Claire's Punishment

Hello readers. Thanks for being so patient. This second chapter really tested my creativity, my patience, and my discipline. The long hiatus is the result of a deadly combination of procrastination, indecision, and life getting in the way.

The story picks up right after the end of Chapter 1, with Claire facing the consequences of her mistakes, plus some extra challenges.

I decided to quietly drop the focus from Erik. I might come back to him, still not sure.

Warning: this story contains depiction of an enema. It's not overly graphic, but you have been warned. To the enthusiasts of this procedure, my apologies. I have never had an enema myself and had to rely on info gathered online.

As always, happy to receive feedback.

A special thanks to jdb12399.

-

Chapter 2:

Claire took a big breath before knocking on the door of Dr Kuruvas' office.

Her heart pounding, she waited a few seconds before pressing the handle and slowly opening the door. Dr Kuruvas, the Head of the Correctional Wing of Kretuna Hospital, was sitting at his desk, holding his phone in one hand and a pencil in the other. He made a gesture towards one of the chairs, inviting her to take a seat.

"Okay, okay. We'll talk this through." He paused. "Of course. I'll see you in 30 minutes."

He put the phone down.

"That was Mr Depreis. The Director," he said distractedly, before rising to his feet and offering a handshake. Claire's palms were clammy, and she only managed a haphazard handshake. "Hello Claire. It's nice to see you."

"Thank you, Dr Kuruvas. And thank you for seeing me."

He nodded. As the Head of Operations of the Correctional division of the hospital, he was Claire's line manager, but also a friend. They knew each other since the days of the academy, and the bond between them was genuine.

"Why is Mr Depreis involved?" she asked.

Dr Kuruvas took a deep breath, not sure how much to reveal.

"Because shit hit the fan, Claire. Shit hit the fan royally" he said emphatically. "You see," he continued, "what Erik did, sent shock waves all throughout the hierarchy of the Correctional Institution, all the way from Mr Depreis to the Health Secretary herself."

Claire couldn't hide her surprise. The Health Secretary? Why was she concerning herself with an accident that happened in Kretuna?

Dr Kuruvas read into Claire's quizzical look and explained further. "The issue that emerged is the inadequacy of the background checks on Correctional Officers. And the lack of safety checks during punishments. This matter rang alarm bells all the way up to the Secretary. Was Erik an exception, or are we unwittingly recruiting personnel that will take matter into their own hands when dealing punishments? How often patients are administered wrong punishments? The issue is far-reaching."

"So, as an acute measure, they stopped the hiring process." He paused. "Nationwide."

He let that sink in.

"You see where this is going, right? Paul will be suspended. He's not going to be convicted, but he's out for at least a few weeks, perhaps months." Dr Kuruvas started counting on his fingers, as if going through a checklist.

"You...you are going to be gone for a while too, Claire. There is no point in giving you any illusion. I am no judge, but you are facing a period of suspension too." Another finger went up. "Bella has been off sick for a month now and nobody knows when she will be back, and that leaves only Viktor and myself as fully qualified Correctional Officers in the whole Kretuna region, and with recruiting stopped we can't even bring in any new trainees. We are stuck!"

Claire was speechless.

"And Lana? She is still working, isn't she?", she scrambled, almost refusing to accept the gravity of the situation.

Dr Kuruvas shrugged. "Yes, but she's part time. She only works two days a week. And she is 64 years old. It's not like we can ask her to pull off 12-hour shifts."

The magnitude of the problem was evident. The investment in the new wing of the hospital had been substantial, and Kretuna, albeit a small town, was the largest centre between Valuis and the border. The catchment area of the Correctional wing of Kretuna's hospital was enormous, stretching over a vast rural area that included dozens of smaller towns and villages, each of which had contributed handsomely to financing Kretuna's hospital, precisely not to incur in the expense of building their own. If Kretuna's hospital wing was incapacitated, it would have knock on effects on all the justice proceedings of the region.

"What...what does all this mean?"

Dr Kuruvas sighed.

"They will send a temp from Valuis, to cover for you, and the Hospital and Kretuna's council are going to propose an agreement with the Ministry of Justice, but we are left with two options: following the Article 17 of the Code, or seeking approval to set up an internal tribunal specifically to tackle the cases."

Claire felt her heart sink. Hearing Article 17 mentioned made her stomach churn, and the prospect of being put on trial and have to appear in front of a purpose-made tribunal was not any better.

Dr Kuruvas continued: "Both the Correctional Institute and the Ministry of Health want to expedite the process, sending the signal to the public that matters of this severity will be treated with the utmost urgency. And to reduce the time we remain short-staffed, at least until recruitment opens again."

Claire hesitated.

"Is the Article 17..." She didn't complete the sentence, letting her fear hang in the air.

Dr Kuruvas shrugged. "Article 17 is a can of worms. The code is clear, but the Hospital has never quite made the necessary steps to ready itself for such an eventuality. We don't have a committee in place for this purpose."

"So, is the tribunal the only option?"

There was a pause.

"It's up to the Director to decide. I am going upstairs to meet Mr Depreis now," Dr Kuruvas said, glancing at his watch. "Do you want to join? You don't have to, but it might be useful..."

Claire's heart pounded in her chest. She was torn. She wanted clarity on her situation, but going to Mr Depreis' office felt very much like being summoned to the Principal's office.

She took a deep breath and nodded.

"May as well get this sorted sooner rather than later."

Dr Kuruvas nodded approvingly. "Excellent."

-

Mr Depreis' office was on the top floor of the hospital. The whole floor was dedicated to offices, a café, and a recreational space, and it was internally referred to as the Playground. It was also, Claire reminded herself, where humiliation-based punishments used to take place before the license for carrying out such behaviour correction procedures was revoked two years ago.

The office itself occupied the whole south section of the floor. The door, heavily decorated in a style that clashed with the rest of the décor, led to a foyer, where Dr Kuruvas and Claire were greeted by a young woman who had clearly been sent to meet them.

"Welcome, Mr Depreis is waiting for you in his office," she said gesturing towards a second set of doors.

There was something odd about her presence, Claire noted, but she couldn't quite pinpoint what made her think that. Her mind was too full of thoughts and worries to notice the outline of the device that circled her waist, clearly visible under the tight blouse she was wearing.

Mr Depreis greeted them jovially.

"Karlos, nice to see you," he said to Dr Kuruvas, pointing to one of the armchairs in front of his desk.

"And Miss Stahl," his tone grew graver. "I hear you are in a bit of trouble."

"Please take a seat," he then added.

Dr Kuruvas sank into the armchair but leaned forward almost immediately. When he spoke, there was an air of urgency in his voice.

"Emil," he said using Mr Depreis first name. "We have a situation, and Claire is not the only one being in a bit of trouble," he remarked.

Mr Depreis nodded.

"I brought her up to speed on the ramifications of what happened, and we were just discussing the options. I understand that everyone wants to move on as quickly as possible," Dr Kuruvas continued.

Mr Depreis scratched his chin. "We do, we do."

"I wonder how much depends on us, though, and how much depends on the Ministry. We have no control over Erik and we are not responsible for..."

Mr Depreis interrupted.

"I see what worries you, Karlos, and you are right, our operations are going to be slowed down. We are down one member of the staff," he pointed to Claire. "Actually two, because Paul is out too. For three months," he added, making sure to show he knew more than what Dr Kuruvas did.

"But what really matters is not whether we can operate at full capacity or not. The waiting lists are already long. They can be longer."

His body language changed. He leaned forward and his expression hardened.

"What really matters, is our reputation," he declared slamming his fist onto the polished wood of his desk.

Claire felt a chill running down her spine. Mr Depreis had gone from a jovial man casually talking about Hospital policy to a raging man hurt in his pride.

Dr Kuruvas, who was clearly used to such behaviour, shrugged and made a gesture with his hands.

"I know, Emil, but more concretely, what is it that we can do? Because our reputation also depends on whether we can upend our commitment to provide a service. We are the only Correctional Centre in the whole region."

"Exactly!" Mr Depreis declared, pointing his finger. "The best way we can do that is by showing we can resolve our internal problems quickly and efficiently."

His gaze moved to Claire.

"Miss Stahl, here, has caused a crack in the Hospital's reputation," he paused. "And it's only through her that we can fix the damage and restore the Hospital's image."

Claire lowered her eyes. She felt her face flush with embarrassment, and her heart filled up with fear. She knew she had made a mistake, but the reaction of Mr Depreis made her sound like she had dragged the Hospital in the mud.

"What are you saying, Emil?" Dr Kuruvas couldn't hide his concern in his voice.

"Article 17 is what I am saying, Karlos," Emil declared, matter-of-factly.

Claire lifted her head up.

"We don't have an internal committee for that," Dr Kuruvas spoke softly.

The Director smiled. It was a manufactured smile, a grin that hid his dislike at being indirectly questioned.

He picked up a remote from his desk, pressed a button and then turned to the woman who had accompanied Claire and Dr Kuruvas into his office.

"Leave us now."

The woman sighed a relief, as if a huge burden had been lifted off her chest and quickly left. Claire, puzzled, tried to process what she had just witnessed, but Mr. Depreis' deep voice quickly pulled her attention back to the conversation.

"We don't need a committee," he simply declared. "The Code clearly states that when a committee is not in place, Article 17 grants the Hospital Director full authority to handle disciplinary matters. That's how it was written, and that's how it stands."

The silence hung in the air.

Dr Kuruvas appeared shellshocked. "But the subsection 2 was meant as a fallback, not the norm. It's supposed to be used in emergencies, not as a first resort."

"We're in an emergency, Karlos. The hospital's reputation is at stake. The Article exists for a reason, and I intend to use it," Mr Depreis sounded immovable.

"How is the Ministry going to respond?" Dr Kuruvas asked. "This is not very...democratic"

The tension in the air made Claire so uncomfortable that for a moment she forgot she was at the very centre of the discussion.

"The Minister has already approved," the Director stated. "She sent a letter confirming that invoking Article 17, subsection 2, is legitimate."

Dr Kuruvas opened his mouth but said nothing. For a moment, he considered asking how had Mr Depreis obtained the go ahead so quickly, but then, in one last ditch attempt to preserve Claire's rights, he said.

"I understand that in these cases, it's still up to the subject to accept being processed without trial, according to Article 17, or to decide to go down the more official route," he stated, stressing out the word - official.

Mr Depreis smiled.

"Of course," he said condescendingly.

"If Ms Stahl is happy to be suspended, await prosecution, cause further damage for which she will no doubt be held accountable for, and then face an internal tribunal, she is free to do so. Obviously."

The two men fixed their gaze on Claire. It was up to her—she could stand up for her rights or take what, in many ways, was the easier way out. Article 17 existed for a reason, and it was not uncommon for it to be triggered. It was just unusual to do so in the absence of a committee.

"I would like to do all I can to expedite the process," Claire whispered.

Mr Depreis smiled victoriously.

"Excellent choice, Ms Stahl."

"You can wait for an official summoning letter, which I'll make sure it is sent with the upmost urgency." He explained.

Dr Kuruvas opened his mouth but the Director raised a hand, interrupting him "I'm sorry Karlos, I have a meeting to which I am already late. We can speak more about this later, if you wish."

Dr Kuruvas bit his lip and rose to his feet.

"I think we are being dismissed," he said placing a hand on Claire's shoulder.

-

Agne was sitting at her kitchen table, idling sipping her hot chocolate while waiting for the eggs to boil. She had had a bad night sleep, and her body was begging for more rest. Still off work, she missed the office and the distraction it offered, but she had also been looking at job ads, planning for a change.

Without something to engage with, her mind returned to the day of the punishment. The table, the restraints, the pain. And, of course, the orgasms. The punishment had been a true ordeal, but the true shock for her came from the realization of how much pleasure she had experienced while being tortured.

Do I fancy Claire? She asked herself.

Her image had been populating her dreams ever since the day of punishment. Friend, torturer, carer, and victim all at once. They had known each other for fifteen years, and all of a sudden, their friendship had changed tone.

Without even noticing it, her left hand slid underneath her pyjama's shorts.

The mental image that most often emerged was of Claire coming over to check on her, somehow bringing with herself a shift from pain to pleasure. It was like a dream. Claire had appeared at her side and somehow brought with her a wave of pleasure that transformed the whole experience from a cruel ordeal into something equally intense but also revealing and illuminating.

Now on her laptop she had multiple websites open, ranging from pages that explained the relationship between pain and pleasure, how to deal with post-traumatic stress, and how some people find bliss into being humiliated.

Her left hand was now firmly between her legs, while the other clenched hard the hot mug, making her skin tingle with pain.

What's wrong with me? She thought, embarrassed.

She snatched her hand back and stood up, her head spinning caught in a mix of shame and desire.

Eggs were ready.

-

The summoning letter hadn't taken long to arrive. In fact, the absence of any postal marks on the envelope suggested that Mr. Depreis had tasked someone with dropping off the letter that same evening after their meeting.

If only all procedures were so efficient, Claire thought to herself.

She couldn't help but feel bitter about the events. It seemed as though she had been made a scapegoat for something larger than herself—something she wasn't privy to, yet was clearly witnessing unfold. The meeting with Mr. Depreis had left her questioning the morality of the hospital, and as she stood there, summoning papers in hand, she wondered just how deep the cracks in the justice system truly ran.

The letter was short and split across two sheets of papers. One was the official summon, signed personally by Mr Depreis, the other was the standard instruction sheet, giving practical advice on how to appropriately prepare for the punishment. Claire skipped that part and immediately ran to the body of the summoning letter, skimming through the formalities and fixing her gaze on the two simple bullet points that detailed the nature of the punishment.

By order of the Director of Kretuna Hospital, acting under the authority granted by Article 17, subsection 2 of the Institutional Code of Conduct, you are hereby summoned to appear for the execution of the disciplinary measures prescribed in response to your recent infraction.

You are required to present yourself at the Correctional Wing of Kretuna Hospital for the administration of the following sanctions, as determined by the Director of the Hospital, acting under the authority granted by Article 17, subsection 2 of the Hospital Code of Conduct:

Twenty (20) lashes, to the frontal area, carried out in accordance with procedural guidelines for corporal correction.

Electrostimulation therapy, as outlined under Correctional Protocol 14B.

Failure to comply with this summons will be considered an act of noncompliance and may result in further disciplinary action....

Claire didn't finish reading the whole letter. A mix of fear and anger was boiling inside her.

The letter was unusually vague and the wording seemed to convey the message that the punishment was unavoidable, and any protest would not be accepted.

Moving slowly, her mind numb and overwhelmed with thoughts too tangled for her to fully grasp, she set the letter down and exhaled. Her heart was racing. A sudden wave of exhaustion swept over her, and for a moment, she considered going straight to bed.

Then she remembered.

Electrostimulation therapy required the prisoner to be fully clean-shaven.

She picked up the letter again, her eyes scanning the words she had skimmed before.

"Recipients of electrostimulation therapy must ensure that the designated treatment areas are fully clean-shaven prior to the session. Failure to comply may result in additional preparation procedures at the facility."

Her vision blurred. Her throat tightened. She didn't want to shave. She didn't want to change her appearance to comply with an unjust punishment. The thought of it—of surrendering even that small part of herself—made her chest tighten with anger.

For a moment, she felt as though she might lose control.

Then, she thought of Agne. Most certainly, Agne had felt the same.

Defeated. Guilty. Furious. Exhausted.

Claire set the letter back onto the coffee table and marched to the bathroom.

I may as well enjoy a shower while I still can, she thought bitterly. She knew full well that once the lashes had been dealt, the very thought of hot water against her skin would make her flinch.

-

The following day, not even 36 hours after being informed that she would be denied a trial—or, if one were to believe Mr. Depreis' version of events, offered a quicker resolution—Claire stood at the reception desk of the hospital's Correctional Wing.

Maggie was behind the desk.

It felt so normal to hand her the letter and say, "I'm here for my appointment."

It's so bizarre, Claire reflected. I've seen enough people go through this procedure that it feels normal to be doing it myself. And yet, the reality hadn't fully sunk in. This time, she was the one who would be strapped to the table.

The thought made her heart contract with fear.

As part of her training, she had been subjected to sample punishments—exposure to most of the hospital's methods in a controlled environment. She had been strapped down before, but she had always remained in control. And nothing she had experienced came close to what was about to happen.