Page 106 of Love is Strange
“Not yet. I want him to be able to talk when I ask some questions.”
He smirks and steps up to the table.
“May I suggest this?” He picks up a device which is a small ball on a handle. The ball has holes in it.
“What does it do?” I ask with genuine interest.
“We put oil in the ball and heat it. I think you can imagine what happens next. Be careful of the eyes though. It can kill if you drop the boiling liquid directly onto them, and it gets into the brain. Best to stick to the abdomen.”
“I like the sound of it.”
“Iron, Heat. Can you strap him to the rack? Might as well add a little fun of my own while we’re at it.”
Heat raises an eyebrow at Caim. “You know that neither of you can kill him?”
“I don’t plan on it,” Caim says. “That’s Gunner’s job. I’m just giving Layla a demonstration.”
“Ok.” Heat hauls Snake to his feet. Snake is the only name I’ll use for him from now on. I gag at the thought of him being Daddy. Caim looks my way to check I’m ok.
“Yes,” I reassure him. He smiles and starts to fill the ball with oil. There’s a gas stove in the corner of the room. He ignites one of the rings and places the ball over the flickering flame.
"You can’t do this to me, Layla," Snake calls out. I spin around to look at him as Heat and Iron finish tying him to the contraption.
“Why?” I ask him as a mask slips into place, obscuring the small piece of humanity that has started to creep back into my soul since I learned more about who I really am. “You never showed me any mercy.”
I take the torture weapon from Caim and being careful not to drop any of the oil on my bare feet, I make my way over to the man who destroyed ten years of my life. I'm dressed in only a t-shirt. It’s different from the one Caim initially put on me, but I know it's also his. I can smell him on it. Iron pulls Snake's t-shirt up, and I hold the ball device above his pale flesh. He tries to move his already bruised torso in an attempt to escape the inevitable. I press a button on the device and the oil starts to drip onto his stomach. His flesh sizzles as I move it around. Snake is trying his hardest not to scream out because I know by the look of his damaged skin, it must hurt. I push the button at the top of handle down further, and the oil comes out faster. He still has his jeans on, but it doesn't stop me from taking the device over his groin. I know the pain won’t be as severe as if he were naked, but I know it will still scald his precious manhood. The vile thing that has defiled me repeatedly. I let out a long squeal of delight, which sounds eerie in the dark room. Caim comes up behind me and reaches over to take the device away. He brings his lips close to my ear, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up at his proximity. I shouldn’t be feeling this way about someone. I shouldn’t desire him, but I do. It must be the darkness in me sensing his darkness and wanting to come out to play.
"Go choose something else," he whispers and throws the oil apparatus into the sink.
Now, in some kind of daydream, I glide back to the table and pick up a pear-shaped device. Iron and Heat both laugh out loud, and I frown at them.
"As long as it's going in his mouth, darling. I've got no desire to be putting it in the other place it's intended for." I look down at the device again. It's metal, and I see it expands. I realize where the other place is that it’s supposed to go and clench my butt cheeks together. I quickly put it back on the table. As much as I want Snake to suffer, I'm not going there either. Yuck.
I rub my hands together, trying to remove imaginary germs from them.
“It’s ok, we sterilize everything after it’s used. Caim is particular about it.” Heat hands me a pair of shears. They look like a crocodile’s mouth with lots of sharp teeth.
“You’re predictable, Heat.” Caim comes behind me and laughs. He extracts the device from my hands, and walking over to the gas stove again, he puts it into the flames. I watch him with my head cocked. I’m increasingly feeling more in a dream state the longer I remain in this room. Caim turns the flame off and hands me the cold end of the device. Iron grabs Snake’s arm and holds it up.
"Run it down his arm." I take the shears and do as I’m instructed. The noise Snake makes is almost inhuman. It shoots through me just like a bolt of lightning, shattering a tightly wound tree. It's beautiful, and it's justice. His skin bubbles and peels under the crocodile's teeth. I'm literally scraping the flesh from his muscles. The tattoos on his arms are ruined by my act of retribution. My breath quickens, my heart beats rapidly, and then, I feel it – the throb of my clit humming between my legs. Fuck, I need…something. Caim wraps his hand around my waist and pulls me to him. I feel his erection, instantly. He’s just as turned on as me.
I look up at Heat and Iron.
"Out." I have no right to order them around. I don't know where this sudden bold nature has come from. All I know is they’re no longer needed here. The next part of Snake's torture and my healing can only be down to me and, of course, Caim. We’re the real monsters who dwell in the shadows of humanity.
“Caim?” Heat questions.
“She needs this.”
“You down with-it man?” –Iron seeks confirmation– “Gunner, he could…”
"She needs this," Caim repeats and brings me closer to him.
Iron and Heat look at each other, worry passing between them.
“Just don’t kill him,” Heat threatens.
“I won’t,” Caim insists.
