The dim light of Ace's hideout flickered sporadically, casting long shadows on the cold, damp walls. The air was thick with the scent of flour, sugar, and something far less pleasant—fear. Nine figures, tightly wrapped in cloth, sat huddled together in the centre of the room, their eyes wide with terror as they struggled against their bindings. The only sound was their muffled breathing, punctuated by the occasional whimper.
Ace stood before them, his expression one of unsettling calm. His appearance was deceptively normal—just an average guy in his early twenties, with short, tousled hair and a disarming smile. But his eyes held a spark of something darker, something that made the captives' skin crawl.
Ace: "Alright, everyone!" He clapped his hands together with a cheerful grin. "Today's a special day because I'm going to teach you how to make something truly delicious—cream buns!"
He strolled over to a rickety table covered in baking supplies: a bag of flour, a tub of sugar, a carton of eggs, and a bowl filled with fresh cream. The sight was almost comical, given the sinister circumstances.
Ace: "Now, pay attention," he continued, his tone taking on a sing-song quality. "First, we start with the dough. You need just the right amount of flour. Not too much, or it'll get all clumpy, and not too little, or it won't hold together."
He grabbed a handful of flour and let it sift through his fingers, the white powder settling like snow on the surface of the table. His captives watched, trembling, as he moved with an unsettling grace.
Ace: "Next," he went on, "we add sugar. Sweet, sweet sugar. Just enough to make it taste divine, but not too sweet. We wouldn't want a dessert that's too overbearing, would we?"
He laughed, a sound that sent shivers down their spines.
Ace: "You know, making a cream bun is a lot like life. It's all about balance. Too much of one thing, and it can all go wrong. Just like..."He paused, looking at his captives with a smile that didn't reach his eyes—"just like how things can go wrong when someone doesn't follow the rules."
The captives exchanged terrified glances, their hearts pounding as they tried to comprehend the madness unfolding before them.
Ace: "Now for the eggs," he said, cracking one into the bowl with a quick, practiced motion. "They bind everything together and make it nice and smooth. It's kind of like how trust binds people together. But when trust is broken..."—he smashed the eggshell in his hand, letting the pieces fall to the floor—"things get messy."
He mixed the ingredients together, and his movements were fluid and precise. Despite the bizarre nature of the situation, something was mesmerizing about the way Ace worked, as if he had done this countless times before.
Ace: "And now, the cream. This is the part that really makes the bun special. You've got to whip it just right to get it nice and fluffy. It's the finishing touch that makes people smile... or scream."
His voice dropped to a whisper as he leaned closer to his captives, his eyes gleaming maliciously.
Ace: "You see, life is like this cream bun. It seems sweet and innocent on the outside, but there's always a surprise inside. And not everyone likes surprises."
One of the captives, a young man with a look of sheer desperation, suddenly made a break. He wriggled free of his bindings and bolted toward the door, his feet pounding against the cold concrete floor.
Ace didn't move at first, simply watching the man's futile attempt at escape with a look of mild amusement.
Ace: "Now, that's not very polite," he said, his voice dripping with faux disappointment. "I wasn't finished with the lesson."
Ace was on him in an instant, his movements faster than the eye could follow. He grabbed the man by the throat, lifting him off the ground with terrifying ease.
Ace: "I guess you didn't want to learn how to make a cream bun after all," he whispered, his tone dark and menacing.
With a sickening crunch, Ace snapped the man's neck, letting the lifeless body drop to the floor like a discarded doll.
Ace: "Pity," he said, turning back to the others with a smile. "Now, where were we?"
The remaining captives shuddered, their fear intensifying as they realized there would be no escape from this nightmare.