Confinement and Confinement

"And of course, the baby stays in here with you, neither of you leave," Gerald said, his eyes glinting with satisfaction as he locked the small room again. The sound of the metal door clicking into place was like a physical blow to Ashley's already fragile state. She felt a wave of despair wash over her as she gazed around the tiny space, her mind reeling with the thought of being trapped here with her newborn baby. The cot, the small table, the chair - it was all so cramped and claustrophobic. And Gerald's parting words still lingered in her mind: "My baby machine." Ashley's eyes drifted to her swollen belly, her heart heavy with anxiety. She could feel the baby moving inside her, kicking and squirming with increasing urgency. She knew that she was close to giving birth, and the thought of doing it in this tiny, locked room with no help, no medical care, and no escape was terrifying. As she waited, Ashley's thoughts turned to her own childhood, to the memories of her parents and her life before Gerald. She remembered the warmth and love of her family, the safety and security of her home. And she wondered if she would ever experience those things again. The hours ticked by at a glacial pace, Ashley's discomfort growing with each passing minute. She paced back and forth across the room, trying to find a comfortable position, but it was no use. Her back ached, her pelvis hurt, and her baby seemed to be getting restless. As the pain intensified, Ashley felt a wave of panic wash over her. She was alone, with no one to help her. She was at Gerald's mercy, and she knew that he would not hesitate to exploit her vulnerability. With a surge of adrenaline, Ashley stumbled over to the cot and collapsed onto it, her body wracked with contractions. She knew that she was going into labor, and she was completely unprepared. As the contractions grew stronger and closer together, Ashley's fear gave way to a desperate determination. She would get through this, she told herself, no matter what. She would survive, and she would find a way to escape. But for now, she was trapped, locked in this tiny room with her baby, at the mercy of a monster.