5

How many Asian men does it take to fix a lightbulb?

Five?

I don't know.

What do you know?

Wait wait wait wait. This one I know.

...

How many deaths does it take to completely break me?

...

One? Two.? Three..? Four...?

Five.

FIVE!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

***

"HAHAHAHAHA~"

Coarse, maniacal laughter echoed in the empty hall of a damp dungeon. A row of cells occupies one side of the hall and a person could be found in each one of them. Each cell reeked a terrible stench, each captive young in appearance, each one with vacant eyes, each one trembling from the horrifying laugh. By the end of the corridor is a cell like every other where an adolescent man sat on the floor, leaning on the back wall, pounding the ground as he laughed as if he heard the most hilarious thing the world has ever conceived.

AFTER ALL, IT HAS TO BE A JOKE. IT IS ALL BUT A DREAM. It's real. AN ILLUSION. THERE'S NO WAY I you have GOT SHOT IN THE HEAD TWICE AND STILL LIVE. THERE IS NO WAY THAT I WOKE UP you have IN A PLANE HIJACKED BY TERRORISTS you have INTENDING TO CRASH THE ENTIRE PLANE RESULTING TO ME BEING ENGULFED IN HELLFIRE AND JUST DEATH.

There is There is no YES way that I woke up FROM SUPPOSED ETERNAL SLUMBER just to get electrocuted to my death HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

They do not listen they do not listen. Listen. LISTEN!

I BEGGED FOR LIFE AND he said HE TOLD ME mercy is the last thing you deserve MERCY IS THE LAST THING I DESERVE. WHAT DO I DESERVE? death. DEATH?!

why.

what.

what did I do to deserve this?

...

answer me.

...

please.

With his bout of insanity and laughter coming to an end, a speck of light peeked through the corner of the cell, then that dim light grew bigger along with the growing sound of hurried steps.

'no.'

Shriveled in panic and fear, he scurried away from the light, trying to hide in the darkness, finding himself cornered between the corner of the cell and the light.

From his position, he could make out two men wearing the same loose white shirt and loose brown pants. One of them was behind the other holding a candlestick as a source of light while the other was opening the cell. The clattering of iron rang inside the cell as the man finally had it opened. Swinging, the two men walked in as the man holding the candlestick raised it, shedding light in the cell. Revealing a quivering, disheveled boy curled up in the corner.

"no no no no n—

Both men showed a face of shock. The man in front turned his back and looked at the man holding the candle with disbelief.

"You said the boy was dead! What the hell is that!?"

"I don't know?! I fed him the third dose of the poison! You said that's enough to kill the boy!"

"Fucker. Did you make sure the kid even drank the whole thing! We only have three of those!"

"Yes! I did! What do you think we bought and gave me that gag for!? To fuck it!?"

"Shit. Shit. Now what."

"Can't we just kill him? Let's just lie and say that the kid died painlessly. The girl isn't even here to see it."

"Dumbass, did you forget that she wants to see the body once we're done? How do we explain the slice on his neck when she asks about it?"

"Fuck! Why can't she just have him killed! He's going to die anyway! Why does it matter!"

"That's what we are paid for. To do whatever fucked up shit they ask us to. Now shut your trap if all that is gonna do is yap its shit off."

Curled tighter, he hid his head behind his legs, hands covering his ears, His thoughts retracted into a world of his own.

no no no no no they want to kill me

They are going to kill you.

what do I do what do I do what do I do

There is nothing you can do.

beg I have to beg maybe they will listen

They do not listen.

no no no no no

Listen.

idontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadie

"Oh...

Silent.

how long... have I been waiting."

My thoughts ran clear as the voice I hear.

"For years... I have been... patient... waiting..."

All my fears, dispelled by the soothing voice in my ear.

"What have they done... my dear."

My head rose, stunned by what I see. From the purity that shows. And the eerieness it brings.

I see a woman, laid bare, standing at the other end of the cell, serenely. The darkness, unable to hinder a visage so immaculate, untainted, pure. Her figure shone so brightly in this murky room, yet there was no light besides the shadowy light the candlestick brings. Her silver hair, cascading down her back, down her body, acting as a veil to conceal her lithe, alluring body. Her face, a proportionate face etched with ever so enchanting femininity and her pointy ears made me not want to lay my eyes off her.

Her entirety is a complete contrast to her surrounding as if her existence is detached from reality, treading a different plane. Treading towards me as her steps fell gently, lighter than air.

"Tell me... what do you feel."

Utterly enthralled by her beauty, I am unable to answer, but just stare at her.

In just a moment, her leisure movement closed the distance between us. Standing directly in front of me, she kneeled down, got closer, and clasped my face.

Her touch made all my strength leave my body. My limbs drooped down, giving her more space to inch in, putting her face up mine.

Fingertips brushed my cheek, her face hovering over mine.

"Tell me... what do you want."

I stared at her black limpid eyes, seeing a reflection of myself, like staring at the abyss.

"....I don't want to die."

Vexed from the idea of death. Scarred from all the pain. I answered timidly.

"I'll give you the power... to fulfill your desires."

Every fiber of my being trembled. Strength returned to my arms as they bolted up, grasping her head, and pulling her closer. Commanding in firm conviction.

"I'll give you...

Give me."

"the power...

the power."

"to fulfill your desires...

to live."

Serve me...

Love me...

Listen...

Listen...

"Kill."

***

"Hm?"

The man holding the candlestick noticed the boy suddenly stand up and look over.

"Get back down. Don't have an—

Then all hell broke loose.

Before he could finish his sentence, the boy lunged and latched on to the man with his back turned away from him, biting his neck.

"AAAAAAKH!"

The hurtling weight of the boy sent them falling forward, pushing the other man out of balance and making him hit the prison bars and drop the candlestick. The boy put more force in his jaw, digging deeper down the man's flesh, then pulled with all his strength. Blood spurted everywhere. The boy spat out the flesh as he eyed the other man through the darkness.

"REOL!" The man shouted, giving the boy a general idea as to where he was. Blindly tackling forward from where he heard the shout. The boy hit the man squarely on his chest with his head. The man once again fell to the ground, this time tussling with the boy, vying for a better position. They both hit each other with punches and elbows as they both rolled on the ground.

At some point in their brawl, the boy started laughing in madness while tossing punches and aiming for bites.

"GET OFF ME FREAK!" The man flung the boy away but instead of falling, the push gave the boy a better footing while the man was still on the ground. Lunging once again, the boy was successful in getting on top of the man.

"HAHAHAHAHA"

And he punched.

[ FIRST MAJOR 'EXPERIENCE UNDERWENT ]

And he punched.

[ FIRST 'EXPERIENCE' UNDERWENT ]

He punched.

[ CONDITIONS MET ]

Punched.

[ GUIDELINE ASSIMILATION COMPLETE ]

Punch.

[ GREETINGS, DEMON LORD CANDIDATE ]