1:59am

Another fast-count session. Twenty more.

The cane lands in rapid succession. duckie is barely getting the numbers out before the next strike comes.

His voice is strained now, but he keeps pace. Not one misstep.

“Six! Seven! Eight!”

His body is shaking, but he doesn’t break form.

“Thirteen! Fourteen! Fifteen!”

She keeps the rhythm—quick, brutal, unrelenting.

“Twenty—for Levi, thank you, Madam!“