AS soon as Orlanda knelt down, her heart pounded heavily against her ribcage, and the silence in the room felt suffocating, the air thick with something she couldn't name. Oswald stood there for a moment, his gaze unreadable, before turning on his heels and walking out.

The sound of the door clicking shut sent a shiver down her spine. She wasn't sure if she should feel relieved or more afraid. But before she could process her emotions, the door creaked open again, and Oswald re-entered.

In his hands were items that made her stomach twist into knots, a handcuff, a mouth gag, four iron steels, and a heavy chain-all sparkling...