1:20 am
The room was smothered in darkness, so thick it felt alive. Even with wide eyes open, a man could barely see beyond the faint line of his own hand. The silence was oppressive the kind that made your ears ring- Until it shattered with a shark creak of metal shifting somewhere in the gloom.
Overhead, a single light bulb flickered, stuttering to life like it was gasping for power. It's pale glow fell in a trembling circle accross the center of the room, revealing a single chair.
The ropes tied around its arms and legs were tjick and frayed, stained with something darker in places.
Infront of the chair stood a camera on a tripod, it's lens fixed like an umblinking eye. To it's side, a metal table glimmered under the bulb's weak light, surgical instruments neatly arranged like an artist's brushes. A small white bottle sat among them, label worn, contents unknown.
Then he appeared.
A figure stepped into flickering glow-black hoodie, blacl gloves, ghost-face mask frozen in a permanent, twisted scream. He moved slowly, deliberately, like someone who had done this before. Bending over the camera, he pressed the red record button. The faint beep echoed in the room. He raised his hand towards the lens, fingers wiggling in a slow, mocking wave.... Before disappearing back into the shadows.
The silence stretched.
Then he returned, dragging someone with him.
The man was barely conscious, shirt soaked in dried blood, eyes half-open and dazed. His kneed buckled as he was shoved into the chair, head lolling forward like a puppet with cut strings. His breathing came in ragged gasps , shallow and trembling.
The masked man tied the ropes tight, each pull making fibers sequel. The captive flinched weakly, wrists straining against the cords, a low groan escaping his cracked lips
The figure turned to the table. The light flickered again as his gloved hand reached for a scalpel, metal glinting like a predator's tooth. He held it casually, almost gently, as he stepped forward.
He grabbed the man's right hand.
The victim's eyes snapped wider, finally, fear slicing through the haze. His lips trembled, breath quickening as the blade hovered above the skin. The bulb flickering once more... Before going still.
The masked man tilted his head, studying his trembling captive like a scientist observing a specimen. Then, without a word, he pressed the man's right hand flat against the armrest.
The first nail came off with a sickening Crack.
The man jerked violently, a raw broken cry tearing from his throat. His head thrashed, ropes biting deeper into his wrists.
"No....n... Dont... Plea..se-" his voice quivered, hoarse and ragged, each word trembling with terror.
The masked man didn't stop. One by one, he pried the fingernails loose- first the right hand, then the left- each movement methodical, almost clinical, as if pain were nothing more than part of the process.
The man's pleas grew weaker, more desperate, until they dissolved into strangled sobs.
When the last nail clattered to the floor, the masked man finally looked at him. Slowly, he picked up a thin, sharp blade from the table. The flickering bulb gleamed off its edge.
The man shook his head violently. "No....don't....don't..."
But the masked figure didn't stop, and forced his head back, pressed the blafe to his throat- right where the vocal cords met. A quick, precise slash.
The man's breath caught. He tried to scream but only a wet, rasping sound escapedm his voice was gone, severed like a snapped string.
The masked man set the blade aside and reached for the white bottle. He uncapped it slowly, the sharp chemical scent spreading through the room.
The man's eye widened in pure, animal terror.
The masked figure tilted the bottle. Acid spilled onto the left side of the man's body.
Skin sizzled. Flesh blistered. The man convulsed, silent screams shaking through his body as the liquid burned deep. His head slammed back against the chair, eyes rolling with pain too great for sound.
The masked man just stood there. Watching. Waiting.
It didn't take long. The man's movements slowed... Then stopped. The only sound was the faint drip of acid hitting the floor.
Finally, the masked figure turned to the camera. He pressed the stop button. The red ligjt blinked off. He took the tape and without a glance back, he walked into the darkness and disappeared.