Chapter 20: Unexpected Company
After Judy obtained a pledge from Jewel not to try anything, she left her in the care of the two foxes. Jewel took the opportunity to create a video featuring Judy amputating his limbs before decapitating him. This wouldn't happen in reality, but she wanted to see his reaction when he saw it. She created a malware-laden attachment before sending it under Judy's name. It wasn't too hard to crack her sister's email account. No one would know she was involved, and she would be able to see from his computer after he opened the attachment. The look of terror would bring her joy.
She continued playing the gruesome game she got in the guise of therapy while laughing like a maniac, anything to make the foxes guarding her uncomfortable.
It took an hour for Janna to arrive with Amanda and Adam in tow. "What do you think you're doing?" Her sister shut her game off.
Jewel didn't expect to see the kits she rescued back then with her. "Playing a computer game, it's what the therapist recommended. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to continue."
"Don't you think that game is lacking? How could you be satisfied if it's all fake?" Janna questioned.
"It's the best that I can get."
"What if I have another way? Wouldn't realistic screams be so much better?"
"Yes," Jewel agreed. "But there's laws and all that. It's illegal here, unfortunately."
"That won't be a problem. Would you take the opportunity if there's no risk? No legal fallout, I've it all covered."
"I'm listening."
"Here are the terms, and we'll create a blood contract to seal the deal. I'll provide you with two mammals to torture and replace them every two weeks if you need more live ones provided that you stop playing that computer game. None of this will impact your standing in Foxhaven and you won't have any legal liabilities."
"You're joking, aren't you? Two mammals per week, where are you going to find them?" Jewel thought of every possibility and came up empty.
"I have my ways, is it a deal?"
"For how long?" Jewel inquired. There couldn't be that many mammals wanting to die from torture by her paw.
"At least a year," Janna replied.
"What's your angle? It's not like you to want this." Jewel paced around the room. "And you're willing to sign a blood contract over it too, so that means you're serious." She thought of all the tricks her sister would dare to pull, but couldn't think of any.
"You're not going to break the law, are you?" Adam asked. "We don't want to lose you."
"It's not a crime if no one sees." Janna smiled deviously. "I have a plan."
"Why go through all this?" Amanda asked.
"I have my reasons."
"Do you need someone killed?" Jewel asked. "You know I would do that for free."
Janna shook her head. "Do we have a deal?"
Jewel sniffed the air for any sign of treachery. "Fine." She couldn't believe that her sister could pull this off, and it didn't seem like a trap either. Real screams were better than the ones generated by a computer.
"Great, I'll write up the contract. You swear off these games in exchange for two mammals to torture and I'll replace them within two weeks if they die."
"A verbal agreement is fine, you know?"
"Oh, not at all, I expect you to uphold it. Nick frowns on us using these traditions, oh well. Just give me an hour and you can keep these two company meanwhile."
"What brings you two here?" Jewel asked Adam and Amanda.
"We missed you," Amanda said. "I wanted us to spend time together. Adam feels the same way." She wasted no time in hopping into her lap.
"Do you know what Janna is planning?"
They shook their heads.
"Want to see the new game I got?" Jewel said. She turned on the computer and figured she would show them the game she was playing. The agreement wasn't in effect yet. "So, I have a problem with wanting to hurt other mammals, and the therapist I saw suggested that I play this game."
She showed them everything she could do within the game.
"Do you miss your old job?" Amanda asked.
"Of course not!" Jewel said. Back then, she had to fulfill her quota for killing mammals every single month.
"You don't need to lie to us," Adam said.
"I don't miss the job; I just want to make others suffer. Torturing and killing when I want would be a dream come true."
"And you realize that's a problem, right?"
"Unfortunately."
Janna stealthily entered the room, catching everyone unaware. "I see you're addicted to the game, that you're showing it to these two. Anyway, I've written up the contract, read it over, and sign it if it pleases you."
Jewel took the bloody parchment from Janna and looked it over. "Why do you care so much if I play these computer games?"
"I think they're harmful."
"Whatever." Jewel gave up trying to figure out Janna's train of thought. It was likely that she was hiding something, but it didn't seem like it would matter. She signed the contract with her blood. "Give me the two mammals, you have two weeks."
"Fine, start with these two." Janna pointed to Adam and Amanda. "Torture, kill them, and I'll replace them with two more."
"But… I can't," Jewel said. It didn't cross her mind that Janna would go this route.
"Not my problem, and you're banned from all those computer games."
"You tricked me!" Jewel said in a rage.
Janna smiled in turn. "What are you going to do about it?"
"Actually, what if I do kill these two?" Jewel raised a hypothetical.
"Try it and see. I certainly won't stop you."
"Don't you love us?" Amanda said.
"I do," Jewel replied.
"Isn't harming us against the law?" Adam asked.
"I'm a bunny of my word, no legal fallout will happen to Jewel. Go ahead, report it to someone and see what happens," Janna said. "If I'm right, nothing happens, if I'm wrong, I guess Jewel gets taken away. Are you sure you're willing to take that chance? This is one step closer to stop her from fantasizing about torture."
"Now, what am I supposed to do?" Jewel said aloud. "Besides, aren't the two guards here going to report us?"
"Do you think I haven't covered my bases? You've lost, Jewel. Now, let's enjoy some family time."
Jewel was seething with rage. "You expect me to do that?"
"You can start by grooming their fur. They miss you, and you certainly haven't been spending enough time with them."
Janna didn't utter any threats, but Jewel felt there would be one if she continued. It wasn't as if Jewel wanted these kits harmed, so she did what Janna wanted. They moved to a bed where she could lick their fur.
Amanda said, "We learned of something called school. We would like to go."
"Then go," Jewel said. These kits didn't have much opportunity to experience the world. All they had for years was one small room with the few things she managed to obtain.
"And we want to live with you here," Adam said.
"Sure, why not."
"Which school do we go to?" Amanda asked. "There are so many options."
"How am I supposed to know?" Jewel said. "Just pick one, anyone." It was then Jewel let out a pained screech when her shock collar activated.
"That's no way for a parent to behave," Janna chided with her paw on the remote.
"Since when did I become a parent?"
"The moment you decided to save these two."
"Sigh, boring research time, yay me," Jewel said.
"I'm disappointed, I thought you would care more about these two. Why don't you just kill them if they're such a bother?"
"Why don't I kill you instead?" Jewel muttered under her breath.
"I heard that. Try it," Janna dared. "If you don't, I'll make sure your life is painful."
"You're going to torture me?" Jewel narrowed her eyes.
"Oh, I never said that… I'll leave it to your imagination. Either way, you won't kill me because I'm important to you. Do what your heart tells you to."
Jewel took a deep breath. "It's just too much. I want to hurt others, but I don't want to hurt mammals that I care about too much. The sound of screams gives me joy, and that's so far away now."
"Do you think you would be happy if you hurt the mammals that you care about?"
"Yes," Jewel said. "They'll get over it, and I'll revel in their despair." She was busy thinking of the games she could eventually play with Nick. What she wanted was to torture him and him to be resilient enough for it to be fun.
"Let's test that, start by hurting her." Janna pointed to Amanda. "And if you don't, I will."
This conversation took an unexpected turn. "Please don't," Jewel pleaded.
"I'll rip off her ear." Janna raised Amanda into the air. "A touch of red would complement her white fur, don't you think?"
Jewel groveled at Janna's feet. She pleaded for her to stop. The last thing she wanted was for someone to harm those two.
"Obey me, and everything will be fine." Janna set Amanda on the ground again. "Since these two wanted to go to school, we can visit the ones nearby."
"Just like that?" Jewel didn't expect Janna's behavior to change so suddenly.
"You're not off the hook just yet. If you disappoint me, I'll rip her ear off by tomorrow."
Jewel was too afraid not to obey Janna to the letter. She even apologized for the smallest mistakes. Even though she wanted to, she didn't succeed in feigning interest in what was happening. One irrelevant topic after another, with more and more unmemorable names. It didn't really matter which school the kits went to or what they studied. They returned home after visiting five different schools.
Janna cared about what the kits wanted. "Which ones do you like?" she asked Amanda.
"I don't know, I'm having a hard time deciding between…"
"And I like the programs in this one because …" Adam said.
"Just pick your favorite," Jewel said.
"Is that boredom I hear?" Janna said. She picked up Amanda and prepared to rip off her ear.
"Hurt me instead, leave her alone," Jewel said, recalling Janna's threat earlier.
Janna used the remote, sending waves of electricity through Jewel's body. "Now then, let us continue."
Jewel tried once again to listen to the boring conversation, but it all seemed irrelevant. The names they uttered all blended in together. What's the big deal anyway? They're mostly the same. She dozed off while they chattered among themselves.
"Oww," Jewel yelped.
"Finally awake, are you?" Janna said.
Jewel took hold of her surroundings; she was lying across Janna's lap. She felt another sensation of blistering pain as Janna spanked her. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Punishing you. You displayed a lack of interest in what Adam and Amanda want to do, this is unacceptable as a parent."
"Odd choice of method, it's not like you. What gave you that idea?"
"From the kits, it's one of the disciplinary methods that one of the schools uses."
"What?" Jewel cried with outrage.
"You should've paid attention, don't you think?"
"They're not in any danger, are they?"
"Glad that you finally took an interest. I'll be ripping Amanda's ear off. A nice shade of red would complement her white fur."
"Please don't rip her ear off."
"Too late, you did disappoint me. I'll have you watch in the morning. Her cries of agony should bring you joy."
"I won't let you." Jewel tried to overpower Janna which was futile. After all, Janna possessed the remote to her shock collar. She collapsed as soon as Janna used the remote.
"You're powerless."
She watched Janna walk out of the room without a care. Amanda and Adam entered shortly after. The kits were unharmed so far. She told them of what Janna was planning and how it was her fault. From what she could read, there were no indications that the kits were in on some secret plot. First, they tried to solicit help from the foxes they lived with. None of them seemed to care about their plight.
She called Judy, hoping that her sister can persuade Janna to change her mind. "I need your help!"
"Are you in danger?" Judy said with a hint of urgency.
"Janna is going to rip Amanda's ear off tomorrow, and I can't stop her."
"She won't do that. Goodbye."
Jewel couldn't believe that Judy hung up on her. She tried calling again only for Judy not to pick up at all. One by one she called her family only for them not to respond at all. Her next best plan was to offer Janna something that she thought her sister wanted.
"I'll talk to Janna again," she said. She really didn't want to do that, but saw no alternative. As unlikely as it seemed, she had to try.
The search for Janna didn't take long. Her sister was in a room reading a few books.
"Not so fun now, is it?" Janna said. "I hope you realize the terror you inflict on your loved ones with your words. You've come offering a bargain, desperately hoping that I'll accept. There was never any danger in the first place."
"You…" Jewel thought of a way to convey what she was feeling into words.
"Yes, I did what you wanted to do to others, to you. If they don't consent to your games, they are off limits."
"Consent takes the fun away."
"And that will be something we need to change about you, or I can just stuff you into a crate and send you back to Bunnyburrow. What have you pulled so far that I haven't learned about yet? Say it now and I might show mercy."
"Are you accusing me of something?" Jewel said. There was no way Janna could know about the video she went to Nick.
"No, I just know you too well. There was enough time for you to do something before I arrived here. Tell me or else."
Jewel debated if she should reveal what she did. It was unlikely for Janna to find out.
"Oh, and if I learn about something, I'm just going to ship you off to Bunnyburrow, back to where you belong."
Jewel's fur bristled at that suggestion.
"Actually, if you don't tell me what you did, I will ship you today. Your fur gives it away."
Jewel confessed what she did. It was a video she created and sent to Nick featuring Judy doing gruesome things to him.
"You will call Nick, confess. He's your mate, and you're terrifying him even though your exile was supposed to give him some peace."
Jewel dialed Nick immediately to apologize. "Hey, Nick, if you saw a video of Judy killing you, I sent it and I'm sorry."
"I don't believe you," Nick said. "You're not sorry at all, at most, you're sorry because someone found out."
"Janna wanted me to apologize, and I'm trying, okay? I have a problem; I enjoy making mammals feel terrified and sometimes that includes the ones I care about."
"Actually, I just wanted her to confess," Janna said.
"What do you want me to say then?" Jewel asked.
"How much do you care for Nick as your mate?"
"I love him."
"Oh, and that includes torturing him, making him terrified."
"Yes, I want someone that can play those games with me. He just needs time you know."
"Submit to him then, let him choose what happens."
"He's not creative enough."
"I'm still here you know," Nick said. "Consider this challenge accepted."
