You Must Be Punished!

The back door to the theatre opened. A dark figure swept through the opening, outlined momentarily by the orange glow of the streetlights. The Evil Magician had returned to his lair! Alexandra and Jessie frantically scrubbed at the last bit of blood on the floor, then ran off to their rooms to change out of their gore-soaked outfits. They pretended sleep.

"Alexandra! Jessica! Come out here, IMMEDIATELY! And don't try pretending to be asleep, I can sense your guilty thoughts from here!"

They glanced each other in the eye as they crept out to face his wrath. "Brazen it out", the glance said. "What's the matter?" asked Jessie. "What's wrong?"

"You know very well what's wrong my dear. I can smell the blood on the air, and feel the lingering attar of misused magical power. You have been dabbling in things which are forbidden to you!" the Evil Magician cried.

"No sir, please! We didn't mean to..." began Alexandra. "It is too late. You have proved yourself wilful and wild! You must be punished!" and with a flourish, he unveiled... the Guillotine! "I will have your heads for this!" he declared.

"It was HER who started it! She cut me in half!" said Jessie, angrily. "Chop HER head off, not mine! I'll help you punish her if you let me go!" Alexandra looked at her in shock. She hadn't expected a total betrayal! "Very well, my dear!" said the Evil Magician. "Help me imprison her within the guillotine's grasp and I will let you go free."

Together, they wrestled Alexandra into position... and Jessie pulled the blade that would sever her rival's head from her shoulders! There was a slither of steel, gathering pace, a thunk and a scream. Alexandra felt the blade penetrate her neck, severing her spine! No pain, just a razor-edged whisper. She was almost waiting to feel her head tumble free to the floor... and yet, there seemed to be no damage! She knew that the blade had penetrated her- so why was she still alive? And how had she disappeared from the guillotine and appeared in her own bed?

"Where did she go?" asked Jessie. "What did you do with her body? What are you doing? NO! You said if I helped you, you would let me go! NO!" she screamed. The Evil Magician forced her into the guillotine, resetting the blade. "You must learn your lesson, my dear!" he cried as he let the blade fly once more...