by Van © 2024
		Chapter 9

Lady Paula made her way through the castle to the large powder room off the castle gymnasium.

Following closely in Her Ladyship's wake (and occasionally looking sideways to favor each other with stink-eyed looks) came Pru and Brie.

Poor Prudence, the former childhood-castle-resident and current disobedient-visitor-being-punished, was largely naked.  Her wrists were bound together, her arms raised, her hands bent back behind her head, then lashed in place with a simple upper-body-harness that included tight bands of cord around her upper arms.  She was also tape-gagged (with Elastoplast, of course) and Her Ladyship had stuffed a Silencilicone glob molded of silicon-rubber into her mouth that trapped her tongue and more-or-less filled her oral cavity to capacity.  Pru's only clothing were a pair of black high-heel pumps with padlocked ankle-straps, a pair of dark stockings with cute little black-and-white garters to keep them up, and the stylistically simple chastity belt of textured steel involuntarily girding her loins.  The belt was solidly locked, of course.

The Evil Brie, on the other hand, was wearing (meaning was bound by) only two items: (1.) a black leather, close-fitting, single-sleeve armbinder that tightly encased her fingers, hands, wrists, and most of her arms (with her elbows touching), and; (2.) a black leather "Classic Gwen Hood" that left only her upper face exposed from nose to forehead.  It incorporated chin-cupping and over-the-mouth straps for further gag enhancement.  Also, under the Gwen Hood she was tape-gagged (like Pru).

Brie was not sporting a chastity belt, which Pru considered to be quite unfortunate.  The Evil Brie certainly deserved one, although she had to admit her former disciplinarian's neatly trimmed pubic bush and pussy were very cute.  Regardless, except for the binder and hood, Brie was totally naked, including her bare feet... which Pru also thought were cute.

Pru considered it highly probable that her nemesis (in the current iteration of The Game) was dealing with a Silencilicone mouth-filling blob of her own, but to confirm her suspicions she'd have to wait for Brie to be un-hooded and un-gagged—and if it was left up to Poor Prudence that wouldn't happen for quite some time.

Anyway... They entered the large tiled space with its hygiene facilities, generous shower alcove, stainless steel therapy tub, and glass door leading into the steam room, and Pru immediately noticed that off to one side, naked and supine on a padded massage table was... Cat!

"Mrrrf?" Pru remarked as her blue eyes widened above her tape-gag.

Cat—Pru's girlfriend, fellow model/actress, and fellow disobedient-castle-visitor-being-punished—was, indeed, naked (something Pru had absolutely no problem with); however, Cat was also loosely spreadeagled on her back and tightly strapped down on the padded table!  Also—"Mrrrmpfh!"—she was ball-gagged!  Her restraints were medical-style leather, none of the strap-buckles appeared to be locked, nor did the padded wrist and ankle cuffs enforcing her spreadeagled pose appear to be locked; however, it was obvious that Cat couldn't possibly free herself, although it wasn't from lack of trying.

Cat continuously squirmed under the tight straps pinning her down, tugged on her wrist-cuffs, and attempted to kick her ankle-cuffed feet.  "Mrrrm!  Nmmpfh!  Mrrrrrf!"  She was also continuously complaining.  In addition, she alternated staring daggers at Lady Paulina and The Evil Naked and Captive Brie... with making "goo-goo eyes" at her naked, bound, and gagged lover, who was obviously here to rescue her (even if the "rescuer" in question was mostly naked, tied up, and tape-gagged).

Pru was touched... and aroused.  (See also horny.)  Cat had never looked hotter (or more vulnerable).  A thrill rippled down Pru's spine... then tingled a few laps around her lady-bits.

Lady Paulina placed her left hand on Cat's flat, sculpted abdomen (which caused the prisoner-of-the-table to flinch... then shiver in response).  "Did one of the maids bring you that cold drink I promised?" Her Ladyship inquired.

Her big blue eyes gazing up at her smiling, aristocratic hostess/captor, Cat blinked three times, heaved a ball-gagged sigh, and nodded (begrudgingly).

"Did she use a straw?" Her Ladyship further inquired, "or did she remove your gag and reapply it afterwards?"

This time Cat resumed staring daggers and refused to otherwise answer.  It had been the straw option, but Her Ladyship could hunt down the maid in question and ask her if she really wanted to know.  Cat was ball-gagged, not inclined to be particularly helpful, and didn't feel obligated to answer... which she couldn't do anyway.

"No matter," Lady Paulina chuckled.  "Now... I think we've all had enough discipline for the day."  She shifted her smile to Brie... then back to Cat.  "Well, most of us, anyway."  Her palm was still on Cat's abdomen... but now it was moving... with a slow circular motion.  "Catherine," she purred, "if I release you... do you think you can find your way back to your bedroom?"

Cat blinked, squirmed, and shivered, trying (with great difficulty) to ignore Her Ladyship's smooth, gliding hand.  Maybe, she thought.  Maybe not.  She shook her ball-gagged head.

"No matter," Her Ladyship purred (still massaging Cat's tummy).  She then nodded towards the prisoner-of-the-table's girlfriend.  "Prudence will show the way, and take Sabrina with you.  She needs to be punished for punishing you."  She then reached out and substantially loosened the narrow outer strap securing Pru's left wrist cuff.  "I have an important video conference scheduled in about an hour," she explained, "so I'll leave you girls to it."

With that, Lady Paulina turned and strolled back the way they'd come, no doubt returning to her office.  "Don't forget," she added over her left shoulder, "we dress for dinner."  And then... she was gone.

Cat blinked, then stared up at Pru... who blinked and stared back.  Cat then shifted her gaze to Brie, who rolled her eyes, glowered, and heaved a gagged and hooded sigh.  Next, Cat twisted and squirmed and (with some difficulty) finally succeeded in pulling her left hand free of the padded cuff.  She then set about the awkward task of unbuckling and releasing the right wrist cuff... the straps pinning her to the table... the ankle-cuffs... and had freed herself.

Pru and Brie watched as Cat gracefully (albeit somewhat stiffly) hopped off the table, then reached for the ceiling in a back-arching full-body stretch.  She then unbuckled and removed her ball-gag and tossed it on the massage table.  Now totally naked, badly in need of a hair brush, and smiling, Cat licked her lips and worked her jaw.

Pru happily smiled back at her lover, at least with her eyes.

Brie did not smile with her eyes.

Cat stepped forward, pouted in concentration as she carefully teased back a corner of Pru's tape-gag... then slowly peeled it from her lower face, stretching Pru's lips and skin in the process.  Tape-free, Pru opened her mouth as best she could and the smooth, curved surface of the red silicone-rubber blob within became evident.  Cat helped her expel the intruder.

"Oh, cool," Cat said, smiling down at the slimy red molded mouth-plug in her hand.  "It's one of those Silencilicone thingies."  Her smile faded.  "Can't say I much care for the color."

"Green," Pru suggested.  "Pastel green."

"Yeah," Cat agreed, nodding her head.

"I bet Her Ladyship has a bushel basket full of the things," Pru posited, "in assorted colors.  I bet she'll let us have one if we beg nicely."
 
"Maybe," Cat agreed, then nodded at The Evil Brie.  "So... she's ours to punish for the rest of the day?"

"And maybe into the night," Pru grinned, "but she doesn't deserve to play.  We should make her watch while we play."

Brie stared daggers at her naked captors in sullen resentment, but Her Ladyship had relegated her disposition to the visitors, so they were her legitimate custodians.

Cat nodded.  "I agree completely.  No nookie for Brie."  She nodded at Pru's steel knickers.  "Key?"

Now it was Pru's turn to pout.  "Afraid not."  She then lifted her right foot and gave her stylish-but-inappropriate-for-domestic-toil high-heeled pump with its locked ankle-strap and gave it a twisting shake, causing its tiny padlock to jingle musically.  "Also no key."

Cat continued smiling.  "Pity."

"Shut up!" Pru huffed, then wiggled her upper body, emphasizing her inescapable cord bondage.  "Untie me," she ordered (begged).

Cat's smile became... evil.  There was no other way to describe it.  "Maybe later," she purred, then padded close enough to The Evil Brie to take a firm grip on a generous handful of the brown ponytail protruding from the back of Brie's Gwen Hood.  She then nodded towards the door through which Lady Paulina had made her elegant exit.  "Lead on, McDuff," she ordered with a dimpled grin.

Pru rolled her eyes, smiled, then led the way towards the guest wing.

Cat followed, as did Brie, having no choice in the matter.

With unerring accuracy Pru led Cat and Brie-the-Pouting-Prisoner through the castle and up the stairs to the guest bedroom she shared with her grinning girlfriend.

Once they were in the bedroom, with the door securely closed behind them, Cat went from chest of drawers to cabinet to wardrobe, opening drawers and obviously looking for something.

"What?" Pru inquired, idly squirming and tugging on her cord bindings.

"I need something to tie Brie to something so she can't sneak away," Cat explained.

"Try the bottom drawers of the bedside tables," Pru suggested.

Cat padded to the nearest table in question, opened the bottom drawer in question, and smiled.  "Bingo!"  She pulled out three neat bundles of the same kind of thin rope or thick cord binding Pru, and tossed them onto the foot of the gigantic and neatly made poster bed.

Brie turned her head and gazed at the bedroom door.

"Don't even think about it," Pru purred, not bothering to turn her head to smile at The Evil Brie.

Brie rolled her eyes and heaved a tragic sigh.  Bound as she was in the tight single-sleeve armbinder, she probably couldn't have turned the knob anyway.  Like most of the doorknobs in the residential part sof the castle, the knob in question was round, as opposed to the L-shaped latch variety she might have been able to operate.

Meanwhile, Cat had dragged a solidly made Gothic-style wooden straight chair to the foot of the bed and turned it to face the bed, with its neatly made bedclothes and multitude pillows arranged against the headboard.  Then, smiling sweetly, Cat dragged (led) Brie to the chair and plunked her butt down on the lightly padded seat.  Then, while Brie (and Pru) watched, she selected a coil of rope/cord, released its retaining hitch, and prepared it for use.

"Hmm...  Legs together or legs apart?" Cat mused, gazing at the scowling captive in the chair.

"There's merit to both options," Pru opined.

Cat nodded.  "Together," Cat decided.  "It's not like anybody's gonna need access to her pussy for anything."  She knelt in front of Brie and the chair and set to work.

When the task of making sure Brie remained in the chair was complete, the prisoner's legs were, indeed, together, meaning lashed together, repeatedly, from her upper thighs to her ankles, feet, and big toes.  In addition, her already armbinder-bound arms was pinned against the chair back by doubled strands of tight rope/cord crisscrossing her upper body, yoking her shoulders, and passing above and below her breasts and across her waist  Brie's knees were lashed against the left-front-upper-chair-leg, her feet were on point, and her big toes were tied to the right-lower-chair-leg.    Also, while her feet were off the floor, her ankles were solidly lashed to the chair at multiple locations. Therefore, the strain on her big toes wasn't egregiously excessive.

That said, all the rope/cords were tight, elaborate, and redundant, a tastefully understated example of Bondage Overkill.  That said, Cat had expended all three coils of rope/cord, so arguably it was classic Bondage Overkill.  If anyone should have appreciated Cat's rigging artistry, you'd think it would be The Evil Brie.  Instead, the prisoner-of-the-chair was haughty, overtly unimpressed, and continued sending a steady stream of imaginary but lethally sharp daggers in Pru and her girlfriend's smiling and gloating direction.

As expected and required, Brie executed a Courtesy Struggle, but it was brief, perfunctory, and accomplishing nothing beyond imparting a slight oscillation to her bare and rope/cord framed breasts.  In any case, it was absolutely clear that Brie would not be escaping the chair or the bedroom and scampering (or hopping) down the castle hallway in search of rescue.

"If you're finally finished pretending to be a Kinbaku sensi," Pru purred, addressing Cat as her girlfriend smiled at the squirming Brie, "you can untie me so we can play."

Cat turned her smiling visage to her captive lover, then put an arm around Pru's waist, dragged (led) her to the bed, and shoved her onto the mattress.

"Hey!" Pru complained as she bounced.

"Don't be a wimp," Cat chuckled as she rolled Pru onto her back, straddled her waist, and settled her weight on the squirming captive's lower tummy, pinning her to the soft mattress.

"Arrrgh!  Get off me, you horse!" Pru complained.

"Manners, darling," Cat cooed, then formed her fingers into claws... smiled sweetly... and slooowly dragged her nails down Pru's horribly exposed armpits!

"Nooooo!" Pru whined as she wiggled, squirmed, and fought her inescapable bonds.  "Stooooop!"

Cat and Pru were lying across the foot of the bed from left to right, so Brie had a perfect view of the action.  It was arousing and erotic, Brie was forced to admit, but she should have been the one tickle-torturing Pru with Cat the one lashed to a chair and forced to watch!  It wasn't fair!  It was an offense against the natural order things!

"P-p-pleeeeease!" Pru begged.  "Eeeeeeeee!"

After several very long seconds... Cat relented, meaning she stopped tickling the armpits, ribs, and breasts of Poor Prudence.

"You wanker!" Pru huffed, panting, fighting her bonds, and wiggling under Cat's weight.

"Wrong!" Cat chuckled.  "I'm don't have the required anatomical tackle to be a wanker."

"Notional," Pru clarified.  "You're a notional wanker."

Cat smiled... all the while idly twiddling and teasing her captive's erect nipples with both hands.  "I'll let your snide and inaccurate aspersion slide," Cat purred, "but only if you do me a teeny-weeny little favor."  She then lifted her left leg, climbed off Pru's body, crawled to the head of the bed on her hands and knees, arranged the pillows into a comfy pile against the headboard, then reclined on her back with her knees bent, legs splayed, and a wicked smile curling her lips.  Finally, she indicated her fully exposed pussy with a graceful gesture.

Pru rolled her eyes, flopped over onto her tummy, and began the arduous task of squirming her way up the mattress to her obvious goal, the pussy in question (and on open display).

Brie still had an excellent view of the action, but the perfect aspect was gone... especially when Pru reached her goal, settled her bent elbows against Cat's inner thighs, and planted her face (especially her mouth) on Cat's lady bits—and all Brie could really see was Pru's feet, legs, butt, back, bound hands, and the back of her bobbing head... as well as Cat's grimacing, smiling, and panting face.  It was unspeakably cruel to subject her to this titillating tableau and not let her follow the action in complete detail!  No unobstructed view!  No crane or drone shots!  No closeups!  No instant replay!

Pru continued entertaining Cat, Cat continued being entertained, and Brie continued squirming and fuming in her chair—and it was still at least two hours until anybody would have to even think about getting ready for dinner.

Lady Paulina, her daughters, senior staff, and visitors all wore exquisite formal gowns to dinner.

Her Ladyship's gown was black, with a plunging décolletage and cutouts that exposed her tan shoulders.

Grace and Lizzie's gowns were dusky-rose and ivory, respectively.  Both of The Honorable Brats looked stunning.

Hannah's gown was rather conservative compared to the amount of skin all the others were showing, but the form fitting, long-sleeved, black-lace-over-white gown was also stunning.

The black high-heel pumps were still padlocked on Pru's feet, but thankfully they went reasonably well with her strapless gown of shirred silk in a pretty shade of claret.  There wasn't even a hint that her loins were still locked away under the steel chastity belt.

Cat's gown was also strapless.  The fabric was glittering, metallic, and multi-colored, but the dominant hue was antique gold.

All the gowns were stunning, and all of the diners looked stunning wearing them.

The sole exception was Brie, who was still wearing the same black leather single-sleeve armbinder first inflicted upon her by Lady Paulina herself, and was otherwise naked.  She'd received a sponge-bath from Pru and Cat.  Her hood, tape-gag, and the black Silencilicone blob filling her mouth had been removed, her face scrubbed and tasteful makeup applied, and her hair brushed... but no gown had been provided.  Her nude captivity was glaringly out of place in the elegantly appointed dining room.

By the way, Pru and Cat were pleased to confirm that Her Ladyship did indeed own multiple Silencilicone products.  Maybe they could talk her out of one as a parting gift... in pastel green.

Brie had been surprisingly cooperative during the dinner preparations.  She'd even refrained from venting her true feelings by spewing a vindictive rant or trying to bite her groomers' hands.  She'd been grumpy, but she was hungry... and a game was a game.

Anyway... dinner was delicious, and no one was indelicate enough to comment on Brie's captive condition.  Lizzie had a grand time hand feeding the disgruntled and mostly nude prisoner.  Everyone was well aware that Lizzie's giggling demeanor as she shoveled food into Brie's pouting mouth meant the youngest Hardy was racking up substantial demerits in the glowering Tours Manager's Little Book of Personal Grievances, but they didn't let it cloud the evening.

Dinner was followed by drinks and conversation in a nearby drawing room.  Eventually... Cat and Pru excused themselves and retired for the evening... taking Brie with them, of course.

More lovemaking ensued, with Brie remaining a captive and not allowed to participate.  Her hosts-for-the-evening were "kind" enough to let her share the bed (there being more than enough room for three on the expansive mattress) but Brie's fingers, hands, and arms remained behind her back and encased in the armbinder, and now her ankles, feet, and big toes were bound together with rope/cord.  Also, the black Silencilicone blob was back in her mouth and a broad, wide strip of Elastoplast tape stretched and plastered across her mouth and lower face to keep it there.  Finally, Brie was still otherwise naked and available... but her vulnerable charms were being totally ignored, by her hostesses/captors.  Their fingers, hands, lips, and tongues were busy exploring each others charms.  It was infuriating and most unkind.  I was only following orders, Brie silently fumed.

Cat and Pru had a grand time making out, taking turns pleasuring each other, taking brief catnaps between sessions to recharge their erotic batteries... then doing it all over again!  Pru's chastity belt was an impediment, of course, adding a lopsided aspect to the festivities.  It also added an element of spicy/kinky frustration... for Pru... not Cat.

Brie was also frustrated, but it was in no way spicy.  It was a long and pleasurable night—meaning long for all three occupants of the bed—pleasurable for Cat and Pru—and frustrating for Brie.

The next few days were... memorable.

The vacationers relaxed and enjoyed the castle's gym and other amenities, including horseback riding!  They even took the castle tour!  There were "Games," but not every day and not for extended periods of time.  That is, one or more of the Castle Rapscallions (Grace, Lizzie, Brie, Pru, and Honorary Rapscallion Cat), found occasion to tie each other up and have kinky fun (in various permutations).  Clothing was minimized or eliminated completely (for the bindee), and the "kinky fun" in question was, for the most point, limited to somebody being captured, stripped, bound, gagged, sequestered someplace, and therefore having no choice but to Languish in Melodramatic Despair until being released... usually just prior to the next scheduled meal (including High Tea).

After bedtime there was also a little girl-on-girl shagging, with various Rapscallions pairing off and one binding, gagging and boinking the other.  (The sole exception was the pairing of Grace and Lizzie, of course, because that would have been incestuous and yucky.)  They didn't all kidnap and ravish each other every night, but most nights it was a safe bet that at least one pair of Rapscallions had decided to play, with one being bound, gagged, and boinked with the other doing the binding, gagging, and boinking.

Anyway, a good time was had by all—but everything was carefully timed so as not to interfere with the established Amberdale Castle plan-of-the-day, and all precautions were taken to not scandalize the tourists and thereby invite the wrath of Her Ladyship.

Surprisingly (to Cat, anyway) neither Lady Paulina nor Hannah took part in the intermittent shenanigans... as far as she knew.  It would seem either they were both busy with important business or were disinclined to play.  In the case of Her Ladyship, Cat found that slightly puzzling, given her experience as Lady Paulina's prisoner.  Go figure.  As for Hannah, Pru's big sister remained a poised, friendly, and apparently highly competent Estate Manager, but was otherwise something of an enigma.

Also strangely—and by formal decree of Her Ladyship—the Main Torture Chamber, as well as all the other dedicated Torture Chambers down below, each with their unknown (to Cat) and provocative Insidious Torture Engines, were declared strictly off limits.  The chambers' doors were all locked, and (supposedly) only Her Ladyship had the key!

Pru confided to Cat that in her opinion Lady Paulina really meant it!  She could tell.  The torture chambers really were off limits.  The other Rapscallions also held this belief, so Cat went along, which was easy as not only did she not know her way around the dungeons but didn't feel especially inclined to instigate unauthorized hanky-panky.  A little "innocent" exploration?  Maybe, but not hanky-panky.  Besides... there was authorized hanky-panky available.  More importantly... none of them had the required key.

Anyway, idyllic day followed idyllic day.

One afternoon, Cat was reclined on a lounge chair in the Solarium and reading a novel.  She'd already had her workout-of-the-day and as it had included a nice swim she was wearing a string bikini in a very attractive shade of apricot-gold.

Suddenly, she looked up to find Lady Paulina smiling down at her, resplendent in a pair of white, open-toed sandals and a charming summer dress in a pattern of sky-blue feathers drifting over a background of peacock-green.  It went well with her tan skin, flaxen hair, gorgeous features, and smiling blue eyes.

"Good afternoon, Catherine," Her Ladyship purred.  "I wonder if you'd do me a favor."

"Of course," Cat answered, placed her bookmark in her book, and set it on the nearby side table.  It was then that she noticed the black cloth bag in Her Ladyship's right hand.  "Uh... sure."

"Stand," Lady Paulina suggested (ordered).

Cat did so, then allowed Her Ladyship to turn her around, pull her arms behind her back, and bind her crossed wrists together with a length of the ubiquitous thin rope or thick cord she'd pulled out of the bag!  Then, Cat was spun around once again and watched as Lady Paulina reached back into the bag, and this time produced a pastel-green Silencilicone blob!

Oh, pretty! Cat thought

Then, Her Ladyship stuffed the silicon-rubber blob into Cat's mouth, rocking it back and forth to made sure it was properly seated!  Next, the smiling aristocrat pulled from the bag a brown leather panel-gag, which she placed over Cat's mouth and buckled tight at the nape of her neck.

Based on her brief visual evaluation before the panel-gag was applied, Cat had to admit it conformed to the castle's medieval ambiance quite well—"Mrrrf!"—and was quite effective, especially in concert with the mouth-filling, tongue-trapping, jaws-immobilizing, pastel-green blob (which was decidedly not medieval).

"That's a good girl," Lady Paulina cooed, using her fingers to comb and straighten Cat's slightly tousled locks.  Then, she released the bows securing Cat's bikini-top... followed by the bows over her hips securing the bikini-bottom... then tossed the minuscule garment onto the now vacant lounge chair.

Naked, bound, and panel-gagged (with Silencilicone stuffing), Cat blinked and stared at Her Ladyship's gorgeous, smiling face—but not for long.  Lady Paulina slipped the now empty black bag over Cat's head, loosely tightened its drawstring around her neck, and Cat realized the bag in question was actually a hood!  She was now staring into total darkness (but found she could still breathe)!

Next, Her Ladyship took a firm but gentle grip on Cat's left upper arm.  "Watch your step," she warned, then stepped off, taking her naked, bound, gagged, hooded, and slightly puzzled captive with her.

A long journey ensued, made even longer by Cat's inability to see anything, her naked helplessness, and her total vulnerability.  Lady Paulina was making sure she didn't bump into anything or stumble on the stairs, and there were a lot of stairs.  Multiple staircases.  All leading down.  There were also long stretches of straight horizontal travel interspersed with left and right turns.  Although Cat's own feet were bare and silent on the stone floor underfoot, the tap of Her Ladyship's stylish heels was enough for Cat to sense that they was surrounded by stone floors, stone walls, and stone ceilings... which wasn't exactly unexpected.

Cat thought it was very thoughtful of Her Ladyship to insure she didn't come to any grief—which was ironic as Lady Paulina was directly responsible for her naked, bound, gagged, and hooded condition—but she had no choice but to admit that the smiling aristocrat was a considerate captor and guide.  Also, she was setting a reasonable pace.

It was manifestly obvious that they were down in the dungeons, but where in the dungeons? It went without saying that they were well off the castle's main tour route.

Finally, they paused, which is to say Her Ladyship paused and Cat had no choice but to pause along with her.  A door was unlocked—Click!—and opened—Creeeee!—and Lady Paulina led Cat several paces into the space beyond.

Next, Cat was forced (encouraged) to recline on... some sort of hard wooden horizontal surface.  "Mrrrfh?"  Cat's polite inquiry was ignored as her ankles were lifted and settled into a pair of hard, rounded slots with smooth edges.  Then—Creeeee-thunk!—something hard closed over her ankles, trapping her feet about two feet apart in what she now surmised was a pair of stocks!

Next, Cat's wrists were untied (presumably by Her Ladyship) and she was encouraged (forced) to lay back, her arms were raised, one at a time, and her wrists buckled into thick, wide cuffs that felt like  leather.  She tested the restraints and found they were attached to something, possibly rope.

"Mrrrf!" Cat inquired/complained... but was still ignored.  She supposed she could have tried to resist during the change in bondage, but her handler/rigger was Lady Paulina (presumably), it would have been rude, and in any case... it was too late now.

Suddenly—Clatter-click-clatter-click-clatter-click-clatter-click!—a rattling noise sounded and Cat found her wrists being gradually and inexorably pulled upwards!  "Mrrrrm!"  She was being stretched—Clatter-click-clatter-click!—then stretched some more!

"Mrrrrrm!"  Still no response.  Cat was still being ignored.

Finally—Clatter-thunk!—the rattling stopped.  Cat was in a stretch, a rigorous stretch.  She wasn't in pain, but could barely move!  The probable truth dawned:  I'm stretched on a rack!! she realized.

Then, the drawstring was loosened... and the bag/hood pulled from her head.

Cat blinked her eyes until they adjusted to the ambient light... raised her head and looked around... and her eyes popped wide and she screamed through her gag!

"MRRRRRMPFH!!"