Chapter 3   Torture and Betrayal   authors: Veyanne - yellow , Overlord - red  
"You have a choice, child of God. You may join us or feel the wrath of the almighty. Either way you will tell us what we want to know."
 
The sorceress had awakened to find herself strapped to a table. A sinister looking machine loomed over her. She had never seen anything like it. Where was she? This was not of her world.
 
"I am not a child of God. I am not divine. I am human.", she answered the voice which boomed at her from all directions.
 
"We are all children of God whether we accept it or not. Will you join us?"
 
"No. I will not join you. You are emotionally repressed and in denial."
 
"We are not in denial! NO! NO! NO! Absolutely not! We've never been in denial and never will be, ever. And as to being emotionally repressed, Hahahahahaha! I laugh very nervously at your accusations.". The voice continued, "Tell us what we want to know. What is the overlord's weakness?"
 
"His deepest desire... Crepe suzettes."
 
"Very amusing. You shall humor us no longer.". Lights flashed on the machine as it whirred to life. Power built within it. Light poured out of it onto every part of the sorceress' body.
 
The pain was indescribable. The sorceress could do nothing to protect herself from it. It filled every part of her. There was no escape. Her will was broken in an instant. The only thing she wanted was for the pain to end.
 
Somewhere, in another part of the building, the Overlord and the Temptress were fighting their way through. Suddenly the Overlord stopped, standing still, a wild gaze in his eyes.

The machine shut off. It had been on for only a few seconds but for the sorceress it seemed like an eternity. Tears welled in the sorceress' eyes. She knew she couldn't hold out, but she would try.
 
"What is the overlord's weakness?", the voice demanded.

"Don't..." the Overlord whispered...

The sorceress tried to answer back defiantly but she could only muster a weak cry, "There is no God who would allow such a thing as this to happen."
 
The machine whirred to life again. The sorceress was filled with dread. She tried to be strong. The lights flashed and the beam flooded her body once again. This time the pain was worse. It was all consuming. There was no room to think or feel anything else. All she felt was the pain and the need for it to go away.

The Overlord fell to his knees, moaning as if in agony.....

The machine shut off. The sorceress felt numb. The pain was lifting slower this time. She wondered if there would be anything left of her if she held out.
 
"What is the overlord's weakness?", the voice bellowed forth.
 
The sorceress hesitated.
 
The machine began to whir once again.
 
"No!", the word popped out of her mouth. "I'll tell you."
 
More tears built in the sorceress eyes. Death was something she did not fear, but she could not endure the torture. She also knew she could not endure knowing that she had betrayed the overlord. She sought a bargain.
 
"Yes...you must buy time..." the Overlord got up, fists clenched. Then he started walking....

"Please kill me when I have told you what you want to know.", the sorceress pleaded.
 
"We will do better than that. We will give you a new life. What is the overlord's weakness?"
 
She hesitated again. She knew of this new life they promised. For her death would be preferable. The machine whirred to life. She tried to fight her fear of it. The lights flashed. The beam struck. Her body screamed.
 
The Overlord fell down, groaning in pain. "I....will....share...your pain.....if ....it can make...you....strong...."

Years seemed to pass.
 
The machine shut off.

The Overlord regained his senses again, panting, shivering...

The pain lifted ever so slowly this time. The sorceress knew that if she held out that the pain would never go away. She would be trapped in a living hell. She wanted to accept that. She was willing to sacrifice herself. But as she resolved to take her secrets with her to the grave, her mind betrayed her.
 
"What is the overlord's weakness?", the voice demanded unceasingly.
 
She watched helplessly as her body told them everything she knew. Tears flowed down her cheeks. She couldn't stop herself. She felt helpless. She felt ashamed. She felt like a complete failure.
 
Then the Overlord got up, turned to the Temptress, his eyes desperate, furious, burning with anger. "We must hurry, my love. They know!"

Through it all she clung to one glimmer of hope. They would know the overlord's weakness, but it wouldn't help them. She hoped he was too strong for them. But even then she felt she was hoping in vain.
 
Screaming in anger, the tall dark man crashed into a wall, breaking through the rocks as if it was paperboard...... Then he turned, holding his hand out to the Temptress. "This way, I know a shortcut."

Lying. Crumpled. Cold. Alone.

The pain the machine inflicted still coursed within her.

The shame of her betrayal still echoed in her mind.

The sorceress was too weak to move. She could not even open her eyes. She did not know where they had taken her. She did not care. She only wished for death, but it did not come.

She heard a pair of footsteps aproaching.

"Your machine has destroyed her your excellency."

"Indeed it has."

"It is time for the ritual, my Lord."

"Yes. Take her, and prepare the crucifix."