The Chamber [Sequel to Silence]

Part One

The room was bright. Too bright. The light bulb above Valeria’s head glared into her bloodshot eyes. She wondered how long she’d been there. Days? Weeks? She couldn’t be sure. Time had no meaning in The Chamber. She licked her cracked, dry lips, willing them to moisten, but her tongue was like sandpaper too. Dizziness swept over her yet again, beads of sweat dripping in her hair and down her face.

 The door opened. He was back. The unmistakable smell of blood, coppery and thick, hung in the air. Valeria watched as he filled the vase beside the torture chair with fresh roses. She knew what was coming next. Knew the routine. The President made his way over to his weapons table to choose his torture inflictor. He selected a sharp scalpel, and teased it along Valeria’s ear lobe, hoping she’d squeal. She didn’t.

 “Tell me,” President Snow said “Have you changed your mind yet?”

 Valeria clamped her lips together, staring him in the eye.

 “All you have to do is answer my question. Where is Raven Verona?”

 Valeria grinned “I’ll never tell. Not you, not anyone.”

 He leaned in closer, his breath hot and menacing on her already burning face. “I was hoping you might say that. Maybe this will change your mind.”

 President Snow whistled while he worked. The chilling screams of Valeria Grey could be heard for miles, but no one came to her rescue. No one could save her from The Chamber.

 Having achieved nothing, the President left, the white roses splattered with red. Valeria smiled to herself. She’d done it. Endured again. But a chilling thought entered her mind.

 No one who enters The Chamber comes back sane…