The next morning found Mirabella on her plush beige couch, her attention half on the news flashing on her sleek 60-inch television and half on her morning tea. Images of crime scenes, politicians, and a recent citywide event filled the screen. But the muted sound of anguished screams from behind her overpowered the news anchor's voice.
Turning her gaze from the television, Mirabella's eyes settled on Luna.
A gnarled rope twisted around her ankles, leaving her head a good few feet from the ground. Her body was riddled with deep purple bruises and cuts, some still oozing blood that dropped steadily into a bucket placed below her head. The gruesome display was a testament to the horrendous torture Luna had undergone.