After the initial beating, however, she had not been struck again. The fourth strike of the horrid paddle had taught her the value of obedience and su...mission. She tried to be the perfect slavegirl after that in order to avoid more of the harsh, painful treatment.She did not give up hope, although she tried to present the appearance of complete surrender. While she surrendered her body to the manipulation and schemes of her young torturers, she held onto her mind and soul. She vowed that those. The hospital room didn't look any different."I feel better ... mostly," said Kris. "I have lots of questions, but I feel better." I've still got lots of questions, too," said Mitch."Why didn't you tell me I got shot?" I was hoping you'd tell me about that." Mitch watched for signs of stress, but didn't see any."I'd love to tell you," said Kris. "I'd love for you to put whoever did this to me behind bars for the rest of his life." His life?" Mitch waited."Or her life," said Kris. "Don't you. "We're going to get Susie's present ready now," said Kelly."Yes," said Marie, "We were talking about presents and so on and she said she'd like you all wrapped up and ready for her. We're going to do that for her. You're going to put up with it."They moved slightly and ordered me to slowly move one arm out from under the duvet and put it above my head. I did so, still pinned to the bed and Kelly tied my wrist to the bed. She ordered me to give her my other arm and that was quickly tied to the. Daniel lifted the unfinished piece with humble hands, and a deep shuddering breath escaped him, as if he had just surfaced from a dark ocean. At the moment, it was just a slab of wood, lighter than he was used to, lacking strings for his fingers to run along, and sitting in his palm awkwardly compared to his old guitar, but he could already hear it, the music that it would soon make. The hissing, crinkling static ever-present in his mind, the chorus of angry sounds both inside and around him.