Providence

Freedom from Torture

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

--- UN General Assembly, 1948, Universal declaration of human rights (217 [III] A). Paris. Art. 12

The third landing looks exactly the same as the two previous landings. A brass room, decorated with reliefs of the angels. In the middle stands a large iron stall with an iron robot behind it. The only difference, besides the material of the stall, seems to be that the stall is decorated with spikes, blades, knives, and other sharp objects. This does not bode well.

When the girls arrive at the stall, they are all exhausted. Erin feels her stomach rumble, she hasn't eaten since breakfast this morning. But she doesn't feel as bad as Gwen looks.

All the colour has drained out of the poor girl's face. She is biting her lip, her face torn in a painful grimace. Except for her eyes. Her eyes look completely emotionless as if the light has gone out behind them.

Erin grabs Gwen's hand. "Gwen, are you alright?"

Gwen pushes Erin's hand away. "I am fine, thanks." Her voice sounds really weak, and her breathing is heavy.

Erin shakes her head. "Please, sit down. I need to check your leg."

Gwen reluctantly sits down and slightly pulls up her skirt, revealing her metal leg. Erin checks the knee. The leg seems to be firmly attached, and scar tissue has formed around the connection with the metal. The skin and flesh look fine. The nanobots did their job well. Then again, the nanobots cannot fix blood loss.

Meanwhile, Sadie walks towards the robot. "Welcome to the third trial" it exclaims in the same monotone voice.

"When the angels came to Tartaros, there was a lot of suffering. Not only was there starvation and poverty, but lots of people also had illnesses and injuries. The mortals did not have any methods to cure these ailments. The angels, due to their advanced medical technology, could cure these with ease. Thanks to the invention of the Integrity Booster. This device was deployed all over Tartaros, and all ailments were healed in less than a year."

Erin sighs. "Please cut to the chase."

The robot ignores her. "Mortals do not match the healing abilities the angels have, but due to the benevolence of the angels, they come pretty close. In the current trial, one has to show their trust in the healing assistance provided by the angels. Trust that even if you hurt yourself, or put yourself in harm's way, the angels will come to save you. Cut your skin open, let the blood drip from your body, and then inject yourself with the booster. The more blood you lose, the more the angels will like you."

The robot gestures at the collection of spikes and blades build into the stall. Erin's stomach turns.

Sadie eagerly walks to the stall, but before she can cut herself, Erin stops her. She points at Gwen. "Gwen can not lose any more blood. She will die."

Gwen shakes her head. "It's alright, Erin. I just make a small cut and spill a drop."

Erin grabs her arm. "No. No more blood is going to get spilt today. Not on my watch."

Sadie interrupts her. "The challenge clearly states that we have to spill our own blood. So how are we going to pass the challenge without spilling blood?"

Erin looks at her. "I don't know yet. But I am done playing by the angel's rules. No more blood will be spilt."

"You know what," Erin exclaims. "I have an idea."

She removes the Integrity booster from her belt and holds it in both her hands. Then she smashes it with all her might against one particularly large spike in the centre of the stall. It punches a hole in the metal canister. Bright orange sparks flood out of the hole.