"Don't move a muscle."
The shutter clicks. She squirms in her seat, her limbs writhing against her binds.
"Dammit Ino. Stay fucking still."
Another click. Closer to her this time. She quivers only slightly, but it is still too much."
"I TOLD YOU TO STAY STILL!"
The side of her face erupts in an explosion of pain. A drop of blood lingers on her cheek, then drops to the floor, replaced by a weak trickle of gore. The feeling of the binds, made of velvet, against her skin contrasts sharply with the cold firmness of the chair. Even though her restraints are soft, they are cutting into her wrists, her ankles, her throat. Something lands on the gash on her cheek, and a burning sensation begins. Salt. She exhales sharply, the pain leaving her breathless and bringing tears to her eyes.
"Go ahead and cry. No-one can help you now."
He advances on her, in the way that a lion prowls towards an unsteady doe. She was his prey, and he was right. No-one could save her now.
Click.
She awoke with a start, gasping and sobbing frantically. It's alright, it's okay, he's not here, he left a long time ago. The thought only made her sob harder. She couldn't survive without him, but she would not live if she returned to him. He would see to that. Her frantic sobbing subsided into feeble weeping, until she rolled over and fell into a deep slumber once more.
"Oh you're back. I wondered wherever you had gone."
She could not tell if his tone as gentlemanly or mocking. She was no longer bound, but still sitting on the sturdy chair. He was turned away from her, as he always was. She never saw his face; she could never read his expression. It frightened her. Absent mindedly, she reached her hand up to touch her cheek. It came away bloody. She gasped in horror, and he swirled around to face her. She still did not see his face. He tentatively stepped towards her, and placed his hand on her blood smeared cheek. She smiled; it was alright, he was back to normal, he would take care of her.
Lightening quick, he had a hold of her white blonde hair, tightly wound around his slender fist.
"You'll stay still this time. Won't you my little mouse?"
She hated her nickname. It made her sound weak. But she was, compared to him. He was a child, she his worthless plaything. And now it was time to play.