Feed cuts in

Fuzzy for a moment

Then snapping into focus

She was bound to the chair

Arms at her sides

Several wires lead from her head

Down

Over

And into a device

Sitting before a man dressed in black

He cleared his throat

In that way one does

When they know

They already have your attention

“Miss Liska are you with us?”

A smile spread over his lips

Slug like and unappealing

She grumbled lowly

Looked up with her eyes

Without moving her head

Eyes glum pools

Despair set in

Resignation

The only thing left to her

She knew what was to come

“Good good

Now let me see here…

You are in charge of…

Personnel intake at Ignis

Well here in the city at least.”

He flipped casually

Methodically

Through a file

Information printed upon

Pale papers

Fabricated from rice most likely

“Your recent interview

Interview ten-thirty-two”

Enunciating his words

With exaggerated elegance

Reminiscent of street thugs

Playing at posh

“You saw a mister…

Novak”

His eyes flicked to her

Scanning

Watching

Eyeing her for a tick

Recognition

He goes back to reading

“Quite the catch

For you

And yours…”

He said with something

Predatory

Biting

Behind his voice

“Why…

He singlehandedly

Decimated Tartarus…”

Slowly he closed the file

“Imagine…

What he could do

If unleashed…

On something…

Someone…

More valuable”

His eyes sharpened then

Stiletto stare

Cutting the distance between them

“Imagine the havoc

The chaos

Someone like that could inflict!”

He tossed the file on the floor

“Imagine how much money

That could cost someone…

And what those people…

Would do…

To him…”

He leaned over the device before him

Practically spitting the words at her

Venom shot through air

“And who they might hire…

To…

Locate such a man”

The smile returned

With some vinegar

Soured and surly

She said nothing

Stoic

Hard

She’d been through worse

It was plain on her face

“… That’s fine

You’ll talk”

He pressed a button

Screen light bouncing off of him

Cerulean effluence

Fingers fluttering over keys

Then a pause

Pregnant and ponderous

Then one last key

Branislava shook

Trembling full body

Eyes rolling back

Lids fluttering

Uncontrollable

Fists clenched hard

He let this go

For a minute

Then casually

Clicked

One more key

Her eyes flew open

Screams

She screamed so loud

Speakers peaking

Eyes filled with terror

Unbridled

Unhinged

She screamed

And screamed

And screamed

“Hey!”

He stood up and walked to her

Snapping fingers

Her head lolled side

To side

Eyes unfocused

He gave her a slap

Hard

Single clap

She gasped and breathed hard

Lungfuls

Sucking in

Exhaling fast

He grasped the sides of her face

“Where

Does

He

Live?”

Her mouth moved

Silent to me

He smiled

Yanking cords out

From external jack

Beneath her skull

“Was that so hard?”

He patted her cheek

“We’ll make it quick…”

I pause the video

Breathing slowly in

Staring at the screen

Stunned into silence

And out