Content Warning: This chapter contains graphic descriptions of violence, torture, and intense situations. Reader discretion is advised.
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"You should understand how this works by now. For every time you fail to answer a question, you lose a nail"
Liling flinched as the man's screams tore through the air. She knew she shouldn't have continued watching, but she couldn't tear her eyes away.
He tried to spit at Li Hao, a futile attempt, as the gesture only caused more pain to himself. "You think I'll tell you anything?" he rasped, his voice hoarse and trembling. "I'd rather die."
Li Hao chuckled, the deep rumbling sound filling the room as he walked slowly around him, almost like a predator circling its prey. "Oh, I don't doubt your willingness to die," he said softly, in a conversational manner. "But we both know death is the easy way out. It doesn't work like that here"
The man's eyes flickered, betraying his fear before they hardened again. His shifty eyes found Liling standing in the corner. Their eyes locked onto each other and she could instantly tell what he was trying to do. He was searching for some flicker of mercy in her eyes, some sympathy to reassure him his suffering would end.
She almost felt bad for him. Not because of the torture being inflicted on him, but because she was the one he was looking to for some glimmer of hope. If only he knew she was the last person to turn to for help.
Her years at The Organization had hardened her towards scenes like this. She felt fear towards herself at the realization she could stay watching, and not feel a shred of sympathy for the man.
Li Hao stood in front of the man, bending slightly to look him in the eye. "Who sent you?" he asked quietly, his voice devoid of emotion.
The man glared at him, his jaw clenching in stubborn defiance. "F*ck you," he spat, his words filled with unrestrained venom.
Li Hao straightened up, his expression unchanged as if the insult hadn't even registered. Without warning, he latched the pliers onto another fingernail and pulled it out in one swift movement.
"Who sent you?", he asked again, his tone still calm and unperturbed.
The man coughed aggressively almost wretching as his voice cracked from screaming. She could still see the hard set of his jaw amidst the pain as he refused once again.
Li Hao sighed softly as if disappointed, "You're making this harder than it needs to be," he said, his voice almost pitying. "All I need is a name."
His eyes flickered again, but his lips remained sealed.
Another nail was pulled out and was followed by more agonizing screaming. The painful cycle continued until the last fingernail had been pulled out leaving a bloody mess in its wake. He had fallen unconscious several times from the pain, but each time, he had been woken up with freezing water being unceremoniously poured on him.
She raised a brow, almost impressed at his loyalty.
"Very well," he said straightening, his voice frigid now, all traces of his earlier calmness gone. "We'll do it this way then"
He walked slowly over to the table in the corner, the soft click of his polished shoes against the concrete floor the only sound in the room. Various tools lay displayed—knives, a blowtorch, and other implements designed for one purpose: to inflict pain.
He grabbed a hammer and gripped it, testing the feel of it in his palm. The man watched his actions, his expressions becoming more bleak. Li Hao smiled cruelly as he dropped it and opted for a knife instead.
He walked back to the man and drew the blade slowly along the man's upper arm, the cut shallow but agonizing.
Li Hao's eyes darkened significantly. "Now let's play a different game. For every question you don't answer, you choose where I stab this into. Understood?"
No response.
Li Hao spoke up again, his voice coated with a tone of finality. "Last chance, give me a name"
The man stared at him, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his face pale from blood loss and fear. Even with the threat hanging over him, he shook his head, his voice weak, "You… won't… break me."
"Where should I put it in"
He shook his head clenching his teeth together.
"Then I'll choose" As soon as he spoke, the knife pierced through the man's leg, just above his kneecap.
He let out another feral scream, this one more gut-wrenching than the rest. His gaze fixed on Liling again and he channelled his fury towards her. "You evil b**ch! You're supposed to help me!"
His words were immediately met with a sharp, brutal punch to his face, causing him to gasp for air as blood poured down his nose.
Li Hao grabbed onto his neck choking him, he struggled to remove himself from Li Hao's grasp, but it proved impossible because of his inability to use his hands.
"You will not look at her again let alone call her names, if you do, you lose your eyes. Am I clear?" His tone was dangerously low, he was not only threatening him but was also making a promise he would readily fulfil.
He nodded vigorously, tears streaming down his face. Li Hao released him and he gasped fighting for air to enter his lungs.
The man sobbed, his resolve finally breaking under the weight of the prospect of almost losing his life. "Pl... Please j... just let m... me go. I'll ta... talk", he said his words slurred and desperate.
Li Hao studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without a word, he pulled out the knife from the man's leg. Stepping back, he took off his gloves and wiped the rest of the blood from his wrists with a crisp white handkerchief.
The man slumped in the chair, his body trembling uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face.
"Took you long enough"
At Li Hao's command, he was released from the bindings around his arms, and given water to drink. He sat on the chair provided to him and crossed his legs imposingly.
"Now talk"