When they were all clean again, the gang sat around discussing various possible special punishments for Giles when they finally got hold of him, and they heard weeping.
Paul came in carrying Emily. Emily was naked and distraught.
"I found her tied to a tree, blindfolded. I can't find her underwear" said Paul in shock.
"Laptop!" shouted Victoria.
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
Alison leapt for the laptop, while Victoria rushed to Emily, who was being lowered into an armchair in Paul's lap. Emily was crying, but not hysterical, and Paul and Victoria exchanged a quick, worried, questioning glance before tending to her. Paul held Emily in his arms cuddling her, and Victoria squashed herself in beside him stroking Emily's arm comfortingly.
Alison studied the laptop screen intently; switching between cameras, moving windows around.
"I can't see anything" she said "Or anyone" she added.
"Why didn't we get an alert?" Victoria said to no-one in particular.
"Maybe we did and we just didn't hear it" suggested Paul.
"No... we were only talking we'd have.... Oh Shit!" said Victoria.
"What?" asked Paul.
"Alison" she said slowly, deliberately; Alison looked up worried, "The sound is muted, turn it on will you" said Victoria, and then to Paul "My fault. We'll deal with that later."
Paul continued to cuddle Emily, and her crying subsided a little. Victoria turned her attention back to her, taking one of her hands and squeezing it gently.
"What happened, darling?" she asked.
"I don't know" said Emily.
"Can you tell us anything?" coaxed Victoria.
"I was just having a wee, and as I finished someone grabbed me" began Emily.
"Do you know who?" asked Paul.
"No. The first thing was a hand over my mouth. I tried to shout... to warn you..." said Emily her distress being reinforced with guilt.
"Of course you did, darling" said Victoria reassuringly.
"I got pulled up, I was squatting you see, because of... you know..." said Emily.
Victoria nodded.
"So then I struggled, and I was being dragged backwards. Then it went black, someone put a bag over my head. I don't think it was the same person who'd grabbed me, but I can't sure" said Emily.
"So there might be two people" said Paul.
"Or more" said Victoria "Alison, check the recordings on the server, see if you find anything."
"Already doing that" said Alison.
"So what happened next" asked Victoria, giving Emily's hand another squeeze.
"I was pushed up against a tree, backwards, and... I'm sure there must have been two of them because someone held me there with his hand over my mouth and someone else gagged me. The first one had to take his hand away, but I didn't know he was going to, so it took me by surprise, otherwise I'd have been ready, I'd have screamed, but by the time I realised... the gag was on and it was too late" said Emily in a rush.
"Alright, darling, it wasn't your fault. Take your time" encouraged Victoria.
"They pulled my arms back, round the tree, and tied my wrists" she said.
"Okay" said Victoria.
"After that they moved around a bit, but I don't know what they were doing, until one of them pulled my bra off. My knickers were already round my ankles anyway, but they pulled those off too, but I did get a good kick in on whoever did that" said Emily.
"Good girl" said Victoria, proud of her "Did it hurt? Him I mean?"
"Or her" said Paul.
"I think so, there was solid impact, it did hurt my foot actually, but he definitely grunted in pain and he hobbled about it for a while. I think it was a boy though not a girl, from the grunt" said Emily.
"Where did you kick him?" asked Paul.
"I don't really know, but it was mostly soft" said Emily.
"Face? If he was bending..." said Victoria.
"Oh!" said Emily "I was hoping it was his nuts."
"Did it feel like his nuts?" asked Victoria.
"No, not really, but a girl can dream can't she" said Emily, with a short laugh.
Victoria and Paul were both very relieved to see Emily brightening up a bit, and they reinvigorated their comforting strokes, squeezes, and pats.
"What happened after that?" asked Victoria.
"Someone started groping my breasts" said Emily "It was horrible! Not like when you want someone too, not like when Paul or you do, it was... I felt... violated!"
Victoria stroked her arm "It's all right now, darling, you're safe"
"I was scared" said Emily tears returning to her eyes and her chest beginning to heave.
"Sssshhhh" said Victoria and kissed her "It's all over now, you're with friends"
Emily tried to smile, but it was weak and failed to materialise properly. It ended up looking like a grimace.
"Then they did the same with my bum... and... one of them... touched me" said Emily, trying to control herself.
Neither Paul nor Victoria felt the need to ask where.
"Not much... not for long... and... well, then they left. I could hear them moving away, but then it went quiet and I just waited. I didn't know who they were or what they were going to do... I didn't know if they were going to come back, or if someone else might come... and then I heard Paul, only I didn't know it was Paul, and I tried to scream, but the gag.... and..." Emily started crying again.
Paul held her tightly, cuddling her and kissing her. Victoria squeezed her hand and stroked her arm. They made small comforting noises. Between the two of them they managed to calm her again and she just lay in Paul's arms sobbing quietly.
"We need to figure out what's going on" said Victoria.
"This is pretty serious" said Paul.
"We've never had a breach of security like this" said Victoria.
"Giles?" asked Paul "He knows where the den is"
"Emily said there were two of them. That would mean Giles had a friend. That rules him out" said Victoria "What about Wendy and Alan?"
"I saw Wendy earlier, and... no I don't think so. I'd have sensed something. She's having too much fun with Alan anyway, he's virtually her slave now. I don't think he'd have the courage not after we did to him last time, and I don't think Wendy would have the desire" said Paul.
"If it's not Giles, and it's not Wendy and Alan" said Victoria "That means someone else knows about us. But who?"
Paul shook his head, out if ideas "Maybe..." he speculated "It was just chance... Maybe someone just happened along by accident"
"No, it looks too well prepared for that. They had a bag, a gag, some rope, bit of a coincidence" said Victoria.
"Not necessarily" said Paul "The bag's no big deal, anyone could have a bag. The gag was a coloured scarf, and..."
"Coloured scarf?" asked Victoria in surprise "What do you mean?"
"Well, scarf, it was yellow and green I think... like scouts wear" said Paul.
"You mean the sort a scout wears, or like the sort a scout wears?" asked Victoria.
Paul looked a little sheepish "I didn't pay that much attention, I was more concerned about Emily"
Victoria nodded "Okay, what about the rope?"
"Same" said Paul.
"Another coloured scarf?" asked Victoria.
"Yep" said Paul.
"Scouts don't meet on a Saturday do they?" she asked.
"Tuesday, I think" said Paul.
"Right. Paul I want you to go back to that tree, get the scarves or whatever they are, and take a good look around for any other clues while we've still got light. Take your time, be thorough. Also..." Victoria turned to Ben "You go with him Ben. I don't want anyone going outside on their own until we've got this sorted out. Okay?"
"Like this?" said Ben looking horrified.
"No darling. Get dressed, but be quick. And don't split up to cover more ground - this isn't a horror film" said Victoria.
Paul passed Emily carefully across to Victoria, who cuddled her with soothing noises and soft strokes. Joining Ben, Paul too dressed, and Victoria watched them while she meditated.
"It does sound like amateurs" said Victoria working things out as she spoke.
"Why?" asked Paul, pulling on his shirt.
"The way they groped and fiddled with Emily... like they'd never seen a naked girl before. They didn't force themselves on her or do anything very daring" said Victoria.
"True" said Paul.
Ben finished with his shoes; sat painfully on the floor. He ignored the pain and concentrated on being like Sherlock Holmes; determined to find the clues that would solve the mystery.
After he and Paul had gone Victoria continued looking after Emily, and Alison carried on searching through the camera logs. Amy sat unsure what to do, and so she got up and joined Alison. She sat again with a sigh, unselfconscious about her nudity, and largely ignored the screen, instead looking at Alison's fanny, and her own; making comparisons.
"Got them!" shouted Alison excitedly.
"Show me!" said Victoria.
Alison carried the laptop to Victoria's chair, sitting on the arm and turning the screen so that Victoria could see. Together they watched the scene unfold, Emily's capture, her bondage, her tormentors' feeble gropings.
Even Emily watched. She had been afraid to at first, thinking it would scare her, upset her more, but the reality was different. As she watched the two thirteen year old boys, their faces wide with wonder, stare at her tied and naked form as though she was an alien from outer space; as she saw the bulges in the fronts of their shorts; the way they surreptitiously fiddled with themselves, trying to hide that activity even from each other; as she watched them raise the courage for a quick grope, egging each other on and the delight stamped all over their small bodies - she felt better. The fear drained away, and although she still felt humiliated to have been bared by these two, they were mischief makers and not malicious.
"Two little boy scouts" said Victoria "Very sweet little boys scouts who should have their bare bottoms smacked for their naughtiness."
Emily giggled "And their willies teased for their bawdy mischief"
"I don't recognise either of them, does anyone else?" asked Victoria.
Everyone shook their heads.
"They might be council estate boys" said Alison "We don't know the council estate kids very well"
"We'd see them at school though, and I don't recognise them" said Victoria.
"Unless there's a scout camp somewhere in the forest" said Emily.
Victoria grinned "You mean there might be whole camp full of little boys in the forest, just waiting to be tortured?"
"Big boys too, I expect" said Emily.
"And girls, they have girls in the scouts now" said Alison.
"Christmas has arrived early this year" said Victoria, rubbing her hands together.
"Not for me" said Emily.
Victoria gave Emily a hug and a kiss "Sorry darling, but you have to admit this is pretty exciting."
Emily nodded and smiled "And they'll all be as randy as buggery"
"Probably randy and buggering" said Victoria "Why don't you all get dressed while we wait for Paul and Ben to report back"
Paul and Ben returned like conquering heroes holding a yellow and green scout scarf each.
"This is it I'm afraid, plus half a footprint in the stream. No sign of Emily's underwear" said Paul.
"It might have been Indians" said Ben.
"Lucky you weren't scalped, then" Victoria said to Emily.
"Not those kind of Indians" said Ben "I found an empty packet of Bombay Mix"
"Oh" said Victoria "Well done, a vital clue I think"
Ben beamed happily.
"With which I think we can deduce that there must a Boy Scout camp somewhere nearby" said Victoria.
"You can deduce that from a packet of Bombay Mix?" said Ben in awe.
"Well, along with the other clues we have" said Victoria.
"Wow!" said Ben.
"Come and look at the pictures you two" said Victoria "Then we've got a rather serious matter to discuss"
Paul and Ben watched the recording, and neither of them recognised the culprits.
"Revenge time then" said Paul.
"We'll need to find their camp. Do some reconnaissance" said Victoria.
"Pity we can't do a night raid. Take them by surprise" said Paul.
"Maybe we can" said Victoria "Who's up for sneaking out of bed and spending the night in the..." said Victoria changing to a scary voice "Haunted forest of lost souls"
"Since we're doing the haunting and they're the lost souls" said Emily "Sounds great!"
"I dunno" said Ben "I'm bound to get spanked for that"
"It'll be worth it, sweety-pie, if you even get caught" said Victoria.
"If you're expecting ninja Ben to sneak out without getting caught you might as well just strip and tie yourselves to trees" said Amy.
"Well, we'll think about that when we've got more intel." said Victoria "So, moving on. There's been a serious security breach and one of us is responsible. It can't go unpunished"
"Who?" asked Ben querulously, trying to remember what he might have done wrong.
"Me" said Victoria "I muted my laptop when my dad came into my room. I forgot to switch the sound back on, and that compromised our security."
"It's okay" said Paul "It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does. Not only did it make us vulnerable it actually cost us. If we'd heard the alert we'd probably have got to Emily before they'd even got her to the tree, let alone stripped and groped her" said Victoria.
"It was just a mistake" said Emily "I forgive you"
"I know, but I have to be punished anyway" said Victoria, not sounding too cheerful.
"Why, Victoria?" asked Paul.
"Because if it was anyone else they'd be punished, I'd make sure they were, and so it's not fair that I'm not. Because if I am, I'm more likely not to forget next time - and that's the point isn't it?" said Victoria "And I nag you lot about security morning noon and night and I should be practising what I'm preaching, so let's just get on with it before my nerve fails and I chicken out and end up a bad leader and disappointed in myself."
"Okay" said Paul "I propose three with the riding crop."
"Sounds fair" said Emily.
"Six" said Victoria.
"Victoria you're not used to being beaten, you don't get it at home" said Paul.
"It's going to really hurt with just three" said Emily.
Victoria got up, pulled her jeans and knickers down and bent over the arm of the chair "Six" she said.
"Alison" said Paul "Be quick!"
Alison ran off. Ben sat staring at Victoria's beautiful bottom and the gorgeous view he had of her pussy from behind.
"Do you want anyone to hold you?" asked Emily.
"I hope not" said Victoria.
"You don't have to do this Victoria, we don't want you to" said Paul.
"We don't" said Emily "We won't think any less of you. You're our leader."
"I dish it out often enough" said Victoria growing scared "I ought to be reminded what it feels like once in a while. Right?"
Everyone was silent until Alison came running back. She handed the riding crop to Paul, and he approached Victoria's side and rear looking reluctant.
"Paul Turner" said Victoria "You had better not go easy or I'm going to get really pissed off with you, and please... don't drag it out."
Paul hit her. Not as hard as he could by any means, but quite hard. The crack made them all jump, and Victoria's body lurched forwards, lifting itself briefly off the arm of the chair. She exhaled sharply and didn't inhale until she landed back on the arm.
Paul struck again, and Victoria lurched, climbing up, breathing deeply. She didn't cry out, but she was crying, tears rolling silently down her cheeks.
By the sixth blow Victoria was crying freely, her bottom a riot of pain. She had long forgotten what this felt like and some part of her brain was aware that it was good she had had a reminder. She hadn't cried out, only on the sixth blow was there a tiny whimper, and now she was limp over the arm; unable to remember how many she'd had, and how many might be to come.
Emily rushed to comfort her, and was swiftly joined by Alison. They cuddled her and kissed her, but stayed well clear of her agonised bottom. Paul stayed back, dropping the riding crop as though it was the devil's dick, and he felt like a traitor. He dropped his head, and began to shed tears.
Determined to be stoic; to set a good example; Victoria pushed herself up, and almost yelping, stood. She pulled up her knickers and jeans, and then saw Paul. She didn't bother to fasten her jeans, she just rushed to him and put her arms around him.
"It's alright, darling" she said.
"I shouldn't have done it" he said miserably.
"Yes you should. For the good of the gang. And because I told you to" said Victoria "You know what happens to naughty boys who don't do as they're told"
"I'd rather that" he said.
"Don't be silly. Come on, pull yourself together. If I can't trust you to give me a beating when I've earned one, we'll have to demote you to a junior" said Victoria "Besides, it didn't hurt."
Everyone knew she was lying. She may not have cried out, but they had all watched her; seen her body respond; they all knew what it felt like, and they all knew she didn't normally get beaten.
"Piece of piss" she said "I don't know what you lot complain about. We might need to up the number of strokes in future" she laughed.
Ben clutched his bottom fearfully. No-one else believed her. She gave Paul a kiss and smiled at him, and just for a moment, went for a swim in his dark brown sexy eyes.
"And as usual" she said "I'm the only one who didn't get an orgasm."
"It's your own fault" said Emily "You could have if you wanted"
"Too busy making sure everyone else is having a good time, that's my problem" said Victoria.
"I don't mind" said Ben grinning hopefully.
"What time have you got to be back?" she asked.
"Oh Bugger!" said Ben and ran for the door; he paused "Amy! Come on! We'll have to run!"
"Let me" said Paul.
"No I've got to get back as well. Check on what Giles has been up to" said Victoria.
"I'll email the recordings" said Paul.
"I'll come with you" said Emily.
"Don't forget the air-conditioning unit tomorrow morning!" said Victoria.
"I know, or it's smack, smack" said Paul rolling his eyes.
"If you're a good boy" said Victoria, her voice husky and full of promise.
Continued in Chapter Thirty Five