Several hours later, Sally stirs groggily as the sedative finally wears off. It takes several moments for reality to reassert itself, but soon, she realises she's tightly bound to a chair, firmly gagged, and blindfolded. Panic sets in and she desperately tries to break free, but the ropes are unyielding, which only serves to feed her panic.
"Take it easy," Matthias instructs calmly, similarly bound but neither gagged nor blindfolded. "The more you struggle, the more likely you'll just hurt yourself."
Her father's words take a moment to pierce Sally's fog of panic, but when they do, she calms and stops struggling. She tries to ask, "Where are we?", but her voice is heavily muffled by the gag, and it comes out as an incomprehensible murmur.
"I don't know," Matthias answers, correctly guessing Sally's question. "Though I think we're about to find out," he adds, noticing their captor entering the small, dimly‑lit room they're being kept prisoner in.
"Good morning," the sibilant cloaked figure from the night before greets. "I trust you slept well. Let's get down to business: my client wants the Elemental Crystals, and you're going to get them for me."
"The Crystals won't leave the lab," Matthias defies. "It's the only way to ensure the safety of the citizens."
"So, you dare to defy me?" the cloaked figure hisses. "That is a mistake. Boys, you know what to do."
Two more figures enter the room, their faces and identities hidden by kabuki masks, and approach Sally. The young hedgehog's nerves escalate quickly, and she tries in vain to shrink away from the approaching figures. Undeterred, the figures position themselves beside Sally, and produce a handheld taser each.
"You wouldn't," Matthias growls, causing Sally to squeak in fear.
"Get me the Crystals," the cloaked figure demands.
"Never," Matthias refuses.
The cloaked figure nods. The two masked figures place their tasers on the top of Sally's chest, and activate them. Pulses of electricity arc through Sally's muscles, causing them to spasm painfully. Sally cannot help but scream in agony, but this doesn't faze the masked figures: they keep the devices activated.
"Stop it you bastard!" Matthias demands desperately.
"Only when you agree to help me," the cloaked figure insists.
Matthias tries to remain strong and defiant, but his daughter's agonised screaming eventually breaks him. "OK, OK, I'll help you!" he relents. "Please, just stop hurting my daughter!"
"That's enough," the cloaked figure commands.
The masked figures deactivate and withdraw the tasers. Desperately gasping for air, Sally breaks down, tears streaming from under her blindfold.
"Understand one thing," the cloaked figure continues. "If you defy me again, your daughter will pay the price."
"Sick bastard," Matthias growls under his breath.
The cloaked figure nods. The two masked figures shock Sally for a full ten seconds, triggering a fresh wave of screams.
"The same applies every time you insult me," the cloaked figure informs.
Matthias wisely remains silent.
"Now I have your co‑operation, I must consult with my client," the cloaked figure informs.
The cloaked figure leaves, the masked figures following him out of the room.
"I'm so, so sorry," Matthias apologises.
All Sally can do is nod weakly as the tears stream down her cheeks.