“And if it scares you?”

Tina put her hands on her hips, and stared at her wife. “I’m a big girl.”

“T,” Bette said more seriously. “If?”

The exhale showed her exasperation with the question, but Bette caught the nervous tug of that lip again. She knew Tina was glad for her concern.

“We’re just watching … but if! … If I … wanna leave … I’ll squeeze your hand twice, fast. Hard too, okay?”

“A nice, silent gesture. I like it. Because you know … she might get to you.”

Tina laughed, “I don’t doubt it.” But she wasn’t really sure what to expect at all. “You lead the way,” she offered calmly, but given the roof they were under, Bette bit her cheek and cracked a grin.

“Yes, Ma’am,” she whispered teasingly. Oh do I ever hope she speaks that way to Simone … this should be an interesting evening, that’s for sure.

*****

Bette held the basement door open for Tina, gesturing her to step ahead. And with a deep breath, Tina did just that. She braced herself on the old wooden railing that seemed to be heavily bolted to the wall, and walked down the concrete steps in her bare feet. It felt cool and soothing as she took a few more steps, and could peer at last into a large room. Her eyes went wide at all the toys. The basement itself looked rather run-down, but the accessories … she felt that this woman had more toys than the shops they’d been to. It looked to be of wonderful quality, too. Tina immediately wondered where she bought it all.

As Tina turned around the last little wall against the stairs, she gripped tightly onto the rail at the sight before her. A woman was tied tightly to a wooden table – her mouth gagged with something to keep it opened, and her body wet with perspiration. Her hair too was soaked, and especially her long red bangs, which stuck to the side of her face as she moved. The rope that kept both arms pinned together was also knotted into something on the ceiling to keep her in place. Her legs were tied as well, each ankle fastened to the corresponding table leg. With what looked like complete exhaustion, the girl dropped her head to hang it over the side of the table, her saliva dripping freely onto what looked to be vinyl flooring. Or was it?