Karl was like a man possessed by a demon. He relentlessly pounded into me with such fierceness that it threatened to rob me of consciousness due to excruciating pain and sheer exhaustion. He finally collapsed next to me after what felt like eons, his energy depleted from the violent act he'd committed. I was left in a daze, unable to gauge how much time had passed before I felt the tight bonds around my wrists and ankles loosen. He scooped me up in his arms as if we were newlyweds crossing the threshold and began walking. Destination unknown. I was too spent to utter a word or make any attempt at movement. My eyes were swollen and bloodshot from crying so much that they were barely more than slits. It wasn't until he gently laid me down inside the bathtub and turned on the faucet,