"Shut up!"
Stella Sterling cut his scream short. Grabbing a nearby roll of tape, she sealed his mouth shut.
At last, it was quiet. Her brow smoothed out.
"It's my first time, so mistakes are bound to happen. A few more practice runs and it'll be fine. Otherwise, what use are you to me!" she explained. Her words, however, offered him no comfort.
In fact, he would have preferred she didn't explain at all. Her explanation terrified him.
'Does she mean I'll have to go through that pain a few more times?'
He now seriously doubted he would leave this house alive. 'I'm going to die from the pain, aren't I?'
Just as the thought crossed his mind, Stella Sterling began again. A cold sweat broke out all over Stephen Lawrence's body. Before, he could at least scream to alleviate some of the pain. Now, with his mouth taped shut, he couldn't even make a sound. He could only endure it. It was sheer torment.
"This time, it's done!"
