‘I’m not at liberty to say.’

Karloff smiled, touched by Lucille’s resistance. ‘Well, it’ll be my pleasure to liberate you.’

‘No, but.’

‘But nothing. You know the rules, Lucille. We just signed them.’

‘Okay, I can…’

‘No second chances. I punish each refusal to be open.’

•

Lucille sniffed, wiping mascara-stained tears across her nose. Naked, make-up breached, her thick bush became all she could hide behind.

‘Don’t lie to me, Lucille. I’m not some feeble life coach. Now, let’s try again.’

Lucille glanced around the circle at the sympathetic eyes of her still-clothed peers. They’d all been new once.