In Inspector Edward Graves' office, Lionel stood before the inspector. His face was swollen from Jevan's blows. Graves stared at him in silence before finally saying:
"What happened to your face?"
Lionel answered in a tone he tried to keep steady:
"A minor dispute between me and Jevan."
Graves frowned and raised his hand. He muttered a few words, and from his palm extended faint gray transparent chains. They wrapped around Lionel's body, from his shoulders to his ankles. Graves then laced his fingers together over his desk and leaned slightly forward:
"Rule number one: you cannot lie. Everything you say now will be the complete truth, with no twisting or turning."
Lionel closed his eyes and spoke in resignation:
"As soon as I released his restraints, he punched me in the face, then stole the key and bound me with the same shackles. After that, he beat me again until my face turned into what you see before you. Then he released me and let me go."
