A Bishop Causes Christine Untold Trouble

It was OK at first. Even dressed as she was in a lace garment that was so revealing that it was even more humiliating than being completely naked. Her cheeks were rouged, and lips painted a red so bright they looked like ripe cherries waiting to be picked. She waited on the bed, trying to keep her heart from pounding free of her ribs. She could do this. For Erik - she could.

That was until she first saw the grey-haired man who was to be her first client. She recognized him immediately; how could she not? Even without his miter and cowl, the Bishop of Oldchester was one of the most renown man in the whole duchy. For a moment the poor girl naively thought that she was saved, that God had sent his servant to end this nightmare. It was not until she saw the desire in his eyes as the cleric started stripping off his clerical robes, she realized that the ordeal was just beginning.

As the elderly Bishop laid a hand on her bare thigh, his warm clammy touch made Christine feel sick. She decided she couldn't do this. Not with a man of God. "I'm sorry I can't go through with this."

"My child, I have paid handsomely, on the promise I can have my way with you."

"It's wrong. I'm wrong… and you're definitely wrong. I'm leaving."

The bishop lost his cool. "But you can't. Now, do what you're paid for. You are a whore, after all."

"I'm sure God would frown on you for being here, Your Eminence, even more than he would sanction me for being a whore." If Christine had hoped to shame the man into the least bit of decency, she was sorely disappointed.

"How dare you?" The anger turned the man's face almost as red has the rouge on her cheeks.

A distraught Christine jumped from the bed then ran bare foot to the door before opening it. But as she did, an eavesdropping Scarlett almost fell into the room. "Move out of my way, bitch." Christine barged passed a startled Scarlett, then ran for the stairs.

"Stop. Get back here at once." Scarlett ran in pursuit. "You'll regret this behaviour."

"Never."

At the top of the stairs Scarlett managed to grab hold of Christine. "Don't forget your debt to me."

"My debt to you is nothing but nonsense."

"You're making a mistake, young lady."

"My only mistake was accepting your kindness. You preyed on my vulnerability and desperation."

"You think this is bad. Life on the street is a hundred times worse. You'll be dead within a month. If not worse."

"I fancy my chances."

Scarlett tried to redirect Christine back to the room but using all her strength Christine pulled Scarlett around then pushed her backwards. Christine then watched in horror as Scarlett fell off the step, and down the flight of stairs.

Christine followed a tumbling Scarlett down the flight of stairs before jumping over Scarlett's strewn body onto the first landing. She shouted to Erik who had been mopping the ground floor and was now watching events unfold. "The door, Erik. Run for the door." Erik did just that. He dropped the mop and sprinted for the exit.

Christine then jumped over the banister and followed Erik to the front door.

But a heavy-set man dressed in padded leather armour appeared from the street. "What's all the commotion in here? Got another runner, have we?" He simply pushed Erik backwards who fell onto his back.

Christine stood still. But she wasn't going to give in. She picked up the mop. "Stand to one side before I send you to hell."

'You have a strong spirit about you. With that you'll be OK here. Now, put the mop down before you regret it."

Christine then threw the mop at the guard who batted it to one side with his forearm.

Undeterred, Christine picked up a bronze candlestick from the table then charged at the guard. She screamed at the top of her lungs. "Damn you!"

Erik took this as his cue and scooted through the guard's legs.

Yet, the guard seemed unconcerned with the boy. He focused instead on Christine who was the real prize.

The guard winced as he parried the blow from the candlestick. An experienced fighter, with one smooth movement of his arm, he disarmed Christine who lacked power if not effort. He then grabbed her, spun her around then restrained her from behind with his bear like grip. "Don't you think I've done this before? It's almost a weekly occurrence for me."

"Let me go, you beast."

At this moment Scarlett made it down the stairs. She was favouring one leg as blood poured from her busted nose. "I thought you pliant. I misjudged you. You clearly need breaking. A week in the dungeon will do that. I'll invite the worst this town has to offer to come and pay you a visit. "

A second guard arrived and grabbed Christine's legs. Both guards then held her while Scarlett bound Christine's wrists together.

The guards then carried her struggling to a hatch in the floor which an angry Scarlett had opened. They carted an ever-struggling Christine down a narrow wooden staircase into the damp darkness.

In the shadows a small iron cage sat in the corner of a room filled with strange contraptions and cruel-looking tools. All of which filled a terrified Christine with much dread.

Despite her struggles and cries she was locked in the cage and awaited her fate.

The cage was too small for her to stand and not wide enough for her to lie down. She had **** but to sit in the pitch black and sob.

This, she thought, must be what Hell is like.