S17 - Needle

“...bject was fou…”

Noise.

“...ture of the tattoos suggests…”

A voice.

“...ontaneously generating small blades in its sleep…”

Mortal. Human. Time passed after this realization. Here and there, more noise filtered through the inky black. Words. Descriptions. Each and every one maddening. That was the world—sounds and anger—until a new sensation pierced the veil.

“...newest needle was successful in breaking the subject’s skin. I’m taking a sample now.”

Pain. Slight, bare, a pinprick if anything. Yet it pulled him from the depths in which his mind had swum for… days? Months? Centuries? Now the world was green and filled with fluid, a constantly churning pool in which he swum. Something weak and brittle covered his face, and despite the liquid around him, he breathed.

His eyes darted. There, past the green, past the gleam of light reflecting off of whatever he was held in. A man. The source of the voices. His brow furrowed, and a pulse of hate washed through his veins.

“The full battery of tests I’ve devised will hopefully allow me to verify the subject’s authenticity. End log.”

With a sigh, the man leaned back on one leg, stuffing frail little fingers into soft pockets. That stance was weak, a poor choice that would be easily broken had he not been behind this infernal barrier. He made to raise his arm, only to find the world around him like honey. His muscles simply did not respond. More and more fury welled in him, with no outlet in reach.

“Wow,” the voice said. “Thank goodness for the presence of demigods in this world! I didn’t think anything would be able to draw blood from this guy, but I finally did it.” He flicked the vial and let out a laugh. Muffled though it was from behind the wall, it spoke volumes about his captor. To whomever he was speaking to earlier, this man hoped to play at strength and authority, but his true colors were one of a coward. Surely this was true, for he would not chain another up if not for fear.

- Season 17 Round 2, /u/TheAsianIsGamin