Strictland Academy (19 page)

He
continued, puffing his chest out.
 
"Now, Miss Petry, how do you ever expect to win the heart of a man
with such a terrible disposition and inability to control your manners?
 
Ahhh, unless you want me to place a
horse's bit in your mouth, you will remain silent."

He
stepped onto a footstool and ran his eyes over the solemn crowd. "You
girls know that you are here with us for a good reason.
 
You know exactly why you, and your
mothers, made the choice to come to us.
 
At first, you, no doubt, thought life in school would be much easier in
comparison to going to jail or joining the service.
 
It was not easier.
 
However, most of you have thrived in
living in an environment that focuses on strict structure, and you have grown
under the stern discipline we have in place here.
 
Many of you have turned away from the
selfish ambitions and worthless desires of your hearts, and have allowed
miraculous changes to take place within you.
 
You are our prizes, the young ladies who
are on strong, solid paths to true redemption and have earned the opportunity
to be placed with a worthy husband."

He
stood beside the two bound girls, gesturing to them as he continued,
“
But these two here ...
they have failed you.
 
They have
defied everything the rest of you have worked so hard to obtain.
 
They are to be shunned and disregarded,
for they have brought each of you shame and have demeaned your
accomplishments.
 
In order for you
to maintain your self-respect and dignity, you must never speak to them, never
look at them, and you must never, ever allow them to evade any wrongdoing they
commit.
 
Anyone here who disagrees
with this necessity will be considered ungrateful, rebellious, and evil."

He
pointed at the crowd, his dark expression showing his pleasure at being
regarded with rapt, albeit fearful, attention.
 
"It is for you that we gather here
this day.
 
Because of the
heinousness of their crimes and their malicious, ungrateful actions, we are
going to proceed with something that has never before been done at Strictland
Academy.
 
Since their offenses are
as much against you as they are against us, the faculty and caretakers here at
Strictland are awarding you, their fellow students, the ability to discipline
them.
 
Show them how angry, hurt and
disappointed you are!
 
Let them know
exactly how ashamed you are of their actions.
 
Will you condone their behavior by
showing them pity?
 
I say NO!"

A
loud murmur roared through the hollow walls.
 
The sound was nondescript, and it was
unsure whether the other inmates were either revolted by the announcement or
enthusiastic.
 
Either way, each
inmate harbored deep seated resentment and anger about their own situation, and
this was the prime opportunity to express that anger physically upon the two
captives.

"Molly,
they are going to cripple us," April whimpered.

"We
are worth more to them whole and alive," Molly whispered.
 
"Just close your eyes."

“
It
is for that reason,
”
the Headmaster continued,
“
that
you will be lined up according to the time you have been here, with the newest
of you first and those who have been with us the longest last, and the
instrument of redemption will be handed off to you by the previous user."

He
held up a large ping-pong paddle with multiple holes drilled into it.
 
"With this paddle, I expect each of
you to deliver a single stroke, as hard as you are able.
 
Attendant Hazel?
 
Do you have anything you would like to
add?"

“
I
do, Headmaster.
 
Thank
you."
 
The woman directed her
eyes across the room, watching as every girl smirked, "Just a word of
caution.
 
Before any of you have the
mistaken idea that it would be a blessing to either of these girls if you were
lenient with them, you must know you are wrong.
 
They must be taught a valuable lesson,
and I know that you will each do your utmost best to ensure that they
thoroughly regret their actions against you."

She
cleared her throat and continued,
“
But
just in case my message doesn't quite strike home with you ladies, I promise that
any of you who fail to put forth a good enough effort to crack that paddle
across those girls' behinds will end up having it crack across their own.
 
Am I making myself completely
understood?"

“
Yes,
ma'am,
”
everyone said in
unison.

“
All
right, then."
 
Headmaster Judas
nodded, "Prefects, line these girls up in order of seniority, and then we
will commence this well-deserved punishment.
 
Would any of the Directors care to join
in?"

"I
will take the final stroke," one middle-aged man announced.
 
A patch covered his left eye and the
corner of his mouth was twisted in a thick scar.

"The
final stroke, Director Borden?
 
There might not be much left for you to enjoy."

"That
is not a concern for me," the graveled voice responded.
 
"I intend to take the little one
when this is complete.
 
I am still
contemplating the redhead."

April's
screams were muted by the gag that was stuffed into her mouth.
 
There was no escape for the struggling
girls as the punishment commenced.
 
One of the newer girls whispered something to them just before she
swung.

“
I
was the one who betrayed you.
 
Franklin escaped after I left to tell them that you had gone."

"Evie?
 
Why?
 
Patricia could be dead because of
you!" Molly sobbed.
 
No answer
was given, as the girl completed her duty and left the line.

"Where
is your savior now, Compton?"
 
Mocking was heard as the bare hall rang out with the sounds of wood
meeting flesh over and over, and the pitiful cries of the ones on the receiving
end of those efforts.
 
None of the
staff took a turn, each standing back and surveying the public humiliation
awarded the runaways.
 
They grinned
at one another as the inmates left the blistered imprints of the paddle upon
the purple flesh.

Halfway
through the line, the imposing figure of Director Borden stepped in and stood
before the two sobbing girls.
 
He
studied their faces before running his large hands over the swollen, blistered
backsides, and then lifted the same hand to lightly touch each of their faces.
 
He glanced at the paddle offered to him.

"No.
 
I don't want damaged goods.
 
On either of them."

"The
skin has not been broken, you can still ..." Headmaster Judas argued.

"I
said no.
 
I expect my requests be
honored.
 
This punishment will end
immediately."

"Of
course," the headmaster said, anxiously glancing at the other board
members.
 
Each had his arms
crossed.
 
The headmaster
gulped.
 
"Will you be taking
them?"

"I
have not decided.
 
I will be
watching.
 
There will be no further
corporal punishment until I make my decision.
 
Take them down and sponge them off.
 
Have the physician evaluate them for any
significant injuries, Attendant."

"I
assure you, Mr. Borden, there is no ..."

"Do
as you are told, woman."
 
He
stared down upon her with a single, dark eye.
 
"And never presume yourself to be
my equal."

Director
Borden turned on his heels and silently left the room, followed by the other
directors.
 
With an angry hiss,
Attendant Hazel ordered the girls be released and cleansed with cold water.
 
She glared up at the observation room
and watched as the director's shadow blackened the window.
 
With a growl, she had the girls taken to
Dr. Krouse's office.

“
Yes,
Hazel.
 
How may I be of
service?"
 
His brow crinkled as
he glanced at his watch.

She
snapped her fingers and watched the two girls crumple to the floor when they
were released.
 
"Ah, Doctor,
you're always so accommodating.
 
We're sorry to interrupt your quiet evening, but we would like you to do
something for us,
”
Attendant Hazel asked.

“
What
did you have in mind, Attendant?" Doctor Krouse asked, suspiciously.

"Director
Borden seems to be staking a claim to these girls.
 
We are not certain if will just be
Compton, but his behavior suggest he might assume the ownership of both.
 
Examine them and assure him that they
have not been harmed."

"Harmed?
 
Oh ....
 
They sustained quite a remarkable
paddling, didn't they?
 
At least no
skin was broken ...."

"He
interrupted the discipline and put it to a halt.
 
He ordered that they not undergo anymore
physical punishment, but
we
know there are other ways to teach a
lesson."

"What
exactly do you have in mind?"
 
He was hesitant.
 
In his
book, molestation was one thing, but blatant abuse was another.

“
Well,
since we're not interested in staying up all night to look after our charges,
they're going to be put back into the rooms downstairs that they occupied last
week.
 
However, we are very earnest
that they be reminded in some way that they are being disciplined.
 
We were wondering if you might have some
suggestions as to how we might inflict a punishment on them through the
overnight hours that would still allow
us
to sleep through the
night," Attendant Angela stated, nudging April's ankle away from her foot.

“
I
do believe I might be able to offer a fairly safe solution to your dilemma,
Attendants."
 
With that, he
opened a case he kept in his private office and displayed the contents to the
two women.
 
"These are called
anal dilators.
 
This should satisfy
the director's instructions to avoid further corporal discipline."

“
Aren't
those butt plugs?" Attendant Hazel queried, making him want to laugh at
her perfect pronunciation.

“
Yes,
butt plugs.
 
They come in various
sizes, and,
”
he picked a medium sized one up to show them,
“
are tapered.
 
They have a flange that will keep a
patient quite stretched and even more uncomfortable, without causing any
damage.
 
A locking harness will also
prevent these darling girls from being able to dislodge the plug on their
own."

“
Interesting,
”
the Attendant
agreed.
 
"Do you have any that
you might see fit to use on these two?"

“
I
believe I do, Attendant.
 
I'm only
too happy to contribute to the cause of their redemption,
”
the old man responded,
nervously.

“
I
don't know if I'd go quite that far, Doctor.
 
These two are not likely to be redeemed
at all.
 
Any more than your Dr.
Wells could be.
 
He is no longer in
employment here, as you are aware."

"I
heard rumors that he left us, although no details were given.
 
Was he released from protective
custody?"

"That
poor, poor man!
 
He also met with a
terrible accident, just like his little swan.
 
She was so young ...."

"Franklin?
 
That is terrible!
 
What exactly happened with her?"

"We
are not yet certain, since her body has not been found.
 
It is suspected that she fell off one of
the cliffs while running in the dark."
 
Attendant Hazel's voice held no sorrow
or remorse.

"Oh
my....
 
How will her absence be
explained?"