Alan had listened as Billy worked at the computer, and figured the next bid was starting. Amazing how much I know is going on just by sounds, Alan thought sarcastically.
Billy looked up from the computer and gave Alan's seated form a sad look, before looking at the bid amount. He knew when the Tracy's placed a bid, because they made the big jump taking out all but one other bidder. He watched with some satisfaction as the bid became $108,000 and knew that the next one from the Tracy's would cause a stir. As it reached $110,000, Billy pushed a button and watched Alan.
His thoughts were cut off by a sudden sting in his right arm that tingled all the way down his arm. Grunting in confusion, Alan tried to move his arm, but the feeling was overridden by a stronger sting to his stomach. The unexpected feeling caused him to jump and yelp. What is going on? He thought then remembered the things that Billy had stuck to him were in the general area of the stings.
A zap on the left side of his chest was followed by one to his right. His muscles contracted on their own and tried to pull him right then left. The tingling feeling he had felt in his arm was now spreading all over his chest and stomach. Groaning at the discomfort, he tried to catch his breath and stop shaking. What the Hell are you doing, Billy? He wanted to yell.
His short respite was broken by another round of stings and zaps. This one he felt on his back, which arched from the stimulus, and on his left shoulder.
"Seems your family caught on fast, Alan," Billy called from the computer as the bid closed. Alan grunted in confusion, "They started out bidding high, but slowed when you they saw you dancing in the chair. Course the dance also intrigued the competition, and they gave you that second shocking."
Are you kidding me? Alan tried to say, but it was stopped by the gag.
Billy seemed to understand though because he chuckled, "That's right, Alan, I was putting electrodes on you before. I can make you squirm with the push of a button. And it is a very popular thing to watch among my clientele."
Alan sighed through his nose and rolled his eyes behind the blindfold; great sick people that buy kids, also like to watch them get electrocuted and squirm!
"Don't worry, though," Billy sneered, "It won't cause lasting or permanent damage; just an uncomfortable feeling for a while."
Alan's throaty growl was cut off by a more intense shock to his stomach, turning it to a cry of pain.
The gag muffled most of the cry, but Billy knew the shock hurt. Watching as Alan tried to control his ragged breathing, Billy smiled sadly; he wasn't someone that enjoyed watching others in pain, but he knew that other people – people with a lot of money – did enjoy it.
Keeping the shocks to different areas and different settings, Billy gave Alan enough time to recover before shocking him again. Alan quickly gave up holding in the tears, but honestly, with half of the shocks set at high levels, Billy didn't blame him.
Alan had tried to hold the tears, but gave up when a particularly strong shock to his back took his breath away for a moment. When he could breathe again, he took deep, shuddering breaths; but his lungs ached if it was too deep.
His throat was soon sore and scratchy from crying out in pain. He hated that he was letting so much out, but couldn't stop it most of the time; the shocks came unexpected to him and gave him little chance to hold back.
After an hour, Alan was covered in a sheen of sweat, and Billy gave him a little longer to recover between shocks. He also noticed that Alan's head was drooped in exhaustion, but shot up when a strong shock was sent through him.
I really hope none of my family is watching this, Alan tiredly thought after another shock, especially Gordon, Tin, and Fermat. They are too close to for me to want them to see me like this!
Alan's body shook from the tension that had built up from continued zapping to his muscles. The last hour, Billy only shocked him a few times, keeping him awake.
When the three hours were done, Billy gave Alan one last shock to bring him to awareness then turned off the camera. "We're done now, Alan," Billy informed as he walked up to the shaking boy trying to breathe deeply through his nose. Taking out and drying the gag, Billy watched Alan try to slow his panting, "Breath in your nose and out your mouth, it'll help."
Alan did as suggested and soon calmed his breathing; but he still sat tense and shaking. Billy gently removed the six electrodes from Alan's skin, and the blonde relaxed some. "How are you feeling?" Billy asked as he undid the ankle bindings.
"Do I have to answer?" Alan croaked out; his throat burning with the effort.
"You don't have to," Billy replied undoing Alan's wrists as he spoke, "But if I knew, I could help you feel better."
"Why do you care?" Was the scratchy reply.
"It may not seem like it, Alan," Billy said lifting and holding Alan on his feet, "But keeping you comfortable is my way of making up for putting you through the ringer."
"Then, I feel like crap," Alan said flatly.
Billy nodded in understanding, grabbing the chair and leading Alan to the table he sat the blonde down, "Do I have to tie you down or will you stay here and behave?"
Alan rubbed feeling back into hands, "I would rather not be tied," he said solemnly, "Especially by my wrists." Another tremor racked his body.
"Those tremors are an aftereffect of the shocking," Billy said when he noticed, "They may last a while. And I'll get some more cream for your wrist, but only if you stay put and don't remove the blindfold."
Alan nodded, but groaned and wrapped his arms around his stomach as his abdomen muscles clenched and spazzed painfully.
Billy left youngest Tracy to ride the tremor and got his small medical kit and some food. Closing the door behind him, Billy walked back to Alan as the younger stiffly straightened. "Here, have some water," Billy said putting a cup with a straw in Alan's hand.
Alan took small sips but quickly finished the cup, the cool water soothing his throat. Another spasm casue Alan to grip the cup so tightly it shattered in his hand; a groan escaping his mouth. Billy caught Alan's injured right hand, before he could rub it on anything; glass was stuck in his palm. "You got some glass stuck in your hand," Billy said softly, grabbing tweezers from then med box, "I'm going to have to take it out. Try not to move your hand."
"Sorry," Alan whispered.
"Don't worry about it," Billy murmured, gripping Alan's wrist firmly, "I'm going to take the glass out now." Alan hissed and involuntarily tried to pull away, "Easy, Alan," Billy soothed. After working for fifteen minutes, "That's the best I can do for you," Billy declared sitting up, "How does it feel?"
"Painful," was Alan's simple response.
"I'm going to but some antibiotic on it, now, then wrap it up," Billy explained as he dug around in his supplies, "It might sting and burn at first."
Alan nodded and grimaced as Billy applied the antibiotic. Just as Billy was taping off the gauze, another round of muscle spasms struck, taking Alan's breath away with a strangled cry.
"Think you can hold some food down?" Billy asked as Alan tried to breathe deeply.
"Not yet," Alan gasped rubbing his sore muscles, "My stomach hurts from my muscles clenching."
"I can give you something for the pain, and maybe lessen the spasms," Billy offered.
"I really would rather not be taking drugs," Alan said with a small smile, "Can't really tell what they are right now."
"Alright," Billy smiled at Alan's attempt of a good mood, "How about I take care of your wrists and ankles, then?"
Alan nodded and held out his right wrist for Billy to treat. The ointment didn't sting as much this time, but it noticeably relieved the burning ache in his wrist. This time, when Billy finished rubbing the cream in, he also wrapped a strip of gauze around the joint to help protect it.
Alan breathed through the next convulsion his muscles caused, curling in on himself to try and relieve the pain. Billy had, by this time, finished applying the cream to Alan's sore ankles and also wrapped them.
After another ten minutes the tremors became small shakes and shivers. "Think you can eat now?" Billy offered again.
"Yeah," Alan said tiredly.
"Another turkey sandwich and a sliced apple," Billy said sliding the plate in front of Alan. He stood up and pushed Alan's chair closer to the table too, "Think you can handle eating on your own?"
"Yes," Alan said, tentatively patting in front of him, trying to find the plate. Billy gently took Alan's left hand and moved it to the sandwich. Alan muttered, "Thanks," as Billy walked away.
As Billy worked at the computer, he kept an eye on the blonde as he ate. Finishing the sandwich, Alan asked, "What happens now?"
"Your father and one other bidder are the only ones left, so they are going to submit one more bid," Billy said, standing up and moving towards the table, "This one will be blind, though, and won't happen for a another five hours."
"Blind?" Alan wondered finishing off the apple slices.
"They are going to submit one last bid, but not know what the other person bid," Billy began, " I will be the only one to know who bid what, and then will inform the winner how to pay and were to find you. The loser will be notified of their loss, but otherwise all communication is cut between me and them."
"And why is it five hours?"
"They are going to see a rerun of the last four tapings," Billy explained, "You and I will just wait it out here."
"Oh boy," Alan grumbled. Stifling a yawn, Alan spoke again, "And when do you tell them that the bid will be blind?"
"I already told the other bidder," Billy paused, "Thought you may like to talk to your family again. But this time, there will be some restrictions.
"Restrictions?" Alan asked confused, "How so?"
"We'll call them with a burn phone," Billy answered, "So they don't have a visual, and I will enforce that you can only talk to one person."
"How are you going to enforce that?" Alan said skeptical.
"I'll talk to them fist, explain the blind bid," Billy answered, "Then you can have some time to talk with that one person. The phone will be on speaker, if more than one person talks, then I end the call. Otherwise I'll leave you to the conversation. So, who are you going to call?"