The past was a bruise on Karim's soul, a memory that flared with the heat of a burning ember. He remembered the prison yard, the dust swirling around his feet as he launched himself at the Boss, his fist connecting with the man's gut.
"Why did you kill him?" Karim had roared, his voice raw with grief and rage. "Why did you kill my crew member?"
The Boss had laughed, a fleck of blood flying from his lips. "He got too big for his britches," he'd sneered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "He wanted to spill my secrets. He got what he deserved."
Then, with a swiftness that surprised Karim, the Boss had retaliated, a single punch sending Karim crashing to the ground.
The present was a whirlwind of chaos. Arun's punch, born of desperation and fueled by the insidious voice, connected with the Boss's jaw, the sound cracking through the tense silence of the bathhouse. The other inmates froze, their eyes wide with shock.
Arun, instantly regretting his actions, sank to the ground, his hands covering his face. "What have I done?" he whispered, his voice filled with fear.
The Boss, momentarily stunned, glared at Arun. "You little runt!" he snarled, grabbing a fistful of Arun's hair and shoving his face into the muddy ground. "How dare you hit on my pretty face?"
One of the inmates snickered. "Pretty face, huh?" he muttered to his friend.
"I'm sorry!" Arun choked out, struggling to breathe. "Please stop!"
The voice within him cackled with delight. Oh, this is delicious! You're getting pulverized! But you made your choice, so I guess I'll bail you out... this time.
Suddenly, Arun's body was no longer his own. He felt a surge of power, an unnatural strength coursing through his limbs. He leaped over the Boss's head, his legs connecting with the back of the man's knees, sending him sprawling to the ground.
The voice, now in complete control, tightened Arun's grip around the Boss's neck. "Look at this pretty face now!" it hissed, mimicking Arun's voice.
The Boss, his eyes bulging, struggled to break free. "You little..." he gasped, managing to flip Arun over.
But Arun's body, guided by the voice, moved with an uncanny agility. He landed on his feet, then launched a vicious kick that connected with the Boss's face. "I'll turn that pretty face into mush!" the voice roared through Arun's lips.
The Boss crumpled to the ground, his nose broken and blood gushing from his mouth. Arun, still under the voice's control, rained down blows, his fury relentless.
Then, as abruptly as it had taken over, the voice relinquished control. See you soon, kid, it whispered, fading into the recesses of Arun's mind. Don't forget, I've got more choices in store for you.
Arun stared down at the Boss, his chest heaving, his body trembling. "What have I done?" he whispered, horror creeping into his voice.
Jacky, returning from his conversation with Karim, witnessed the scene unfolding. He rushed towards the Boss, his face pale with alarm. He helped the battered man to his feet and hurried him towards the infirmary.
Karim approached Arun, a look of disbelief on his face. "What did you eat for breakfast, kid?" he asked, his voice laced with awe. "You just took down the Boss!"
"I don't know," Arun stammered, still reeling from the experience. "The voice... it came back... it did this..."
Karim let out a booming laugh. "Well, for once, it actually helped you!"
Arun shook his head, a knot of fear tightening in his stomach. "I don't think so," he said quietly. "I think it just made things a lot worse."
In the infirmary, the Boss lay groaning on a cot, his face a mask of pain and fury. "That little bastard!" he spat, his voice thick with rage. "I'll kill him! I'll kill him before I deal with Karim!"
The nurse dabbed at his wounds with a cotton swab. "There, there," she soothed. "This might sting a little."
"Ahhh!" the Boss roared. "Be careful, woman! That hurts!"