7 Is-Is this a cult?!

"Now, that's the right attitude. So, tell me everything you know and I might forgoe your punishment. Of course this depends on how good your answers are!", threatened him Anastasia and pulled off her most evil grin that she was able to do.

The others were completely flabbergasted. They hadn't expected for things to turn out like this at all. Suddenly the roles of victim and perpetrator were reversed and an inkling of guilt grew in their innocent hearts. Still everyone was looking for answers so they silently agreed on this course of actions.

"Everything Milady, everything. This little pawn will tell you everything you want to know! I am an open book! Even though I can't really read anything..."

Gorst became increasingly scared as time passed. He was still worried for any backlash that he might incur unintentionally, so he was extremely cautious not to offend her anymore.

Anastasia felt a little amused inside, by this man who all of sudden behaved like a servant. But now that she was where she wanted to be, she felt at a loss now. What did she want to know the most? What should she ask him?

Vincent took this opportunity to step out and asked Gorst the first question with a furious voice:

"We know that you are behind all of this! Or at least you are part of the group who kidnapped us! Tell me why you are after us? Is it money? My parents have plenty of that! Tell me where we are and how we get back to Frankfurt! Don't worry, I will ask my parents to give you some reward for this task as well. We just want to safely get back! Do we have a deal?!"

Charlotte was confused and questioned Vincent:

"Do you really want to do business with a criminal?"

"Don't worry, I know how to deal with scum like that, they would do anything for their money. You just have pay them appropriately.", he answered her and turned back to Gorst,

"Did you listen?! Whatever your employer is paying, I will triple that amount!"

"Hey, hey, who gave you the right to question him like that?", disagreed Jafar.

"Be quit, I am definitely more suited for this than you dog!"

"Bastard!"

Vincent and Jafar were about to resume their quarrel and while everyone else was seemingly distracted and inattentive, Gorst suddenly broke free of his restrains on his hands and grabbed Anastasia's ankles. He laughed boisterously with a wide grin and gloated at them:

"Hahahaha, you idiots! Never turn your back on your captives, hahaha, a pity that it's too late for any regrets now! Try to do something funny and I ..."

But before he could finish his threat, Charlotte had already taken some steps, made a flic flac forward and landed well-aimed at Gorst's wounded spot, again.

His face made some pained grimaces and his lower body trembled lightly after which he couldn't handle it anymore and fainted on the spot.

Silence permeated the air. Anastasia was scared for a moment and stook there like a statue. Shock was written on her face. She hadn't noticed anything and had nearly become the victim of this hidden plot. They had all underestimated this enemy of theirs too much. After some seconds passed, everyone was extremely grateful and praised Charlotte for her timely performance but she just waved it off casually, yet the smile on her face betrayed her thoughts and feelings.

Sieg recovered quickly and asked Craig and Jean to bring in more ropes. During this short period of time Jean and Craig had gotten closer to Sieg and so they listened to his request and made haste to get it done. Especially Craig was having troubled thoughts about how easy his idea of the ropes broke apart. Sieg noticed it and assured him, that nobody blamed him for this, everyone had made a mistake. They still had some spare ones left and they would strengthen them as much as possible, so that there wouldn't be any chances left for Gorst to do anything.

They had been too lenient with him, and Sieg blamed himself for underestimating this risk. Gorst was still an enemy who wouldn't flinch when given the chance to attack. So they had to respond in kind as well. After he was restrained again, they went to search for more materials and made more ropes. In the end, Gorst's body was half covered in them. Additionaly they looked for smaller logs of trees, cut them with Gorst's axe, buried them underground and tied some ropes around him and the logs as a failsafe. Jafar also had the funny idea to bury him half underground, but they quickly dismissed this idea as time was short and necessary equipment was missing. They couldn't waste more energy on this. The sky also grew darker and soon night would arrive. Tomorrow at the latest, they would have to look for water and food. They couldn't stay here forever. They had to survive somehow. But this could be left for later to be discussed about.

"Well, before he wakes up and some people here break into a fight again, I would suggest to plan out our next questions in more detail. I think that Class President did a good job so we can leave her the questioning, ok?", pointed out Claire and asked around in a sweet yet absolute tone.

She earned positive response and Vincent and Jafar stayed quite. They both felt guilty for what happened earlier and Vincent conceded this time.

...

When everything was set ready, they woke him up and glared at him with hateful eyes. Seeing that his situation was without a way out, he surrendered and quickly turned back into his boot licking self.

"Tell us, where are we here!"

The group had decided that determining their current location was the most important right now. Based on that, they could at least form a slight plan of how to get back home.

"Milady this is the Maze Forest, to be exact this is only a small part of it and we are actually only at the outskirts. But I am sure someone of your standing knows about the Maze Forest more than I do", Gorst wanted to complement her and decrease the animosity between them. He had tried it a little and realized that escape was not possible any longer, so he had to cooperate if he still wanted avoid further injuries on his body. He felt indignant to have become a prisoner of some noble children but he also adapted rather quickly. You wouldn't survive long in this world if you couldn't do that at least.

But Anastasia's expression didn't change much when she heard his response. Yet, inwardly she was confused even more, Maze Forest? What is that?

She looked up at the others standing on the side but they weren't any better. Nobody had any knowledge about this so called 'Maze Forest'.

"Are you sure you are not making things up to mislead us here?!", Anastasia glared at him with furrowed eyebrows and her leg ready to be used at any moment.

Gorst shrunk back and shrieked:

"No, no, no! I wouldn't dare! Please, I wouldn't dare", it seemed like he couldn't hold it back anymore and he finally let the rain fall down. It was a little pathetic but nothing to be done about it.

While he was letting his feelings out, the other's tried to find the meaning behind his words. However nothing they could think of made any sense. Jafar also wanted to try it out once:

"Tell us where we are, and tell us the truth, or we will stamp on your eggs till they break apart and you turn into a woman!", Jafar threatened him while trying not laugh out loudly. The others also had to restrain themselves but showed slight smiles.

"No problem Milord, everything that you desire! Just spare this lowly one who is not worthy of your grace!"

"As I mentioned before this is the Maze Forest the..."

"Enough with this sh%&! There is no Maze Forest so tell us where the fu%& we are or I swear you will wish to be unconscious!", Tony broke out into a fit of anger. He got impatient and wanted to look for his brother as fast possible.

"Milord, no! Everything this lowly scum has said is the truth! We are really in the Maze Forest! I swear on my soul by the god of truth Veritas, I am serious! Please spare me!", his eyes already showed signs of tears again, but wether they could be trusted was questionable.

Veritas? Everyone was confused again. What god? What Veritas?

Claire got anxious and asked worriedly:

"Is-Is this a cult? Have we been dragged into the territory of a cult or a sect? Oh my god?!"