mac at the table while he did a few things around the house, coming back every so often to make sure he was still in the same place. Mac wasn't exactly sure where his father thought he was going to go, his free wrist had been attached to a second ring under the table, so he couldn't move anywhere. The time ticked by and Mac was sure he could hear talking coming from his father's workshop. Maybe he was on the phone.
James came through once more walking to the pantry where the tapes were stored, he stayed in there for a few minutes and then he walked back over.
"It's time for you to listen to the tapes, we better get started now as I've made a third one I think you should listen to," James starting getting Mac ready to move, leading him away from the small room which seemed strange.
They walked over to the bathroom that belonged to James and he opened the door telling Mac to strip to his boxers and then use the toilet if he needed to. He stood there watching, his arms crossed. Mac took care of business quickly and then took off his clothes.
They headed to the pantry and James secured Mac as usual, injecting him with the sedative before putting on the headphones. The first two tapes were the same, although they didn't have the same effect that they'd had the day before. The last tape was new, and he wasn't surprised by the words, "I will only speak when spoken to."
After the three tapes Mac felt quite terrible, he had been sitting all day in awkward positions and he was ready to stretch out. The headphones were removed, and he was left for the final hour. This was starting to become normal, which was scary, he didn't want to get used to having this done. He was feeling alert when his father came back in, the drug had worn off quickly.
He answered the questions, adding the last one "I will only speak when spoken to," he then was released and moved, unsure where he was going that time. It seemed the 'secure room' was where he was put now after his tape session, he didn't struggle at all when he was secured, unsure why his father was still standing over him after a few minutes had passed.
"I'm disappointed Angus," James said.
Mac wasn't sure what had happened, he'd done everything right, he answered all the questions, he didn't struggle.
"Yesterday went so well, you seemed so broken and ready to behave, I thought when I played the tapes today, especially adding the new one that you would be even more broken. Instead you just seem bored."
His father had noticed that the tapes didn't have any effect on him, he hated to think what was going to happen now.
"Maybe pain is the element I need, the beating you took yesterday weakened you and that helped you to absorb the words from the tapes. I didn't think that would be needed each time, but maybe it is. I obviously can't give you a beating like that every day or that wouldn't work either. It has to be a happy medium."
Mac's heart was racing, he did not want to be in pain everyday so that he was broken quicker, maybe he should have acted more dazed after the tapes, more pathetic. It was too late now but he'd have to remember it.
"I have to think about this, they'll be no dinner tonight and you'll have to just stay here until I've thought things through. Don't worry Angus, I'll come up with a plan that will work. I need you broken enough to keep you safe, but not too broken that you'll be no use to me."
James left Mac to think about that last sentence, he felt that everyday things just got worse and he wasn't sure how much more he could take. He thought he was broken yesterday, but he bounced back, if James subjected him to days like that constantly, then he'd break again, but he didn't know if he'd ever return to normal.