As Lisa's head lolled. She caught glimpses of overhead light fixtures. Someone carried her upward. The echoing walls of the stairwell amplified the breathing of the men who held her. She was half-wrapped in a coarse blanket that scratched her nipples and cunt. She had no idea where in the building she was, or even if she were in the same building. Her muscles ached from all the stretching. Thank goodness, she thought to herself, that she wouldn't be hanging from the ceiling again. At least she didn't hurt any longer. Her head felt hard and numb and twisted inside.

Then one of the men shifted his grip on her body and opened a door. Men! Men at a girls' institution! Curious, Lisa wanted to look around her and see where she was, who these men were. But instead she lay limply in her blanket, sensing they were carrying her down another hall. Perhaps they were taking her to the head matron, where she would learn all the rules.

"Yes, what is it?" a muffled woman's voice asked.

"The girl who just came in. Lisa."

More footsteps. A door opening.

"Yes, yes, of course. Bring her in."

The men half-carried, half-dragged Lisa into the room. She heard them say something to the woman who then turned and lowered the shades. It grew very dark-nearly as dark as the grave, Lisa thought grimly as she heard them moving furniture all about. She felt herself being lifted, then set down onto a hard surface. Still keeping her eyes closed, she let herself dangle onto it, lying with her arms half off the sides. She breathed slow and easy, hiding the flutter of terror in her belly.