The Island

The Island by Wild Rose

For disclaimers see part I

Part II: Getting To Know Her

She thought that she would quickly become accustomed to being spread eagled and displayed but on this third day it still felt as degrading and humiliating as during the days before. She almost felt their eyes on her, though she didn't have the slightest idea who ‘they' could be. She just knew they were there, and that they were watching. That's why every cry Kathryn's whip forced from her felt like a declaration of defeat and she couldn't help but resent the woman that wielded the whip with such skill.

She still could feel every single stroke that had been applied to her back and thighs even though a passing glance in the mirror had shown her there was barely a mark marring her skin. Kathryn had used the whip with dispassionate accuracy. And she was under no illusion that this day would be any different. In a way it would be harder because this time she would have to see her nemesis. The hours in silent darkness before and after each whipping had faded her memory of the tenderness and compassion the raven-head had shown her after her first punishment.

Fifty-nine minutes… And there she was, wearing her leather pants, the coiled whip hanging down from her waist. As was her custom she stepped right in front of her and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. This time she also asked,

“Do you want a blindfold, Chris?”

The blonde vigorously shock her head in a mixture of astonishment at even being asked and an outburst of pride. Kathryn stepped back and uncoiled the whip. There was no doubt that every stroke would land exactly were she wanted it to.

The first four strokes targeted Chris' breasts, just above and below her nipples. The fifth stroke made her cry out in surprise and in pain. It started with her nipple and quickly spread through her whole left breast. Before she had a chance to calm down the sixth stroke found her right nipple. When she looked down nothing indicated that she just had been struck and yet it still hurt a great deal.

Kathryn once again took aim and the next three stinging blows followed quickly one after the other, leaving parallel marks on her stomach; the pain of the first one having not yet registered when the last one fell. It felt like her skin was on fire, a searing pain that left her breathless; tears ran down her face, her mouth opened in a silent scream. In quick succession her inner thighs were marked with four lash marks each. With the second blow the blonde could no longer keep herself from crying out. She had also lost count of the number of strokes she already had received.

The tall woman changed hands and soon a fourth horizontal line was adorning her stomach while the marks on her thighs, though still hurting, were on their way to disappearing. With a flick of the wrist, Chris' world exploded. The last two strokes were aimed between her legs and found her clit dead centre. If she hadn't been tightly bound she would have jumped out of her skin and danced all over the courtyard where she was staked out.

Chris expected that her torturer would now come back to her, give her another kiss and leave her for an hour. Instead, a woman wearing the wrist cuffs of the Servant class brought a comfortable looking chair. Kathryn calmly re-coiled the whip and took her seat, never taking her eyes from the bound woman. She just looked at her, never moving, never looking bored. She just sat there and looked at her. Rather than feeling scrutinised or criticised by the probing eyes, the blonde felt strangely comforted and tenderly held by Kathryn's blue gaze and tried to return it with her green orbs.

Finally the hour was up. Kathryn rose from her seat and walked towards her prisoner. She gently kissed her on the forehead and whispered,

“You did well, I'm proud of you, Chris.”

She then bent down and unhooked her from the chains that had held her legs apart. Then she freed her hands, and made sure that she was able to stand safely on her own.

Without being told, the blonde crossed her wrists in front of her, thus allowing the taller woman to fasten them together with the rings. She knew by now that during the first part of her initiation she would not be allowed to go anywhere without being properly restrained. A part of her wanted to fight the bindings, especially the hobble that was put on her feet but experience had taught her that she simply wasn't strong enough.

Kathryn gently covered the connected rings of her wrist cuffs with her left hand. The first step almost made Chris loose her balance and only then did she understand that the older woman was doing more than just leading her, and in fact had done so the last two days. She supported Chris with her own strength while giving the impression of going for a stroll through a park. Instead of being led back to her dark cell, they ended up in a big bathroom where a steaming tub awaited her.

The taller woman undid her restraints and assisted her into the hot water.

“There are a few herbs in the water that will reduce the pain. Close your eyes and let your body relax. You will feel the whipping for the next three or four days but the pain will not handicap you in any way. – I have a few things to tend to, so I will give you some privacy.”

Chris surprised herself with her reaction.

“Please, don't go. – Mistress. I'd rather not be alone, now.”

The raven-head had almost reached the door when she turned on her heels. Her face gave nothing away when she asked.

“Are you sure, Chris?”

“Yes, Mistress, please stay. Tell me something about your ‘domain' … about life on the island, about this initiation thing, anything, please Mistress.”

The blonde hated how needy her voice sounded but she had been alone with her unsettling thoughts for too long. Waiting out in the dark, endless hours between each of her whippings.

Kathryn perched on the rim of the bathtub and leaned her back against the side wall, locking her eyes with Chris'.

“The domain… It's like a small village, in a way. The clinic has ten doctors and about thirty nurses, aside from caring for the other inhabitants they do research on herbs and other homeopathic medicines. They came up with the combination of herbs you're using now.

“About half of my people are Farmers. Planting and harvesting is mostly done by machines but the cattle and the horses require a lot of manpower to be adequately cared for. A machine can muck out a stall but it never will be able to tell if an animal is well just by touch alone.

“The Farmers also are in charge of another research facility. Occasionally they work closely with the doctors. The science labs are occupied with things as diversified as power management, metallurgy, solar and geothermal energy, and computer science.

“I have another supervisor helping me with the paperwork and other administrative issues. There also are twenty-five Servants who run the main house and the kitchens. Sometimes I think that without them everything would just fall to pieces. You will be the only initiate.”

“You're talking of doctors and scientists, Mistress, but how is that possible? Without any memories of our past lives, how …. I don't know… how can one be sure that he or she is suited for what they are assigned to do? And who decides?”

Kathryn smiled, having expected this question sooner or later.

“First of all, there is no ‘he'. The island is female only, though I have been told that there's a similar institution for male convicts. – The Initiation period not only will teach you how to obey; it will also serve to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Your first posting will be decided by your instructor … in your case, by me. If it doesn't work out, everyone may petition their superiors for another posting, but with no guarantee that their wish will be granted.

“Regardless of what you will end up doing, for as long as you and I are on the Island , I will always have a say in your life. I will always be your Mistress and you will always be my responsibility. That's the way it is; that's the way it always will be. Regardless of how high you rise in the hierarchy of the Island , as long as there are cuffs around your wrists and ankles there will always be at least one person you will have to answer to.

“Now, let me help you out of the tub. The water is getting cold and it's not good to be exposed to this special combination of herbs too long. It tends to dull more than just the nerve endings of the skin but it still is the most efficient remedy for the kind of pain I inflicted on you.”

The blonde quickly stood next to the tub and tried to reach for a towel.

“No, I'll do it. You probably would rub yourself dry and I don't want you irritating your skin be doing so.”

Chris felt the other woman's care and tenderness as she was gently patted dry with a big fluffy towel. She still could map out every single one of the sixty lashes she had received over the last three days. They hurt but they no longer burned in her heart, and so, she was able to tuck the pain away in a hidden compartment of her mind.

It just didn't make any sense: first the woman made her suffer all this pain and humiliation, and then she did everything she could to make it easier to bear. Why? Was this all part of an underhanded plan to get her to lower her guard, to get her to trust her jailer? To make her believe that there really was no chance of escape, to make her believe that she really had done something so atrocious that she had to be removed from the ‘real' world?

~*~

About thirty minutes later, Chris was standing alone in front of a large building with heavy double doors reminding her of a bank. Her wrists once again were crossed and immobilised in front of her and she was hobbled. Kathryn had left her with clear instructions: stay out of the way, speak only when you are spoken to first and always to be respectful. The sidewalk and street were busy with passer-bys. Every one of them seemed occupied with their own problems and paid her no attention. Her mind was left to wander.

How technologically advanced could a society be, Chris asked herself, when the only means of transport she saw were carts, carriages, and horses?

Kathryn had been gone for sixteen minutes now; she should be back soon; she had said it wouldn't take long. She had no watch and there was no clock in sight, so, how did she know so exactly? She was sure that it was sixteen minutes, just as she had been sure each time when her hour of waiting had been up these past three days. But how could she know, Chris asked herself while nervously pacing in front of the entrance.

She suddenly found herself flying to the ground, instinctively she rolled sideways and protected her head from connecting with the pavement as best as she could. An older woman in her late fifties who was also naked was lying next to her, looking stunned and disoriented. Chris sat up and asked the woman if she was all right.

“You stupid bitch, what the hell were you doing in front of the entrance? Not even the most inexperienced of Supervisors would leave a newbie where she is in the way.” The woman shouted.

“Oh, calm down. It's not a big deal. No one was hurt, so, take it easy, wrinkle butt.” The last two words slipped out before she could stop them.

“First you trip me; then you insult me. I want justice satisfied.”

With more strength than the young woman would have thought possible the other one pulled them both to their feet, grabbed her bound wrists and dragged her through the massive doors.

While crossing the hall to get to the wide staircase they passed a few other women, dressed women with wrist bands like Kathryn wore. They all stopped and respectfully bowed to the woman. That's when it began to sink in that she probably had made a serious mistake.

The woman had black wrist cuffs with metal rings on either side of them. Black, that meant she was a Repentant, and thus, despite her attire of lack of such, was of the second highest level of authority in this society – and Chris had just grossly insulted her. What by the Goddess had she been thinking?

She was hurried up the stairs and swiftly walked to another set of large wooden double doors at the end of a corridor; Chris, in her hobbles, had a hard time keeping up with the enraged woman's pace.

The older woman knocked and entered without waiting for an answer. There was an enormous, elegantly carved desk in the centre of the room that seemed somehow familiar to her. She didn't have the chance to search what was left of her memories for an answer before the woman turned her to the right where she found Kathryn and an impressive looking woman seated before a panoramic window. Kathryn quickly rose from her seat and respectfully bowed to the Repentant, without even acknowledging Chris' presence.

The woman let go of the blonde's wrists and knelt in front of the other lady, seated in a comfortable armchair next to big couch.

“Mistress, I demand that justice be satisfied. This newbie has tripped me and called me names. She also neglected to properly address me. I want her instructor called here immediately and I want her punished.”

In the blink of an eye Kathryn was standing next to Chris.

“Venerable elder, the Initiate Chris is in my charge. I accept full responsibility for her actions. Her instruction has not yet started, and I made an error of judgement by leaving her unattended on the street, Madam.”

The seated woman whose silver hair spilled freely over her shoulders studied the young woman half hidden behind her instructor. There was a long moment of silence before she turned her attention back to Chris' accuser.

“Ani, come closer. Calm down and tell me what happened.”

The Repentant moved forward only to kneel again to the left of the chair with her knees opened wide and her hands resting palm up on her knees.

“I was on my way to run the errand you gave me, Mistress. I hurriedly left the building and before I knew it the newbie was in my way. We both fell down and she called me ‘wrinkle butt'.” The woman said with indignation in her voice.

“Well, young woman, that's not very nice. I happen to like her ‘butt' and her other attributes. What do you have to say in your defence?”

“I'm sorry that I was in the way, venerable elder. I was lost in thought and was not paying attention to my surroundings. I'm sorry I insulted her but she started it. She called me a ‘stupid bitch'. I just gave as good as I got.” There was a hint of defiance detectable in Chris' words.

Ani nodded to confirm the younger woman's words and her eyes dropped to the ground.

“Supervisor Kathryn, I think you have your work cut out for you with this one. I really don't know why you wanted to take her in addition to your other duties. Do you still insist on being responsible for her behaviour?”

“Yes, I do; now, more than ever, venerable elder. It is true that she obviously didn't follow my orders, and she will be punished for her disobedience. But it is also true that I left her alone without first giving her the information she needed to stay out of trouble. She didn't know how to address the honourable elder Ani properly and she didn't know about the banishment of curse words and derogatory remarks. I take complete responsibility for this.”

“Then you leave me no choice but to punish you in her stead.”

“Yes, venerable elder, I accept every punishment you deem appropriate.” Kathryn answered while at the same time immobilising and muting her charge.

“Very well. What instrument of discipline does your Mistress prefer, Kathryn?”

“The single tail leather whip, Madam.”

“Oh yes, I forgot. No, we won't do that. You have suffered enough from that whip to last two life times.”

The silver haired woman had risen from her seat. She was at least a head smaller than Chris and yet exuded an undeniable authrity.

“I shouldn't have tried to escape. I deserved to be punished, venerable elder.”

“Hindsight, what a wonderful thing, isn't it? Tell me, at the time, were you convinced that you were doing the right thing?”

“You know the answer, Madam. Yes, I'm sure it was the right thing to do, and even now, knowing the consequences I'm not sure that I would have done anything differently.”

“And yet, you never tried again.” Ani observed, from her still kneeling position. “The head of Supervisors is convinced it is due to the draconian punishment you received. She thinks that your quick rise through the ranks is part of a plan to gain enough influence to somehow find a way to escape.”

“My Mistress is wrong, honourable elder. I accepted the punishment and life on the Island because your Mistress, the venerable elder Ika, made me understand that it was the right thing to do. She told me about her past and why she had been sent here. A talk with her accomplished what months of initiation could not. Instead of only feeling the loss of my true identity and growing bitter with it, I realised that the loss of my memories had also given me a chance to become someone else, someone hopefully not as prone to the flaws and crimes that probably brought me here. I never had the chance to thank you for giving me this chance, venerable elder.”

“You are welcome, Kathryn. You have come a long way from the angry young woman you once were, and I'm sure one day you will be an asset, and an enrichment to the Council of Elders. – Now, let's get back to business. For neglecting your duty you will receive two times twenty strokes with the cane on your bare buttocks. Your sense of duty will be rewarded with a special dispensation allowing you to wear clothes in public while you wait for your Mistress to completely clear you of your guilt.”

“Thank you, venerable elder.” The tall woman answered with a smile.

She then unbuttoned her blouse, slipped out of her boots and leather pants. When all of her clothes were in a neat pile, she went to a solid wooden closet in the corner of the room, opened it, and retrieved an almost three foot long bamboo cane with an ivory handle.

Kathryn then knelt in front of the other naked woman and asked,

“Please, honourable elder, punish me for my short comings and give me the chance to mend my ways.”

Ani quietly took it.

“Take your position, please.”

The supervisor stood, positioned her feet two times the width of her shoulders apart, bent forward, and grabbed her ankles. Her waist long, raven hair fell to the ground and gave Chris an unimpeded view of her back. Had she been able to, she would have gasped.

Her back was a mess of white lines, thin and thicker, long and short, criss-crossing each other, forming intricate patterns that partly looked like very complicated braids. In a few areas the scar tissue was very thick, raising the skin in welts.

She was sure that this had been done by a single tail whip, and she was also sure that it had taken a long time to do this much damage. She stared at the scarred flesh as if it would be able to give her an answer to the enigma that was her mistress.

One moment the woman said that she would be punished and the next she was willing to take the punishment that should have befallen her. None of this would have happened had she only stayed where she had been told to stay. Chris didn't understand her mistress' reasoning and this of all things she now wanted to understand.

The voice of her tall mistress brought her back to reality.

“Nine.”

Her mistress, it was strange how she no longer felt anger at thinking of Kathryn as her ‘Mistress'. She began to believe that it really was like she had said that first day. “I will teach you, I will commend you and award you, I will protect you and I will punish you.”

Chris once again lost herself in her contemplation of the scars. She understood suddenly that what Kathryn had told the silver haired woman, the Rehabilitated, had also been addressed to her. She had been given a key but at the moment she didn't know how many doors it would open in the end.

“Twenty-one.”

The movement of the cane through the air sounded like the hissing of a venomous snake.

“Twenty-two.”

Kathryn's voice was still deep and calm, as if she were counting something as mundane as bales of hay in a barn.

Chris was standing slightly to the side and could not see the impact of the cane. This she only could hear and she somehow detested the sound more than the one the single tail whip had made when hitting her own skin.

However, she had a clear view of the play of muscles in the bent-over woman's back, arms, and thighs. Just before contact they visibly relaxed only to tighten again shortly after to maintain her balance. Her breathing rhythm matched that of the strokes, and she imagined that this also helped to stand the pain.

“Forty.”

“Justice is satisfied, Kathryn.”

The silver haired woman resumed her seat. Kathryn stretched to her full height at the words and in the same smooth, elegant motion dropped to her knees in front of Ani.

“Thank you for disciplining me, honourable elder.” She said and then kissed the hands that still held the cane. “May I remove the instrument of discipline, Madam?”

“No, Kathryn. Give it to me.” Elder Ika, the Rehabilitated interposed. “I will be in need of it shortly.

“Ani also has to be punished for her inappropriate choice of words. Regardless of what happened, she should have known better.

History has taught us that not one single woman sent here is stupid and on this Island bitches always have four legs and tend to communicate by wagging their tail and barking.”

The last words had been exclusively addressed to the Repentant who had resumed her place next to her Mistress.

Kathryn stood, bowed to the Repentant, and then quickly knelt again in front of the seated woman, presenting the cane on her outstretched hands.

“Thank you, Supervisor Kathryn. You will have a report on today's incident, complete with video documentation on your desk as soon as you get home. But before you go, there's something I always wanted to know… Why do you keep the scars? You could have had them removed years ago.”

“It's a reminder of what I did and what I am capable of doing if don't keep myself in check, elder Ika. And I was also told that it would only be cosmetic, that my skin and back would still be more sensitive than normal.” The kneeling woman answered with sadness in her voice.

“The head of the Supervisors is on her bi-annual tour. She probably will take her time before she comes to take care of you but I want you to send me an update on project ‘Genesis' when she stays longer than twenty-four hours. I don't like the way she treats her subordinates, and I certainly don't like the way she treats you.”

“I'm her responsibility and she follows the letter of the law, venerable elder.”

“That she does. Have a good return trip, Kathryn.”

The silver haired woman gave her a parting kiss on the forehead. Kathryn quickly slipped back in her clothing and restored Chris' ability to move. With a deep bow they left the room together.

TO BE CONTINUED