Venetian Carnival 6

At Hilmar’s and Marcus’ hotel room, the four found that they were lacking clothes for all of them: Mariko had reluctantly put back on the thong she had been gagged with, plus she had still Marcus’ jacket, but though she was covered, it wasn’t enough to walk the streets. So, they made the decision that Silvana and Marcus should get to the other hotel to fetch a bag of clothes whilst Hilmar would stay behind with Mariko.

»Once you are back, we might consider what to do with that!«

The suitcase in which Mariko had been trapped had contained something else: Mariko’s smartphone, fixed to a postcard showing Jigsaw from »Saw«, with his iconic catch phrase »Do you want to play a game?«. On the backside, there had been just one line:

»Wait for further instructions if you still want to win back Marlene!«

Short as it was, the message had a subtext of »don’t call the Police«, and Mariko wanted to be properly dressed before doing anything. Silvana didn’t mind Marcus taking her hand as they walked towards their hotel where she decided to take all their belongings, so they were flexible and since they would have to check out the next day anyway.

»Damn, where are my other shoes?«

Silvana looked under the bed, and when she bent forward, despite the situation being serious, Marcus couldn’t resist and playfully slapped her exposed butt. Silvana rose, her voice sounding hoarse as she asked:

»How dare you?«

»I was provoked«, Marcus excused, caressing her upper arms. He looked down on her that made her feel a little awkward, but in a blissful way. She stepped a little closer, so the tips of her breasts touched his chest.

»And you are continuing to do so«, he whispered, again slightly spanking her buttock whilst his other hand brushed through her hair. Silvana let out a fluttering breath and then, they landed on the bed, deciding that the others could wait a few minutes longer.

***

Once Silvana and Marcus had left, Hilmar and Mariko stared at each other, not really knowing what to talk; they hardly knew each other, and this was not the time for small talk. After a few minutes, Hilmar said:

»I must say that I admire you!«

»Hm?«

Mariko, still in just the jacket and the thong, looked up to Hilmar who, being 6’’, was considerably taller than 5’3’’ Mariko. He forced a smile on his face.

»I mean, how tough you dealt with-«

He stopped as suddenly, Mariko’s lips trembled. A moment later, she cuddled against him, sobbing on his chest. Hilmar caressed her, but the situation didn’t feel all bad. Mariko suddenly looked up at him and, with tearful eyes, she breathed:

»Thank you!«

»I didn’t do anything!«, Hilmar protested, but Mariko went on tiptoes and kissed him. Perhaps, she had aimed at his cheek, but somehow, their lips met. Their faces shied away from each other, but none let the other go. Mariko chuckled.

»Oops!«

She noticed that Marcus’ jacket, whose zipper was defunct, had come open, and her bare breasts were grinding against Hilmar’s chest. Hilmar also noticed it, and he whispered:

»This is wrong!«

Indeed, there were many reasons why they should have stepped back, both literally and metaphorically. Not only did Hilmar have true feelings for Marlene (maybe not love, after the few weeks they were dating, but definitely more than just lust and sympathy), Marlene had been kidnapped, he was more than twice Mariko’s age, and also, Marcus and Silvana could step in every second. However, as Mariko kissed him again, he didn’t shy back.

***

»What do you mean, 10 Grand? It is worth at least twice as much!«

Since the game had taken a break, Shannon had decided to visit her favourite handler to sell the golden statuette to her. Of course, she knew that she wouldn’t get the full market price, but the offer from Debra was just ridiculous.

Her handler ran a small boutique in one of the quieter streets of Venice, but now, she and Shannon were the only persons inside, though Shannon knew that Salvatore, a tall, athletic guy that was either a bodyguard, Debra’s lover or both was in the adjacent room.

Debra smiled. Despite her name, she was only one quarter American and actually came from Milan. She had the charming smile of a businesswoman that didn’t reach her eyes.

»Well, on the free market, two things rule the price: supply and demand. Now, with me the only one to be interested, it’s me who decides how much to pay. Of course, you may try elsewhere!«

Shannon pondered. »Going elsewhere« meant she had to find another handler, maybe in another town, always risking to run into someone working for the Police. She would at least lose some days she currently didn’t have because she wanted to concentrate on the Marlene game. So, she uttered a curse and accepted the offer. Debra paid and couldn’t resist adding:

»You have become quite successful in a short time, Shan. Maybe, it’s good you learn a little lesson in humility from time to time!«

Shannon was tempted to grab the statuette and push it to where only a surgeon could have removed it from Debra’s body, but she remained calm. Had she attacked, Salvatore would have intervened, and though she didn’t fear the ex-soldier, he would have caused too much attention. She left Debra’s shop and decided that Debra needed a lesson in humility, too.

A smile appeared on her face.

»Maybe, I can use her as a pawn in my game with Marlene’s friends, and in the end, I will be the one laughing!«

***

Silvana felt a bit guilty, though there was no actual reason for that: neither she nor Marcus were in a relationship, and they had separated on good terms. Also, neither he nor she had considered this the beginning of something new, but nevertheless, they had slept with each other. They once again held hands, whilst each of them carried one of the girls’ bags.

In the hotel’s lobby, she checked herself in the mirror for any treacherous signs: did her hair look dishevelled, was her lipstick okay? Marcus also seemed to quickly check, for he secretly changed an odd button on his shirt.

»My friend has been kidnapped, my other friend has been assaulted and Marlene’s boyfriend is suffering, and we are wasting time by following our desires!«, Silvana thought as they walked up the stairs. However, both Hilmar and Mariko seemed not too upset that they had taken considerably long for the way to the hotel and back.

»Did the mysterious criminal send a message?«, Silvana asked Hilmar when Mariko had withdrawn into the bathroom to get dressed. The man shook his head, and Marcus noticed a scratch on his neck. Obviously, he had gotten hurt in his swimming adventure.

Reflexively, Silvana checked her own phone and frowned. Shannon had sent a new message:

»Did you finally find your auntie?«

Silvana showed the message to the others, including Mariko who had changed for Jeans and a tight top. Then, she asked what to answer.

»Well, before I got attacked, I saw the kidnapper drag Marlene into a house, and I think I will find the way back there! That is, if she’s still there!«

Mariko had addressed a problem: maybe, the kidnappers, now knowing that Mariko had seen them, had brought her somewhere else, intending to »play games« with them. Their thoughts were interrupted by a question mark from the obviously impatient Shannon, and Silvana texted back:

»Not yet, but thanks for your help!«

The answer came quickly, a photo showing Shannon with her lipstick slightly smeared, holding a cocktail glass.

»Right now, I am a bit wasted, but if you still need some help in searching, we can meet tomorrow morning!«

The four exchanged looks. Then, Hilmar decided:

»Well, this Shannon at least seems to know the city, and though she might regret offering her help, we should not send her away! Not now, with at least two enemies who want to play some perfidious games with us! Ask her what’s the earliest time we can meet tomorrow!«

***

Marlene was exhausted. Not terrified, not hurt, just exhausted. She knew that she would soon doze off, despite her predicament.

She was still tied to the rack, her limbs stretched, and the chandelier was still standing on the tray on top of her, though by now, the candles had all burned down and she was lying in the dark. All the time, the wax had dripped down on her, and whilst she had squirmed and screamed into her gag the first time the hot drops had hit her breasts, or, even worse, her pubic mound, she had gotten used to that torture in a way, for the wax wasn’t that painful, and in addition, her corset made her get out of breath soon and so, she had just endured the further waxing of her body.

Marlene had explored her wrist cuffs, but the handcuffs were unyielding and the padlock fixing them to the rack also was solid. Her ankles were tightly strapped, and the transparent tape still kept the vile tasting panties inside her mouth. So far, her mewing and rustling hadn’t drawn any attention, not even that of her captor.

»Maybe, I should give in and play his game – just for the moment, until he makes a mistake and I can escape!«

The only question was – how long would it take until Erik made his mistake, and how far would she have to go until then?

***

At the hotel room, with only one double bed, nobody had slept well. They had agreed on night watches, not because they feared an attack, but because they didn’t want to miss a message from Marlene’s kidnapper. So, only three had to share the bed, whist the fourth had been sitting on the only chair, staring either at the phone or out of the window.

In the morning, they separated once again: following Mariko’s description, Marcus and Hilmar wanted to have a closer look at the suspicious house, whilst Silvana and Mariko would meet with Shannon at a nearby café.

»On the way, I might get some more decent clothes – at least, I still have my Master Card!«

They were standing in front of the hotel. Unbeknownst to them, Shannon was watching them. Seconds later, she sent a message to them:

»What’s the home of the finest glass?«

She saw the four talk shortly before she got the answer:

»The island of Murano!«

»Two of you go there for further hints!«

Again, there was some talking, and now, Shannon changed for her other phone and texted:

»Will be at the café in ten minutes! Shan!«

As she had hoped, the two men now went for Murano whilst the two girls were heading for the café. Shannon knew a shortcut there and so, they arrived there at the same time. The men would find nothing at Murano, but they would be busy for a few hours to get there and back.

»Hi, girls! So, what chased you out of your beds at that early hour?«

They sat down and ordered coffee and panini, and now, Mariko and Silvana could no longer hide that something was going on. Carefully, Silvana told the American that they suspected that their friend had some problems with a guy at Venice, and that they intended to observe his home.

»So, you know his home, but you don’t call the Police?«

The girls exchanged a look, and then, Silvana continued:

»We – we fear that she had been kidnapped – and the kidnapper knows about us!«

They told her about the assault on Mariko, and Shannon showed some quiet compassion. Then, she looked at Mariko and asked:

»So, you know where your friend is? Can you show me the house on the map?«

Shannon had brought one, and, with a little railroading from her, Mariko’s finger pointed at Erik’s house. Shannon feigned surprise.

»Are you sure it’s there?«

She then told the girls that her friend’s apartment she was staying at was quite close – so close that they could perhaps even see the house’s entrance from her balcony.

»The canal entrance, that is. On the other side, I unfortunately don’t have any properties!«

Of course, the girls wanted to go to her apartment, just as Shannon had intended. She didn’t ask for the men, knowing that right now, they would be at the vaporetto station, cursing on the fact that the next boat to Murano would not depart before 9 am.

As Shannon knew, they could see the small pier, with Erik’s boat moored to it, from her balcony. She knew also that she would have to improvise if right now, the kidnapper would leave through that gate, but as she had hoped, after a few minutes, the girls grew impatient.

»One of us should get to the other entrance! How far is it from here?«

»Some five minutes, I guess! It’s on a small piazza, with a few shops and a little tavern«, Shannon replied. The description had the desired effect: the girls decided that on a public place, it would be not dangerous if only one of them went there, so the other could stay with Shannon and keep an eye on the canal entrance.

»All right, girls, do you want to draw matches?«

Instead, they played a finger game called »Schnick Schnack Schnuck«, and so, it was Mariko who had to leave. Silvana and Shannon waited until Mariko sent a message from the piazza, promising she would send a report every 20 minutes – or if something happened, of course.

»Now, I have to hope that this guy over there likes to sleep long in the morning!«, Shannon thought. To Silvana, she said:

»Just have an eye on the house, I am getting us some tea!«

Silvana nodded without turning her head. She was completely occupied by staring at the small boat bobbing on the water, and at the wooden door through which any second Marlene and her kidnapper might appear. She didn’t listen to the sounds behind her, nor to the steps approaching her.

The attack came as a complete surprise as suddenly, a cloth was pressed over her mouth and nose.

***

Less than 100 yards away, Marlene had thought to finally take things in her own hands. When Erik had released her from the rack in the morning, she had been too groggy to try anything, but then, he had freed her, tied the collar around her neck again and then assisted her in getting into the bathroom. Here, Marlene had been given 30 minutes whilst Erik had been waiting on the other side of the pearl curtain.

Whilst following nature, she had peeled the tape from her mouth and removed the sodden panties, greedily panting whilst she had tried to pick on the laces of her corset. She had no idea how much time had passed, but she managed to get up and turn on the water whilst she continued picking on the knots. With a sigh of relief, she finally was able to loosen the corset. She looked at herself in the mirror: to her surprise, she looked almost too okay. The pantyhose hadn’t spared her the pain of the hot wax, but as she had peeled it down, the wax had come off easily. Marlene took off the bootees, stripping herself naked, and washed herself, removing the traces of wax from her boobs, and drinking some water. She deliberately left it cold, so she could refresh herself. Then, she counted her chances:

»It’s just a few yards until the stairs, and then, it’s just opening the door, no matter which! Even if I have to jump into the canal, I won’t die from that!«

Marlene knew she would have to do so naked, for her wardrobe wouldn’t cover much. Reluctantly, she put the panties on. They were still wet from her saliva and she cringed as they clung to her loins, but still, the material was opaque, and so, potential rescuers would only see her breasts. Then, she thought of the most difficult part: getting around Erik.

She sneaked to the door and peeked through the curtain strings. Erik was standing beside the window, the chain wrapped twice around his wrist. Then, she spotted another detail: the chain was between his feet.

Carefully, not daring to breathe, Marlene gathered the chain – then, she yanked on it, so it hit him between the legs.

»Ugh!«

Erik cringed, and Marlene darted forward.

»Just to the stairs and down-«

She made it onto the corridor when the leather collar around her neck yanked her back; obviously, Erik was still holding the other end. Marlene desperately pulled on the chain, but now, Erik stepped onto the corridor, his face showing a grimace of anger and hidden pain. Then, he grinned as he pulled her closer to him.

Marlene frantically grabbed for something, felt she had ripped something from the wall. She threw it at Erik’s face, but he didn’t even dodge, for it had been just a wall hanging. Once again, she pulled on the chain, and this time, Erik let it go. Driven by her own impetus, Marlene staggered and landed on the floor. Before she could get up, she felt his knee press down on her shoulders, and his hand grabbed her scalp, painfully yanking back her head.

»Seems you need another lesson!«, he angrily panted.

»Fuck you! You’ll never get me!«, Marlene winced. Now, Erik once again showed his wolfish grin.

»Challenge accepted, Bitch!«

Keeping an iron grip on her hair, he forced her back into the room with the rack and then, she had to bend over it, getting down on her knees. He then made her lie down on the wooden plank, on her belly, before he finally released her scalp, but showed her a viciously looking knife.

»Now, the game is ›Obey – or Pay‹!«

He tied a handcuff around her left wrist; then, she had to bend her left leg, so he could tie her left ankle with the same cuff. As he had repeated the procedure to her right wrist and ankle, Marlene was in a loose hogtie. She gasped as Erik then produced a stick, but he just pushed it through her bent knees and strapped the ends to the foot end of the rack.

To her slight surprise, he then removed her collar, but he then removed the chain from it and threaded it through her armpits from behind, gathering it in front of her. As he then used the winch of the rack to tighten the chain, Marlene had to stretch her body, and the stick pulled on the backs of her knees whilst the chain dug into her armpits. Marlene felt the rough surface of the rack grind over her bare boobs, and she ached from the straining position. Erik playfully slapped her back.

»Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be back in a jiffy!«

He left the room, and Marlene desperately tried to find a way to get loose. She considered screaming, but these old houses had thick walls, and he would be back before she would have alerted anyone.

»Maybe, this has been my last chance – and I failed it!«

It wasn’t a pleasant thought, and so, she forced herself to calm down, for if she panicked, she would only have played Erik’s game. Nevertheless, she trembled as she heard his steps indicating his return.

He placed her two other panties right in front of her, the emerald one and the red one with the slit in its crotch. The slit for the dildo, she remembered with a shudder. Still, the fragrance of these was strong.

Her thoughts were distracted, however, as Erik now grabbed the waistband of the pair she was wearing and pulled them upwards, lifting Marlene’s hips and loins from the rack. She groaned as she dangled from her panties, a groan that turned into a high-pitched squeal as the taut material tried to find a way between her labia. A wave of pain shot through her most sensitive parts as Erik yanked on the panties, but then, the seams tore and quite unceremoniously, she dumped back onto the rack.

»Silly me, I just could have cut them!«, Erik laughed as Marlene lay panting and the pain between her legs slowly ceased. He placed the torn panties beside the other one and then reached for the red pair as he grabbed her scalp again. Reflexively, Marlene clenched her teeth. To her surprise, he let her go.

»So, you don’t want to be gagged with your panties?«

Marlene just looked at him. She could hardly believe he was expecting an answer. Erik just shrugged and rummaged through a box.

»Well, you maybe prefer an alternative then?«

He showed her what for a terrible moment looked to Marlene like a hand grenade. It was a metal device, had the shape and size of a lemon, and had a screw on one end. As Erik turned the screw, it turned out the pear consisted of four wings that now opened like a flower’s bud.

»This little toy is called a ›Choking Pear‹! It’s just a replica, but it works like its ancestors from the Early Modern Ages. You put it into the delinquent’s mouth, and then, you turn!«

He showed her the now open pear. Marlene could see that now, it had the size of a baby’s head, and she gulped and croaked at the mere idea of having that torture device inside her mouth. Erik put it aside and asked:

»So, what’s it going to be, Marlene? The Choking Pear or the panties? There will be no third option, I’m afraid!«

Marlene oppressed the urge to tell him where he could put the damned pear. She was helpless, and no matter how she fought, within the next minute, one of the alternatives would be inside her mouth. Under these circumstances, the answer was easy.

»The – The p-panties!«, she croaked. Erik took the red pair, brought it to his nose and ostentatiously waved his hand.

»They give really proof of your arousal during our bike ride – you still prefer those to a bit of stainless steel?«

Marlene blushed, but she croaked:

»Y-yes, I prefer the panties!«

Erik made a gesture as if she had forgotten something, and though her cheeks burned from embarrassment, she added:

»The panties that give proof of my arousal!«

Almost gentle, Erik then placed his hand at the back of her head, before bringing the panties close to Marlene’s face, forcing her to smell their scent before slowly pushing them against her lips. Marlene opened her mouth, and he very slowly, but thoroughly stuffed them inside, obviously enjoying any chortle that came from her.

Once he couldn’t get the gag any further, Erik took the green pair and pulled it over Marlene’s head before he used the torn white pair to cleave-gag her. Now, her gag consisted entirely of worn panties. However, Erik didn’t seem satisfied and he rummaged for a red ball, attached to some leather straps. The ball was placed over Marlene’s gagged mouth, and then, he buckled the straps tight. Two were closed at the back of her head and kept the ball in her mouth, two others met at her forehead and went over her head, and the last went under her chin, forcing her to bite down harder onto her gag. When the last strap had been tightly buckled, Erik took an eyelet that was at the top of her head and made Marlene nod a few times, asking her silly questions like whether she considered him the most attractive man in the room.

»Okay, as I said, you need a lesson. Now, what do we have here?«

Again, he rummaged through his box that obviously came directly from hell, and with a gleeful grin, he produced a whip. As Marlene mewed, he put it away.

»Maybe, if you need another lesson«, he said enigmatically, before showing her a few more vicious instruments, discarding them all before he showed her a steel hook with a ball on its top. It had a strong resemblance to a trailer hitch, but the ball was considerably smaller, perhaps one inch in diameter.

»Uuuhhmmph! Nnnnggg!«

Marlene squirmed in her bonds as now, Erik greased the hook with some olive oil. Her panic increased as more oil was rubbed into her cleft. Then, Erik positioned himself in a way he could look at her face whilst bringing the hook between her thighs, poking her with the ball on top.

»Come on, I found it under ›toys‹ on Amazon! So, why don’t we just call it ›plug and play‹?«

He brought the hook between her buttocks, and then, he watched as Marlene’s eyes widened and then squeezed as the ball entered her rear. He was careful enough not to hurt her, but the feeling was very, very irritating and humiliating.

A few times, Erik moved the hook back and forth. Then, he tied a piece of cord to the eyelet on the other end and then threaded it through the eyelet on Marlene’ harness gag. Some adjusting followed, and when he tied the knots off, Marlene had the choice of either arching her head back – or push the intruder deeper into her rear.

Erik watched the panting and mewing girl trying to cope with the anal hook for some time, until he commented:

»This may be quite inconvenient, but tolerable, as long as you lie still!«

Having said so, he went for another box, hiding whatever he had taken from it behind his back. Then, he approached Marlene and with a broad smile, he said:

»If only lying still were an option!«

Marlene screamed through her gag as he brought his hands to her eyes. In each, Erik now held an ostrich feather, and the way she was lying hogtied on her belly gave him easy access to both her flanks and her soles.

***

At the vaporetto station, Marcus and Hilmar had found out that it would be another 40 minutes until they could get to Murano. At least, Hilmar found a men’s wear shop where he could get something decent, including a new pair of shoes. Marcus had meanwhile gotten some cigarettes; he actually had quit smoking, but desperate situations acquired desperate measurements. Hilmar also took one, and after he had given him fire, Marcus asked:

»Is there anything I should know?«

Hilmar frowned:

»Why, am I behaving less relaxed than men whose girlfriends got kidnapped usually do?«

Marcus just waited, looking at the scar on Hilmar’s neck, and after a few seconds, he lowered his head and said:

»It’s nothing, but – Mariko and I – when we were waiting for you – I mean, it just happened!«

Marcus raised an eyebrow, and Hilmar burst out:

»I know, I know, I am betraying Marlene, I could be her father – but it just happened! And it was her initiative, not mine!«

Marcus nodded, and then, he grabbed Hilmar’s shoulder.

»I am not judging you! I mean, I am not applauding you either, and I think that Marlene and you definitely should talk once this is over, but-«, he tightened his grip, and looked at Hilmar’s eyes, »but I must know one thing: will you still do everything it takes to make sure this will be over as soon as possible?«

Hilmar held his view and nodded.

»Whatever it takes! I might not be a perfect man, but I am neither a coward nor do I want Marlene to suffer any second longer than necessary! This hasn’t changed at all!«

Marcus let him go, and little later the water taxi getting them to the island famous for its glass manufactures. Once at the harbour, Hilmar texted to the unknown criminal playing with them:

»We are at Murano, what now?«

It took a few minutes until the answer came:

»Maybe get some souvenirs, but then, go to the next point!«

It was followed by an address. Hilmar cursed.

»What is this, a fucking scavenger hunt?«

Marcus, who had also read the message, checked the address on Google Maps.

»If so, we are getting closer! Look! The place is quite close to the spot where Mariko watched the man and Marlene before she got attacked!«

Hilmar calmed down a bit, though he more and more was sure that this was either some terrible prank or that Marlene had fallen into the clutches of a veritable madman. They entered the next vaporetto to get them back to Venice, and on their way to the given address, Hilmar suddenly stopped at a shop that sold fake weapons and costumes of all kinds.

A few minutes later, he was the proud owner of a fake Desert Eagle. It was a toy, and it had »Replica« printed on its barrel, but it looked impressive, and he could maybe scare a criminal with it. Marcus, who also had never fired anything more lethal than an air gun, chose a cane with a silver knob that could be used as a makeshift club if it came to a fight.

When they were close to the address and crossed a small piazza, they suddenly heard a common voice, and Mariko approached them, telling them that she was observing the kidnapper’s house whilst Silvana was at Shannon’s apartment, watching the other entrance. When the two men told her why they had come and showed her the address, Mariko grew pale.

»Th-That’s Shannon’s address!«

The three immediately ran towards the house, fearing for the worst.

***