Chapter 7 – Descent: The Second Step
I smashed the alarm clock with a closed fist and the irritating beep finally stopped. God, I just need to get some decent sleep! I opened my eyes and was relieved to discover that the bed was empty. Ever since that Sunday night, I had awoken to find Kumiko in my bed several times during the week. It was always the same routine. I would dream of bumps coming from the attic, as well as an odd squealing sound that sounded like something metallic being dragged on the floor of the ceiling. I would always awaken from that dream to find Kumiko in my bed. Sometimes she would be wearing her pajamas. Sometimes she would be wearing her kimono. Once, she was naked.
Every time this had happened, I would explore the house from top to bottom but would never find anything. The only place that I didn’t explore in detail was the basement, but that was because there was no entrance from the outside to the basement. The casement windows in the basement were too small for anything to crawl in. Besides, crawling around in the basement in the middle of the night, after awakening to a nightmare and then finding that the nightmare was partly true, was not something I was overly eager to do.
What the fuck was going on?
Every morning, I would wake up, and Kumiko would no longer be in bed with me. Whenever I checked in the attic, she would be back in her box, and she would be wearing the same outfit that she wore when she first arrived. I had to do something. I just had to. I called the office and left a message on Cassie’s voice mail. I told her that I wasn’t feeling very good and that I was going to stay home. Today was a Friday and our project was going along ahead of schedule, so my presence wasn’t mandatory.
I grabbed some tools and went up into the attic. Sure enough, Kumiko was back in box. She had an impish expression on her face, as if she were keeping a funny secret. I taped her box shut and moved it over to the attic trap door. I never did get around to calling the security company this past week. So, I nailed the attic window shut. No one would be using that window to sneak into my house from now on!
After that, I lowered Kumiko’s box down through the trapdoor and pushed the box out of the master bedroom. Down the hallway, then down the stairs, I pushed that box. I had a destination in mind and I had to get the box there before I changed my mind.
Once in the basement, I pushed Kumiko’s box into the farthest corner and left it there. Then I removed the old light bulbs and installed newer ones. The basement wouldn’t be quite to dark and gloomy after this!
At the top of the stairs, I closed the basement door and slid the bolt home. I don’t why I did that though. It seemed rather silly, but after what had happened this past week, I wasn’t going to take any chances!
I heated up some cold pizza for breakfast and then pondered what I was going to do for the rest of the day. I felt an odd sense of freedom. I actually had most of a day to do anything that I wanted. I decided to do something spontaneous.
I drove off in my car and headed for the closest BMW dealership. Cassie’s car was back in the shop today and I knew that it was starting to drive her crazy. I walked through the dealership and casually browsed through their collection of cars. I didn’t really know a lot about cars and I guess it must have showed. The first salesman to come up to me was all smiles. He must have sensed a newbie and seemed eager to take advantage of me. His smile disappeared when I said, “May I speak with Bernard Stein please?”
“Why? I can answer all of your questions,” said the salesman with a slight crease in his forehead.
“I’m sure you can, but I was told to ask for Bernard. May I speak with him?”
The smile dropped from the salesman’s face. “I don’t know where he is.” He turned his back on me and stalked off.
That didn’t bother me.
I went to see the receptionist and I gave her my name and asked her to
page Bernard Stein. Within a few
minutes, a man who bore a striking resemblance to
“Mr. Doskins?” he asked tentatively. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m looking for a car,” I said amiably.
“Well, you certainly came to the right place. Would you like me to call a representative to help you out?”
“Actually,
Bernard’s face brightened up instantly. “Nelson?
He extended his hand and shook my hand firmly. “That’s ok. Do you have a minute? I really don’t know anything about cars and I was hoping that you could help me out.”
“Of course, of course!” Bernard didn’t have any of that first salesman’s hungry expression or attitude. He was helpful and he answered all of my questions with complete honesty. He took me through the dealership and explained the pros and cons of each type of car. He never tried to push any one model over another one. Instead, he just presented me with the facts and left it at that. That suited me just fine.
Eventually, I made my decision and we sat down to do business. He made me an offer that according to him was very good. I took it. What was money to me anyway? We shook hands and I asked, “So, you’ll take care of the details, right?”
He nodded his head emphatically and said, “Yup, I’ll call Cassie’s shop as soon as we’re done here. Are you sure about this?”
I appreciated his concern, but I was quite sure. “Yes, I’m sure. I just hope she likes it.”
“Trust me my friend. She’s going to love it!” He passed me my new set of keys and walked me out to the lot. I got into my new vehicle and drove off.
I didn’t have a destination in mind, but before I knew it, I was in the parking lot of the local shopping mall. My stomach growled so I went into the mall in search of the food court. Along the way, I passed by a store front that sold jewelery. I don’t wear any jewelery and I don’t know much about it, but one particular ring caught my attention. It was large and the central diamond was surrounded by several smaller diamonds. Even to my untrained eye, it was breathtaking.
What was I thinking of? Was I ready for this? Cassie and I haven’t even discussed living together yet.
Ready or not, I knew that today was the day to do spontaneous things. I walked into the store and was greeted by a smiling saleswoman. We talked and exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes before I got the courage up to ask about the ring. Fifteen minutes later, I had the ring safely boxed up in my pocket. That was when I realized that I still hadn’t gotten anything to eat!
---
I greeted Cassie as she left the office. “Nelson!” she exclaimed. “What’re you doing here? I thought you weren’t feeling good today. I was just about to call a cab so that I could come see how you were doing.”
I gave her a hug and a kiss and said, “Sorry about that. I hope it wasn’t too busy today.”
“No, it was pretty standard actually. Everything is proceeding as planned. Dan called me into his office today and he’s going to make my posting permanent.”
“Congratulations!” I was sincerely happy for her.
“But seriously Nelson. How are you feeling? I was worried about you.”
I felt a little guilty about that but brushed it aside. “I feel much better. You shouldn’t have worried. By the way, what’s up with your car?”
She sighed theatrically. “The shop called. They said that it’s going to cost a bundle to fix. I told them to not bother. I guess my raise is going to go into buying another car. I hate car shopping. You never know what you’re going to get with used cars these days.”
I suppressed my grin. “Well, I finally got rid of my car today.”
“You did?” she asked with a raised eyebrow. “So that’s what you were doing today!”
“Well that and other things.”
“What other things?”
I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I had been walking towards the spot where I normally parked my car. As arranged, a brand new BMW Z4 was sitting in the spot. Cassie didn’t fail to notice it.
“Oh my God! Is that your new car?” She touched the car reverently. “It’s beautiful!”
“Umm…actually, Cassie, it’s not my car.” Cassie pulled back her hand as if she had been stung.
“It’s not? Oh crap. And here I am drooling over someone else’s car!”
I pulled the two sets of keys that I had picked up at the dealership after my trip to the mall out of my pocket. “Actually Cassie, this is your car.”
“What?!” She looked at me incredulously. “I think I just heard you say that this is my car.”
I grinned at her and said, “You heard right.” I passed her the keys. She took them from me numbly. “I hope you like it.”
“Like it? Like it?!” She threw her arms around me and yelled, “I love it! But Nelson, how could you? Do you know how much these things go for? Oh man! Nelson, I can’t take this. It’s too much!”
“Think of it as an early Christmas present.”
“I can’t…oh…I can’t Nelson. You’re so sweet, but I can’t take this. It’s too much.”
“Cassie, it’s not a big deal ok? Come on; let’s have a seat in your car.”
Still in a state of shock, Cassie unlocked the car door and got into the driver seat. I opened the passenger seat and sat down. We both closed our respective doors at the same time. Her eyes were practically glowing as she took in the leather steering wheel, dramatic dashboard and the new car smell.
“Nelson, this is beautiful. You’re beautiful…but I can’t…it’s too much! I mean, if we were married and we bought a car like this together is one thing…but…”
“Funny you should say that Cassie.” As casually as I could, I reached into another pocket and pulled out the small box. Her eyes seemed as big as dinner plates as she saw it. She seemed to be having some problems with breathing. I opened the box and showed the ring inside to her. “Cassie Brown, will you marry me?”
---
It was past 2:00am when I pulled my new BMW X5 into my driveway. I should be feeling tired, but the euphoria of the night was still high in my mind. She had said YES! I was going to get married! She said yes!
After that momentous event, we had gotten out of the car and made our way to the restaurant where the rest of the gang was waiting for us. As we walked, I had casually pointed out my new X5 but that moment had been somewhat anticlimactic. We had entered the restaurant amid loud cheers. Bernard, as planned, had called his brother Gary and together, they had arranged this impromptu get together. Most of the people from the Product Development Department had turned out. Of course, this meant that our relationship wasn’t a secret anymore, but then again, I think most of the people had already known.
The impromptu engagement party had lasted well after midnight. By that time, only the members of our team were left. Cassie and I had carefully kept our alcohol consumption down so that we were able to drive ourselves home. I was a little disappointed that Cassie was not able to spend the night with me tonight. She had some pressing family issues to deal with tomorrow, but she had promised me that she would visit when she got the time.
I opened my front door and let myself in. That was when I suddenly remembered everything that had happened in this house over the past week. I half expected to see Kumiko sitting on the couch in the living room with her right hand waving a greeting. I sighed in relief when I didn’t see her there. As I walked past the basement door on the way to the kitchen, I took satisfaction in noting that the bolt was still in place. Good!
I poured myself a glass of water and drank it down. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the simple pleasure of the cold water going down my throat.
Thump!
I almost choked on the water.
Thump!
What the hell? What was that sound?
Thump! Thump!
Whatever it was, it was getting louder.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The sounds seemed to be coming from the direction of the basement door. Suddenly, there was a loud THUMP!
I put the glass down and walked over to the basement door. My hands were shaking and a shiver of fear was running down my spine. What was going on? The door creaked slightly as if a weight was leaning on it from the other side. I had to find out what was going on!
My hand was shaking so hard that it took me several tries to unlatch the bolt. Then, my other hand slowly turned the knob. I couldn’t take this! I just couldn’t! I suddenly flung the door open and stepped back in shock and fear. Kumiko lunged at me through the door and as I reared back, my head cracked against the wall behind me and my vision went black.
---
My head hurt. I felt as if my head were split open and a million bugs were swarming into the crack. My mind was foggy but it slowly started to awaken and register things.
The first thing that my mind registered was the pain. Not just the pain in my head, but on my back, and my arms and on my legs. What the hell had happened? I slowly opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was the hardwood floor of my living room. The next thing I saw was the Persian rug. Then I saw two leather booted feet standing on the rug. As my eyes traveled upward, I saw two shapely legs, topped by a rounded leather-clad pelvis, followed by a bare stomach, and then by a pair of leather covered breasts. On top of all of this was Kumiko’s beautiful face staring down at me.
Behind Kumiko was her stand, which explained how she was standing over me. There was a whip in her right hand and a riding crop in her left.
She had whipped me!
That thought surged through my pain filled mind. But how? She’s just a fucking doll for God’s sakes. A low rasping chuckle rose from the depths of my chest. A fucking doll. That’s all she was! A fucking doll. She only existed for me to fuck her!
But now, she had fucked me good. Somehow, she had worked me over with a whip of all things! I didn’t even know where the whip had come from. One of the dominatrix type accessories I had ordered for Kumiko had been the riding crop. But it was just a cheap plastic prop though. Not the real thing. Where had the whip come from?
Anger surged past the pain and curiosity I felt. That bitch! What gave her the right to whip me? I lunged to my feet and snatched the whip from her hand. It was a short whip, only about three feet long. I reared back and the cracked the whip forward. The tip caught Kumiko in the face on the right side. It cut right through her silicone skin and left a gaping scar on her cheek. I could see a hint of a glint from her metal alloy skeleton. I snaked the whip forward and left a similar cut on the other cheek. “BITCH! “
I dropped the whip and sank to my knees. The pain from the cuts to my back and arms were really clearing up my mind. What had I done? Of course Kumiko couldn’t have whipped me! She’s just a doll! I almost cackled maniacally as my mind almost said: a fucking doll.
Someone had to have broken into my house and set this up. A spasm of pain spiked through my brain. No. It couldn’t have been! I checked the security. No one else could have been in here! It had to have been her!
Fresh anger gave me strength. Play with fire would she? Make me have nightmares will she? Keep climbing out of her box will she? I suddenly realized the squealing noises I had been hearing from the attic must have been from her metal stand that she somehow dragged behind her.
I’ll teach that bitch a lesson!
I grabbed Kumiko and lifted her off her stand. I thought I saw an expression of fear on her face. Ha! Let her be scared! She won’t get away with this! I owned her! I could do whatever I wanted with her!
I dragged Kumiko downstairs into the basement and set her down. Another of Kumiko’s accessories had been a long silky rope, presumably for bondage fantasies. I looped the rope over one of the steel beams in the ceiling of the basement. I tied it securely and then picked Kumiko up. I tied the other end around Kumiko’s neck and then let go. Kumiko hung helplessly from the end of the rope. I took another length of rope and tied Kumiko’s hands together behind her back with one end and then tied the other end to her feet.
Ha! Let’s see her get out of this one!
I examined my handiwork. Kumiko swayed gently was if from a small breeze. She slowly swung around until I could see her face. Her once beautiful face had two ugly gashes and her eyes stared pleadingly at me. Too late bitch! Her mouth was a little open so that her lips formed a small O. I ran up the stairs, turned off the light and then closed and bolted the door. Kumiko was alone in the dark where she deserved to be!