For at least the tenth time Cathy cursed her big mouth. If she had waited one more minute she'd be home soaking in the bathtub right now, thinking about what to wear when they went out tomorrow night in Las Vegas. One more minute and she wouldn't be sitting in the dark on a cold hard concrete floor with her hands and feet immobilized. She didn't know what it was called but the cruel metal contraption fastened on her body must have come from a medieval dungeon judging by the primitive look.

The device that imprisoned her body was simple but highly effective. It started with a ring around her neck, above her collar. Two rigid steel straps went down from the front and terminated in loops that held her ankles wide apart. A bottom bar was fastened between the ankle loops, forming a sturdy triangle. About halfway down on each steel strap was another loop that held a wrist. To ensure she didn't wander around the room a short, heavy chain ran from one ankle shackle to a ring embedded in the floor. She could just reach the back wall to lean on, but that was about all. She couldn't stand, turn on her side, or reach anything with her hands.

She stared at her fingers. One last time she strained forward with her head, trying to get one hand close enough to try to pull out the gag that covered her mouth. And again she came up inches short. Makes sense , she told herself, they measured this thing just right .

A shadow crossed the small square of light coming from the observation slit in the room's one door. Cathy looked up, hoping it would be Robert come to take her home. She knew if someone was out there the chances it would be him were slim. More likely one of the guards was going to make her life just a little more miserable.

When the door swung open the bright light from the corridor hit Cathy full in the face. Blinking she tried to cover her eyes with a hand, but was reminded all too quickly by the steel around her wrist that wasn't going to happen. She had to turn her head to the side until her eyes adjusted.

Her initial fear that they had come for her gave way to relief when they brought in someone else instead. The wardens worked efficiently, forcing her new companion into a matching restraint. Cathy's dazzled eyes still couldn't make out who it was but the muffled sounds confirmed it was another woman, and she also had a gag.

Cathy watched but made no sound as the wardens quickly locked their new victim into the body irons. The woman made a token effort to resist but against three strong men she didn't have a chance. As soon as they finished two of the men filed out the door and disappeared from Cathy's sight. The last man was one Cathy recognized. Joe was his name, one of the senior wardens. He stood in the doorway, surveying the two women before him.

"I'll make this short. Neither of you should be here. You know the rules, and you know the consequences if you choose to ignore them. No excuses and no leniency. I suggest you adjust your attitude starting right now. If you do your situation might improve. Remember this, no matter how bad it is it can always get worse. Think it over." With that he turned and went out the open door. It clanged shut behind him.

A grunt from her roommate drew Cathy's attention. The new arrival was attempting the same maneuver she had just tried, straining to reach the gag with a hand. And meeting with equal success as Cathy watched. In the dim light she finally recognized the other woman, Kelli. The same Kelli she had encouraged to become a student.

Kelli spent a few moments testing her bonds before giving up. The gag wasn't going to come out either. The triangle of steel held her body in a rigid sitting position and there wasn't anything she could do about it. Resigned to paying for her own stupidity she turned her head to study her cellmate.

With a start she recognized the other woman. It's Cathy, how did she wind up here? When she cocked her head to one side, silently questioning what had happened, Cathy just shrugged and looked away. She doesn't want to talk about it. And maybe I don't really want to tell my story either. Kelli had no excuse and no one else to blame. Worst of all she couldn't explain why she had done it.

Unable to speak or move neither woman could do more than sit and wait. There was no clock to measure time but the aches and pains from being restrained grew by the minute. Behind the gag Kelli wanted to scream out to the wardens to release her but she knew it would be useless to try. They would come back in their own time, regardless of her pleas.

Leaning back and lifting her legs she jerked against the chain anchoring her to the floor. It was solid and unyielding, symbolic of the men who ran the place. She could be obedient and follow their orders, or she could be defiant and ignore them. But either way the result was the same. Kelli ran a finger along the cuff that held her left wrist. It's not a game. They get their way whether I like it or not. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall behind her, contemplating just what it meant to be submissive.

Cathy's worries were less philosophical. What's Robert going to think when he finds out? She couldn't bear the thought of facing him, much less trying to explain what she had done. Twice she had gone through the ordeal of this school. Now she was a teacher, supposedly setting an example for the students. She had thrown it all away by opening her mouth. And to top it off she had ruined their trip.

She pushed against the gag with her tongue. If only she'd been wearing it while waiting for Matt to release her. What? You're going to walk around all day with a gag on? Cathy shook her head; that was no solution. Robert was good at keeping her in check. When she was with him it was so easy; on her own she couldn't seem to muster enough self control to keep in line.

He was right; she was pushing him to be more controlling. It wasn't just to please him. Oh no, the real reason is because I'm too lazy , she admitted to herself, too lazy to pay attention and watch my mouth. I'd rather let him keep me in line.

Time dragged on as the two waited in silence. When their cell door finally opened the break from boredom was welcomed by both of them regardless of what it meant.

There were three wardens in the hallway. One, Joe, came in and stood over the two women looking down at them. "It's been decided," he told them, "that you will be remanded to disciplinary training. You," he pointed to Kelli. "You willfully disobeyed when you broke position. Your behavior was inexcusable.

"And you," he turned to Cathy, "words fail me. You of all people should know better than to tell a warden what to do. Do you think you are in charge here? You are supposed to be a role model, someone who sets the standard for the rest to follow. Some example.

"Both of your masters should be ashamed of you two. I thought about calling them in to talk to you but I'm not going to do that. Neither of them deserves the embarrassment you've brought on them. I'm not going to make it worse. No, what I'm going to do is see to it you learn to behave before they get you back." He motioned for the other two guards to come in. "Since you can't be trusted on your own you will now be supervised non-stop, every minute of the day."