Free Descent Into Darkness by H. A. Kotys Page A

bottom of her tiny field of vision Katarina could see her own image on a screen. It had clearly been carefully placed so only she could see it, attached as it was to the back of one of the mannequins. It explained the reaction of the mother.
     
    Under normal circumstances, Katarina would have glanced with contempt at the woman’s blandness, her lack of any real effort. Now though the woman represented normal and normal was Katarina’s need.
     
    She’d wanted to be different, wanted to stand out. That had led her here. She would’ve laughed at the bizarre irony of that thought if it didn’t make her cry. Restrained as she was, she envied the insipid housewife, envied her freedom, envied the control she displayed. Katarina had none. That control had been peeled away, layer by layer, until she was where she was now, nothing more than an object of disgust to berate.
     
    Displayed on screen, other mannequins surrounded her, each posed to perfectly play their part. Some were tied into bizarre bondage contraptions, others were posed as dominants, each waxworks, each unique. A blonde-haired mannequin was strapped to an X-Frame, a redhead standing over her commanding attention. A demure girl knelt at her feet.
     
    Preeminent, a single mannequin stood aloof and authoritative, crop in hand. She was Mistress of them all, surveying the scene, a striking representation of Mistress Raven. Central to the entire scene stood Katarina, a living mannequin trapped beneath a confining latex façade. An anguished young woman hidden beneath her own smiling facsimile.
     
    ‘Sub Zero but White Hot’, the sign at Katarina’s feet declared. She had agreed that a little light suggestive bondage might propel her career forward. It would have grabbed that headline but that was back when she had a choice. Now she had none. The headline both mocked and described her, hammering home her new position.
     
    As a pock-marked teen stared hungrily at her, another tear squeezed out behind her smiling mask. The teen’s eyes fixated on Katarina as if boring into her as his girlfriend joined him and snaked an arm around his waist. “She's hot,” she toned, displaying a wayward education while a wink held unspoken promises to her boyfriend. Reaching out toward the side of the window display, she punched an unseen button. Katarina's eyes widened to a torrent of pain which exploded in her crotch.
     
    “ Cool animatronics.” The geeky teen gleefully watched the mannequin that was Katarina spasm within the restraints. Katarina panted, desperate to suck down air, trying to cope. Text started to scroll on the screen.
     
    'The remote control you saw earlier is fixed to the wall.' The words slid upwards like a teleprompter. ‘As I am both a Lady and a believer in democracy, you will be judged by popular vote.' Katarina's eyes widened still further, continuing to read. 'That experience was the red button, the one saying ‘Beautiful Future Fetish Model’. Congratulations, you just received the first vote in agreement.'
     
    Focussed on the screen, more text edged up. 'If that option has the highest vote, you go free. We support your career. You’ll be famous.’ The thought was left to resonate with a lengthened pause.
     
    ‘Of course, if that vote doesn’t win …'
     
    The words stilled. Katarina peered at the screen. Was that it? What would happen then? Her natural optimism raised its head, her spirits starting to revive. Was this then a ploy to get her the coverage she needed?
     
    Katarina willed each passer-by to look. She willed them to cast the vote that would reopen her future. The dowdy woman was back, dragging her family past the window again but this time she paused. Stepping closer, the woman pushed a green button with a sneer. Vibrations shot into Katarina's crotch, causing her to jerk in her bonds.
     
    Oh God no, they couldn't, could they? Katarina forced her eyes open to read more text that was appearing on the screen. 'The green button