As the warden left Laura looked over her shoulder to watch him walk away, then turned back away from the bars and faced their room. He had just released them from their restraints, reaching through the bars of their cell to remove the handcuffs and leg chains. Cathy was already sitting down against the far wall. To one side were toilet facilities, bare floor on the other. Laura's hand went to the collar around her neck first. It wasn't heavy or uncomfortable, but she could feel it resting on the back of her neck and above her collarbone. She pulled on the sides but it didn't open. Exploring with her fingers she could feel some type of keyhole in back. There was enough space to put her fingers between throat and the band, but not nearly enough to slip it off. There was no mirror so she couldn't see what it looked like, but judging from the one Cathy wore it wasn't unattractive. There was something etched into the side but she couldn't make out what it was from touch alone.

Maybe she couldn't see the collar, but she could see what they had put around her waist. The waistband had the bright mirror polished look of chrome steel. With her fingers she could tell it was edged with some type of rubbery material. The inside of the waist band was padded with foam. In the front was a metal plate with a circular lock, the kind she had seen on candy vending machines. It appeared to hold the belt together, both the waist band and the lower section. It was that lower section that Laura concentrated on. Roughly triangular, it fit snugly against her body. It was slightly rounded to better accommodate her natural curves. It narrowed at the lower point between her thighs, then continued around behind her as a bar, attached to the rear of the belt. In back was a circular cutout. In front the shield portion had a narrow slit, too small for her fingers.

At least she could use the toilet, but it would be difficult. She ran her hand over the front, then tested the sides. "Don't do that," Cathy warned, "it won't do any good but if you get caught then they put you in something that's guaranteed tamperproof. And very unpleasant to wear." Laura looked up as Cathy spoke, then jerked her hand away. Laura turned back to the cell door, trying to look down the hallway through the bars.

"We aren't supposed to do that either. Unless told otherwise, we are supposed to keep at least an arm's length back from the door at all times." Cathy patted the floor next to her. "C'mon over and join me on our luxurious living room couch."

With some difficulty due to the unfamiliar constraints of the belt Laura managed to sit down, but couldn't find a comfortable way to sit. "You'll get used to it," Cathy advised, "try sitting slightly to one side." That helped and Laura was able to relax, joining Cathy in leaning against the wall.

"Why all this?" Laura questioned. "Why the prison, the chains, locking us in these things? What's the point? What am I supposed to learn from it?" She was still in a state of bewildered shock. So much had happened so quickly she hadn't had time to think. And why did it happen to me , Laura asked herself.

"I can't answer those questions Laura. I think I understand a little of it, but I can't explain how the dominant mind thinks or justifies their actions. I can't make my brain work that way. It's true I went through this once before, but what I learned had more to do with admitting who I am, not the methods they used to open my eyes. The people here are not sadistic. They aren't doing it for the sole reason of seeing us suffer. It all has some kind of purpose."

"But what kind of purpose?" Laura argued. "This is degrading. Forced to strip, locked in handcuffs, kept in little more than a cage, even a collar for god's sake, and then to put us in these things," Laura pointed to her belt. "It's like we are nothing but sex objects. No, not even that, our sex has been taken away too. And always follow the rules, jump through the hoops like trained animals." The more she thought about it the angrier she got. "No one has the right to do this to me. I'm no criminal. I didn't break any laws. And even if I have, crooks get better treatment than this."

Reaction setting in , Cathy thought to herself, I need to get her talking about something else . "What did you do to wind up here? Are you married, a boyfriend?" Cathy actually knew, from the little Robert had told her, but she needed Laura to say it.

"My husband Frank. Up to tonight he's been great, a real dream come true." Laura told Cathy about the party and the fight, how she had stormed out, then wound up trapped in the elevator, and finally the parting scene with him as she was taken away. As Laura talked the tone in her voice became calmer.

"Tell me about Frank. What's he like? Do you get along well?" Cathy could see it was working. The signs of anxiety were fading as Laura was distracted by talking about herself.

"We've been married just over a year. Frank was everything I could want. Good looking, smart, successful, funny, charming, all the things you look for. He gives me lots of attention and actually listens to what I say. He keeps his promises and handles all the problems.

"One time, we came home and the roof had leaked over the bedroom. There was water everywhere. I got so upset and started crying, but he sat me down in the living room and told me not to worry about it. The next few days he got the roof fixed, replaced the carpet, got us a new mattress and bedding, and handled all the paperwork for the insurance. A week later you couldn't even tell what had happened. He does things like that for me all the time."

Laura paused for a moment, thinking about Frank. She still couldn't understand why he had done this to her. He had never even raised his voice to her, much less given her any indication he would do something as drastic as sending her to this place. He was always so patient, no matter what he had to deal with. But tonight a very different side of Frank had appeared, one she had not suspected.

"Why did you walk out on a man like that?" Cathy knew it was a leading question. She had done the same thing once before, which had landed her in the school the first time.

"He wanted me to go to this party, for some friend of his. I was tired and didn't want to go, but he insisted. Truth is, I would have gone if he had said it was important, but he didn't tell me that. It was the way he acted, like my going was a foregone conclusion. I don't know, maybe I was tired and irritable, but I got so mad I walked out the door. I was going to teach him a lesson not to take me for granted." As she talked to Cathy, her description started to sound childish and silly.

He doesn't ignore me , Laura thought. He asks what I think about everything . Even the dull stuff, like the insurance, their investments, he always took the time to make sure she knew about it. Laura didn't really care about most of it; she trusted his judgment. But his decision to send her to this place she did not comprehend at all.

Their conversation was interrupted by sounds from the corridor. Cathy immediately knelt facing the door. Laura was slower but copied Cathy's position, concentrating on what Cathy had told her. The same warden who had brought them to the room earlier had returned, this time with a cart. Before speaking he took a moment to observe them through the bars. Laura felt nervous as his silent gaze took the two women in. From the way Cathy acted there was no question that the proper presentation position was essential.

"After you finish your meal you will be allowed to sleep." He slid two covered plates through a slot cut out from the bars at the bottom of the door. Two cups followed. "You are required to eat the entire meal. When I return I will bring you some bedding. You have permission to eat after I leave." Abruptly he turned and walked away, pushing the cart.

Laura started to get up but halted when she saw Cathy still in position. Not until they heard another door open and close out in the corridor did Cathy stand up. "You have to be careful about relaxing too soon," she warned Laura. "If he comes right back you won't be ready. It's better to wait and listen." Laura nodded, realizing she still had a lot to learn about surviving in the school.

Cathy picked up one of the plates, unwrapped it, selected one of the beverage cups and went back to her spot against the wall. Laura followed and sat down next to her, balancing the plate in her lap. The dinner was a warm roast beef sandwich and some salad greens. The cup held iced tea.

Laura hadn't realized how hungry she was till the aroma of the food reminded her. The taste was plain but the added spice of an appetite made it a welcome meal. While they ate she asked Cathy about her reason for being her. Cathy hesitated for a moment before answering.

"I'm not allowed to talk about the last time here, but my master decided I should return because of an attitude problem. He thinks I have a quick temper and a sharp tongue to match, something he doesn't approve of, so I'm here to learn about self-control. I didn't even know about it until just before that van stopped to pick me up. He didn't give me any warning, but as my master he can send me here anytime he thinks it's necessary. I can't say no to him; he really does own me. It may not be legal, but I can't stop him. Truth is, he may be right about my attitude. In any case here I am. I know I won't get out until he's satisfied so I have to do the best I can.

"I don't like being here Laura, and anyone who tells you different is lying. It's a miserable place, intentionally so, they don't want you to get comfortable. It's unpleasant for a reason, to get all of us motivated to get out of here. No TV, no radio, nothing to read, it keeps you focused on the lessons. But I do know everyone who goes through this school comes out the better for it." Cathy stopped to take a bite of her sandwich.

"But why am I here? Frank is my husband, but I don't call him master. I'm his wife, not his property. What right does he have to send me here?"

She doesn't know about domination and submission , Cathy realized. "Laura, let me ask you a bit about your marriage before I answer that question. Do you have what might be called a traditional marriage? He is the breadwinner, you take care of him and the house, that type of setup?" Laura nodded in agreement. "Do you like it that way, where each of you has a specific role?"

"Oh yes, I don't want to be in charge. I love how he naturally takes over, how he always seems to know what to do. I know it's supposed to be equal and sharing and all that, but it's not for me. When he looks at me, telling me in that low, quiet but oh so confident voice exactly what he wants me to do, well, it's like my head empties out and all I can think of are his words. And when he looks pleased afterwards, it makes me feel so good I can't help myself."

Cathy nodded. It was a typical story. "You gave him the right to send you here Laura. Not a legal right, in fact you could probably have him arrested for kidnapping and false imprisonment. But you gave him the moral right to run your life, and that's what he's doing now. You put him in charge, the dominant role, and chose the submissive role for yourself. You've just discovered how serious he is about his part in your relationship."

Laura was quick to argue. "I didn't tell him he could send me to jail! I obey him because I love him, not because I'm afraid of what he might do. Sure, it's important to me that I be a good wife and see to it we have a nice home. In time we'll have a family too, and I want to be able to stay home to raise our future children. But being the good wife doesn't include something like this." She waved a hand around their room.

Cathy sighed; it was going to be a long night. "You are wrong Laura. I want all the same things you do. But I do not decide what my husband can or cannot do. I trust him. Period . Do I want to be here? No. Am I mad he sent me here? You bet. What am I going to do about it? Nothing, except what I'm told, so I can get back to him as soon as I can."

Laura opened her mouth to respond, but Cathy stopped her with an upraised hand. "I can guess what you're going to say. But think Laura, you can't have it both ways. Either he decides for you or he doesn't. You don't get to pick and choose. Remember the vow, for better or for worse ? Welcome to the for worse part."

Laura lost her argument with those words. She remembered the ceremony, how she had quietly asked the minister to use the older version of the wedding vows, the one that included the now politically incorrect " and obey " phrase. Frank had raised an eyebrow on hearing it but never mentioned it again. It was all too obvious he had not forgotten it though. Those had not been empty words. It was a promise she had kept till now. I can't stop either , she realized. Cathy is right, I've had a very good life up to now, so if the time has come to pay the toll then so be it.