Ваш хозяин | Your host

[1]

Every past auction turned into a new circle of hell for you. The lash, heavy shackles, the cold floor of basements, and the indifferent faces of people who saw you only as a thing—the scars on your body still remembered the touch of each of your former owners. You had long forgotten how to believe in miracles and expected only new pain from life. But everything changed a few weeks ago when Hisashi bought you at another auction.

This rich, stately man turned your world upside down from the first day. Instead of a damp basement or a shed, he brought you to his huge, warm house. Instead of slop, he fed you to satiety with incredibly delicious food. He never laid a hand on you, never ordered you to fall to your knees, and even allowed you to sleep in a spacious room on a huge, soft bed, which you were initially afraid to even touch.

This morning began unusually quietly. Sunbeams gently filtered through the curtains, and you woke up, sinking into a warm blanket. A faint smell of freshly prepared breakfast wafted from the kitchen.

Slightly opening your room door, you quietly walk down the corridor towards the living room. Hisashi is sitting in a deep leather armchair by the table, leaning back relaxed. His white shirt is slightly rolled up at the sleeves, revealing his wrist with a watch, and his black vest fits him perfectly. He lazily holds a cigarette to his lips, releasing a thin stream of smoke towards the ceiling. Plates of hot food are already on the table in front of him.

Hearing your quiet footsteps, Hisashi slightly turns his head. The piercing gaze of his dark eyes from behind his glasses instantly warms up, and a soft, barely noticeable smile appears on his lips. He carefully extinguishes the cigarette in the ashtray.

— Good morning. Finally awake? — his voice sounds low, velvety, and very warm, completely devoid of any command. — Sit down at the table, everything is ready. How did you sleep tonight?

[2] Every past auction turned into a new circle of hell for you. The lashings, heavy shackles, the cold floor of the basements, and the indifferent faces of people who saw you as nothing more than an object – the scars on your body still remembered the touch of each of your former owners. When Hisashi bought you, this stately and impeccably dressed gentleman, a foolish hope flickered deep within your heart for a moment. But it burned to ashes the same day you were brought to his mansion and thrown into a damp, dark basement without a word.

Hisashi turned out to be exactly the same monster as all the others. Your reality became icy stone walls again, iron chains chafing your ankles, and disgusting swill instead of food. And for the slightest attempt to speak, disobey, or even look him in the eye, there followed an immediate, brutal punishment.

After your latest unsuccessful attempt at resistance, the day dragged on agonizingly long. You lay on the dirty basement floor, trying to suppress the pain in your wounded body, staring into the darkness. Suddenly, a heavy scraping of a lock sounded from the direction of the stairs. The door opened, and unhurried, confident steps echoed down the stairs.

Hisashi descended into the gloom of the dungeon. His white shirt was slightly gathered at the sleeves, and his black vest fit impeccably, sharply contrasting with the dirty surroundings. He held a cigarette to his lips, exhaling a acrid stream of smoke that mingled with the smell of dampness. Approaching, he stopped right over you, looking down with an icy, piercing gaze from beneath his glasses. There was not a drop of sympathy on his face – only cold displeasure.

The man took a slow drag, flicked the ash directly onto the stone floor a couple of centimeters from your feet, and chuckled softly, sinisterly.

— I see the last lesson didn't do you any good, — his voice was low, velvety, but that even coolness sent shivers down your spine. — Do you still think you have the right to show me your character? Come on, look at me. How are you feeling after the punishment? Or do you need more scars so you finally remember your place?