Struggle for Liberty by Marline (the giving tree read aloud .TXT) 📕

“Wake up, we have a long day ahead of us.” I opened my eyes sleepily and looked around the room. Jason was already dressed and standing over me with his arms crossed over his thickly muscled chest. “And if you don’t cooperate, also a long night.” He finished. I groaned. What a lovely way to wake someone up.
“I want my breakfast on the table in 15 minutes so I suggest you hurry up.” Jason said before he left the room. I turned around and slammed my head in the pillow out of anger and frustration. I then reluctantly got up and wasn’t even bothered to change. I was still wearing the jeans and shirt that I had put on yesterday. I went to the bathroom and almost fell asleep when I saw how tired I looked. Instead, I brushed my teeth with a clean toothbrush that was lying on the sink and I pulled a brush through my hair. First order of the day: get a hair tie. I groggily walked out of the bathroom and towards the living room. Jason was sitting at the table with a cup of strong black coffee and a newspaper. How on earth did he get a newspaper to this remote area? Then again, how did they get electricity?
“10 minutes,” Jason warned, without looking up.
“What do you want?” I sighed.
He raised his eyes to meet mine.
“First lesson of the day,” He said, as he folded away his newspaper, “treat me with respect.”
I merely stared at him with a sarcastic expression on my face. Treat him with respect? Really? I would only treat him with respect when he deserved my respect, and no sooner.
“Ah, I see how this is going to work. You are going to try to defy every order I give you.” Jason said as he stood up and walked over to me.
“But I am not having that. The next time you defy my order, we are going straight to the bedroom.” I was getting bored of hearing this threat and even started wondering if he would go through with it. Yesterday he didn’t. Again it seemed like Jason could read my mind because he leaned forwards and whispered, in a very threatening tone: “You were lucky yesterday.” I shivered from both his words and the way he said it. And not because his proximity reminded me of the kiss we’d shared yesterday. No, definitely not.

Jason moved away from me and leaned against the counter.
“Try again. Ask me what I want to eat.” I had to bite my lip to keep from yelling at him and calling him an arrogant knave. Instead, I swallowed my pride and asked him, with a hint of sarcasm to my voice: “What would you like to eat for breakfast?”
“Hmm.” Jason said. “Better. And I’d like an omelet. Fried on both sides because I really don’t like that gooey yellow stuff dripping off my toast.” I nearly laughed and said “neither do I” but managed to keep my mouth shut. I turned around and started opening cupboard doors, looking for a pan and a spatula. Jason was of no help at all. Then I opened the fridge and looked for eggs and butter, which I soon found. Within 7 minutes I had an egg ready and on a plate, together with two slices of toast but I refused to bring it to Jason and left it on the counter instead. Then I looked for other food in the fridge and settled on some yoghurt. I poured some in a bowl and went to sit down at the table.
“Where’s my food?” Jason asked me.
“It’s on the counter.” I replied.
“Go and get it.”
“I am not your slave.” I said and narrowed my eyes.
“No. You are my student. So do as you’re told.” I was far too stubborn to listen to his orders and sat there, with a challenging expression on my face. Jason sighed and then looked over at me.
“Next time you disobey me, Lissa will be punished.” He said sternly. I winced. He’d found my weak spot. Oh why did I have to be so stubborn? Stupid pride.
I stared at Jason wide-eyed. “You wouldn’t.” I said with disbelief evident in my voice.
“No,” He answered, “I won’t. If you do what you’re told. Now get me my breakfast.” I grabbed the plate from the counter and put it in front of him with so much force that the plate nearly broke.
“Enjoy.” I said sarcastically and then stalked off towards the bedroom.
“Liberty, you will join me for breakfast.” Jason said in a warning tone.
“I will do no such thing.” I said and continued to the bedroom. How was it possible that I was still defying orders when Lissa’s wellbeing was dependent on what I did? What was my problem? I was such a bad sister.
“All right, then I’ll come join you in the bedroom.” Jason said, already getting up. I stopped walking and slowly turned around. Oh how I hated being told what to do and constantly being defeated. Why did guys have to be stronger than girls? And why did I end up here in the first place? I had spent my life helping others and being devoted to God so why did He punish me like this? I slowly made my way over to the table and sat in a chair opposite Jason, refusing to look at him. I stared out the window angrily, hating the fact that Jason had defeated me yet again.
“Today will be your first actual lesson. You will learn to serve my needs. If I am thirsty, get me something to drink, if I am hungry, get me food, if I want to talk then you listen and if I don’t want to see you then leave. Understand?” Jason asked me.
“I don’t see how having a robot in your house is any fun at all.” I said tonelessly.
“Those men don’t want robots. They just want to get away from their nagging wives and find a refuge with someone who doesn’t complain and does what they’re told.” Jason said.
I glared at him but didn’t say anything.
“Today we will just spend time around the apartment. You will get to know me, find out what I do and don’t like and then see to my needs.” Jason explained. I had no idea how I was going to put aside all my pride and do as he told me but I knew that I had to try, for one reason: Lissa.

Chapter 4

The day passed in a drag, every time I had to serve Jason I had the urge to punch him and say something rude but I kept my anger in check. I was not going to make Lissa’s life worse than it already was. I lived for my bathroom breaks and the times I had to cook because those were the only moments that I could do what I wanted.

I had gotten through the day and was just starting dinner when Jason called me over.
“Liberty, I’m thirsty, get me some juice.” I looked over at the pan I was stirring in.
“If you don’t want your food to burn then I suggest you get it yourself.” I said without turning around to face him.
“Don’t be rude.” I jumped when I heard Jason’s voice so close behind me and whirled around.
“You didn’t even say please!” I exploded. My anger got worse when I saw that Jason was grinning. He was enjoying this, the rogue! I raised up my hand to slap him but he caught it and looked at me with a smirk on his face.
“You’ll burn the food.”
Oh the arrogance of this jerk. I turned around and furiously started stirring the pasta sauce I was making only to have it splatter all over the wall.
“You’re going to have to clean that up.” Jason said behind me. I clenched my teeth, closed my eyes and balled my hands into fists, resisting the urge to pick up the pan I was stirring in and pour the boiling contents over his head. And then I could hit him with the pan. And then laugh at him. Hmm, didn’t seem like such a bad idea. I nearly smiled when I thought of it but then my frown returned when I thought of the fact that I had to eat dinner with Jason.

Dinner passed in silence and I hardly touched my food, too angry to eat.
“Liberty, finish your plate.” Jason said, halfway through his third helping of pasta.
“I’m not hungry.” I said quietly, not looking up at him.
“I don’t care.” He said. “Either you eat it or I’ll feed it to you.” I shot him an angry glance and twirled the spaghetti on my fork. When I saw that Jason was looking at me, waiting for me to take a bite, I unwillingly brought the fork to my mouth.
“There,” Jason said when I had chewed and swallowed, “That wasn’t so hard, now was it?”
I shot him an angry glance before finishing my plate.

After dinner I put the dishes in the dishwasher and then stood around, not knowing what to do. I decided on taking a shower because I was longing to get away from Jason. I was on my way from the bedroom when I heard his annoying voice.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“To take a shower. Or is that not allowed anymore either?” I couldn’t help but add.
“Fetch me the book on my bedside table and then you can shower.” Jason said. I wasn’t even bothered to be angry, I’d been angry with him all day. Besides, refusing him would just end up in threats and I would eventually do what he said anyways. I wordlessly went into the bedroom, got his book and gave it to him.
“Good, you’re learning.” Jason said. I didn’t bother to grace him with an answer and went to the bedroom to grab a pair of pajamas and went to take a shower.

When I was done showering, I dried off, put on my pajamas and wondered why on earth I still hadn’t asked Jason for a hair tie. It wasn’t that hard. When I got out of the shower and walked into the living room, Jason got up from the couch where he was reading.
“I’m going to take a shower now.” He said, and put his book on the couch. “Don’t do anything stupid.” With that, he walked into the bedroom to get clean clothes. I was alone in the living room, I hadn’t been alone here before. I thought about getting one of the knives and waiting for Jason outside the bathroom door but I cringed at the thought of actually hurting him. I would never be able to kill anybody. Besides, he would probably overpower me before I had the chance to inflict any real damage and then who knows what the punishment would be. So instead I walked over to the couch and picked up the book Jason had been