The Punishment

Kieran's mistake was small, just a slight misstep as he was fetching Ellie's favorite snack from the kitchen. He had been instructed to bring it to her in the living room, but as he turned the corner, he got distracted by a notification on his phone and didn't notice the coffee table in front of him. The bag of chips slipped from his fingers, spilling its contents all over the floor. Ellie's eyes narrowed as she watched the scene unfold from the couch. She had been engrossed in her book, but now she put it down and fixed Kieran with a stern gaze. "Kieran, what have you done?" she asked, her voice dripping with disappointment. Kieran froze, his heart sinking as he took in the mess he had made. "I'm sorry, Ellie," he said, rushing to pick up the chips. "It was an accident." Ellie's expression didn't change, but her voice took on a cold, calculated tone. "Get on your knees," she said, her eyes glinting with a mischievous spark. Kieran hesitated, but he knew better than to disobey. He dropped to his knees, the floor cool against his skin. Ellie beckoned him closer, her hand extending as she held out a single chip. "Kieran, I want you to crawl to me and beg for this chip," she said, her voice low and husky. "And I want you to do it with a smile on your face." Kieran felt a surge of humiliation, but he knew he had no choice. He began to crawl across the floor, his movements awkward and slow. As he reached Ellie's feet, he looked up at her and forced a smile onto his face. "Please, Ellie, may I have this chip?" he asked, trying to sound pitiful. Ellie's expression was unreadable, but her eyes seemed to gleam with amusement. She held out the chip, and Kieran took it from her, his fingers brushing against hers. As he stood up, Ellie's gaze roamed over him, taking in his disheveled appearance. His hair was mussed, and his clothes were stained with chip crumbs. She seemed to be savoring the sight, her eyes lingering on his face. "You look pathetic, Kieran," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "You look like a servant, not a brother." Kieran felt a stinging sensation in his eyes, but he refused to let tears fall. He knew that would only give Ellie more power over him. Instead, he met her gaze, his eyes locked on hers. "I'm sorry, Ellie," he said, his voice steady. "I'll try to do better." Ellie's expression didn't change, but her voice took on a slightly softer tone. "I know you will, Kieran," she said. "Because you have to. You have to try, for me." As she spoke, Ellie's eyes seemed to bore into his soul, searching for something. Kieran didn't know what she was looking for, but he knew he couldn't give it to her. He couldn't give her the satisfaction of breaking him, of reducing him to nothing more than a plaything. But as he stood there, Ellie's gaze still fixed on his, he felt a creeping sense of doubt. Was he strong enough to resist her? Or would he eventually crack, succumbing to her cruelty and manipulation? Only time would tell, but for now, Kieran knew he had to keep playing the role of Ellie's foot slave, no matter how humiliating it was. He took a deep breath and bowed his head, trying to hide the turmoil brewing inside him. "Thank you, Ellie," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do better, I promise." Ellie's expression didn't change, but a small smile played on her lips. "I'm counting on it, Kieran," she said, her voice dripping with menace. "I'm counting on it."