Shame Of Maastricht by Marie N. Hallen (any book recommendations TXT) 📕

it - just one meter could save the situation but there was no way to reach the chair from any side. Kate was still standing there, crouched in the same position. Maybe if her physical condition was better, she would take it easy, but the ten-day fasting and severe injuries were the determining factors. She should save her remaining powers for the coming days and stay as strong as she could. Luuk was breathing heavily and trying to move his hands. How long could he endure this without damage to hands and legs? She didn’t know that but knew that even if she weren’t busy with holding him, she still wouldn’t find a way to take the chains off his hands and feet without proper tools. One hour passed… Two hours… Three…

Kate was feeling dizzy and thirsty as she was drained of energy and her physical capabilities were about to betray her. She managed to turn around and lay down on her back, so now Luuk was standing with his toes on her knees. He looked down at her but she closed her eyes and turned away. She didn’t want to know what he thought of her. He wasn’t her man. Once they are released (if that ever happens), he will take Lotte home and they will celebrate their liberation at his parents’ who love her. They are going to admire her courage and praise her as a brave and tough girl. Lotte will be treated like the most precious family member. Let it be. Whatever. She just has to save him and the rest is not of great importance. If Kate were the only prisoner, she wouldn’t even try to give any fightback to her tormentors. After all, Bas was trying to save his family and get rid of some ferocious gangster crew who could be even more savage. The would probably be surprised by her attitude, silent behaviour and cold reaction without a sign of fear or rage. She would ask for a cigarette. She would sit still and stare at Bas and his crew, answering their questions obediently if they asked something. If she woke up encaged, she wouldn’t plead for mercy and release. And they will probably get bored soon and decide she is out of her mind. As long as they don’t force her to kill the others for the crew’s entertainment, she will endure everything. She would prove she didn’t have the money and they would probably lose interest and curiosity to her income.

Bas did overlook something and failed to find Kate’s real credit card which she used. She did have enough money for many months ahead as her income was stable and quiet decent, but it was just because she kept that credit card separately under her passport cover and used another phone to log into her online bank accounts. They wouldn’t discover it even if they decided to check her documents.

Kate even wanted to offer Bas a part of her savings if she could let Luuk and Lotte go, but it was quite clear that it wasn’t only money they were looking for. This is why she didn’t give them access to her bank account as there were still a lot of doubts that this would secure safety for the other two prisoners. They were just those typical sadists who use different reasons to repress their victims and when it comes to ransom, sex or any other kinds of compromise, it becomes obvious that none of these options could be a remedy. Would they just take the money and murder all three even after saving Bas’s parents? Or would Bas give them to his enemies so that they could finish them? Luuk was right, paying in a rush would put their lives at a bigger risk.

She knew Bas would eventually kill them all, as he was simply cynical and reveled in their misery and anguish. Maybe before he used to be more human and one could be sure that paying him and helping him get rid of his creditors would guarantee freedom for the abducted person. But now Bas was completely rotten on the inside. Perhaps due to circumstances and the past experience she didn’t know about which at some point impaired his mental health and turned him into a sadist, capable of torturing anyone. Now he didn’t need a particular reason to punish them or confine them or a goal he wanted to achieve. It’s just because. Why would Sven, Felix and other men help him in his ruthless activities? Why were all they involved? Did they really care about Bas’s parents or creditors?

She was sure that if she asked his why he kidnapped and mutilated them, he would answer “Why not?” - because why not murder someone you have already broken once you used them? It has nothing to do with his distressed family and other gangster groups.

She didn’t even know if she could hate Bas forever. What if his parents abused him as a child or treated him the same way he treats her? Maybe his schoolmates and neighbours bullied him soullessly? He was always wearing a leather jacket or a coat and never took it off. Who knows what he hides under tons of clothes? There could be scars, burns, sutures, absolutely anything and if so, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he would treat others the same way.

She wouldn’t be mad at Bas if he kept torturing her. But doing so to the other two would be unforgivable. Kate thought of Luuk’s parents again. Why did they dislike her at some point without even getting to know her? Did they really dislike her? Last week Lotte was invited to the family dinner with Mr. and Ms. van der Meer. From posts on social media she realized they were extremely pleased to see her, commented on her each post and picture and showed engagement. Decent and noble people. Approved their son’s choice. She will visit them regularly, will bring them gifts, they will be taking happy family pictures together and his parents will be present at their wedding… Lotte will play with their cute little dog Hollie and admire it. They might have a baby soon… This thought surged through Kate’s heart like an electric shock. Luuk was the only person she wanted to make kids with. Just him and not someone else. She wanted them to look like him - blonde, with similar features, big blue eyes and fair eyelashes, just extremely adorable. She even picked names for them. If they ever break free, Lotte might have them some day. Probably. And maybe Kate will see them some day in a shopping mall. As for her own future without Luuk, she didn’t even want to think of possible future scenarios. She was buried alive long time before ended up here. She caught herself at a thought that her previous life didn’t differ much from this confinement, only that the experienced less physical pain and all her limbs were entire. What happens if she leaves the building? If Bas and all the other perpetrators get killed or just disappear, or simply change their mind and let them all go? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. No, there will be something similar to the described above but there will be no place for Kate. Was there any chance Luuk would break up with Lotte or Lotte found some better candidate? Lazara’s point on this was like “a girlfriend is such a thing… Today there is one, tomorrow there won’t be”. But looked like it was Kate who was that not-long-lasting girlfriend bound to disappear by tomorrow. Even if Lotte left him or if he left Lotte, would this mean they could be together again? She thought of her mutilated body and then of the reasons that led to it. “If there are people who torture everyone without a reason, why can’t lovers betray each other and then disappear? After witnessing all this atrocity you shouldn’t be surprised by such nuisance like a cheating partner?”

Her thoughts were interrupted by the men who came back. Around three hours passed.

“Wow wow look at this! I thought we missed a great show but she is even more quirky!”

The guys applauded. Kate was semi-unconscious and exhausted but still could distinctly hear the familiar voice.

“Ok, take them off and let them rest!” Bas commanded. “I’ve come up with an even more interesting idea. Maybe later, but I do expect to see something.”

Felix brought back the chair and Luuk could step on it instead of Kate’s body. Bas pulled Kate away and left her on her bed by the wall, other two men unsealed Luuk’s and Lotte’s mouths, put Luuk in the place where he slept and took off all the chains except the one on his leg and one on his hand thus leaving him some freedom of movement. He almost blacked out on the floor when Koen woke him up and gave him dinner.

“Please don’t kill him! Leave him alive, I beg you! I will do anything you tell us, just don’t hurt him anymore!” Lotte exclaimed once the regained the ability to speak. “Luuk! Are you alright, honey? Tell me where it hurts!”

“I’m fine, dear, I’m fine. I’m so grateful... This is incredible, I don’t even know what to say…” he stuttered. “It doesn’t hurt, don’t worry.”

“Eat and listen to me, all of you!” Bas banged with his fist on the metal pipe. Even Felix and Sven stopped chuckling. “I decided not to kill him this time. Although I did warn you that you guys would finish badly someday and this day has almost come. But now now, not yet.”

“If I were you, Bas, I wouldn’t play for such a long time. Good thing that Sam managed to sell her car for fifteen thousand. Maybe we can milk someone else and let our guests go?”

“To heaven?” Koen laughed.

“No we can’t. Don’t you understand what risk it brings if we let them go before I collect as much as possible? The amount we made is miserable and I know their financial opportunities are much more impressive. I’m in a rush, Felix. To let them go after receiving fifteen thousand when you need around seventy? And then to get caught without any further opportunity to make more in time?”

Kate predicted he would say something like that, but this sounded promising. Would something change if she gave them the amount they need? Perhaps they would them go. But she doesn’t have this amount. Bas proceeded.

“As I see, we have a defender here. A real... advocate?” he looked at Kate who was laying wrapped in a blanket with her eyes open. “Do you want to atone for the sins of your friends? Want to take another punishment?”

“Your friends can deserve redemption,” Felix supported Bas. “Since you are trying to protect them…” he took out a knife and pressed it to Lotte’s throat.

Kate moaned and tears showed up in her eyes. She could see a drop of blood showing up from under the blade. Lotte started crying silently, she couldn't even make a sound, but her eyes were full of tears which seemed. Kate rushed to her and feel down on her knees moaning as loud as it was possible and banging with her hand on the floor. She reached out to stop Felix and he put his knife away.

“Get out!” Bas commanded and tried to pull Kate away. Lotte grabbed Kate’s hand and squeezed it. Kate remained sitting on her knees near Lotte.

“She won’t… Bas… Just let her be…” Koen sighed. “Why do you even care? They will rot in the same grave.”

“OK...”

“What do you want to do this time?”

“What do you suggest?”

“I personally suggest that we pay a second visit to their parents. I hope the oldie has already discovered the hand at her door. I tried to make it as noticeable as possible, even put a flower in