Penitence 10

»You’ve got ten minutes!«

Johanna was still coping with the impressions of reality. When they had come for her, releasing her from the block and carrying her a few yards, she had finally dozed off, in a sleep where the constant voice of Carmen found its way into her nightmares, and where she occasionally had been risen from her sleep when she had moved too much, causing the crotch strap to dug into her.

The hood and armbinder were removed, and a hand plucked the damp bikini bottom from her head. Then, she was pushed into a small bathroom. It contained a toilet and a sink, and there was no window, just a vent in the ceiling, and Johanna still wore the locked gag mask holding the two pairs of panties in her mouth.

So, as soon as her limbs obeyed her again, she just took the opportunity to relieve herself unchaperoned, and she remained sitting, trying to think of any possibility to escape.

She knew that in front of the door, the four women were waiting, and even if she managed to surprise them and to storm into the corridor, even if she reached the ground floor, she would still be a naked and gagged runaway at an unknown terrain.

»If only I could talk to Inga and Kim!«

Not that these had proven potential allies, but if they realized what game Carmen really was playing, they would perhaps turn against her, and a divided group of captors was more likely to make mistakes.

Johanna chortled.

»Perhaps, I should try making letters out of toilet paper, saying ›Carmen’s a liar‹!«

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and Johanna stepped onto the corridor where she was cuffed hand and foot, and the leash was tied around her neck. Carmen led her back into the torture chamber, though she took care Johanna could easily follow her.

She was led to a plain folding chair beside a table on which a simple, yet appealing breakfast was waiting. An order in Spanish sent Kim and Inga out, and once the door had closed behind them, Johanna was ungagged, and once she had drunk some water, she croaked:

»What if I refuse to eat?«

Carmen shrugged:

»Then, you will be hungry, sooner or later!«

The answer made her feel silly, and Johanna ate, thinking how she could get to Carmen’s soul. She knew that simple pleading would lead her to nowhere, and so, she asked:

»Why do you want to – sell me? I mean, isn’t that something between you and me?«

She had expected a laugh, a fit of rage, maybe Carmen ordering Miranda to gag her again. Instead, she seemed seriously interested.

»Good question! Well, the answer is maybe best described by my Lamborghini!«

»Lamborghini?«

Carmen looked at some point beside Johanna when her memories wandered back in the years:

»During the time I was addicted, I did everything for the next shot, and one night, I did what I had to do on the passenger seat of a Lambo. Apart from the car, this – job didn’t differ from many others, but from that point on, I swore to myself that once, I would own such a car! If I could ever manage to do so, I would have made it!«

Johanna gulped. She was partially guilty of that part of Carmen’s life, though not intentionally.

»In jail, I had a photo of a Lambo over my bed, and I even took it with me during my therapy sessions. And then, years later, I met Enrico, and we married. Once, he asked me which car I would like to have for my own, and of course, I told him that a Lamborghini would be fine. Even for him, it was an expensive present, but for our second anniversary, a real Lambo stood on the patio, with a ribbon on its motorhead!«

Though her life hadn’t been rough until the last days, Johanna, as a writer, knew a thing or two about desires and their fulfilments.

»And once you had it, it wasn’t as great as you had always expected!«

Carmen’s smile was surprisingly friendly as now, her eyes met Johanna’s.

»Exactly! I mean, it was cool to drive around in high speed, and also how people looked at me in the streets – but after less than a month, it was just a car, and it more and more spent its days in the garage. When Enrico realized it, he told me that it was mine and I could do whatever I wanted with it, and a few days later, I sold it!«

»And now, you realized that playing with me isn’t funny anymore either!«, Johanna replied, responding to her look. For a moment, she thought that she had found the entry to Carmen’s inner self, but then, her captor just chuckled.

»Is that what you are trying, Johanna? Make me let you go because I lost interest in playing with you? Believe me, until tomorrow evening, the fun will last!«

On her order, Miranda gagged her again, using two fresh pairs of panties – fresh in the sense that they hadn’t been inside her mouth yet, for otherwise, they had definitely been worn before. Once the mask was locked, Carmen once again looked at her eyes, a strange expression on her face.

»There is, however, a possibility for you to avoid a trip to Africa! Free in 48 hours, no strings attached – after these two days!«

Johanna stared at her, looking for any signs that Carmen was joking. She smiled and brushed over Johanna’s cheek.

»So, you are interested? Well, take this – and don’t drop it!«

She reached inside her bikini bottom and handed Johanna a simple yellow Ping pong ball. It felt slightly warm from where it had been stored, but there was nothing ominous on it.

»This is just an ordinary Ping pong ball you can buy for 2 Euros! However, for you, it is a way of communication!«

»Mhm?«

»This morning, I have some errands to run, and therefore, Miranda and the other girls will have to take care of you! However, I will hold my Siesta from noon to 3 pm, and until then, you may think about my offer!«

She rose, and Johanna stiffened when she cupped her left breast. Carmen kneaded it and continued:

»Right now, I only feel hatred and contempt for you, Johanna! But if, during my Siesta, you manage to wake other feelings in me, I promise you will be set free by tomorrow at midnight!«

Her hand rested, and Johanna knew that Carmen could feel her heartbeat and her oppressed panting. She knew that this was for sure just another mean game – but there was hope, too!

»That’s where the ball comes to its use: Miranda knows all too well what I like, and so, she and the other girls will prepare you for your – appointment in my bedroom. Of course, you may not like it, or you come to the conclusion that I am playing games with you! If so, you just drop the ball, and they will stop! Depending on how much effort they have put in you before, the girls my punish you a little, but I gave order that there will be no real torture, even if it turns noon and I will not be visited by you!«

Her fingers brushed over Johanna’s breast, to the tip, and she trapped her nipple between her fingertips.

»If you don’t show up, I will have some time to think about how we can spice up the last hours until you are going on a long trip!«

She pinched and twisted Johanna’s nipple, causing her to mew, and left the room whilst Inga and Kim entered.

***

The road leading to the estate of the late Enrico Vega was asphalted and in good shape, but it stopped at a large door, and to both sides, Melissa and Gabriela could only see a high fence with barbed wire on top. On each side of the door was a camera, and they could also spot the fine wires in the fence, indicating that there was an advanced alarm system waiting for anyone trying to get inside without being invited.

»So – shall we ring?«, Gabriela asked, and Melissa shook her head.

»We don’t have a search warrant, and they don’t even have to let us in! And even if we call your Spanish colleagues, it could take too much time, as we don’t have solid evidence that there are illegal activities behind this fence!«

Now, they could see what Google Earth had only partially shown them: the area within the fence consisted of hills surrounding a valley; none of these hills was higher than some 100 feet, but it was more than enough to completely shield the mansion from view. Gabriela turned the car, but stopped once they had passed the first turn.

»After we have been sitting on our butts all day yesterday, we could do a little walk! How does one round along the fence sound to you?«

Melissa still wore her heeled sandals, but she had to admit that it was a legal way to perhaps find a spot from which they could see what was going on inside. Besides, the estate was vast, but even if they had to do a few extra slopes, it wouldn’t be more than two or three miles.

»Shotgun, I am the first in the shower afterwards!«, Melissa stated, tipping her nose. She cocked her head and added:

»Unless we shower together!«

»Madre de Deus!«, Gabriela exclaimed, rolling her eyes, but Melissa was sure her cheeks had blushed a little.

»Why am I doing this?  I always thought that I was straight!«

And yet, she was still able to relive the slight tingle when their breasts had touched, and the prospect of once again having to share the bed with Gabriela wasn’t appalling.

The Portuguese grabbed their water bottle, and they started their expedition through the rocky terrain, using the line of the fence as a landmark, but keeping a distance of some 50 yards.

»I hope there isn’t a minefield!«

Gabriela turned around and froze in her tracks. Then, seeing the grin on Melissa’s face, she poked her side.

»That’s how you like to see me – the frightened girl, so you can play White Saviour!«

However, they remained careful; not because of mines, but it was likely that some guard was keeping an eye on the estate’s surroundings. They were doing nothing illegal, but someone who kidnapped girls would perhaps not take any risks.

»What about this Asian guy? What if we meet him?«

»Sato? Well, he has got a head start, but unlike us, he hasn’t got the hint of ›Caudillo‹! So, he should still be somewhere, looking for helicopters!«

Gabriela’s smile expressed Melissa’s own feelings: they were the ones who had found a track based on the clues, and it would be them who would also find out what was going on inside the mansion.

They continued, and so far, their only problems were that they still couldn’t see a glimpse of the mansion, and that the ground was uneven and rocky, so Gabriela, who at least had her sneakers, had to assist Melissa, holding her hand or arm.

When they had climbed over a bigger rock, Gabriela pointed at what could be called a grove, though it consisted of just three or four pines and a few bushes.

»There! I think we have deserved a little break, and we should find some shadow there!«

Somehow, though the last 50 yards were even, they still held their hands as they approached the grove. Gabriela opened the bottle and took a sip when she heard a voice from the shadow.

»Did you miss me, or are you also looking for a way inside?«

Gabriela coughed as she swallowed the wrong way, and Melissa reflexively patted her back whilst she also stared at the direction from which the voice had come. Sato stepped forward, but kept a distance of a few yards. In his right, he held a gun.

With a croak, Gabriela threw her water bottle at him, but though she had aimed well, a block from Sato’s left prevented him from more than a little water splashing over his T-Shirt.

»Now, Melissa-San won’t have something to drink!«

The two girls focussed him, both in fighting positions, but their opponent had a gun, and he wasn’t an amateur. Melissa put her hands on her hips.

»What do you want?«

»As you said, trying to see what is behind that fence! However, there is no place from which you can look inside! How about your side?«

Neither Melissa nor Gabriela answered, but the fact they had been walking along answered it anyway. Sato pointed at Melissa’s handbag.

»Please, empty it to the ground!«

Melissa only had it with her because her skirt had no pockets, It contained her wallet, her phone and a pack of handkerchiefs, also her lipstick and some eyeliner. Sato told her to pack everything except for the phone and then ordered Gabriela to put hers beside Melissa’s.

»I was actually hoping that we would meet, for I have developed a new plan for which I could need your help! However, I am not yet sure that I can trust you, so, I will have to take some precautions!«

»You are a criminal! We will never cooperate with you!«, Gabriela blurted, and Sato shrugged.

»I am not expecting you to do so willingly! You are here by car?«

Reluctantly, the girls nodded, seeing no point in denying an obvious fact. Gabriela considered telling him that there was a backup, but she realized that he sure had seen they were both wearing the same outfit as the day before, indicating that they had left her apartment immediately after they had freed themselves.

»Good! Now, hug!«

Looking puzzled at the man, they obeyed, and Melissa asked him whether he intended to tie them together like that.

»Madre de Deus, don’t give him such ideas!«, Gabriela whispered, but Sato shook his head anyway.

»You will have to separate for a while, and I thought you might want to kiss each other before!«

Melissa and Gabriela gasped almost in unison and stared at Sato.

»S-Separate?«

»For some hour, yes! I guess you are here with your car, Gabriela-San?«

She nodded, and Sato ordered:

»Go there and wait for a red Seat! Then, when I have flashed the lights three times, you will follow us!«

Both girls protested, but Sato insisted on Melissa staying with him. On short notice, Gabriela indeed hugged her.

»Please, take care of yourself!«

»Don’t worry, Gaby! I don’t think he’s about to hurt or kill me!«

She had no idea what exactly the man had in mind, but she wasn’t really scared. Gabriela kissed her cheek and left, repeatedly looking over her shoulder.

»Don’t worry, I only want to make sure that she will follow me to my hideout without trying to involve the local Police! Now, get to your knees and put your hands behind your back!«

With some tape, he tied her arms at wrists and elbows. He then assisted her in getting to her feet, and he taped her ankles together. Melissa stiffened when his hands went under her skirt, but Sato only tied her knees, too.

»Are you expecting me to hop to your car, or do you want to carry me?«

»The latter«, Sato replied, and Melissa felt a bit awkward by the prospect. Sato reached into the pocket of his jacket and balled something up.

»Oh no, not again!«

»This time, it’s from a different girl!«

Melissa had no choice but to accept the dark blue bikini briefs in her mouth. It was Babette’s panties she had worn and then had been gagged with, and Melissa retched as they filled her mouth. Sato secured the gag with a few strips of tape and put the girls’ phones into his pocket. Then, he unceremoniously loaded Melissa over his shoulder, placing his hand on her butt to hold her there.

It was an undignified way of getting transported; at least, Sato wasn’t groping her buttocks, and she tried to cheer herself up with the fact that now, she no longer had to stumble around in her heels. She looked if perhaps Gabriela was following them, but they stayed alone until they reached a path where Sato had parked the Seat.

From under a tree, someone approached when he placed Melissa on her feet. It was a buxom blonde in a short coloured beach dress, and she looked puzzled, but not frightened at the bound and gagged woman.

»Is that-«

»One of them, yeah! Her girlfriend will follow us to our hideout, where we will see how cooperative they are!«

Melissa’s eyes widened. The two had spoken German, and obviously, this girl was involved in whatever crazy plan the Japanese had in mind!

»Hi, I’m Babette! You must be Melissa!«, she said as if they had just met on a party. Quite gentle, Sato forced her onto the backseat, and he and the blonde sat on the front seats, with Babette driving whilst Sato kept an eye on Melissa.

Except on some advice at Babette where to drive, he remained silent, and Melissa also saw no point in screaming through her gag, though she occasionally retched from the panties’ taste.

They reached the road where Gabriela, who was standing beside her car, was waiting, and Sato flashed the lights three times. Then, he waited until she was behind him, and Babette now seemed to know where to go. Sato ordered Melissa to lie down, but otherwise remained silent, and after some 30 or 40 minutes, they stopped. Melissa rose and saw they had parked behind a ramshackle barn. Sato got out and expected Gabriela who demanded to see Melissa at once.

»You may even carry her inside! I am sorry, but I can’t handle both her and the gun well! Babette-Chan, will you please get the bag from the trunk?«

Again, the blonde obeyed without hesitation, and Gabriela managed to help Melissa out of the car, but then seemed a bit undecided how to continue. She did not want to carry her friend over her shoulder, but seemed unable to cradle her in her arms either. Sato allowed her to remove her ankle ties and lead her inside where they both had to stand side by side.

»Gabriela-San, you may free your girlfriend’s knees, too!«

Melissa noticed that he had once again referred to them as »girlfriends«, and she was neither sure whether this was voluntarily or just lost in translation, nor why she cared about such things.

Without a knife, Gabriela had to brush over Melissa’s knees to find an edge in the tape, and it felt a bit strange to have her hands there – strange but not bad.

»May I ungag her, too?«, Gabriela asked, and Sato shook his head.

»No – at least, not yet! It would be inefficient to ungag her, just to put it back in soon after, and we will have time to discuss things later!«

Gabriela wondered why he left her unrestrained, but she didn’t want to remind him of that, and so, she just stood beside Melissa, holding her hand behind her back.

»We would actually have looked for you anyway, after we had finished checking the area around the estate. Now, we will have to improvise a bit and integrate you in our next step!«

To the Policewomen’s surprise, Babette chortled.

»Is this Plan C.2 now, or already Plan D?«

Sato also smiled.

»Rather C.2, for their role is still more or less the same! Gabriela-San, would you please release Melissa-San’s arms now? The gag stays where it is, however!«

It was a strange order, but Gabriela hurried to unwind the tape from Melissa’s wrists and elbows. Whilst she shook out her arms, Sato ordered:

»Now, strip!«

»Again?«

»You may strip each other or yourselves, but please, get started!«

With an annoyed grunt, Melissa removed her sandals whilst Gabriela kicked off her sneakers and took off her socks. After a look at Babette who stood motionless, Melissa started to unbutton her sleeveless blouse whilst Gabriela undid her Jeans, followed by her T-Shirt.

»Bra, too! You may take Melissa-San’s blouse in exchange, and once she has taken it off, you will put on her skirt, too!«

Gagged, and in just her bra and panties, Melissa stared daggers at Sato whilst Gabriela put on her blouse and skirt that fit, though Gabriela’s hips were a bit more rounded and she was two inches smaller than Melissa. To both girls’ surprise, she then also had to put on Melissa’s heeled sandals that were 7,5 whilst Gabriela’s feet were 7, so she had to adjust the straps a bit.

»Good! Now, look!«

Sato let the gun whirl around his finger, followed by a few tricks, so fast Audie Murphy would have become jealous.

»Just to remind you that I am very fast with the gun, and on that blank distance, I will hit my goal! Please, keep this in mind if I now put it in my belt!«

He did so and rummaged through his bag, producing a coiled rope and a switchblade.

»I will now tie up Melissa-San! Babette-Chan, will you please take care of Gabriela-San’s hair and maybe assist her with the makeup!«

Gabriela thought that she was in the wrong movie when Babette took a hairbrush and stepped behind her, loosening her hair and starting to brush through her curls. She whispered:

»Don’t worry, he has got a more or less reasonable plan – though he is taking some slopes right now! Oopsie, sorry, your hair’s a bit entangled!«

Gabriela had inhaled sharply when Babette had pulled on her scalp a little. She was, however, more concerned by what Sato was doing to Melissa behind her back.

Sato cut three pieces of rope and stepped behind Melissa. With one finger, he unclasped her bra.

»Take it off, please!«

For a second, she considered whirling around, trying to kick him, or to grab the gun. However, Sato held a knife, and he had just demonstrated his fast reflexes. In addition, she would not only endanger herself, but also Gabriela.

So, she obeyed and put her arms behind her back as he said so. Sato tied her arms at the wrists and above and below the elbows, putting considerable strain to her shoulders and forcing her to thrust out her breasts, though the cinch in the elbow bonds prevented her joints from touching. Melissa ached as Sato cut four more pieces.

»Allow me!«

Had she been ungagged, Melissa would have never allowed him to peel down her panties, but so, she helplessly endured him to pull them down to her knees before he tied her thighs, cinching the bond. Sato didn’t touch her middle in the progress, but she was very aware that now, her thin strip of pubic hair was on display, and she blushed.

Her panties were pushed further down and finally removed as he tied her legs above and below her knees and finally at her ankles. To her dismay, he sniffed on her garment before putting it aside, grabbing another coiled rope, thinner than the first.

Cutting a short piece, he tied her big toes together. The rest of the rope, he doubled and slung it around Melissa’s waist, forming a noose. She panted when he threaded the ends between her legs and then up her spine, through the gap between her upper arms. Then, he threw the ends over a ceiling beam and grabbed them.

»Now, close your eyes and think of Gabriela-San!«

»Mmhrrrrmmm! Nnnngggg!«

Melissa screamed through her gag when Sato pulled and the ropes between her legs tightened, forcing her on her tiptoes. Gabriela spun around, watching with horror.

»You are hurting her!«

She wanted to dart forward, but Sato quickly drew his gun and stopped her.

»Right now, I am only causing her a little inconvenience! But I will hurt her if you won’t do what I say! Now, turn around and let Babette-Chan help you with the makeup!«

Melissa had tears in her eyes and her chest was heaving, but she nodded, and Gabriela, having turned pale, turned back, mechanically using the eyeliner and lipstick whilst Babette held a small mirror for her.

Sato meanwhile had tied the rope’s other ends to Melissa’s thumbs. He then tightened the whole arrangement, so she had to balance on her toes, bent forward and with her arms raised towards the ceiling whilst the crotch rope had found a way between her labia. With a slip knot, he secured the torturous position before he went for his bag again.

»I don’t know how abandoned this place is, so, I better make sure!«

From the bag, he picked a knotted scarf and what Melissa recognized as one of Gabriela’s lacy panties. They looked crumpled, and she knew where they would go. If looks could have killed, Sato would have dropped dead, but instead, he removed the tape from her lips and forced the panties on top of those already in her mouth. Melissa retched, but he pressed the knot of the scarf on top, tightening the whole lot repeatedly before finally tying the ends off at her nape. Melissa breathed heavily through her nose, fighting her gag reflex, as Sato put some pieces of tape over her lips, followed by an entire vet wrap bandage. A short tug on her crotch rope proved that she had indeed been silenced quite effectively.

Melissa noticed that Gabriela was staring at her with horrified fascination. Even in her predicament, Melissa noticed that the open hair and the decent makeup suited her, and her borrowed clothes looked beautiful on her, too. She even could see a glimpse of Gabriela’s aureoles shine through the slightly transparent silk of her blouse.

»Kuso jaro!«, Gabriela breathed. Sato held the rope that ran through Melissa’s crotch, ready to pull if she stepped forward.

»I hope this convinces you that Melissa-San isn’t having a good time whilst you are away! However, this is nothing in comparison to what will happen to her if you are disobedient! So, will you be a good girl and save her life and well-being?«

Gabriela stared at Melissa, stark naked, forced in a painful position, with the terrible rope bisecting her pubic mound.

»Yes!«, she hissed through gritted teeth.

»Good! Babette-Chan, we will follow our original Plan C, but Gabriela-San will come with you! Four eyes see more than two! Take her car, but don’t forget the camera!«

Gabriela stood motionless, still unable to take her eyes off Melissa. Babette patted her shoulder.

»You better do as he says! I will explain it to you on the way!«

She wanted to lead Gabriela outside, but Sato called the Policewoman back. In a softer tone, he said to her:

»You might want to say Goodbye to your girlfriend! If you are back here within the next two hours, she will not be worse than right now! Just don’t think that I am not serious!«

As if to emphasize his words, he tugged on the horizontal rope, and Melissa let out a faint whimper. Gabriela approached her, brushing over Melissa’s cheeks and caressing her hair.

»I will get you out of this, Melissa – I-I promise!«

She placed a kiss on Melissa’s gagged mouth, and Melissa forced herself to nod slightly, blinking away her tears. Gabriela also was fighting not to sob as she now followed Babette outside. A minute later, Melissa heard the sound of the vanishing car. Then, she saw Sato step towards her, an enigmatic smile on his face.

»Now, how can we pass the time until Babette-Chan’s and your girlfriend’s return?«

***

Johanna stood in the middle of the room, above the grid. Her ankles were tied to the ends of a four feet spreader bar, and a similar bar was tied to her wrists. The latter was fixed to the ceiling, so she had to stand fully spread. It was not comforting her sense of modesty, but it made it easier for Inga, Kim and Miranda to soap and wash her entire body. They used cold water, which was refreshing on the one hand, but it also had the side-effect that now, her nipples stood out hard and erect.

»Carmen likes her girls clean and groomed – and I should know!«, Miranda stated. The tree girls then played some »Rock-Paper-Scissors«, and it was Inga’s job to brush her hair whilst Miranda put some makeup on her.

»I can’t put lipstick on you, but at least, I can do your eyes!«

Johanna wouldn’t have mind if she had painted one eyelid orange and the other bright pink, for Kim was now putting shaving foam onto her armpits. The brush tickled slightly, and when Kim stropped a razorblade, she trembled and mewed.

Kim was careful, even anticipating her ticklishness, but Johanna definitely didn’t want to be treated with a knife whilst she was naked, bound and gagged. She barely dared to breathe, and so, she panted heavily when Kim, having finished the shaving, dabbed her armpits and creamed them.

»Uuhmmph! Nnnggg!«

Miranda now brushed through her pubic hair, pulling on some of it. She gave an order in Spanish, and then, all three girls gathered around her exposed middle and a new level of humiliation began.

The only painful aspect, and even that on a tolerable level, was when Inga or Kim pulled out single hairs with tweezers whilst they trimmed the edges with small scissors. Miranda meanwhile massaged some perfumed oil into her pubic mound and labia.

Johanna couldn’t move much, and with two pairs of tweezers and scissors so close to her middle, twitching would only hurt herself. So, she stood in enforced silence and calmness, enduring the ordeal and wondering why she just didn’t faint from sheer embarrassment.

The answer came like a real voice inside her head:

»Maybe, you are just too strong to simply collapse, Johanna! Maybe, you are even strong enough to fight once you have the opportunity!«

Though still six hands were touching her middle, Johanna suddenly calmed down a bit.

***