Two for tragedy. Volume 2 - стр. 36

– Cedric? Here? – I couldn't believe it.

What could Cedric and this ruthless sadist have in common?

– I see it surprises you, but I'll tell you: he took part in one entertainment, my favourite, and though, no, he left at once. But his brother often indulges in it with me. Do you want to know what?

– What? – I answered quietly.

– Damn it, I promised you a surprise! It's about time you let your new girlfriends go," Grayson said in a cheerful tone.

He went over to the girls. I did the same.

The girls stood there, hands clasped tightly together, looking fearfully at the vampire. Lourdes was especially frightened, her chin quivering.

– It's nice of you to take care of them and give them your clothes, but they won't need them," Brandon told me in Czech.

– How's that? – I whispered the same thing. – They're going to…

– They're going to walk out of here naked.

I stared at him in silence, not knowing if he was joking or not.

"He wants them to go into town without clothes? How does he envisage that? Why is he making fun of them like that?! No, he's clearly mentally disturbed!"" – ran through my head.

– Take off your clothes," Grayson ordered the girls in English again.

They looked at me incomprehensibly.

But I couldn't say anything to them and lowered my gaze to the floor.

– Do we have to do this? – Susan asked fearfully.

– Either you undress and leave right now, or you never leave here. I think both options are just fine," Grayson told her calmly, as if this were just business as usual for him. But there was steel in his calm voice.

– You better do it! – I exclaimed quietly, afraid that now, because of their stubbornness and bashfulness, he wouldn't let them go. – 'You'll stumble into some village or meet some good people-and you'll be free!

"Let them go naked, but let them be free! There will be good people to help them!" – I fervently believed this.

When the girls heard my words, they hesitated a little longer, and then, with eyes full of tears, began slowly to take off their dresses. Lourdes cried. And when they were completely naked, they shamefully tried to cover their nakedness with their hands.

My heart bled, but there was nothing I could do to help them. I imagined the humiliation of Grayson's order, but I didn't dare say a word to the vampire.

– Now it's time for us to part our ways! – Grayson smiled. – Go away before I change my mind. – He pulled a key fob out of his pocket and pressed one of the buttons. – The gate opened.

I gave the girls a quick hug and whispered to each of them, "Run as fast as you can!"

The girls slowly descended the stairs and found themselves under a furious downpour.

Naked, in the cold downpour, they had to reach the city! And after all, it was even a long drive! Poor, poor martyrs!

– Run! Run! – I shouted to them, dissatisfied with their hesitant movements. – Run away from here as fast as you can!

The girls quickly ran towards the open gate that was the way out of this kingdom of horror. I watched them until they were out of sight, and when their silhouettes melted into the rain, I breathed a sigh of relief.

– Thank you…" I said quietly, looking up at the vampire. – That was very noble of you.

But to my amazement, he laughed in my face. His laugh, creepy and mocking, made me shiver.