The reality of the increasing heat on my skin suddenly brought my brain into sharper focus. I was wasting time...I had to do something. I couldn't just lie here and wait for my skin to start to blacken. So I did the only thing really open to me at that point. I began lunging against the chains holding my wrists to the wood...and screaming at the top of my lungs.
I could only hope someone would hear it, somewhere.
"Ms. Taylor!" the man said loudly, to be heard over my yells. "Do you want me to gag you?"
"HELP! HELP! PLEASE HELP ME! HELP US! THEY'RE KILLING US!"
"No one can hear you, Ms. Taylor," he said calmly.
"...POLICE!" I screamed. "POLICE! HELP! 911!"
"...And it is too late to stop," the man added. "The ritual is already underway. To stop it now would be blasphemy...a crime against God..."
"...FIRE!" I screamed, louder. "FIRE! FIRE! I'LL PAY YOU TO HELP US! PLEASE!"
"Ms. Taylor," he said. "This is pointless. And very childish..."
"HELP!" I screamed again. "FIRE! FIRE!"
"God is the only one who can save you, Ms. Taylor," the man said, clasping his hands at the base of his spine. "I suggest you direct your appeals to him..."
When I continued to yell and scream as loud as I could, the man sighed a little, motioning towards the younger guy with the mean eyes, the Russian who'd been driving the car. The latter walked towards me holding a thick piece of cloth. I struggled harder, sliding the rest of the way down the side of the log, but I couldn't move my head much. He easily tied the gag around my mouth, knotting it tightly, so that I couldn't close my mouth.
He smirked at me again, flicking my forehead sharply with his fingers.
I tried screaming against the cloth, but I could barely hear it over the crackling fire.
"You don't understand what an honor this is," ponytail man said again, as the Russian moved away. "You seem like a compassionate person, Ms. Taylor. That is why you objected to our hurting the ice-blood, is it not? Well, if you understood why we are doing what we are doing, you would likely want to help us, too..."
Through the gag, I let him know in no uncertain terms that he was definitely wrong about that. He smiled, but I saw the patient look return to his eyes.
"Most people's lives are inconsequential, Ms. Taylor. You will never have to suffer through that lack of meaning. Your life has purpose. A glorious purpose. You will appreciate that, I am sure of it, once you are on the other side..."