27: Stabber is Back [2]

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The place lay shrouded in darkness, the faintest glimmer of light struggling to penetrate the thick veil of gloom.

Dust particles danced lazily in the sparse illumination, giving the air an eerie quality.

The concrete walls, once a pristine gray, now bore the marks of neglect and decay, covered in patches of grime and mildew that seemed to seep from the very pores of the surface.

A sickly smell hung heavy in the air, a mixture of dampness and something metallic, like the tang of iron.

Above, the ceiling was a network of pipes, rusty and corroded, snaking their way through the darkness like veins in a decaying body.

Every now and then, a drop of water would fall from a leaky joint, landing with a hollow echo that reverberated through the desolate space.

The steady drip-drip-drip added to the oppressive atmosphere, a constant reminder of the decay that permeated every inch of the basement.

Despite the chill in the air, there was a sense of claustrophobia that seemed to press down on the space, suffocating and oppressive.

It was as if the very walls were closing in, threatening to swallow up anyone foolish enough to venture into their depths.

In the center of the room, a solitary chair stood, its legs bolted to the floor, as if anchored in place by some unseen force. Bound to the chair was a young girl, her unconscious form slumped forward, her once-bright dress now dirty and tattered.

The girl's face was pale and lifeless, her features contorted in pain even in her unconscious state. Strands of her hair clung to her sweat-drenched forehead, matted and unkempt.

Her eyes fluttered open tiredly as her ears picked up a slow thumping noise approaching her.

"Hmmmpphhhh!!!" Jessica's muffled screams echoed in the dimly lit basement, her attempts to cry out for help stifled by the cloth bound tightly around her mouth. The sound of footsteps reverberated through the room, growing louder until they finally stopped. With a long, dragging screech, the metal door swung open, revealing her captor.

Her eyes were drawn to his long black coat and the bronze dog-faced mask with golden rims. His hands were clad in gloves, and he carried a box filled with metal tools that clinked ominously as he approached.

"Sorry for the discomfort, Jessica." He said, his voice heavy with remorse.

She shrieked in panic, struggling against her restraints as he drew nearer. But the metal clamps held her firmly in place, refusing to yield to her feeble attempts to escape.

"I'm not one to keep my guests long." He continued, pulling out a large knife from his coat. "Usually it's a slash, a swipe or a twenty three stabs, and then I'm off with the next."

He let out a tired sigh, scratching the eyes of his mask. "But the situation calls for a more drastic approach."

Tears streamed down Jessica's cheeks as she realized the gravity of her predicament, but her whimpers fell on deaf ears.

"Shhh, shhh." He hushed her, pressing a finger to the cloth covering her mouth. "I understand your concerns."

"I know you're thinking, 'Oh, this is going to be so boring,'" He mocked. "But don't worry, Jessica, I have plenty of fun games planned for our time together."

He set the box of tools down and pulled up a chair, seating himself opposite her. With gloved hands, he reached into the box and withdrew a pair of pliers.

"How about we play a game?" He suggested, removing his gloves and reaching for her hand.

Jessica recoiled in horror, but he ignored her protests and gently took her hand in his. She felt his rough fingertips against her skin as he examined her nails.

"Your nails are so pretty." He remarked, his tone almost cheerful. "Did you get them done this weekend?"

She remained silent, her chest heaving with fear as he grew impatient.

"I asked you a question." He reminded her, his voice taking on a darker tone.

Trembling, she nodded, her eyes wide with terror.

"That's wonderful." His tone suggested he would be smiling under the mask. "Preparing the objectives beforehand, I love enthusiastic participants."

While he was speaking, he seemed to have slipped in a plier under the nails of her finger.

"The name of the game is 'This or That'." He stated. "I will give you two options and you have to choose which one I like. The correct answer means you get to keep these cute little things but unfortunately if you had made a wrong decision, I'm sorry but they just have to go."

Suddenly he pressed the handle tighter and pulled the plier back.

"HMMMMMMMMPHHHHHHH!!!!"

Jessica jerked back, her teeth clamping down on the cloth as she thrashed around rapidly, the chains rattling furiously as a sign of her pain.

"Pain is the truth, Jessica." He whispered, his voice barely audible over her cries.

Minutes passed, and Jessica's screams eventually subsided into whimpering sobs. Her cheeks were stained with tears and blood, her nails littering the floor around her.

"I know you are wondering why I did that." He muttered. "I just need you to know that I take these games very seriously, Jessica, and I hope you do too, for your sake at least."

He let her broken nail fall to the ground, blood dripping from her pinky as the finger twitched in pain.

He clamped the pliers around her ring finger, and her eyes widened as she anticipated the excruciating pain, akin to a whip cracking on a circus lion. She knew what awaited her if she didn't cooperate.

Slowly, he reached out and untied the cloth gagging her mouth. She spat out the remaining saliva mixed with blood onto the ground, some of it splattering onto herself.

She looked at him with tears as she begged. "P-P-Pleas-se."

"Come Jessi, we haven't even started playing and you're begging already, talk about a spoil sport." He shrugged. "Come on, let's start with something simple."

"What do I like?" He asked. His grip over the handles tightening. "Chocolate or strawberry?"

"P-Pleas-se." She said again and broke down into crying.

"You are not playing great, Jessica." He winced. "Time's running out and you are going to be one nail less when it does."

She sniffed and swallowed hard. Her neck tensed up before she broke down again and mumbled the words. "C-Chocolate."

There was silence as he stiffened, pausing dramatically as Jessica braced herself for another wave of pain, but it never came.

"That's right!" He perked up. "You are off a great start! Now let's continue at the same pace."

He withdrew the pliers from her right ring and placed it on her middle finger. He didn't let her take a breath for the small win and immediately jumped on the next question.

"Lamborghini or Ferrari?"

"Lambo-."

"That's it!" He cheered. "Forget those Ferrari dudes. Damn, you know me better than I know myself! And you're on your way to a hat trick."

The pliers shifted to the index.

"Megan Fox or Blake Lively?"

"Megan-"

"Wrong."

There was no pause between his words and his actions as he ripped out another nail from its socket.

"Arghhhh!!!" Jessica screamed and for the first time her voice reverted through the basement and echoed back.

"Brad Pitt or Ryan Reynolds?"

Whether her screams had lasted long or her pains rushed, the game continued.

By the end of it, there were 13 nails scattered on the ground, and blood dripped down, staining the floor crimson.

"I'll be back for more, Jessica."

He said as he closed the door, enveloping her in darkness once more.