The room erupted with Duke's cry—a raw expression of sheer terror suddenly enveloped him. It echoed through the walls, filling the air with a chilling intensity. Brad, fueled by his sadistic delight, dug the knife further into Duke's flesh, relishing the sight of his agony. A wicked grin spread across Brad's face; he believed he had finally broken Duke.
But to Brad's astonishment, Duke's screams began to morph into something unexpected—a laughter that pierced through the room, mingling with the echoes of pain. It was a haunting sound, a twisted symphony of madness and resilience.
Confusion etched across Brad's face as he tried to comprehend Duke's sudden change. Was he laughing to defy the torture inflicted upon him? Brad's grip on the knife tightened, his determination to break Duke's spirit intensifying. He twisted the blade, attempting to escalate the torment, but Duke's laughter only grew louder and more defiant.
Brad's eyes widened in sheer terror as he noticed something extraordinary happening at the very spot where the knife had pierced Duke's back. His skin, once marred by the weapon, began scabbing and healing in real-time. It was as if the wounds were closing before Brad's eyes, defying the laws of nature. A chill ran down Brad's spine, his wicked grin faltering.
"What... what are you?" Brad stammered, his voice trembling with fear. He took a quick step backward, his gaze locked on Duke's transformed figure. Slowly, Duke turned to face him, his laughter fading into an eerie silence. With a swift grunt, Duke angled his body, causing the knife lodged in his back to effortlessly fall out, clattering to the ground.
The room fell into an uneasy stillness, the air heavy with uncertainty. Brad stood there, his eyes locked on Duke, searching for answers in the depths of his mystifying gaze. But Duke remained silent, his expression unreadable, leaving Brad to grapple with the unsettling truth—he had encountered something far beyond his comprehension.
As Brad's heart raced with fear, he desperately sought a way to escape Duke's clutches. He frantically scanned the room for an exit, but before he could make a move, Duke was upon him. With lightning-fast reflexes, Duke seized Brad by the collar, his grip like a vise.
Terror filled Brad's eyes as he pleaded earnestly for his life. He begged Duke to spare him, promising to leave town and never return. But Duke's expression remained cold and unyielding, his resolve unshakeable.
"Just to be clear, I was going to kill you. But it would have been quick and painless."
Duke shoved his finger into Brad's eyes while using his other hand to cover his mouth. He didn't stop shoving his finger into his eyes until his eyeballs fell out. He resumed the same procedure with Brad's second eye. He let Brad go, and Brad fell to the ground, crying in pain. Duke strolled over to where the pocket knife was and grabbed it. He walked back to Brad and grabbed his palm, placing it on the ground and starting to slice it off.
Time seemed to stand still as Brad's wailing was the only sound that could be heard. In one swift, decisive motion, Duke ended Brad's life by jabbing his throat.
[Congratulations, you have completed your Quest]
Duke stepped away from the body. The silence that followed was haunting, filled only with the weight of remorse and the lingering scent of tragedy.