Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

  - I hope you brush your teeth regularly. Wouldn't want to get a blood poisoning.

  What it took for me to be calm in my voice... And Duke didn't like it. He stopped licking the blood off me and he spiked:

  - The games are over, girl. It's time to pay the bills...

  - And you owe God a great debt," I quit. They're gonna kill you anyway, so at least we can have a last fight.

  Something squeaked behind me, and Alex introduced my friend. The rink was all wet, from head to toe - apparently, the bloodsuckers did not like the perfume with holy water. They didn't seem to have any fresh bites, but their eyes were like two glass buttons. Empty and expressing nothing.

  - I wonder how I don't succumb to that.

  - Don't worry," Dyushka whispered in my ear. - We'll have forever to find out your abilities.

  Andre turned to Kata and snapped his fingers. Something changed in the blue eyes. Now they didn't look like a stupid Barbie doll anymore. There was life in them, there was intelligence, there was a depressed and intentionally bound will. And there was a deadly fear.

  - Jane? What's going on? How did we...

  The sight of her fell on a vampire. She shrieked and recoiled. Andre seems to have enjoyed it a lot. Damn sadist! Urou! In person! With a shovel!

  - You're absolutely right. You're both my guests. And in a few days, you'll both be begging for my hospitality.

  - You'll climb up, you nasty bastard," I said. Rabies was a good influence on my vocal chords. Now I was firmly convinced that sheep's rabies was my voice. And I tried to encourage my friend: - Katya, until we are vampires, we are not defeated!

  Then Andre abruptly turned his whole body to Kata.

  - Get undressed!

  Katya twitched like a whiplash. Her hands torn the belt of her jeans by themselves. And then another thought came to my mind.

  - You tell her to dance again. So she's not getting up?

  - Striptease? Well, that's a good idea. Dance!

  The skating rink was shaking. I winked at her. "Do something! "...my blue eyes were begging me. "If I could..." - answered mine. The ropes were very rare. Thin, strong and very tight. Don't spike, you'll get the fuck out of it! And if you spin, the vessels will tighten even harder. A professional tied him up to hiccups in life...

  The action, meanwhile, was unfolding at full speed. Sashka came out, and Andre was left alone in the room. The vampire had already got rid of his jacket and shirt and was left in the same pants. His chest was thickly covered with golden hairs. And, strangely enough, a wave of desire came over me. Yeah, I hated that guy, yeah, I'd kill him for what he was doing to us, but my body didn't think so. It wanted to be in the ring of those strong hands, also overgrown with golden hairs, but thinner and softer than on my chest. I insanely wanted to rub myself against its hands, feel these hairs with my naked skin, watch them stand up when we were... No! Wake up! This creature is the enemy! Not a step back, not a drop of positive emotion for the enemy!

  - And don't forget to throw laundry at him, so that his underwear hangs on his ears. At least you won't see him in the face," I said.

  And Katka obeyed. A sweater flew aside, a thin shirt and a bra were thrown straight into Dyushka - and the cowards followed.

  It's a pocket in my underwear. And the pocket has a cross in it. That's what Duke caught him. Careful with the traumatized part of his face.

  The cross burst into flames. The vampire woke up and jumped up to me.

  - Oh, you...

  I'm not quoting any more for obvious reasons. Even my grandfather didn't fight like that. I realized I was about to get my neck snapped, so I tried to cry. I saved the timid knock on the door and Sashkin's voice.

  - Sir! Alexeyev's men came there. You ordered me to report as soon as they got out of the car.

  - Okay.

  There was an unquenchable anger in the word. An anger that needed to go outside. And the next moment, Andre threw his hand forward sharply. There was a threat and a cruelty in that movement. There was a weak groan from behind the door, and suddenly I felt someone else's pain in my skin. What the hell is wrong with me?! Sasha went into the room, but did not come close to his master. He was afraid, I guess.

  - Take this one, - Andre nodded at Katya. - Take her to the fifth box and keep an eye on her. You can play a little, but I forbid you to bite her. As long as it belongs to me.

  The word "boxing" suddenly cheered me up. I knew very well that that was the name of the infectious disease room. I wonder if vampirism is an infection or not? I wish I knew! Shouldn't we open the antidote as well? One shot and no vampire. Or is it already open? One aspen stake to the heart, that's it! I giggled, and Andre turned to me.

  - Can you still laugh?

  His angry face made me laugh even more. Since they're not killing me yet...

  - I can try crying. You know, I'm pretty allergic to garlic. My eyes are gonna tear off really badly. Can you get me a couple of heads?

  Blue eyes were sparkling with rabies, but I didn't care anymore. Everybody had their limit of resilience, and mine was exhausted and I was sliding into a banal hysteria. Then the tears would follow. Katya was babbling something when a vampire grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the room, without even allowing her to bring her clothes. On the way he threw a look at me, full of horror. He was definitely afraid of Andre, and the fact that I wasn't afraid of him made me what? Dangerous? Strong? Or just crazy? Something told me there was a third option.

  The vampire turned to the bed and started dressing. I snorted again.

  - And we weren't eaten under the Chinese.

  - What?

  I guess the vampire didn't expect me to be joking. I winked at him.

  - If you come back, I'll tell you this joke. If you're a smart boy and you ask well.

  The vampire roared and flew out the door so he wouldn't break my neck early. I threw my head back and laughed. And I laughed for a few more minutes. Poor bastard! I found someone to argue with. Yes, physical advantage on his side, but I'm still better at scandal. I have the genetic experience of all women, starting with Eva.

  For a few minutes, I truly enjoyed my little victory. And then I did my gymnastics. Have you ever tried sitting in a chair, taking your shoes off with your hand tied to your foot? I thought my foot would turn out of my joint, but I just grabbed my teeth harder. But I untied the shoelaces. And I slowly pulled the shoe off my leg. Then I put it on my knees. I squeezed it between my armrest and my thigh. And I tried to pull out the insole. At first she went well, then she had to bend over and drag it with her teeth. She gave it up! So I turned my shoe over. The blade slipped into my palm. My fingers were shaking so suddenly I was afraid to drop it. I had to close my eyes and wait a few minutes. That's it. Calm as a tombstone. Now you can turn it around and cut it. That's what I did. I gently clamped the blade with my teeth and started cutting the ropes. That's it, slowly and neatly. Ow! The blade got into my upper lip. I awoke. There was blood on my chin. But I just clenched my teeth harder. There's no way I'm letting him out! If I drop the blade, all I have to do is die with dignity. And I want to live like this!

  In the meantime, in order not to think about the painful (razor on the lip, you know, not honey and sugar), I began to think about the conversation. At first glance, it was a strange impression. From the second...

  Everything becomes in its natural place.

  The guys are dying to know how I destroyed that vampire. Well, how do you do that? And can I be used for my own purposes? And would it be possible to use me if I became a vampire myself? Those are the questions a vampire wanted an answer to. He wanted it so badly that he couldn't stand it. I'd kill myself for that kind of antics, but he wouldn't. I'm alive and almost in one piece. A scratch on the neck is the only damage. But it doesn't really count.

  What if we analyze the conversation from the beginning?

  First it's a direct hit on the psyche. If I break down, I won't break down. And I respond with aggression to aggression, Dyushka
understands that he won't break here, and goes to what?

  Sashka appears.

  The "evil investigator is a good investigator" tactic? What kind of detective-advanced vampires have we got, huh?

  When the tactics start to work, but badly, "good uncle" leaves, and Dyushka keeps hitting. Slightly hurts me, and then shows me a friend. And starts torturing her - in front of my eyes.

  Asshole. Three times.

  OUCH!

  Crap! Cut off by the force of outrage. And Duke is still a bastard, a bastard, a bastard...

  And Sashka must be listening at the door. Or do you expect me to believe in some brothers?

  Yeah, whizz-z-z!

  I'm sure it's just an excuse for Andre to keep me alive when he gets angry.

  And what would happen next? What would I do for my treatment?

  It's as simple as a gingerbread from a bag.

  Leave me a couple of hours or even a day tied to a chair. I'll torture myself, I'll be more accommodating.

  Second stage processing, that's all. If they don't take it on the raid, they're gonna hit you for a while.

  But that is if they have time.

  And I'm not going to stay here long. Sawing?

  Pilim. Just a little bit left.

  Oh, as long as I'm not being watched through the camera.

  What are we supposed to do? Saw it anyway. And where do you hide the camera? Behind the carpet?

  I got circumcised a couple of times anyway, bleeding from my lips, bleeding from my hand too. Well, that's okay with them! Petty wounds don't count. I finally got my right arm free! And I sat for a while, stretching my fingers. There you go. Cramped my shoulder, and I turned it right and left, almost breaking it out of my joint. The seizure went away. I guess I was scared. Now I was acting calm and confident. And where did that come from? I couldn't write it off as a test case! I've been caught my whole life! And now what? This is the one! Let's go!

  I put a blade in my jeans pocket.

  I looked around the room. No harmful (camera) or useful (phone) equipment was found.

  My purse was on the table. I grabbed it. It's almost there! Just the knife and no crosses! And bottles of holy water and poison! Well, let it be. Let them choke! But there's Kati's things left. We have to take them with us. If I can take my friend, I'll do it. If I can't, then I won't. She won't be needing these things. Then I'll leave them in the wardrobe. Especially since the plates are in place. That's good, that's good! Let's go, shall we? Let's go!

  I slowly turned the handle on the door. The castle didn't give in. It's locked! Damn it! On the other hand, what did I think I was gonna get out of here so easily?! That's a super movie, too! I started searching the room. It's okay. Vampire box! The windows are gone. You're not getting out! So, we have to go out the door. How's that? What am I, Nikita?! I'm not even blonde, let alone a figure! They only open the lock with a nail file at the movies. In life, it takes training that I don't have. Well, let it be! But I'm smart, active and never give up! I took a bunch of keys out of my purse. Yeah, fuck you! Me, too! Not a single key came up to the lock. And why doesn't that surprise me? I pulled a wire out of my jeans. I figured out how to bend it on the third try. And I started picking up the castle. I may be drowning in sour cream like that frog from an old fairy tale... But who said I'd do it willingly?! Either I shoot the butter out of the sour cream, or... The hell with "or"! I'm just gonna get out of here! Alive and well! Or I'm gonna set fire to this mother! I don't want to be a vampire or sleep with a vampire! I don't want to be a vampire! And that is out of the question!

  I've been fiddling for at least half an hour, getting more and more desperate by the minute, but not for a moment without trying. If it were in the movies, someone would have walked in and let me stun myself with a decorative flower pot. Or a cheerful Terminator would have broken in to help! Alas! Everything was happening in life, and no supermen to help me out. Hollywood didn't come out. But I'll fight to the end! The mechanism clicked and gave in. I could almost physically feel something going on inside it. Just the right way! As long as it was the right way! And I pressed the door handle. I gently clicked the lock. I was on the loose! In the first second, I couldn't even believe my happiness. But if you think I rushed to run where my eyes are looking, you're making a cruel mistake. I put some clothes on Katina. I decided not to take the shoes, it will interfere. I put a wire in my pocket. I put on my purse so that the strap would lie across my chest and not fall on the run. She ripped off the sweater's shoulders, which she stuffed so carefully, and stuck them in Katka's tights. It turned out to be a pretty decent brush. It's heavy, a kilo and a half. It'll come in handy.

  The corridor was curving two ways so I couldn't see the end of it. Maybe he was walking in a circle. There was only one way I could figure it out. At first, I wanted to go right. Then I decided to do the opposite, so I went left, looking around and listening to every rustle. The cuts were painful and bleeding, but I didn't pay any attention to them. I only dried my sweater occasionally. Katkin. Big deal, the cuts! Not bites! You can endure less pain for the sake of freedom! If I could still help Katya! I didn't want to leave her in the hands of that psycho!

  Although my freedom is still purely illusory. I don't know which part of the club or cellar I am, how to get out of here, how to get home and where to hide for the rest of the night, but the problems had to be solved one by one. The minimum problem is to determine where I am and get out of it, his fish, the club.

  Stirlitz in my face was walking down the corridor, watching his head to the sides. I froze every two steps and pressed myself against the wall from every suspicious sound. Sometimes I'd look at the ceiling. But it didn't look like there were any video cameras. Nothing happened except a series of doors, which fortunately nobody came out. Isn't there really nothing and nobody here? And if there were, then what? Nothing! It's the same! There's no choice! The plane carpet and Buffy with Professor Van Helsing and K° aren't waiting around the corner! And why would that be?

  I managed to walk six feet before...

  The scream went down the hall, making me get cold. It screamed so much, agonizing, unimaginable pain that my hair stood up on the back of my head. What was I supposed to do? The scream repeated itself. Katya? Or did it not? You don't understand. And what do you have to do with a person to make him or her scream like that? I scolded myself as a weak-willed jerk and turned to the sound. I laughed at the scream. And then I turned the corner and gently opened the heavy iron door that made the sounds come out. For a moment, I was confused. It was a torture chamber. Most of the gadgets were unknown to me, but even my humble knowledge was enough to know the rack and the Spanish boots. The floor and walls were tiled. So the blood could be washed away easier? Cautious, you bastards!

  The type wearing something leather-like pants and shirts that stood in the center of the room, leaning over someone, was not a vampire. Otherwise, he would have smelled me right away. And he was alone. Can I handle it? The hell with him. But I couldn't leave anymore. The scream came out again. Even more complaining than before... And I couldn't take it. Maybe I'll die on my own, but I won't leave anyone to torture! I will not forgive myself later! I wish I had a knife. But I have a homemade brush! Except I don't know how to handle it. But it doesn't take much intelligence to stun a man.

  I tried to intercept it more comfortably and accidentally hit the wall. The executioner turned around, but he didn't see anyone. Am I stupid to stand in plain sight?

  I wonder what this copy is going for? To an art whistle? Or...?

  The idea was frankly stupid. And it was only meant for the peace and impunity of the executioner. Really, who would have thought there was a saboteur wandering the hallways? Ha!

  And I moaned.

  Honestly, I've only seen pornography so far. I haven't tried it, and I'm especially not shy about it. My grandfather once explained to me that a woman is not an ashtray for everyone to use, and my mother also added that he, my beloved, should be respected and not
sleep with anyone just because it was scratched. I wasn't sleeping. And "free love" and "sexual revolution" - to America. We wouldn't have this crap, you know, and AIDS wouldn't exist. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a prude. And for every person, you have to apply the rules that are right for them only. Just do not interfere with love by mutual consent of two souls - this is when common interests, when two know, respect and love each other, with obscenities like "And I am so (-oi), and I am cool (-oi). I don't care when or with whom..." That's disgusting.

  But out of interest, I looked at the pornography. And now I faked the most passionate moan I could.

  Then one more and one more. And so, until I heard footsteps from the room.

  The calculation was correct. Curiosity is a terrible thing. And the executioner didn't stand for it. I wonder who was stunned enough to have sex next to the torturer? We should take a peek. And ideally, spoil the pleasure.

  The door squeaked open, and the man came out. And I punched him in the head with my homemade brush. He started turning to me - and I added two more. I was aiming at the back of the head, and I hit the temple.

  The man collapsed like a slope.

  Am I stupid enough to kill a rhino like that with three strikes?

  However...

  Although... Suddenly, with a kilo of nails, on the head...

  They won't make it to the ICU.

  Killing a man isn't as hard as it looks.

  I picked up the executioner and dragged him inside.

  It's heavy, you bastard.

  But I managed to do some things.

  I dragged the carcass inside and added a foot on the head. Avos will not die. It's not gonna die, it's not gonna die. Executioners should not live in this world. That's it.

  The man on the table was moaning, and I walked up to him. I was in for two shocks at once. First, it wasn't a man. It was a vampire. You could see it in the fangs that looked out from under the mutilated lips.

  I mean, a fang. The other one was knocked out earlier. Second, he was tortured in a terrible and painful way. Anybody here would have yelled. Arms and legs were really in place, but the skin was literally cut into pieces. There was no living space left on his face. He was just skinned. So not simply, but slowly and tastefully.