Sam

He hammered out the last email with contempt. Not the angry kind of contempt, for he wasn't usually aggressive by nature. The sort of half-baked rebellion you might find in any office drone. They were the nameless cogs that kept capitalism grinding, and had private lives as interesting as their spam. That’s not entirely accurate – James’ inbox promised Russian brides, never-ending erections and Visas for every country in the world. A far cry from his humble Western suburbs home. It wasn’t much, but at least he had someone to share it with. He had Sam.

James found her on the streets a year ago. Lost and confused, he’d taken her under his wing. She wasn’t really an outdoors companion, but he could tell she was always eager for him to come home from work. They'd sit up watching TV with her on his lap, her heavy breathing their only real conversation. James used to talk to himself when he was alone, but now he had an ear to listen. Just the one - Sam had got a bad infection a few months back. It broke his heart when the ear had to be removed. He's not sure how his friend felt but he kind of liked her like that. They were both different from those around them - and they were each others.

Sweating a little, James swept everything into his brief case. If he wasn’t out of there by 5.30pm his local Butcher would close. He didn’t believe in spoiling pets but he couldn’t help buying a juicy lamb shank for Sam. He always wondered about her previous owners and what they had fed her. The thought of giving someone you love that slop they dump into metal cans made him sick. Didn’t that contain carcinogens? Anyways he'd decided awhile ago that fresh meat was much better for her.

***

It was dark when James pulled in the drive, rain-water splashing out from under the wheels. He'd had to get out and jiggle the gate shut. Damn wooden gates, they always warped and expanded in the rain. He'd have to have it replaced - Same could run away one day. Then who'd protect her?

"Honey I'm home" he called out. He always felt a little silly doing that, but hey it was in all the movies. This was his palace after all. His kingdom. He felt more confident at home, away from bosses and meetings and noisy coffee machines. Draping his coat over the couch, he looked around inquisitively for his beloved pet. Hmm. She must be hiding.

He grabbed the bone for a lure. "Ssssaam. Ohh Saaam?" He shook it encouragingly. "I have a surprise for you..." Then it dawned on him. She'd be hiding in his cupboard again. It was her favorite place, especially during storms. Slowly he peeled back the cupboard door, and there she sat, all curled up.

"Oh Sam. Look, I have a bone for you. You love bones don’t you?"

She stared up at him with her big white eyes. You can see so much in an eye. James was still sitting on the fence about that whole 'window to the soul' thing. He knew one thing though. You could see their life experiences. He looked on with total endearment. Anyone else? Perhaps horror.

Sams eyes spoke volumes. Pupils dilating from the lack of light, her eyes were wide in any case. From fear. Being tied up and gagged will do that to you. The thing with fear is after being present long enough, it takes a toll on you physically. Sams skin had started to sag, her nerves were shot. She jumped at every sound. What if he's home? What will he do next? No doubt she'd live through it, that wasn’t the problem. I just want to die. He'd bought her new clothes, and showered her clumsily once a week. But that didn’t stop the smell. The smell of her sweating bullets. The stink of rotting meat she was forced by hunger to eat. The stench of dried blood and semen around her privates. Oh he'd had his way with her. He always seemed to talk down to her, like she was his dog. James fucked her like one too. She had no will left to shout. Between raw meat, his hard cock and the evil gag she loathed so much, her mouth stayed dry and hoarse. Her voice had been reduced to a whisper, in between her sobbing.

"HEY!" he shouted, interrupting her scattered thoughts. "Are you even listening to me? Sam, Sam, Sam. You know what they do to bad pets don’t you?" He sounded disappointed. "Now eat your fucking bone," he demanded, thrusting it under her face with contempt. And maybe just a hint of anger.