Free Strictland Academy by Breanna Hayse, Carolyn Faulkner

left thin, raised lines
everywhere it kissed the flesh.   Even on Molly's purpled skin, the strokes showed up as satisfyingly
angry red weals that crisscrossed her flesh like tic-tac-toe lines gone
mad.   When the brutality finally
ended, she was given no time to recover.   Instead, she was dragged back to the cafeteria table with her dress still
in her mouth and her body still on display to every eye in the room.   She was plunked down with no
consideration to the condition of her horribly stinging and blistered bare
bottom.   The material was removed
from her mouth, and her plate was placed in front of her.
    “ Finish
it now, quickly, or you'll go right back over my lap, ” LeCair commanded.
    Molly
was famished, so she complied enthusiastically, gulping down the tepid water as
though it were pure ambrosia.   She
took mouthfuls as big as she could manage without spilling any of the food and
finished quickly.   She then put her
plate on one of the stacks on the counter and proceeded to the end of the line,
every step reminding her of the punishment she'd just received — and echoing those she
had endured all during the day.   Her
stomach twisted as she recalled that she still had to face Attendant Hazel the
following day for their behavior in the Headmaster's office.   She prayed that Patricia, at least,
would be spared for the time being.
    It
was just a quarter after six when they returned to the dormitory.   Molly never considered how valuable free
time was before that moment.   They
were permitted supervised time to read, rest, and study.   This was also 'late chastisement hour',
and Molly's gaze darted about the room to watch girls being hand-spanked or
paddled for various misdemeanors committed throughout the day.   Like all the other rooms, the dormitory
housed a viewing portal, and curious, unnamed eyes observed the punishments and
personal activities.   The wails of
pain caused Molly to shudder, as she realized that no amount of time spent in
this foul place would be enough to build the endurance needed to tolerate the
abuse.   This was, truly, a horror
story coming to life.   Something
taken out of the deviant minds of sadists.   She felt her heart stop as her situation fully dawned on her.
    The
comments about training, perfection, finding suitable mates ... the dark faces
of men watching from glass-covered rooms above the various areas, including the
dorm ...the beauty of most of the girls around her whose faces were left
unblemished ... the fact that no one who left this place ever reported what
occurred behind these walls ... it all added up to one thing.   The nightmare of her realization
followed her in her dreams, as she allowed herself to sleep that first
night.   This was, indeed, a place
for human flesh peddling!   The men,
obviously Rejected, were ones who the State did not considered eligible for
pairing.   Molly shuddered, knowing
that the only reason a man would be disqualified from gaining State authority
to marry was if he was carrying a communicable disease, had genetic problems,
or was considered psychologically imbalanced and gave way to violence.   She had heard that men like this often
sought illegal means to obtain a partner, and it was rumored that many of them
were involved in criminal activities to finance the purchase of a mate and pay
for the silence from her family. Molly groaned, realizing that having the judge
working in Strickland ’ s
favor made a forged marriage and pregnancy permit easy to obtain.   Molly ’ s despair grew as the
circumstance began to make sense. She was here as a piece of meat to be sold to
the highest bidder.   In the
meantime, each of the men watching from the room above were privy to an ongoing
show to feed their perversities.
    Did
Dr. Wells know all of this?   What
was he doing in this place anyway?

CHAPTER
6
    The
following day was unusually quiet, without the constant noise associated with
frequent punishments.   Attendant
Patience