Orazio (Vol. 1) Orazio and the Isis hormone.

We are powerful. We are beautiful.

Slowly, Orazia regains consciousness. She feels sticky. She tries to move but a tremendous stab of pain in her back prevents her from doing so. She groans and turns her head around. She notices that his mane is plastered to his face and neck.

His mouth drops open at the sight of four deep gashes in her back. Her T-shirt and bra are in tatters. She is covered in blood, her own blood.

She starts crying like a little girl. She puts her hand to her face. It is swollen and covered with half-clotted blood.

Then she hears a familiar voice: "Orazia?"
Her eyesight is blurred by pain and tears, but she is still able to recognize Orazio's adorable face.

Orazia cries a little more and says: "Orazio, I am so sorry."

Orazio throws himself on her arms kissing her incessantly. "Orazia, Orazia" is all he seems able to say.

Orazia's eyes clear up a bit. She wipes away her tears and says: "Don't worry, I'm going to fix this."

With a tremendous effort, Orazia sits up and gets to her feet. Orazio looks at her and bursts into tears. Orazia is about to collapse, but instead she takes Orazio in her arms tenderly.

Orazio: It was Esther, wasn't she?
Orazia: Yes, it was.
Orazio: Why did she do this to you, cara mia?
Orazia: Don't worry. We're going to get out of here.

Orazia feels how Orazio's comforting embrace allows her to regain her strength and pull herself together. He depends on her. Things have gone too far and Orazia doesn't even want to think about what the Mayoress and Esther might do to her boyfriend.

Orazia looks around the room where they are locked up. It is made of concrete and there is a single metal door.

Orazia: Where are we?
Orazio: I think we are in the basement of the Mayoress' house. I have no idea.

Orazia effortlessly rips off the battered remnants of her T-shirt and bra and throws them on the floor.

She fixes her gaze on the metal door. A few hours ago, the very idea of breaking down that door with her hands would have seemed crazy. But now, she feels the power of the hormone Isis flowing through her body and wants to test the limits of her strength.

Orazia: Do you love me?
Orazio: Oh, yes!
Orazia: Do you want to be free?
Orazio: Yes!

Orazia nods and charges at the door shoulder-first.

Orazia bursts through the door, shattering it. She is quite surprised, but Orazio's face is one of utter amazement when he pokes his head through the collapsed door.

Orazio: H-how did you do that?
Orazia: We are the new superior beings. We can do anything!

The pair of them laugh maniacally as they run out of the basement and into the house. They find themselves in the foyer. Before them is a marble staircase. To the left, a drawing room, to the right, a dining room.

Orazia doesn't feel like thinking so again she throws herself against the exit door, breaking it as if it were made of paper.

Orazio watches her without getting out of his astonishment. Covered in blood, with her hair flattened and her torso naked, she looks like a furious Norse goddess.

Orazia: We are powerful. We are beautiful. Free yourself, Orazio. Let's run away together.

Orazio nods. Orazia takes him by the hand and they both walk out into the courtyard.

It is getting dark. A cloud of small drones is beginning to gather, buzzing overhead, as half a dozen security droids begin to swarm towards them at a rapid pace. They will soon be surrounded. Orazia has no time to think. All she cares about right now is getting out of there with Orazio.