Chapter five

The barn where Sarah, Caitlyn and Emily had been stowed was built very simple: just a rectangle of some four yards in length and three in width, covered with straw mats. The walls were made of thick boards and the ground was made of sand. Inside the barn, there was twilight since the sunrays came through the hundreds of gaps and little holes in the mats and between the boards.

Once their captors had left them, Caitlyn and Sarah had withdrawn to one of the corners, sitting side by side, though they took care that their nude bodies didn`t touch. Emily, still totally exhausted, had been lying on the ground for some time, then, she had crawled to the opposite corner. Now, she was crouching there, her head resting on her knees.

Sarah, who still hadn`t got her glasses back, could not see Emily properly, but she could hear the silent sobs of the redhead. And suddenly, she felt pity.

When they had been stowed inside the coffin, she had been horrified by the growing arousal of Emily, her constant squirming and how she had moaned and sighed. Emily had screamed into Sarah`s lap, sending vibrations through her loins, and Sarah knew that she had also drooled all over her pubic mound. It was a disgusting thought and then, the redhead had climaxed twice in front of their eyes, had literally exploded, groaning and thrusting her pelvis, showing not any remnant of modesty.

However, Sarah had become a teacher because of her compassion for others and she also knew that modesty was a fragile thing. Not long ago, these men had shattered her own, made her own body betray her. Sarah remembered how she had squirmed and moaned when the men had touched her-

She looked at Caitlyn who sat there, leaning against the wall and staring at a bright spot at the ceiling. She touched the other`s shoulder with hers and pointed at Emily with her chin. The redhead still sobbed, her shoulders twitching slightly. Suddenly, she made a strange sound and convulsed even more. When the muffled croaks repeated, the other girls understood: to add insult to injury, Emily now had a hiccup.

Caitlyn snorted and turned her head. She could not stand the sight of Emily – the woman that had rubbed her most intimate parts over hers, unable to control herself. It had been embarrassing, humiliating – Caitlyn could not find stronger words for how she felt. She too had been forced to react to the man`s caresses the day before and now, she had found a way of coping with her shame by focusing on Emily, considering her even more wanton.

»Humph!«

When Emily was shaken by another hiccup, Sarah brought herself on her feet and stepped over to the redhead where she went on her knees, looking at her co-captive.

»Mhhm!«

Emily slowly raised her head, looking at her with tearful eyes. Then, another hiccup made her croak and she lowered her head. Sarah shifted and sat close to her. Unable to put her arm around Emily`s shoulder, she put her head on Emily`s upper arm.

Again, Emily looked at her and now, Sarah tried her best to express warmth and compassion. Now, Emily burst to tears, interrupted by more hiccups. For a while, the two girls just sat like that, when Emily suddenly felt something touch her right side. She looked up: Caitlyn had sat beside her, putting her head on her other shoulder.

With a not very ladylike sound, Emily cleared her nose and raised her head, looking gratefully at the others. They were still naked, bound and gagged, she was still feeling as if she would die from embarrassment and there was still that terrible hiccup, but somehow, she felt new strength flood through her body. She still wasn`t defeated and she would get out of this!

***

The Royal Hospital turned out to be a huge building complex that was a crude mixture of an old palace and more modern buildings. Melanie and Linda were standing in the main hall, trying to find a sign telling them where the Department for Nervous Disorders was, when Linda suddenly gasped and crossed herself.

»What is it?«, Melanie asked, reaching for the gun hidden in the handbag. However, Linda just pointed at the street.

»S-sorry, I – I am just nervous!«

Melanie followed her view and saw a hearse that was just leaving the court. It looked more than out of place, would have fit much better in a rainy alley in Europe than in a sun gloomed court with palm trees and people in Arabic clothes. Melanie relaxed and pointed at a huge brass plate, informing them where the department they searched for was located.

The nurse at the reception looked at Melanie in her shirt and trousers with raised eyebrows and an expression of disapproval. However, the raven-haired woman tried her best:

»Please, excuse my appearance, Miss! But my fiancé had invited me to visit an archeological site he is working at and in the desert, it`s better that way! However, when I heard what had happened to my cousin`s best friend, I came here instantly! I didn`t even find the time to change into something more appropriate!«

She now poked Linda in her side. They had gone through this on their way to the hospital and so, Linda added:

»My friend, Emily Starling – I was told she had something like a breakdown and now, she is – here!«

Quite convincingly, she interrupted herself and sobbed into her handkerchief. Melanie now did the talking again and after some hesitating, the nurse looked through the book that recorded the newly arrived patients.

Melanie hadn`t really hoped to get a sign of Emily that way, but to her surprise, the nurse said:

»I can`t find any Emily Starling in here, but yesterday, a young woman was brought here by Dr. Bernard personally – here: ›unknown European woman, suspected nervous breakdown‹. Just get to the building over there and ask for Dr. Bernard, he should be there!«

Melanie thanked the woman and pulled Linda with her. Before she entered the building, she said:

»Now, can you play the nervous trembling girl a little bit longer?«

»Y-yes!«

Actually, Linda wasn`t playing, but Melanie just ordered her to get inside and ask for the doctor or for Emily.

»Cry, scream, maybe even faint, I don`t care! Just buy me some time whilst I take a look to the cellar! I can`t think that Emily is in one of the official hospital rooms.«

She had left Linda alone before the blonde could protest and so, she reluctantly stepped inside.

***

Melissa Arlen had become a criminal step by step and a part of her still did not consider it wrong what she was doing. Some year ago, Dr. Bernard had started to work at the Royal Hospital and she had quickly risen from one of his nurses to his personal assistant – and lover. Though almost 20 years older than Melissa, the doctor had an insatiable sexual appetite – the reason she had stopped wearing knickers at work. And in addition, he let her participate in his works.

First, she had felt disconcerted when he had told her about things like »hysterical paroxysm therapy«, meaning to cure the nervous diseases of women by inflicting an orgasm. But more and more, she had been intrigued and she had also understood that sometimes, these poor women had to be forced to their well-being and that sometimes things had to be done to them – things that would otherwise have seemed criminal or disgusting. Melissa had believed everything the doctor had said because it was him who had said it.

Sometimes, he had made vague hints about »changes« in the near future – changes that would allow him to marry her and to live in wealth. Maybe, he would even run his own institute. But before, some more unpleasant researches had to be done, some more tests with women – women that, as Dr. Bernard had always assured her, were mentally insane. His cure was their only chance to ever have a normal life again.

So, Melissa had willingly participated in the plan to get that blonde woman from the hotel into Dr. Bernard’s custody, though it meant kidnapping her. But Melissa, submissive to her lover, had played her part – and now, she had to pay for it terribly.

First, that raven-haired woman had knocked her out and when she had regained her consciousness, she had been lying on the floor, hogtied and blindfolded and with another woman`s knickers stuffed into her mouth. Melissa had sensed with disgust that the underwear had been worn before, but worse had come.

The woman had tied her to the bed, spread eagled, stripped her and then spanked her buttocks before torturing her with a candle. Then, she had left her, but after some time, someone else had entered the room. Melissa had no idea who the man with the strange accent was, a man who was currently kneading her still sore buttock.

»Melissa, I won`t hurt you more than I need to. But if you make me believe that I need to hurt you more, I will do it! You got me?«

Still, his hand on her butt was not doing anything painful. He just rubbed over her reddened skin strong enough that it reminded her of what the woman had done to her. However, there was something in his voice that made her fear him even more. She nodded slightly.

»Now, am I right that the blonde and her not-so-ladylike guardian are on their way to either the police or to the Royal Hospital?«

Melissa had no idea, but it seemed obvious and so, she nodded again. The man paused and suddenly, she could smell a cigar.

»Somehow, I can`t believe that they are calling the police. If they had wanted to do so, they could have done so without – playing with you before. So, there are two possibilities for us. Either wait for your accomplices – in case of them trying to set you free.«

The man had touched one of Melissa`s fears. When they had prepared for the kidnapping, both Peter and Selim had made comments that she was no real part of what they and the doctor were preparing for – that she was just a pawn. Of course, she hadn`t believed it. Melissa knew that Dr. Bernard loved her! And yet, though she had been loyal so far and not given any information to her captors, her confidence was vanishing.

»However, I prefer being the cat to being the mouse. And so, we will go to the Royal Hospital instead!«

Melissa couldn`t believe her ears. To do so, he would have to free her from her bonds! And once they were on the streets, she could run away and-

»Of course, it means packing you a little more secure, Melissa!«

A terrible silence had followed, disturbed only by small sounds the helpless girl finally recognized: the man was cutting a long rope. Then, he started loosening her left wrist.

»Mhhmmph!«

She tried to get her arm free, but the man just slapped her buttock hard. Then, he brought her arm to her side, tying it to her thigh. He pulled the rope tight, so it cut into the soft flesh between the top of her inner thigh and her outer labia. Then, he did the same to her right wrist.

Next, he slung a long rope around her waist and her arms three times, close to her already bound wrists. This, he pulled tight before tying it off, then, he cinched the rope on both sides between her sides and her wrists, further securing her arms and tightening the waist belt even more. Melissa gasped, but the man now put another rope around her nape.

»Nnnggg! Mmhhmmph!«

Melissa vigorously shook her head, fearing he would now strangle her. But the man brought the ends to her chest, crossed them between her breasts and threatened them back under her arms before pulling the slack out and tying the rope off at the small of her back. This breast harness seemed to have no other purpose than to cause discomfort and to make breathing a bit difficult.

Now, he used the dangling ends of her breast rope to tie her elbows, pulling those inwards a bit. However, there was still some eight inches between the joints, so, the position was just inconvenient, but still not straining.

»Now, don`t try anything foolish!«

He loosened her ankle ties from the bedposts, but kept the end of the ropes in his hands, forcing her to turn on her back. Melissa blushed when he secured her ankles again, forcing her to lie in front of him, naked and with her legs open.

Another rope was now slung around her upper arms from the front and he pulled it tight before he knotted the ends below her breasts. Now, with one tie forcing her elbows inwards whilst the other was pulling them to the front, she could hardly move her arms at all.

Melissa wondered why he tied knot after knot in the ends dangling from that last rope, though the original triple knot was tight and secure. But he tied some 20 more before Melissa felt him push the rope through her waist rope. When he pulled the slack out, Melissa felt that her arms were restrained even more.

»Now, close your eyes and think of England!«

He reached between her legs and with a quick move, he splayed her labia so he could embed the rope there. Melissa squealed, but he reached under her body, grabbed the ends and pulled. The rope tightened, the knots in it rubbing over her soft flesh when the rope slid between her still oily buttocks and tried to find a way between her legs, bisecting her clit.

Now, Melissa squirmed and thrashed, all the time screaming into her gag. However, the man just held her shoulder with one hand whilst the other played with the rope, tightening and loosening it, obviously enjoying her futile struggles.

»I have the time, if you have the stamina, Melissa!«

She fought on for a while, but finally, she stopped, whimpering through the knickers stuffing her mouth and panting heavily through her nose. Now, the man adjusted the rope until one knot was placed exactly over her clit before he tied the ends off to the rope around her nape.

»We are going for a walk and like that, every step becomes quite – entertaining!«

Again, he loosened Melissa`s ankles, but tied a rope around her knees. Then, he made her sit and stand up and she found out that she now could take small steps, but not run. Anyway, with her blindfold, she wouldn`t have had no idea where to go.

He now loosened her blindfold, just to retie it even tighter. The same, he did to the two scarves tied between her lips and over her mouth, pushing the used and now totally sodden knickers in even more. Melissa retched, but as she squirmed, she felt the crotch rope chaff her even more.

Obviously not satisfied, he took yet another cloth and tied it over her nose and chin, further muffling her and making breathing through her nose a bit strenuous. A last scarf was slung over her head like a headscarf and knotted under her chin, forcing Melissa to bite down hard on her stifling gag.

»Mmmhhrrrrmmm!«

Kazeem tested the efficiency of Melissa`s gag by pinching one of her nipples. Then, he went for his open suitcase and unfolded a large, yet light black cloth. It was a burqa, something some Muslim women wore – or were forced to wear – to block any views from men. He draped it over Melissa and it fell down to her ankles, covering her entire body and hiding her bonds. It only had a small opening for the eyes and even that had some gauze preventing anyone from looking at the wearer`s eyes – or, in Melissa`s case, seeing her blindfold.

He grabbed her arm and made her walk around a bit. Melissa bucked a bit and made small noises under her gags, but he was quite sure that nobody would recognize that underneath the black burqa a bound and gagged girl was hidden.

»Now, we will go to the Royal Hospital and you will not behave other than an obedient wife!«

He pushed the barrel of his revolver into her ribs.

»Even if you might attract any attention, I can still shoot and then, you will die, Melissa, naked, gagged with another woman`s knickers in your mouth and with a rope between your legs!«

Obviously, the mentioning of the most humiliating parts of Melissa`s bondage helped, for she quietly followed him as he led her to the corridor, holding her by her arm he had grabbed through the cloth. Kazeem knew that the next 100 steps would be the most difficult; once he had reached the street, nobody would take too much notice of an all too traditional and overprotective man and his wife.

***

Linda had asked every doctor or nurse she had met for Dr. Bernard or Emily, but it seemed that nobody had even seen the redhead. In addition, nobody seemed to know where the doctor was, though he was expected to be in the hospital. Finally, she had decided to leave and wait for Melanie when suddenly, she had heard a whisper from behind a column.

It was Melanie, who told her that she had found no sign of Emily, but at least, she had overheard a conversation between two servants.

»They were wondering about the hearse. You remember, we saw it leave the hospital some one or two hours ago! Obviously, it is only used if someone really important dies within these walls. And during the last six months, there hasn`t been any prominent patient, let alone one who died.

Linda`s eyes filled with tears.

»You – you mean-«

Melanie grabbed her arm and smiled assuring.

»I don`t think so. If Emily were dead, they would have found easier ways to get rid of her. No, I think it was the only way to smuggle her out of here unseen.«

This, however, did little to soothe Linda`s sorrows. Not only would that mean that Emily had been so close when they had arrived, it also meant that she was now at a place neither she nor Melanie knew! However, the raven-haired woman just pulled her with her into a staircase.

»Look what I have also found!«

The two sneaked down to a dark corridor that had several iron doors and was barely lit by a few windows that were little more than air holes. Melanie went to the third door on the left. When Linda read the sign beside the door, she shuddered.

»Morgue.«

However, Melanie pointed at the floor. There was a small dusty place and on it, there were two footsteps: one of a booted sole and another, smaller one of someone that had been barefoot.

»Obviously, someone has left this morgue not so long ago – on his or her own feet!«

She took some wire from her pocket and told Linda to have an eye on the corridor. After a minute, the door opened and the two girls slipped inside.

Linda oppressed a cry, looking at the uncanny scenery lit by two gas lamps that had been turned down to the lowest level. She feared that every minute, someone – or something – would attack her. Melanie, however, just went for the lamps and turned the regulating knobs so the room was suitably lit.

Now, Linda shrieked and Melanie spun around, drawing her gun, but Linda just had her hand pressed on her mouth. With her other hand, she pointed on a wheelchair. It had straps attached to it and on the seat, a straightjacket was lying.

»So, either they have some very vivid corpses down here or this is the place where Emily was hidden!«

She now opened the drawers in the wall, finding them all empty, but when she looked closer, she saw some hair in one of them.

»H-have you f-found a c-c-corpse?« Linda stammered. Melanie shook her head.

»No, but didn`t you say Emily has got long red curls?«

Linda nodded and Melanie held a few single hairs under her nose.

»Well, unless they haven`t spent time in dying her hair, Emily has not been the only captive down here. And the hair color matches the two other missing women – Caitlyn Mahoney and Sarah Lynne! You remember, that is why I am after these men anyway!«

Linda sank on a chair standing close to her. The sheer idea of being trapped inside of one of these iron drawers made her shiver. She asked:

»But – who are these men? Why have they abducted three women? And why are they after me, too?«

Melanie sighed.

»I don`t know yet, to be honest! As you might already have considered, I am working for – well, for a special branch of the Government. And we have heard rumors about a planned revolution or an assassination plan. Four days ago, I saw one of my suspects follow a young woman home from church. They passed a corner before I reached it and then, both had vanished – and that girl had been Sarah Lynne! She is a girls` school teacher and the other woman that had disappeared is a secretary at the Archeological Museum. And now, your Emily is just a tourist – or rather a journalist, if you like, but none of them is rich or related to someone important – they are not even the secretary of a minister or something like that! Just ordinary women!«

»Just like me!«

Now, Melanie stepped in front of her. Showing her enigmatic smile, she sat astride Linda´s legs and put her head into her hands.

»Whoever will call you an ordinary woman will die from my bare hands!«

She bent forward to kiss Linda, but then, they were interrupted by the characteristic sound of a cocked revolver. Melanie spun around and could see three men standing at the door: a handsome man in a suit, the tall blonde whom she had broken his nose and the bulky Arab who had been around when they had first tried to kidnap Linda.

»Now, that`s a nice coincidence! One of the nurses told me that you were here, asking for me, but that you even brought my worst pain in the ass is really a kind gesture. Now, get on your knees and put your hands behind your heads!«

Quickly, Melanie pressed Linda`s hand and showed her an assuring smile before she obeyed the order.

»Remember we still have Melissa – Dr. Bernard!«

The man in the suit smiled coldly:

»Sometimes, you have to sacrifice a peasant to get the Queen! And now, I even have the Warrior Princess!«

»I am not sure that`s a chess figure, but I have to admit I like that nickname! Melissa called me a ›bitch‹, would you believe that?«

Linda could not believe the banter Melanie and Dr. Bernard were having. However, though he seemed to be amused, neither the doctor nor his men became careless and still, three revolvers pointed on them.

»Where is Emily?«, she asked. Dr. Bernard replied:

»Emily? Is she the small redhead with the big breasts? Oh, she is well and alive – yet!«

»Where is she?«, Linda repeated.

»We had to retreat, since your friend started to cause trouble. But since the revolution isn`t far now, I don`t mind to give up my position here, just to rise even higher. We just came back for a few things – but now, you fell into my lap!«

»So, I will finally meet the man who is really behind all this?«, Melanie asked. However, the doctor shook his head:

»We will only take things with us that are useful. So, I am afraid that only Linda will accompany us, whilst you will have to stay behind. But now, come close to me, Linda!«

The blonde had not the slightest intention to do so, but the three guns spoke a clear language and so, she reluctantly approached Dr. Bernard. Suddenly, the Arab grabbed her and slung an arm around her neck. Linda croaked as his biceps pressed against her throat.

»Linda is useful, but our plan works without her, too. So, if Miss Nosiness disobeys any of my orders or tries anything stupid, you may break her neck, Selim!«

The Arab nodded and tightened his grip around Linda`s neck. Dr. Bernard now approached Melanie, took the gun from her belt and began to search her pockets.

»It`s always the same – men doing some clumsy handiwork and calling it ›foreplay‹!«

»Well, you may also do the work by yourself – strip!«

Linda made a croaking sound, but Melanie just turned his back to the men. Then, she bent forward and opened her shoelaces, swaying her butt as she did so. She took off the boots and held them to Dr. Bernard, but he just told her to drop them aside.

Her socks followed. Then, without hesitating, she began unbuttoning her shirt and threw it to the blonde man.

»Last time we saw, you didn`t even get that far!«

Linda couldn’t believe how cool Melanie was, but obviously, it impressed Dr. Bernard. When she had remover her trousers, he allowed Melanie to keep her brassiere and knickers. With surprising gracefulness, she dropped a curtsy.

Now, the blonde whom Dr. Bernard called Peter took several leather belts from a table and tied Melanie up with these, buckling each belt as tight as he could. First, he tied her wrists behind her back, then, he slung three more belts around her upper body and her arms, two above and below her breasts and one around her waist. Three more tied her leg together, above and below her knees and at her ankles. When he was done, Peter groped her breasts, but Melanie just pushed her head forward, hitting his nose once again.

Peter howled with pain and tried to beat Melanie, but she just ducked and he stumbled through the room. Dr. Bernard stopped that.

»Peter, how much does that woman need to be trussed up until you are finally able to cope with her? Just gag her and then, we can stow her nice and securely!«

Looking around, Peter`s eyes fell on Melanie`s socks, but then, a sadistic grin appeared on his face:

»Perhaps, we should let her one last memory of her friend. Something she can chew on in her last hours!«

He approached Linda who squirmed in Selim`s vice grip, but Dr. Bernard said:

»Nice idea, but I think that our feisty nemesis would prefer to get her gag by herself!«

»At least, you are imaginative, Dr. Bernard! It`s really a shame you have to rely on people like Peter!«

Again, Peter wanted to hit her, but now, Melanie slowly hopped over to Linda, her firm boobs bobbing as she did so. When she stood in front of her, Melanie had some sweat on her forehead, but she still smiled at her.

»Don`t worry, Sweetie!«

She sent Linda a kiss through the air. Then, she went on her knees, surprisingly smooth, given the fact she was securely trussed up. Melanie now bent forward and when she pushed her head under the skirt of Linda`s dress, she knew what kind of gag the men had been talking about.

Bringing her head closer to Linda`s lap, Melanie took the opportunity to playfully bite her right knee. Then, she grabbed her knickers with her teeth and slowly pulled them down. Linda held her breath, but then, she felt Melanie place a kiss on her pubic mound before she continued to peel down the panties.

In a feeble attempt to make things easier for Melanie, Linda stepped out of her knickers and Melanie took them between her teeth and sat up. Dr. Bernard applauded scornfully.

»Now, you may enjoy every bit of her taste – for the rest of your life, so to say!«

He stuffed the knickers deep into Melanie`s mouth. Then, he wound another belt between her lips two times before buckling it tightly at her neck. Melanie looked at Linda, still showing no sign of fear. Instead, she blinked with one eye, as if this was all just a game.

With the help of Peter, Dr. Bernard now heaved Melanie into one of the drawers and said:

»As I told you, I won`t come back here before the revolution starts. And even though we are close to success, it could take us some days. So, I better bid you farewell!«

Linda shrieked as he pushed the drawer close and padlocked it. Then, he gave quick orders to his men who now trussed up Linda who still was staring at the closed drawer with disbelief. Would they really leave Melanie inside the terrible box, to die a slow and terrible death?

They put the straightjacket on her, pulling the straps tight, but sparing her the crotch strap, since she was still wearing her dress. Then, she was placed inside the wheelchair and secured by the straps that tied her legs and fixed her upper body to the backrest. Dr. Bernard now picked up Melanie`s socks.

»It`s only fair that you also get a last memory from her!«

Linda retched as he stuffed the socks into her mouth. They tasted awful, but at the same time, the thought that this was maybe really the last thing she ever would have from Melanie made her cry. She did not thrash around or whimper, but the tears ran down her cheeks as the men now tied a cloth between her lips and pulled a black hood over her head.

»All right, let`s go! The Mahdi doesn`t like being kept waiting, but now, we have at least something to offer to him!«

Linda felt as the wheelchair was moved, carrying towards an unknown fate.

***