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STRESS

CHAPTER TWO

Skipper's eyes cleared and the darkness subsided. He rubbed his eyes and tried to sit up. At that moment the darkness came back and he lost all sight. He whipped his head about but nothing came into view. He tried to stand up but his small feet were bound together by some cold, hard material most likely metal. He touched it. Yes, definitely metal. As his eyes cleared and began to adjust he could see the shroud of a door and the room around him. Nothing was in it. No windows, no air vents. Nothing. Suddenly, he heard sounds like footsteps on a stairway. The door was flung open and two crabs rushed forward and snapped down on his flippers. He cried out and struggled as they dragged him out but he couldn't break free.

They dragged him up the circular staircase. It bumped and bruised him but he ground his beak and struggled. When they reach the top, he saw the glass around him and the huge light circling inside and he realized he was in a lighthouse. He gasped as he saw Blowhole on his scooter and the dolphin laughed in his normal, annoying way.

"Blowhole." Skipper said in a low, loathing voice.

"Skipper, it's nice to see you again." he laughed, moving forward.

"Wish I could say the same sea mammal." He muttered.

"Ah you know you're happy to see me." He laughed again and moved forward into Skipper's face. "After all you will be working for me from now on."

"That's really funny, Blowhole." Skipper said.

"Not for long. Strap him in."

Two crabs crawled up and took him up to the glass in front of the light and strapped him to a chair.

"What're you doing?" Skipper asked, looking at them strangely.

"You'll see." Blowhole replied.

The light spun and when it hit him he let out a yelp. It was so hot and it burned through him and when he closed his eyes before it, he still saw the blinding light. It kept spinning and burned him.

After five hours…

"Blowhole! Stop! Stop!" he screamed.

"You lasted longer than most, Skipper." Blowhole said and then tapped a grandfather clock and it rang twelve times. "Okay take him to the tower."

"What?" Skipper shouted between screams.

Skipper collapsed about. It had only been a few minutes and the bells were etched in his head. His ears were throbbing and screaming, his strength had disappeared. Blowhole had thrown him in a bell tower.

Five hours later….

"Blowhole! Stop! Stop! God, I can't take it!" Skipper yelled, lying on the floor in agony.

The bell rang twelve times.

Skipper gurgled, water forcing down his throat through a tube. The tube was too big for his throat and pressed against his esophagus and his throat ached. The water was filling his stomach and he felt vomit trying to come up. Twelve bells. Then the tube was pulled out and Skipper was dropped to the ground, retching and vomiting.

"Blowhole! Please… w-water…." Skipper gasped, vomiting sand which had been pumped into his stomach. His throat was so soar and dry, it burned to swallow and ached. His stomach felt like it was about to burst and he felt like he w as bleeding, internally. Twelve bells. Then they dropped a large weight on his stomach and he vomited all the sand.

"Give him some water." Blowhole said.