Minor Changes 8

Maya now rummaged through her »bag of surprises« and took out a little glass vial the size of a finger. It was filled with some transparent liquid. Then, she attached something to it and showed a small remote control to the captives.

»The signal ranges over some 50 yards, just something you should remember!«

She placed the vial on the carpet, some yard in front of the two women, and then left the room. A moment later, there was a faint beep – and a moment later, there was a small explosion. It wasn`t louder or heftier than a small firecracker, but enough to make the vial burst. With horrified fascination, Marlene and Monica watched as the liquid literally bubbled and corroded the carpet, hissing and smoking.

»Good old hydrochloric acid! Now, imagine what damage these few millilitres can do to bare skin!«

She took two more of the vials from the bag, each equipped with an electric trigger. Then, she prepared two pieces of duct tape and grabbed her discarded T-Shirt. She then approached her petrified captives and dabbed the sweat from their bellies before taping a vial to each girl`s belly button. Then, she untied the cuff fixing Marlene`s ankle to Monica`s. Holding the remote loosely in her hand, she told the blonde to get up.

»Bring your hands to your front and place them on your head!«

The girl very carefully followed the order, fearing that crunching her belly could cause the vial to break. She stared at the hole the acid had created in both the carpet and the laminate beneath and she trembled slightly as Maya let her thumb circle over the remote`s buttons.

»Now, spread your legs to your sides!«

Monica knew that this order was only given to further humiliate her, but she obeyed. Maya took one of the ropes she had prepared. It was some two yards long and looked thin, yet strong. She doubled it and slung it around Monica´s waist.

Marlene could only see her friend´s rear, but she watched with horror as the rope tightened, almost disappearing in her flesh, accompanied by a whimper from Monica`s gagged mouth. Unseen by Marlene, the Israeli now measured the distance and tied two knots into the dangling ends. Then, she once again pulled all slack out and reached between Monica`s spread legs.

»Ooouhhmmm! Mmhhmmmmph! Hhhrrrmmmm!«

The rope was placed between the blonde`s buttocks and then threaded through the waist rope. Then, Maya again pulled with one hand, whilst her other pried Monica`s labia apart, so the rope could sink in deeply. Monica wailed and reared up, but still didn`t dare to struggle too much, despite the line of fire between her legs.

The ends were brought back to her front where Maya did some tightening, until one of the knots was pressing hard against the girl`s clit, whilst below, the ropes had vanished inside her. Monica`s chest was heaving, and there were tears in her eyes. Ignoring Monica`s sense of modesty, Maya now felt for the second knot that was embedded between the blonde`s labia and threaded the ends through it. Again, she pulled, and then, she led the ends to the sides of the waist rope, so they were framing Monica`s pubic mound. Only then, she tied them off to the waist rope. Now, Monica not only had an extremely tight crotch rope, but also two tight ropes to its left and right. Her whimpers turned to squeals as Maya now ripped the vial from her belly and pushed it under the tight ropes cutting into her pubic mound. Monica trembled like aspen foliage as Maya made her turn around so Marlene could admire the perfidious arrangement.

»I am quite sure that Moni will now not risk doing anything silly, even if I remove her handcuffs! She sure doesn`t want to spend the rest of her days as ›Moni Rottencrotch‹!«

Indeed, as the handcuffs were removed, her arms just fell down, and Monica just stared at Maya with eyes like saucers. The criminal sat down on the edge of the couch and ordered:

»Now, put on the pantyhose!«

Marlene suffered with her friend who moved very carefully, not only because of the vial, but also because walking was even harder than standing with the ropes chaffing her soft flesh. The movements necessary to put on a pantyhose seemed to be even worse, for she was whimpering and sighing during the procedure.

There was a little relaxation as she then had to put on the white blouse, whilst the skirt required another bending forward. When she had put on her business jacket and the high heels, Monica looked almost decent, except for her dishevelled hair, the strained expression on her face and the mask gag.

Maya handed her a few hairpins and ordered her to do her hair into a bun. Then, she produced two cable binders and used one to tie Monica`s wrists after she had crossed them in front of her belly. The other one, she threaded through her crotch rope, pushing her hands into her skirt and pantyhose, and so fixed her bound hands to it. Monica now stood there, not daring to move her arms at all.

»You may sit down if you want, Moni!«

The blonde`s legs were wobbly, but as she sank down on the chair, she reared up and groaned. Marlene knew from bitter experience that sitting down whilst wearing a crotch rope wasn`t funny, and now, her friend had learned the hard way, too.

The gag mask was now removed, but instead of allowing Monica to work Marlene`s panties from her mouth, Maya forced her to bite down hard on them, until she could close her lips. Then, she sealed Monica`s mouth with some ten layers of the transparent tape. She stepped back and examined her work, and Marlene had to admit that over some distance, Monica looked as if she wasn`t restrained at all. What had their captor in mind?

»Now, Marlene, we can get to your part in the game! It will be a bit special, and so, we will need some more preparation!«

***

At a quarter to 7pm, the group waiting at the library got another message from Madame X:

»Still too many people at the parking lot, we will meet at the backdoor in 15 minutes!«

Zara looked outside and had to admit that there were still some people either walking or standing around. The backdoor opened to the park and would be rather quiet at this time of the day, but Madame X couldn`t get there by car.

»Are you sure this isn`t a trap?«, Silvana anxiously asked. Zara scoffed.

»If so, the first victim will be the Impostor Girl!«

Benita was loosened from the chair, but left bound at wrists and ankles and again had to hop towards the backdoor. Without a bra, her breasts bounced even more, but Marcus held her arm, and though he tried not to be rude, he insisted that she kept pace.

At the door, Zara took over, pressing her gun at the whimpering Benita`s side.

»All right, stay right behind me, I might need you to get Monica or Marlene!«

She opened the door and looked outside. The back yard was empty and dark, and she could see no one waiting for them. Zara used Benita as a shield and stepped outside; Carefully, Marcus and Silvana followed her, also trying to hide behind the two.

Silvana gasped as she heard a rustle and then, two persons stepped out of the dark. One was sporting a dark blue business jacket and a black skirt, and she had her hands crossed in front of her. A black-clad woman stood behind her, wearing a black mask and pointing at the other`s chin with a gun.

»Madame X and Monica – but where`s Marlene?«

Zara pushed Benita against the two and stepped behind her. She was about to shout something when suddenly she felt a sharp pain at her neck. Her fingers felt a small arrow, and she turned around to from where the attack had come. She saw a black figure, but as she wanted to say something, only a croak came out. She managed to raise her gun, but it dropped out of her hand.

With disbelief, Marcus and Silvana watched Zara collapse in front of them. Before any of them could react, Maya stepped forward, pointing at them with her gun. In her left, she still held her blowpipe she had used to shoot the arrow.

»Just a narcotic – but this gun is loaded with ordinary bullets, and on this distance, I hit the eye of a fly!«

Marcus had put his arm around Silvana, but couldn`t offer much protection. Madame X laughed.

»Don`t worry, I haven`t doubled! It was just a stratagem!«

She took something that looked like a remote control from her belt and waved towards the two women who slowly staggered closer to the door. Silvana saw that the hand that held the gun to Monica´s chin suddenly dropped and dangled loosely. As they reached the circle of light, she noticed that the blonde not only walked as if she was on drugs, it also looked as if her wrists were somehow fixed.

The masked woman also looked strange. The arm with the gun was dangling, and on the other side, she had no hand at all! Silvana`s jaw dropped, but as she staggered closer, she saw that the upper body under the leather jacket looked somehow – bulky. The eyes under the mask looked familiar.

»M-Marlene?«

»Uuuhhmm!«

Maya interrupted the scene and told Marcus to pick up the unconscious Zara. Then, she took the other`s gun and ordered Silvana to untie Benita before she directed the whole group back inside. On the way to the library, Silvana stared at Marlene. She seemed to be gagged under the mask, and now, she could see that her arms were tied behind her back whilst the jacket had been put over her, with the sleeves empty, except for the fake gun. Now, she could also see that Monica`s mouth was sealed with some transparent tape.

Inside the library, Benita placed herself behind Maya and took the second gun from her, whilst the others had to line up in front of the desk. Maya looked at Marcus.

»Are you an idiot who risks his friends` lives by doing silly things?«

After a few seconds of hesitating, Marcus shook his head and Maya smiled.

»Good! Are you a homosexual?«

Marcus seemed puzzled, but again, he shook his head, and maya`s smile became malicious.

»Even better! Then, you will like your first order! Strip Monica and give her clothes to Benita!«

Marcus approached the helpless blonde who whimpered as he took her arm, though the gesture had been gentle. He noticed that her wrists were not only zip-tied, but somehow fixed to another plastic eyelet protruding from her skirt.

He took the scissors and cut her wrists loose. Then, he apologized before taking off Monica`s jacket. He handed it to Benita who demanded the skirt and blouse, too.

Slightly sweating, and with his fingers a bit insecure, Marcus tugged the blouse from Monica`s skirt and unbuttoned it. He tried to avoid looking at her chest, for Monica was wearing no bra. Despite her hands were free, she made no attempt of covering her boobs.

Marcus gave the blouse to Benita who quickly put it on. Then, he opened the skirt`s zipper and shimmied it down her legs. Silvana gasped as she looked at Monica´s crotch. Through the transparent pantyhose, she could see that not only was she wearing no panties, but had an agonizingly tight rope pulled between her labia, all but cutting her in half. Pushed into the ropes, there was a small stick, or rather a vial.

Once Benita was dressed, she took the gun again, and Maya could lower hers and take off her backpack. From it, she took a pack of long zip ties and tossed them to Marcus. He had to place Monica on her belly and to zip-tie her wrists and elbows behind her back. With two more cable binders, he had to tie her ankles and fix them to her elbow tie, putting her into a rigid hogtie.

»Sorry, I forgot you are into girls! So, you may put her onto her side!«

A wave with the gun told Marcus that this wasn`t an option, and so, he obeyed. Maya then ordered both him and Silvana to strip the still unconscious Zara. Marcus took off her sneakers, whilst Silvana pulled the T-Shirt over her head, revealing a red lacy bra.

»What size is she?«

Silvana stared at her, and Maya chuckled:

»You may check by feeling, but you may also read the label!«

Silvana looked and read:

»32C!«

She then unclasped the bra and exposed her breasts. Meanwhile, Marcus had pulled down her jeans and taken off her socks. Except for a red lacy thong that matched the bra, she was naked.

Marcus gulped, but he also watched with fascination as he pulled down Zara`s thong. Except for a narrow strip of black hair, her pubic hair was shaved off.

They now had to tie the girl meticulously, all the time observed by Maya whilst Benita watched at gunpoint. They started by taping her hands, encasing them fully, before crossing her wrists at the back of her neck and tying them with a zip tie. A second was threaded through the tie and fixed around Zara`s neck. Two more cable binders were used to tie her ankles to her elbows, so Zara not only was in a hogtie, but also couldn`t close her thighs.

»Now, for a gag! Marcus, isn`t it? You will admit that this tiny thong is just too small to fill that bitch`s big mouth! However, I am sure our busty friend has everything you`ll need on her!«

Marcus seemed puzzled, but he wasn`t a fool, and so, he went down on one knee. Silvana let out a fluttering breath. Unlike on most days, she was wearing a Jeans, and she steeled herself for him opening her belt and zipper now, but he instead took off her shoes and socks. She couldn`t help shivering as his hand brushed over her sole. Marcus balled up her socks, but Maya shook her head.

»I meant her panties. But to make it easier for you, you may take them from her without removing her trousers first!«

It was unclear whether Marcus was angry, felt humiliated or was in a perverse way fascinated of what he was told to do. He took a deep breath; then, he reached for the scissors and approached Silvana.

»Sorry!«

He pushed his hand into her Jeans, at her side, and tugged out the waistband of her panties. He then cut the seam and ripped them apart. After he had done the same on the other side, he carefully reached into her Jeans at her back, grabbed the waistband and pulled. Silvana gasped as her panties slowly were rubbing between her legs.

»How long have you been wearing them?«

»Since we freed ourselves«, she replied, blushing. Since then, some 18 hours had passed. Marcus balled up the pale blue cotton garment and shoved it into Zara`s mouth. On Maya`s order, he then took the scarf that had gagged Benita, tied a knot in it and forced that between her lips before tying off the gag at her nape.

The next layer was a pair of white panties with red polka dots Silvana recognized as the one she had been wearing during Zumba before they had been used to gag Marlene. They were pulled over Zara`s head, and then, Marcus had to wind 20 layers of tape over her mouth, followed by 10 over her eyes.

»All right, now for one last thing! We need something Marlene has brought for us!«

Only now, Silvana looked at her friend who was still masked and leaning in a corner, obviously at the end of her strength. Silvana now noticed another detail: the jacket not only was tight, it looked as if Marlene`s ample breasts had somehow grown smaller.

Again, Marcus had to do the stripping, and in the order given by Maya. He started by her mask, revealing Marlene was also gagged with transparent tape that seemed to hold a massive packing in her mouth. Unbeknownst to Silvana, her friend was not only chewing on Monica`s panties, but Maya had also wedged one of her own into Marlene`s mouth, filling it to capacity.

Next, the shoes came off, showing that she had not been wearing socks. Marcus tried to touch her as little as possible as he then pulled down her trousers that seemed way too tight for her. Like Monica, Marlene wore no panties, but had an excruciatingly tight crotch rope in which a small vial was placed. Now, Silvana understood why her friend hadn`t sat down, despite being totally exhausted.

The second cruelty showed when the jacket came off. Maya had tied Marlene`s arms at the wrists and above and below the elbow joints, using cable binders. Then, however, she had decided that even in the dark, Marlene wouldn`t pass as her to distract Zara. So, Maya had wound a long rope around and around her upper body, flattening her boobs painfully and making each breath an agonizing challenge.

Marcus loosened the knot and unwound the rope, and Silvana couldn`t help gasping and putting an arm around the now silently sobbing Marlene as she saw her breasts, covered with rope marks and looking sore. Maya chuckled:

»Step behind her, Silvana! You will massage her boobs as long as it takes Marcus to do the finishing touch on Zara!«

Silvana saw Benita`s gun point at them, and she did as she was told. As gentle as possible, she caressed Marlene`s boobs, trying to soothe the pain as her blood circulation sat in again. Marlene groaned, but she held still as Silvana massaged her.

Marcus had to double the breast rope, sing it around Zara`s waist and then produce a crotch rope. He then had to pull her on this rope towards the window and sling the rope over the knob. He then had to adjust the rope until the girl`s lower body was clearly pulled up into the air and she was half dangling from her crotch rope, half resting on her breasts. Only then was Marcus allowed to tie the knots off and to return to Silvana who let Marlene`s breasts go, but kept holding her in her arms.

»Just a few more things, and you are released, Marcus!«

Marcus was handed three pieces of rope and a zip tie. Marlene had to crouch, groaning as this made the crotch rope cut even deeper inside her, and then, he tied her ankles to her thighs. He then had to zip-tie her big toes before she was leaned against the wall, where he secured her neck to a vertical pipe so Marlene had to remain in her uncomfortable position.

»Don`t mind the fragrance! Marlene just had no time to shower since her last climax!«

This caused Marlene to blush all over.

»Bastard!«, Silvana hissed, and Maya raised an eyebrow.

»It`s really intense – I can prove it to you!«

She grabbed Silvana`s hair and pressed the gun to her chin, forcing her to look down on Marlene who was some two yards away from her. Then, she forced Marcus to tickle the bound woman`s sides. Marlene squirmed and panted; then, she squealed, and as Marcus had to continue torturing her flanks, she helplessly flapped with her folded legs. Indeed, this send a gush of air over to where Silvana was standing, and Maya ostentatiously sucked in air.

»Do you believe me now?«

She allowed Marcus to let Marlene go, but only to direct him over to Silvana.

»One to go!«

With Marlene panting and wheezing behind his back, Marcus approached her. He looked apologetically, but also seemed to try to look calm. He even forced a smile on his face.

»When dreams become nightmares, eh?«

He gently caressed her shoulders before he unbuttoned her blouse. Silvana didn`t resist as he pulled it over her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Then, he reached around her and unclasped her bra. She gasped, but still, it didn`t feel as horrible as she would have expected.

»Sorry, Silvie!«, he whispered and kissed her forehead before he took off her bra. As he looked at her bare boobs, Silvana noticed that despite the circumstances, he seemed to like what he saw.

He then opened her belt, and Silvana blushed as he then opened her zipper, knowing that she was naked underneath. The Jeans slid down her legs and she stepped out of it. Marcus held her hand, and she pressed his fingers, to signal him she wasn`t blaming him.

Maya now handed him something white: the panties that had originally been worn by Marlene during the Zumba session and the day before. After that, they had been used as a gag to Silvana, and now, she was again getting her mouth stuffed with the vile tasting garment. Marcus tried to be gentle, but he had to push the damp cotton deep into her throat and cheeks to get it all in, for after that, he had to put the gag Mask previously used on Monica over her lower face, buckling it tight so the rubber ball also was wedged between her teeth.

Silvana was then tied with handcuffs around her ankles. A second pair was used on her wrists she had to cross at the back of her neck. Here, Maya checked the gag strap and pulled it one notch tighter, causing Silvana to ache. With a padlock, Maya then not only secured her gag, but also fixed the chain of her handcuffs to it, so Silvana had to stand with her hands behind her head, unable to hide her assets.

»Now, young man, you may be useful to us! I hope that the lives of your friends is enough of a payment for your help!«

Silvana felt his hand on her back, and his voice sounded steady as he asked:

»What do you want?«

»Well«, Maya continued, »as you can sure guess, we should be long gone before tomorrow morning, when someone opens the library and finds these lovely bundles! So, we have to find what we came for within the next twelve hours!«

»The diamonds!«, Marcus replied, and Maya seemed to be a bit abashed he knew about them. Then, she nodded and Benita said:

»As your bitchy friend has already told, they are somewhere in the cellars of the Residenz! You are working here! So, do you know how to get there?«

Marcus looked at Silvana and then, at the other three naked, bound and gagged women. Then, he said:

»Let them go, and I`ll show you!«

Benita scoffed and Maya shook her head:

»Not exactly, my friend! Once we have found the diamonds, or at least a hint, you will accompany us outside and we will take you with us for a mile or so! Then, you may come back, free the girls and become the hero of the day! If not, well, we sure won`t be the only ones to be disappointed!«

Marcus stood to her look. Then, he turned towards the desk, rummaged through a drawer and produced a ring with old-fashioned keys.

»I can`t promise anything, but these give us access to the cellar – and there are also some books stored in crates!«

Benita took the keys from him and Maya said:

»Put the blonde over your shoulder! We will take her with us, as a constant reminder for you to remain loyal and obedient!«

»Can`t I just cradle her in my arms?«, Marcus asked, but Benita shook her head.

»No! And if you talk back once again, I will let you spank her ten times for each time you hit me!«

Marcus placed a quick kiss on Silvana`s cheek before he hoisted her over his shoulder, her bare boobs rubbed against his back, and she felt his hand on her buttocks.

Now, Maya looked over the three naked, bound and gagged women, but didn`t seem quite satisfied.

»I think I can improve on keeping them entertained!«

With a theatrical gesture, she rummaged through her backpack, and she first produced Marlene`s vibrator. Ostentatiously, she changed the batteries and tested its functions, causing Benita to lick her lips with anticipation whilst Silvana shivered and was grateful that Marcus` hand brushed over her skin.

Zara indicated by some soft moaning and writhing she was regaining her consciousness and Maya approached her. She held the buzzing toy to the girl`s soles; Zara twitched, but obviously, she wasn`t ticklish. So, Maya pushed the vibrator between her legs, causing an angry grunt. She said something in Hebrew that obviously was an insult, for Zara screamed in helpless fury through her gag.

Since the girl was partially dangling from her crotch rope, it was taut, allowing Maya to push the vibrator`s tip under it where it would be held in place by gravity. She further secured it with a zip tie and then admired her work. Now, the vibrations would cause irritation and make her feel even more helpless, but it wouldn`t be enough for Zara to find some fun and relief.

»Now, for Moni!«

She produced the egg vibrator and, to Monica`s horror, taped it to her sole before turning it on a low level. The stimulation wasn`t strong, but the helpless blonde writhed on the floor, twitched her feet to shake the tickling toy off and mewed through her gag. The only relief was that Maya fished the vial from her crotch rope.

»And finally, Marlene!«

Taking her handbag with her, she approached the squatting Marlene, letting her eyes wander over her thrust out boobs, still sporting some rope marks, and her exposed pubic area, bisected by the crotch rope. She bent forward, taking her time to pull the vial from her. Marlene let out a fluttering breath, and Maya grinned maliciously.

»Now, what can I do to keep you entertained, Marlene? I haven`t got a third vibrator left!«

She placed the two vials on Marlene`s armpits and slowly brushed down her sides, causing her to shift in her uncomfortable position and to writhe in her bonds. Then, she put them back into her bag.

»Maybe, these are a bit too risky for you to play unchaperoned! But don`t worry, I am an imaginative girl!«

Next she did wasn`t that imaginative, Marlene thought, though she whimpered and reared up as Maya placed two clothespins on her nipples. Then, she produced a plastic tube and unscrewed it.

»This balm is used for rheumatic diseases, but you can also use it to create some warmth. However, if you are warm already, it gets a bit itchy. Well, more than a bit if you are sensitive!«

She put some of the lube on her fingers and creamed Marlene`s armpits and flanks, not  using too much pressure, so she again writhed and squealed. Then, she also pushed her hands under her feet and creamed her soles. Marlene helplessly fluttered with her bent legs and whimpered.

»Now, enjoy, we will look after you before we go!«

Maya let her eyes wander over the three captives. Zara was squirming and trying to shake off the vibrator, humming like an angry hornet. Monica was squirming on the floor, bucking the little her bonds allowed, and covered with sweat already. Marlene was trembling as the balm more and more unfolded its effect on her ticklish areas. Yet, she wasn`t mewing and twitching, but that soon would come. She grabbed her gun and waved it at Marcus who had watched the whole ordeal whilst Silvana, who was hanging over his shoulder, was spared the look, but of course had heard the mews and whimpers.

»After you!«, Maya ordered. She followed the two to the corridor. Benita grabbed her laptop and the last book from Samuel Arnstein and followed them, leaving Marlene, Monica and Zara behind.

***

The corridor led to a door with a sign that said that access was only allowed for authorized personnel. Nevertheless, the door was open and they walked down the stairs to another corridor whose concrete walls and floor and the neon lighting didn`t fit the old building. A few iron doors seemed to open to maintenance rooms, but Marcus, hiding whatever he was feeling and his hand still resting steady on Silvana`s buttocks without groping her, unerringly walked towards a door at the unlit end of the corridor, partially hidden behind an old cupboard. The dust indicated that nobody had been there for a long time.

»It`s the archive! Once, I helped getting some old books there!«

Benita tested the keys, and finally, the door sprang open with a screech. The musty smell of old books hit them, and when Benita switched on the light, only an old bulb, crusted with dead flies, brought some reddish light.

Silvana mewed, and Marcus lowered her to the ground. He hadn`t been rude, but being transported like that had been uncomfortable. Out of reflex, when she had dressed this night, she had also put the belly piercing she had removed for Zumba back in place, and she was glad she now could relax her belly again. The floor was cold, but Marcus had put an arm around her to protect her from the cold.

Maya kept an eye on them whilst Benita searched the few shelves with the flashlight of her cell phone.

»Fuck! None of these books are what we are looking for!«

She seemed to address her anger at Marcus, who, despite a gun pointing at him, obviously didn`t want to seem weak with Silvana around.

»I told you I can`t promise anything! After all, if I had known about diamonds being hidden here, I would have grabbed a pickaxe and would have looked by myself!«

Benita panted and was obviously about to either pistol-whip him or Silvana. Marcus tightened his grip around the girl`s shoulders and tried to shield her with his body. Then, he suddenly let out a sigh and said:

»There`s one last idea I have – but again, no guarantee!«

»Well – show me!«

Silvana moaned as Benita grabbed her arm and pulled her over, pressing the gun at her ribs. Marcus wanted to protest, but then, looking at Maya aiming at him, he pointed to the darkest corner.

»After you!«

Marcus went to the corner where a black plastic tarp was covering an opening in the door. He ripped it away, whirling dust and spiderwebs, and they looked at a dark corridor, narrow and its floor covered with broken stones.

They made him put Silvana over his shoulder again, and, trying not to push her against the walls, he staggered forward. After a few yards, the corridor opened into a small room that looked as if it had not been used for decades, maybe centuries. It was filled with crates, some wooden, some made of metal.

»Well, that looks more like a treasure chamber to me!«

It was Maya, since Benita, who was wearing high heels, had not gotten into the corridor. The Israeli looked around and spotted an iron ring at the wall. She tested it with her weight; then, she pulled Silvana over and she opened the padlock that secured her gag and held the chain of her handcuffs behind her head. With some effort, she closed it around the ring, so Silvana had to remain in an uncomfortable position, half standing, half sitting, her bare shoulders touching the dusty wall. Maya checked that her gag and handcuffs were still secured; then, she handed the cell phone to Marcus.

»Benita will stay in the other room, where she has electricity and light! So, you will look through the crates and whenever you find something that looks interesting, you`ll get it to us! Do you remember the signature of Arnstein`s books?«

Having seen the books Benita had read in the library, Marcus nodded. He looked at Silvana who was shivering in the cold. Then, he grabbed the phone and let the flashlight wander over the crates.

»I better find something, or Silvie will freeze to death!«, he thought by himself.

***