The wince that briefly contorted Madeleine’s pretty features was not lost on Madame Naumov - after all, in her current position, all she<em>could</em>do was watch. And so she noticed. Was there some conflict between this woman and her lackey? The ballet instructor couldn’t be sure (she didn’t want to read weakness where there was none), but maybe it would give her an opportunity to escape somehow. Or perhaps Madeleine just hated the sound of Sergei’s shouts or the idea of dealing with another captive. Or maybe Yelena was just imagining it.<br/><br/>She didn’t have much time to ponder the issue, as Madeleine was soon prodding her along, and even though the blonde resisted briefly, she really had no choice but to cooperate. Another hand slapping her ass annoyed her, but the feeling was answered with a twinge in her loins.<em>Just fear,</em>she told herself.<em>It was just fear. But everything would work out somehow…</em><br/><br/>Yelena’s silent litany of “Please, God, let Lila be all right” was interrupted when they entered the studio proper, the array of mirrors multiplying the terrible image in front of them: Lila, the thug’s gun in her mouth.<br/><br/>She screamed, the sound muffled by the gag, tears now streaming down her face. Yelena shook her head in furious denial, as if she could will the scene away.