Anger compelled him to action.

The young man was standing there, listening to the crack of the whip and the cries of the girl. Something was stirring inside him, an anger he had not felt before.

He did not know the girl in the other room, but he did not want her to suffer the whims of some sadist. He started pacing back and forth in rage, weighing what to do. But every strike and every cry strengthened his resolve, forming his actions.

With a determination that felt foreign to him, he rushed to the door of his room and threw it open.

Stepping out of the room, he saw the sweet Julia coming up the stairs, wine carafe in hand.
‘There you are. Sorry I was a bit delayed—’ she greeted him but was cut off.

‘No time for pleasantries!’ he yelled at her and ran to the neighbouring room.

Julia was perplexed at his behaviour, wondering what had riled him up. Before she could form the question, Alan pummelled his shoulder into the door of room eleven. The old hinges groaned with strain and finally gave in at the second hit.

He tumbled into the room with the door, coming to his feet as quickly as he could. Julia came in close behind.

What they saw inside the room shocked them.