Melanie was at the door of Jean's dorm. She knocked a few times and jean opened the door.
Jean said "Hi Mel."
Melanie said "Hi. Can I talk to you?"
Jean asked "What's wrong?" She could tell something was wrong. Melanie seemed quite worried and tense.
Melanie said "You know... how you explained to me what Ingrid did."
Jean said "Yes."
Melanie said "Leandro came to see me and asked me about it."
Jean gasped "How much did you tell him?"
Melanie said "Everything."
Jean closed her eyes "Damn it."
Melanie said "I know you asked me not to tell. He asked me to tell him everything and I did."
Jean opened her eyes "I am sorry if I put you in this situation. I shouldn't have told you. It's my fault."
Melanie said "What? No jean. I am glad you told me. If you don't tell me what are friends for. I was going to try to convince you to tell Leandro anyway. I didn't want to break your trust. You made me swear not to tell. I am glad he asked me to tell him. But jean ... I heard what they are doing to her. Irena is on the dean committee and is a friend. She told me. You won't like it. Her punishment is public. I know you wanted this matter to be resolved privately. I know you wanted to talk to her but you can't possibly expect your man to just accept a simple apology."
Jean asked "What are they going to do to her?"
Melanie said "She is being punished now. The whole night and indefinitely until she wises up. Come. I will tell you on the way and will show you where she is."
Jean left and followed Melanie.
Melanie asked "Isn't Jacob home?"
Jean said "No. He is in library. He has to write lines because in his detention he refused to read the handbook like everyone else. He has to copy the rule book by hand and hand it to Leandro tomorrow."
Melanie said "Your brother is lucky. People get much worse for acting up in detention."
Jean followed Mel to the Dean's office.
jean asked "So whats going to happen to her."
***
After Ingrid's punishment was done, she was left in the room to moan in pain as Leandro patiently discussed other matters with his committee. Others pretended Ingrid wasn't there and didnt spare her a glance. He was there for a good two hours. Then he dismissed his committee.
After all the committee left the boardroom, Leandro was left behind. He watched Ingrid as she was hurting. Then he thought her tongue had burnt enough. He then stood up walking towards her slowly and he noticed how she looked more tense now that the protection of committee was gone. He had brought her to his committee to deal with and had played down the personal vendetta he had against her. But now that she was alone with him, she could feel the danger as she looked up at him and was hugging her hands around her.
Leandro noticed her wince as he swiftly took off the device around her head and threw it on the table. She looked confused and then reached for the milk and drank it.
Leandro went back to his seat and sat down at the head of the table. Ingrid was still restrained to the table but not by her hands. He watched her pour herself more milk from the jar. Meanwhile, he took out an apple from his pocket and a knife from the drawer inside the table as he started pealing his apple.
Once Ingrid had enough milk and wiped her face she looked up at Leandro "Why did you release me?"
Leandro had pealed his apple now and watched her as he cut a piece of it. He didnt say anything. He just put the piece in his mouth and started playing with the knife in his hand.
Ingrid leaned back slightly looking at leandro unsure. She asked "Why did you stay behind?"
Leandro was chewing his piece of apple and was playing with the knife in his hand. He was glaring at her still staying silent.
Ingrid took a deep breath "Leandro... I am sorry."
Leandro laughed bitterly as he shook his head and cut another slice of apple.
Ingrid could feel the danger. She felt it well. His chilling stare was now zeroed on her. throughout the committee meeting he had glanced at her a few times but had never looked her like that. She thought she was immune. She wasn't. She thought her parents' status could help but by the look Leandro was giving her it didnt seem like the matter was over. She asked "Leandro. Please. I am sorry. Forgive me..."
Leandro put the piece of apple he had cut slowly in his mouth and chewed on it. He still didnt say anything.
Ingrid was getting nervous "Leandro. Why are you here? What are you going to do?"
Leandro whispered "What do you think?"
Ingrid said "You want to kill me..."
Leandro said "Why do you think that? According to yourself, you have done nothing wrong." His voice made her shake to the core.
She gulped "I am sorry. I couldnt help myself. You know I love you Leandro."
Leandro threw the knife he had in his hand towards her and it hit the back rest of the seat right next to her chest. She screamed and closed her eyes.
Leandro sighed and mumbled as he reached into the drawer of the table "Witches like you make me lose my temper" He pulled another knife from the drawer of the table and opened it. He cut another piece of his apple.
Ingrid opened her eyes "Please. I am sorry."
Leandro said in a cold tone even chillier than before "Dont lie. You are not sorry. I dont like liars."
Ingrid said "I am sorry I angered you. I am not sorry about what I said to your girl."
Ingrid then screamed as the other knife was thrown at her and pierced the back rest right next to other side of her chest. So now she had two knives piercing the wooden back rest of the chair where she was sitting. She covered her face as she was hyperventilating now. She was too shocked to even cry. She was just frozen and her chest was rising and falling as she was breathing hard. It was like watching death. Was that what angel of death looked like?
Leandro opened the drawer of his desk and took out another knife. He opened the folding knife and said "Witch. Have you heard of three strikes? I just gave you two... The third one is going to sting... Alot more... And no. The third one wont pierce your heart to put you out of your misery. I will not deprive myself of the pleasure and satisfaction of making you scream much harder than you ever have before until you lose your voice. So I am going to ask you again. Why do you think I am here right now? Why am I wasting my precious time eating and apple. What would happen when I finish eating my apple. You kept interrupting and commenting so you wasted time."
He then cut another piece of apple and put it in his mouth while watching Ingrid.
Ingrid only could whisper "I honestly dont know..."
Leandro nodded "Good. At least you have some brain cells left. Witch."He leaned back and said " The Apples originate from the garden of eden. They represent the sins of man kind. When I place a sinner on trial... My personal trial where there is no one else..., I cut up and apple. I give them until I finish eating the apple to speak to save their backside from my revenge. You dont have long left. Witch. You are a sinner that must repent..."
Ingrid was panicking "But I will repent. I will cover my mouth always until you are satisfied... I wont speak a word..."
Leandro put his hand up "Thats protection... Thats your protection from me... That will stop you from igniting the fire of revenge inside me even further... You think I will ever be satisfied by this mild punishment. You deserve much worse and I intend to make you pay... The longer your cousin puts you in a metal mouth shackle, the longer you will be safe from me... or so they believe. I dont have to follow the rules. I wont. Not when someone insults my woman. Your cousin knows that too. She is trying to help you. But you dont want to be helped. You need to repent quite severely."
Ingrid asked "What do you want me to do? Please tell me. I will do anything."
Leandro cut another piece of his apple and said "Work it out..."
Ingrid said "But I am shackled here. I cant do anything..." Her eyes caught the pen and paper "You want me to confess?"
Leandro didnt say anything. He just cut a bigger piece of apple than he had done so before and put it in his mouth. This meant he was losing patience and her time was running out.
Ingrid quickly grabbed the paper and pen.
Leandro said "Save the effort. You dont have time for that. Speak..."
Ingrid speak quickly "Please Leandro... I didnt mean to upset her."
Leandro stabbed the table with his knife "Dont lie to me... Third strike. I told you the third one will sting alot more..."
Ingrid started sobbing "I am sorry. Wait. Please. Look. I did mean to hurt her feelings but my main intention was not to hurt her. I wanted her to leave you... I dont hate her... I didnt truly mean anything I said... Please believe me... You know I have always loved you..."
Leandro's eyes had fire in them. He started walking slowly towards her as he put down his half eaten apple on the table. "I would like to welcome you to hell, witch."
Ingrid put her hand up and said "Please dont hurt me please...." She was crying hard now.
****
As Melanie and Jean reached the common door of the court room at the dean's office, Melanie said "I have to return... I dont want to get involved. I only brought you here so you speak to the Dean and resolve this personally. I can face consequences for interfering."
Jean nodded "Thank you for bringing me here. I need to talk to Leandro. This is too much. I am scared... How can they be so harsh?"
Melanie said "She brought it on herself."
jean sighed and said goodbye to Melanie. She slowly opened the court room door and entered. She entered the stands on the top floor of the open court room. Melanie said the other door was locked for the ground. Jean slowly walked and saw how Leandro was walking to Ingrid and she was sobbing. Her heart sank from terror that she saw, Ingrid was feeling at that moment and she shouted "Leandro..."
Leandro stopped immediately and turned as he heard his name being called by Jean.