Paralysis

11th Level

_ “He was 16 and I was 15,” she said wistfully. “We were madly in love. Our first time was so tender, a truly special moment. But tenderness is all very well once in a while. So, the second time, I asked for a spanking, then a whip, ropes, chains...” I asked to be suspended, to be penetrated in every orifice... We had moments, each more intense than the last... Until the day he told me he didn’t want me anymore, that he found me too extravagant and that all of this would lead to my downfall

I listen attentively, perplexed by these most unusual revelations. She pauses briefly before continuing.

_ That day, I was in a right state and was driving without paying any attention to my speed or the road. A lorry crashed into me and I was thrown from the car before it exploded. I was pronounced dead, but I survived. Since then, I’ve travelled the world. I’ve tried everything, from the most painful to the most dangerous, including men of all kinds and women...

She stares at me with a sadistic smile on her lips.

_ So what have you come back here for, then?

_ I was just passing through town and I thought that if Guillaume saw me again, he’d be happy and we could pick up where we left off. After all, I’ve never stopped loving him. But you were there... And ever since...

She closes her eyes and strokes her dark brown eye, smiling. After a few seconds, she opens her eyes and straddles me, bringing her face close to mine.

_ And ever since, she continued, I’ve wanted to torture you and use all sorts of tools on you before making you come with hatred for me

I widen my eyes. Torture me... tools... come with hatred. This woman is completely mad. She should get herself treated.

We hear the front door open.

_ KHRYSTAL!!

Guillaume! He’s here! Samira’s smile widens at the sound of Guillaume’s voice. I’m scared of what she intends to do. She grabs the roll of tape from the bedside table and covers my mouth with it.

_ Not a word, and stay still

She then takes a torch from a drawer and hides behind the door. I burst into tears when I see Guillaume enter the room. I nod at him not to come in, but he doesn’t understand and rushes towards me.

_ Krystal...

One, two, three, four, five violent blows rain down on the back of his neck. He collapses, unconscious and bleeding. My crying starts up again with a vengeance. Samira, standing there, looks at Guillaume as if he were a work of art she was proud of. She then takes my phone from my bag and dials a number.

_ Hello... Yes, I’d like to place an order, please... The biggest and most luxurious one... Very well, put it in Mrs Grishwall’s name... How long will it take to deliver?... That’s too far, let’s say in two hours and I’ll pay for the delivery... OK, thank you

She hangs up, sighs and leaves the room without saying a word. What is she up to now? Why did she do that to him? Will we make it out of this alive? The tears just keep streaming down my face. It can’t be true; our quiet life has turned into a proper horror film.

The clock above the door shows that two hours have passed and Guillaume is still unconscious; he’s losing more and more blood.

Ding dong

The delivery Samira arranged must have arrived. I can hear a noise downstairs, all the way to the courtyard at the back. I wonder what it is. A few minutes later, Samira comes back into the room. She unties my feet and one hand; my other hand remains chained, but she unhooks the chain from the bed. She drags me along and we go down the steps leading to the courtyard, where she ties me to an iron bar. She leaves and comes back dragging Guillaume by his feet.

I then notice the rectangular ditch in the middle of the courtyard, at the bottom of which there is a coffin, and I realise what she intends to do.

_ NO! NO! NO! STOP! NO!

She looks at me for a moment and starts dragging my husband’s lifeless body again until she throws him into the coffin. At the sight of this horrific scene, I scream, cry and thrash about on the spot.

She closes the coffin and covers it with earth. After thoroughly tamping down the earth, she walks towards me and crouches down to be at my height. I am breathless, at the end of my tether, at the end of my hatred.

_ Now, let’s get down to business. I’ve locked Guillaume in a coffin before, so I’m not too worried. But his wound, on the other hand, is an emergency. It could get infected and he could die from it...

_ What do you want!? I cried out

_ I’ve already told you. I want to torture you for my own pleasure, and if you behave yourself, I’ll let you save your dear, beloved husband

She unhooks the chain from the iron bar and drags me back into the bedroom, where she chains me firmly to the bed, making sure my legs are stretched out, perhaps even too far. Traumatised by the scene that unfolded before my eyes two minutes ago, I can’t find the strength to resist her.

She blindfolds me and I feel her lips defile mine. I then hear footsteps; she must be moving between the rooms. I hear what sounds like the zip of a bag being opened. I wonder what’s going on. What has she in store for me? Will I survive this? Will I be able to save Guillaume? I must pull myself together. I’m going to save him, whatever it takes.

The various noises she makes in the room fuel my already growing anxiety. I try, but I can’t make sense of all the sounds to work out what she’s doing. Then suddenly, there is complete silence. I’m overcome with fear. This silence terrifies me even more than the noises from earlier. I feel pressure on the bed; she’s there, between my legs, motionless.