Bane's Sewer Mouse

Chapter 3

Ooo

Ann wasn't sure when she fell asleep, but when she awoke, there was this awful crushing weight on top of her. In the flickering light of a single candle, she could see the outline of the grid on Bane's mask. In that same moment, she realized her dress had been pulled up past her hips. A pair of large hands engulfed her thighs.

Sheer terror sunk in and Ann took a sharp breath, then she screamed. A wail erupted from her throat and she started pounding on his chest. Trying to push him away, she realized it was like pushing a brick wall.

Then she felt it. He was hard and incredibly thick against her leg. A heavy mass that made her heart jump into her throat.

"No Bane, no. Please," She begged, trying in vain to push him away. "Don't do this, please. Get off of me." She was sobbing now, her face unattractively twisted and tears streaming down her face. In her struggle, she felt the fabric of her gown give way and tear. She started to struggle harder, but Bane had stopped trying to hold her down. Instead, he only looked down on her with his brows furrowed.

She wiggled her way out from under him and sprung across the room. Her torn dress slipped off her shoulders, but she clung it to her form.

"Bane," She said in a deep, terrified voice. "If you rape me, I will kill myself. I'm still not okay with everything, but I swear to God, if you rape me, I will fucking kill myself. I'll throw myself down that god damn waterfall."

Bane sat on the edge of the bed for a second, silent. His pants were still around his ankles but he had a black shirt on. Ann saw his erection throb and she blushed, but refused to look away from him. Try to be strong, stare him down, but she felt her resolve slip when Bane finally spoke.

"Rape," Bane rolled the word around in his mouth. "I'm sorry, I don't know that word."

"It's what you were just trying to do," Ann hissed at him,

There was a moment of silence and Bane just looked at Ann with confusion in his eye. Ann wondered if he was being serious, if he truly didn't know.

"It's when you force yourself on someone," She continued. "Sexually."

But Bane only furrowed his brow even more and cocked his head away from her. It was another moment before he spoke again.

"That's all I know," he said softly. Before Ann could say anything, he sighed and hauled himself up with a grunt. Ann looked away as he pulled his cargo pants up and buckled his belt. He then took a few steps toward her and Ann shuffled back, hitting the wall. About a foot away from her, Bane stopped. He reached out his hand and before Ann could duck away, he clasped her on the shoulder.

"For this to work, I need you alive. And it appears as the only way you are willing to stay alive is if you consent to this. While your personality is lacking, I need your body. Therefor, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to convince you," Bane then took his hand away and left the room.

Once he was gone, Ann crumpled to the floor. 'What exactly did he mean, convince me? Does he think I'm ever going to give my consent?' But at the same time, she also wondered what he meant by what he said 'That's all I know". Up until now, she hadn't really cared much about who Bane was or where he came from, but if all he really knew was violence and force then…well then who is this guy?

Ooo

She did end up getting off the floor eventually and crawled back into bed. Ann fell into a fitful sleep and, after what could only have been a couple hours, she climbs back out. Her dress slips dangerously low on her shoulders, so she grabs the blanket and wraps it around her.

The candle in the corner had now dwindled down to a nub from burning for hours, so she quickly took it and lit the other candles, not caring about saving them. She didn't plan on staying for long.

Checking to make sure she was alone, Ann gingerly sat down at the desk. Pressing the power button on the ancient tower, relieved when it did come to life. The equally as old monitor flickered for a second, but then a password lock sprung up. Frustrated, knowing there was no way she could know what it was, Ann left the computer in a huff.

Taking a nearby candle and its stand, Ann started to walk down the corridor. After what had happened, she decided she needed to get out of here. Hoping to find information on the computer to hand over to the police, Ann dreamed of seeing her aggressors behind bars. She felt a pang of guilt when she thought this, especially if Bane really didn't know any better. But, she reasoned, if he didn't, then he didn't belong in normal society.

Keeping her hand against one wall, she used the same path as the first time, hoping to make it to the waterfall. It had to drain out somewhere. There, she figured she could make a mad dash and escape, with no way for Bane to know where she went.

The candle made moving around easier, and she found her way to the waterfall a lot faster than before. Thankfully, there was no one coming up the stairs this time either and there didn't seem to be anyone in the immediate area. She rushed down them, but because of the waterfall not fifty feet from her, they were quite slick. At the last two steps, her foot flew out from under her and the candle went flying into the water, washed away.

Ann landed on her back, half on the steps and half on the floor. She groaned in pain for a few seconds before forcing herself to stand up and wrap herself up again. She walked quickly, skittishly looking around for any sign of life.

There was a tunnel just up ahead that she was aiming for, to hide out in for a second before she continued on to where the waterfall ran out. She broke into a run when she was close to the entrance, and skidded to a stop in front of it. But to her dismay, it was not a tunnel at all. It was a room. And inside that room on its bed was the bearded man from the theatre.

"Aw fuck," She mumbled, throwing her hands down in frustration.

"Miss Todd!" He said in amazement, as if never in a million years did he expect to see her there. "You shouldn't be here." Still, she said nothing.

"You're hurt," He noticed. She looked down and saw blood trailing down her hand. She must have hurt her arm in the fall.

"Oh," She acknowledged, pealing off the blanket to check the damage. It wasn't too bad, just a fairly large scrape.

"Come here, I'll help you with that."

Ooo

A few moments later, Ann found herself dazed and sitting on the edge of this man's bunk. Wasn't she supposed to be trying to escape? And there was this horrible period where neither one said a word.

"What's your name?" Ann asks to break the silence.

"Barsad," he answered easily, encouraging her unintentionally to ask more questions.

He poured the contents of a water bottle on to a rag. Carefully, he took her wrist and held out her arm to clean it.

"So Miss Todd, what brings you to my humble cavern?" He inquired in a thick, pretty accent.

"I suppose if we want to go to the beginning, it was you," Ann retorted.

He laughed a light laugh and said "I was just following orders."

"And what were those?" Ann pushed on.

"To bring you here, of course," He looked her in the eye, pausing his work.

"And why did you bring me here?" She asked, knowing she was pushing her luck but hoped he would remain open.

"I thought Bane already told you that?" He looked away, back to her arm, and started to wipe in earnest.

"He did, but why? Why do I need to do it? Why does it have to happen?" She was almost begging now and she didn't care.

Barsad's eyes suddenly darkened and his voice dropped an octave, becoming flat and uninviting. "If Bane hasn't told you, then I can't tell you."

But almost in the same second, he snapped back to the friendly man before.

"Now, we have disinfect it, then I can bandage it up and take you back. Count yourself lucky if we get you there before Bane comes back," He said merrily, as if that didn't have terrifying implications.

"Why? What will he do?"

He stood up then and turned away from her, walking towards a pile of things. When he returned, she saw that he had brought some bandage and a bottle of whiskey that Ann recognized.

"Bane has been very patient with you so far, Miss. Todd. I've never known him to be patient with anyone, so for your own sake I'd advise to behave," Barsad said, and to Ann it sounded like a scold.

Barsad was unscrewing the cap and Ann realized that this was the disinfectant he was talking about.

"Wait!" She said as he reached for her arm again. "Let me take a swig of that."

Amused, Barsad handed her the bottle. This was a method she had seen in several movies, drink a bit and it wont hurt as much. And he barked with laughter when she tipped the bottle and opened her throat, taking as much in as she could before the urge to breathe overwhelmed her.

"I'm impressed," He slapped her on the back, causing her to cough. "Alright, hand it to me. Let's get you cleaned up."

Barsad grabbed her elbow and held her arm straight. He then tipped the bottle over the wound, going over it a couple time. Ann hissed, but it truly wasn't all that bad. Maybe the alcohol really did help.

While Barsad was bandaging her, Ann was eyeing the bottle, savoring the taste of her last gulp on her tongue.

"Can I have another sip?" Ann asked innocently, with the wide eyes she uses when she wants something.

"Greedy brat!" He chided, taking up the bottle and putting it to his own mouth. But he did end up handing it to her.

It went on like that for a little while, them passing the bottle back and forth. Their laugher and talk grew louder and louder and it seemed like Barsad had forgotten all about bring her back quickly.

It wasn't flirtatious at all, they kept their distance and never once was an invitation or an innuendo offered. It was just two people getting to know each other, as drunk people are oft to do.

Ann learned that Barsad was from Russia and he was highly skilled with a gun.

"Yeah, I noticed," Ann commented when he told her, touching the tender spot on her skull.

"I mean shooting. Any target from any distance," Barsad replied, gesturing with his hands just how far he could shoot.

"Oh yeah? Prove it," Ann dared.

"One day, I promise."

Ann laughed along with him.

"What can you tell me about Bane?" Ann asked, knowing full well she wouldn't get much.

"All I will say is that my brother is very complicated, and very strong. Try to understand that whatever he does, he does it thinking it is for the best," Barsad zipped his lips with his finger.

"What about his mask? What is that for?" Ann pushes on, hoping to get just a little more information. .

"That's a story for another day," came a breathy, metallic voice from behind her. Turning, Ann saw her captor in the doorway. He didn't seem angry, but he didn't seem please either.

"Miss Todd, come with me," Bane ordered. He didn't even wait for her to move before walking off. Quickly, Ann wrapped herself with the blanket once more and rushed after him. She later rationalized that she was tipsy, therefor not thinking straight. In any other situation, she wouldn't have mindlessly followed him.

Bane took her back to the corridor and took her by the arm when it got too dark for her to see. In no time, they were back in Bane's den. He lead her back to the cot and gently sat her down.

"Did you have fun?" Bane inquired.

"Yes," Ann answered honestly.

"Good," Bane answered, which surprised Ann. "You can wander around at your leasure. My men will not hurt you, they will protect you. But if you leave here, I can't offer you that protection."

"What do I need to be protected from Bane?" Ann asked, looking him dead in the eye.

"You'll find out soon enough," Bane answered cryptically. "For now, sleep."

Ann allows Bane to push to down. And when she wakes up, she feels the weight of strong arms wrapped around her and she was pulled up to a massive chest. It was strange, but not exactly unpleasant.