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Chapter 27: A Long, Miserable Morning

“This is terrible!” Melinda said as soon as the darkness clamped down on them. “This hurts something horrible!”

“Yes, I know.”

In the dark, Darlene could hear Melinda struggling against the ropes that held her. The heels of her shoes clicked against the concrete as she danced in exasperation and utter helplessness.

“Don’t do that,” Darlene advised. “We’re both tied too tightly to work loose. You’ll only hurt yourself more.”

“I’ll kill those bastards!” Melinda called out. “Angus and that bastard Reggie! I’ll rip them to pieces with my bare hands!”

Hearing the touch of panic in her tone, Darlene again cautioned her. “Just stand still. It will not hurt as much. In a few hours he’ll come and let us down.”

“Hell! I can’t take hours of this. My arms will fall off!”

“Just calm down. Remember, the Master wants us in good condition for him to use. He won’t let anything serious happen to us.”

The words of reason might have worked, for Melinda’s utterances diminished until she was only moaning.

The morning was very slow in passing. At least, for the two pieces of property suffering in the Blue Room.

* *

another part of the lodge, Angus was reporting

in the Blue

let them down before they start screaming?”

Just before that point. This is a lesson for them, after all. It would not have the same effect if they do not

Well, fine. I’ll pick one of them for myself after dinner.

“Yes, sir.”

as soon

I saw

I’m taking

want something to happen like it did

“No, sir.”

that I’ll try the older one. Would only be fair, after

paused. “You do realize what that makes you? To

Yes, that makes me a