"What happened, Jackson?"

"I don't know what happened. His phone rang and he left and he didn't come back."

"You didn't call him to ask?"

"Um, I couldn't."

"Why not?"

"...he left you tied up to fend for yourself? And he didn't even tell you why?"

"I think it was an emergency."

"Emergency or not, he could have at least told you what it was and untied you. How did you even get out on your own?" he asks, hoping the answer to that question is 'Master did one of those knots the sub can undo' while knowing it obviously isn't.

"I waited, first... then I kind of just wiggled out."

"Didn't he say—anything? Wait for me? Or don't? Or—anything?" he asks, despairing some.

"He was still on the phone when he went out..."

Sigh. "And he still hasn't called you?"

"My phone was dead by the time I got back to school."

"And you didn't get it charged," he sighs again.

"It's charging now... I didn't really think of it at first."

"Mmm. Do you—need anything?"

"I don't - I don't think so."

"How are you feeling?"

"You're scared he'll punish you for leaving without waiting for him?"

"I'm allowed to leave when he's done with me. But, uh, I forgot something when I left and then I'd locked myself out."

"What'd you forget?"