Chapter 20: Night in Hell

After her humiliating punishment, Isabell was pulled away from me, taken off the ladder, and locked in her standing cage. Then I was also freed from my cage. My gag was removed and my ankle chain was locked to an eyelet in the floor. Then I was given a bowl of porridge to eat. Hungry, I pounced on my meal; I hadn’t eaten anything since the croissant. From now on, the Paladins would focus entirely on me.

The replacement appeared: Rebecca, Jelena, and René entered the stage. The recording team also changed. In the shadows behind the stage lighting, I noticed increasing movement and heard a few noises, which suggested that the room was filling up with studio guests. It was Saturday evening and prime time had arrived. The Paladins exchanged theatrical remarks, explaining to the audience, who had just tuned in to the show, what they had found out and what tortures they had tried out on us during our interrogation so far. Then the day shift left the stage.

Rebecca ignored me completely at first, approaching Isabell instead.

“So, you traitor. Tomorrow morning, the tribunal will pass judgment on you. Since you have admitted to acting out of pure greed, it will be particularly harsh. Enjoy your last night.”

Isabell began to beg for mercy, swearing to do anything and vowing eternal loyalty to the Order. But Rebecca ignored her pleas.

“You will die tomorrow, there is no doubt about that. Those who ally themselves with the dark beings of hell will find no mercy with us.”

Now she finally turned to me.

“So, you’re a two-tailed fox? We are not unnecessarily cruel. Tell us where and how we can find the others of your kind, and you will be well cared for. We already have one of your kind in custody, and she is in excellent health.”

My eyes flashed.

Turning to the spectators, I revealed in a hushed voice: “So she admits she has my sister. That means her certain doom!”

Rebecca pretended not to have heard me.

“Are you the head of the order?” I asked Rebecca directly.

“I ask the questions here, just so we’re clear!”

“Then ask.”

“What is your name?”

“Call me Kumiho.”

“Your real name.”

“Homiku?”

Rebecca grabbed a whip. “I’m serious!”

“Oh, was it all fun and games until now? Well, then try a little harder.”

She began to smile and lowered the whip.

“We will.”

With a wave, she ordered the others to free me and tie me to the rack. My iron shackles on my hands and feet fit so well that even after 24 hours they hardly hurt. Their insides were lined with soft, oiled leather. I had never worn such shackles before. Now the ropes of the rack were attached directly to them, just like they had done to Isabell that morning. Slowly, they pulled me taut. Jelena operated the winch, René tortured me, and Rebecca took over my interrogation. But she was also the carrot. The others inflicted pain on me, while she ordered them to stop, approached me, and caressed me tenderly. Damn beast, she knew exactly how to trigger me. My sweat was not only flowing because of the spotlights. The questions came again and again:

“How many of you are there?”

“What is your real name?”

“Where are you hiding?”

“Who supports you?”

“Are there other traitors among the paladins who are helping you?”

“Why did you seek us out?”

But I didn’t reveal anything important, instead giving vague or false information. The time had not yet come to reveal why I was here. I got into my role and began to compete with Rebecca to see who had the stronger will. She punished obvious lies relentlessly with pain, inaccurate information prompted her to probe further, but apparent truths were rewarded with tenderness and breaks. During the interrogation, I had to be very careful not to contradict myself, but remaining silent was not an option.