James spent a restless night tethered by his wrists to a metal post inside a ruined building not far from the one he’d dubbed the Inspection Building. As far as James could ascertain it was Sir’s home and since Sir had been the one to capture him, it was obviously his responsibility to ensure he was looked after and didn’t escape.

As a prisoner he had no real complaints. Sir had left him with a bucket of water and although it looked fresh, it left a chemical after-taste in his mouth. He’d also been given a bowl of something that looked like chicken and onion broth, which tasted disgusting and left him feeling nauseous. The thing he was most grateful for was a thick woollen blanket, which Sir had thrown at him just before nightfall.

As stars filled the gaping hole in the ceiling above, Jason pulled the blanket up around his neck. He’d closed his eyes in readiness for sleep’s approach when he was wrenched from his restful state by the sound of Sir making love to his wife not five metres away. Thankfully the darkness meant he didn’t have to witness the act as well, but the smacking sound of lips kissing and the soft moans made James think of Christian. If only Christian were with him, he could face anything. But he was on his own. This was one mess he’d have to get out of himself.

He rolled over and tried again to fall asleep. Still, thoughts of Christian kept him wide awake until well after midnight.

When the following morning beamed in through the hole above him, James discovered he’d been left alone. Straight away he set about testing the knots on the rope that kept him prisoner. He twisted his wrists against each other, ignoring the pain as he struggled to loosen his bonds. He tried rubbing the rope against the metal pole, hoping friction might aid his escape. As a last resort he brought his wrists to his mouth and tried biting through his restraints, chewing on the rope until his gums hurt.

“It’s no use,” said a voice from the doorway.

James looked up, horrified, and saw a woman in her mid-thirties possessed of a beautiful face and perfect skin, yet her hands were attached to her shoulders and her legs were only as long as her torso.

“It’s okay,” she said, twisting a strand of dirty black hair between her fingers. “I won’t tell ‘im. I’d try and escape as well. It’s only natural.”

James sat back and pulled the blanket over his nakedness.

“I brought you something to eat. It isn’t much. We don’t ‘ave much here. But it’ll keep your ‘unger at bay.”

She waddled forward, the bowl looking strange as it came at shoulder height towards him.

“Thank you,” he said as the woman leant down and passed him the bowl of stew. “That’s very kind of you.”

The woman smiled.

“I’m Lilith. Beast’s wife. I’m sorry for what’s ‘appened to you. You probably ‘ave a family back wherever it is you come from. I can’t imagine being away from my family.”

Lilith had a soft, melodic voice imbued with a femininity that the rest of her, with the exception of her flawless face, lacked.

James took a mouthful of the stew, which tasted worse than last night’s chicken broth. Nevertheless, he didn’t want to risk offending Lilith. Something had just occurred to him. A way out of here, perhaps.

“Lilith, you seem like a good person. As it turns out I do have a family and I miss them very much. My mother, Celia -- you’d like her -- is getting on in years and I can’t bear what my disappearance is doing to her.”

Lilith turned her back.

“I know what you’re doing, but I can’t ‘elp you. I wish I could, but I can’t.”