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MARGARET - LOST FROM HER MIND [ part 23 ] I awoke alone, as I had for the past week. The sunlight was pushing its way into my bedroom without any regard to my privacy, lighting up the dark recesses of my room. I groaned I don’t know when I went to bed . . . Then I realised, I didn’t know when I went to bed! I thought back to the last memory I had of yesterday. I spoken to Elizabeth yet again - The council had already accused me of disposing of Margaret and there was talk of withholding Billie-Jo and Pauline, but Elizabeth had successfully argued that there was no need for me to attempt anything like that. But they were still miffed at my accusations that any excuse would do I suppose. I smiled at that thought, Ok then Elizabeth’s call, listened to the radio for a bit – never anything on television nowadays – then the wrong number .. . then . . . then I woke up just now? So what happened? I could smell . . . something? Did I leave the oven on last night? I got out of bed and walked out of my room, I didn’t bother dressing, there was no point! I made my way downstairs to the kitchen and a very night sight greeted me. Standing by the hob was a young girl, a tie around her waist and another around her neck showing she was wearing an apron, I’d already experienced the problems you can have when cooking naked and so I didn’t mind her wearing that. (see Pauline by abc-T) The girl turned around and jumped when she saw me in the doorway, it was Margaret! “Oh master! I wanted to surprise you!” She said. I smiled at her, “Well you’ve certainly succeeded! When did you arrive? Moreover How did you arrive?” I asked her. She shook her head, “I donno master, I fell asleep in my room at the school and the next thing I know is waking up today in the cell. Do you mind if I carry on cooking breakfast? And can I have some as well please?” She asked smiling at me. I was so relieved that I smiled back and nodded my permission, she gestured to the kitchen table where a placemat was sitting. I went to it and went to sit down, but paused and got another placemat and then some cutlery which I put out for us both. Margaret returned to her cooking, I listened to the sizzle and pops as the bacon fried away. I watched her as she seemed to be doing two meals at the same time, as if she was ambidextrous, which was strange as she had never shown this previously. I then saw the red stripes on her back and legs. she had been whipped recently, but did not seemed to be bothered by this. She also moved easier than I remembered – she used to have a stiffness with her back, as if it had been injured? It appears that this ‘school’ had done more than just restored her mind . . . If it was restored? Margaret quickly put the food on plates as then placed the frying pans into the sink, pouring water onto them to cool them down. She removed the apron, picked up the plates and brought them to the table. Then she surprised me by putting the plate onto the mats and then sitting down! Why the surprise? Well she didn’t offer to suck me off for her food, which is how she’d been programmed to perform for her food. She picked up the metal knife and fork and went to cut the bacon, but then she took another look at the cutlery before looking at me and smiling, “Thank you master.” She said. I shook my head, “I’m not your master Margaret, My name is Paul and I was asked to restore your mind. I failed at that I’m sorry to say.” She shook her head. “No master, you didn’t fail. And while you’re in charge I will call you master no matter what your name is. This was Margaret, but it was also Margaret plus, but plus what? We ate the breakfast in silence, Margaret seemed lost in her thoughts. I gave her some bread with which to mop up the yoke of the eggs. She thanked me and started swirling the yellow yoke before transferring it to her mouth. We put the plates into the dishwasher, although I like my slaves to work at menial tasks there were limits! “Master could you come with me down to the basement? There’s something I have to do.” Margaret asked me, the tone of her voice intrigued me and so I nodded my head. ---- In the basement I found a couple of additions, a pink ballet tutu and a stack of videotapes. I glanced at these but then Margaret was making me sit down on the bed, she sat down in front of me. “Master I have to tell you about me. How I’m able to be here. My name is Trinity, as there are three girls controlling me . . .” I sat and listened as she told me the whole story about her days at the school with the mysterious Mistress E (or Sister E as she also seemed to be called). “So you see master if you hadn’t sent me to that school I’d never find myself or Mahut and Maggie.” Margaret finally said. I laughed at that. “Margaret, sorry Trinity, I didn’t as such send you to the school, I was contacted by a mysterious woman who told me that she might be able to help you, she told me that she would collect you and that you would be safe.” I paused for effect, “What I didn’t know was that she’d already arranged for you to be taken, after I finished talking to her I fell asleep. When I awoke the next day you had gone and I didn’t know where.” ---- . . . When I awoke the phone was ringing away. I was lying on my bed, I looked at my watch 10 O’clock what had happened last night. The phone demanded answering and so I did, Elizabeth was on the other end. “Paul? Are you alright, we’ve been ringing for hours.” “I’m fine Elizabeth, I was talking to someone last night and the next thing I know is that its 6 hours later . . .” I broke off as I looked at the monitor, Margaret’s bed was empty. I switched cameras to check the whole of the basement, then the ground floor and then the upper floor. I checked the locks on the doors, all bolted on the inside. I sat down on the bed and picked up the phone again. “Paul? Paul? . . . What’s happening?” Elizabeth demanded. “Elizabeth, it’s impossible, it’s just impossible . . .” I said stupidly “Paul what’s impossible, tell me what has happened?” Elizabeth said calming herself down in her effort to bring me back to normal. I swallowed and breathed deeply, “Elizabeth I don’t know how, but Margaret is no longer in the house, in fact I don’t know where she is!” I told her. There was a moment of silence before Elizabeth spoke. “I don’t understand Paul? How can you say that?” I shook my head, knowing that Elizabeth couldn’t see me. “Look Elizabeth, All I know is that Margaret was here last night when I went to bed, but now she isn’t. All the doors are locked on the inside, I’ve got no idea where she is.” “But how Paul? Is the security system active?” She asked me. I pressed a few buttons on my computer. “Yes, but it shows that it was deactivated at 03:00 hrs for 10 minutes, then it was reactivated. Shit! It shows my code as the deactivation message. I switched it off!” This was getting creepy. “You turned off the system yourself, Paul do you know what you’re saying? You know how this looks.” She said this calmly forcing me to be calm as well. “I know Elizabeth, all I can remember of last night is receiving two phone calls, the second one at 1 O’clock last night. I don’t remember hanging up or even going to bed, but that’s where I found myself when you called.” A different voice sounded - a man’s voice now. “This is Commander Evans! This call is being intercepted and recorded.” “I didn’t ask you to monitor my calls Commander.” Elizabeth remonstrated. “I’m sorry doctor, but this concerns a citizen of Ropeville, we have to be involved, this is at the orders of the council. Mr. Paul Purple we require remote access to your computer with regards to this incident.” Evans voice showed some regret . . . but not much. “Of course Commander, it is on and . . .” I didn’t get the chance to finish as I watched the screen flicker on the computer as it was remotely switched on. “Paul I’ll have to speak to the council, I’ll need to know what they’re going to do.” Elizabeth said. “Doctor I don’t think they will act rashly at the present time.” Evans said, “Mr. Purple please do not leave your house, we have activated the security system and the outside doors and windows are being monitored.” He told me. “Very well Commander, I’m under house arrest until the council decides otherwise.” I said. “Sorry son, just doing my job.” Evans replied before breaking the link. I just listened to the silence of the receiver. So here I was, missing my ‘patient’ completely at a loss as to how this could have happened. I sat on the bed for an hour trying to recover my senses. The rest of the day was spent in a daze. I checked the basement again for any clues. No clothing was missing(!) but then she didn’t wear any to begin with. She didn’t have any toys to take except for – Nope! Danny was still here, a stupid smile on his face. “I wish you could tell me what happened.” I said to it, but he kept quiet. I returned upstairs, there was someone at the door, it was Elizabeth. “Can you open the door please Paul.” She asked I did so. Elizabeth was outside with a female officer from the Ropeville police. I stepped back to let them in. “So am I under arrest?” I asked as I led them to the living room. “No Paul, to be honest we’re as confused as you are. I want to try something if you don’t mind?” She asked me. “If it’s going to clear this up then, no go ahead.” I replied. She sat opposite me and looked at me. “Paul have you ever been hypnotised? Even in your life?” She asked. I smiled and shook my head, “Not even with stage hypnotists, I can’t be sure that I’d reveal my work.” I looked at the police office who was pointedly looking the other way. Elizabeth kept serious as she spoke. “I want to hypnotise you Paul, take you back to yesterday . . . If I can. There are some people who can’t be hypnotised and normally the more it’s been done to you the easier it can be to put you under again.” She explained. I took a deep breath and said I was ready. Elizabeth took my hands and started to speak to me, I can’t remember what was said, but she spoke in slow, measured, tones, which seemed, to, lull, me, in, to . . . ---- “. . . paul, Paul, PAUL! Wake up Paul.” Elizabeth said, her face was white and she was sweating. I blinked my eyes, “I’m sorry Elizabeth, what happened?” I asked her. “You don’t remember?” She asked and looked at the Police officer who shrugged her shoulders. “Remember what? The last thing I know was you were talking to me and then you started to shout at me. I presume it didn’t work, I’m sorry Elizabeth.” I said. “On the contrary Paul Purple, it was successful.” The voice came from the computer, I glanced at it to find a blank window. When did the council log in I wondered. “You do not realise that you may have brought ruin to us all with your foolish actions!” The voice was accusing. “I did what I had to! I asked for help from the council and was refused! I had to try elsewhere. That they are more advanced than you isn’t my problem!” I wasn’t sure why I said that, just that it seemed the right thing to say. “They represent . . . others who we’re not sure about. They might seek our end. We shall have to consider our options. We may even have to withdraw our protection for you.” The voice said. “Well, as long as you return Pauline and Billie-Jo, I can honestly say I don’t care!” I retorted. “The children may benefit from staying here. As I said we will consider.” And the screen closed with those words. “THEY CAN’T DO THAT!” I roared, “Those two are mine to look after. It was just because Margaret wouldn’t co-operate with them here that Ropeville took them!” Elizabeth just sat there, “Paul, I’m sure it will work out, now calm down.” The police officer took up position beside Elizabeth, ready to protect her from me. “So what did I do?” I asked Elizabeth. “We’ve found out who opened the doors and allowed Margaret to leave, they then locked the door and forgot all about doing it, consciously that is.” Elizabeth said looking at me. I was slightly slow on the uptake, I looked from Elizabeth to the officer and then back to Elizabeth. “ME? I did that? How?” I finally asked. “You had been hypnotised to a very deep degree, I’m not even sure how it was done, but you were the one who went down to the basement, injected Margaret with an anaesthetic and then carried her upstairs. You were also the one who contacted the Council, directly without using the directory! Paul no-body knows that number outside of Ropeville! You then gave the council a message, basically it said that Margaret was safe and would be returned in a few days’ time. The message also offered friendship with Ropeville, and that they would send an ambassador to open communications with the Council if they wanted. Then you went back into the trance again.” Elizabeth said. That shook me, not that I had done that. Just the fact that it was done so easily. “There’s nothing more we can do here doctor, I suggest we leave before the helicopter attracts attention” The police officer said. “So what about me? Do I stay under house arrest or what?” I asked her. “Buggered if I know! All I’ll suggest is to make sure you don’t go too far away.” She told me. Elizabeth was slightly more forthcoming, “Paul, I wouldn’t worry too much. You were under a foreign influence. There was nothing you could have done about it. I’ll return to Ropeville and convince the Council.” She told me as she was getting up from her seat. I got up as well, noting how the office ensured that she was between Elizabeth and me, “Okay, but remind them that if they had tried to help in the first place, then none of this would ever have happened.” I said opening the front door. “I don’t think they’ll want to think about that. I’m striving for damage limitation at the moment. They mean what they say about keeping Pauline and Billie-Jo. I have to convince them that they’re in the wrong about that!” I watched the pair of them as they walked to the field where a helicopter waited for them. |