🌬️Whumpee

Team Leader no longer fought the restraints tying them down to the chair. The beating drained them of any remaining energy, so the only thing they could focus on was breathing through the pain.

"Here's how it's gonna go," Whumper grabbed Team Leader's chin, admiring their already bruised face. "I will now call Teammate, and you will tell them to drop the case: say it's been solved, send them on vacation... whatever. Just make sure they stop."

Team Leader met Whumper's gaze and blinked once, exhausted and resigned. Whumper let go of their chin and pressed the button on the phone. The dial tone echoed in a nearly empty room.

"Hello?" Teammate's voice came through the speaker after a few moments.

"Hi, Teammate, just checking in on your project," Team Leader put in an enormous effort to sound calm and even vaguely cheerful.

"Oh, it's going well! With the evidence I found, we should be able to prove Whumper's guilt."

"Great," Team Leader threw a glance in Whumper's direction. "Do hurry up, though."

Whumper's face darkened. They quietly put the phone on the nearby table and grabbed Team Leader's pinky, slowly bending it as a threat.

"Yes, I will. Leave it to me!" Teammate replied eagerly.

Team Leader's face contorted as they tried and failed to stifle a yelp.

"Is everything alright?" Teammate asked with concern.

"Y-yesss," Team Leader hissed. "I'm just busy. Gotta go. Good luck with your investigation," they rattled off as soon as they managed to steady their voice, somewhat.

"Right, thanks. Talk to you later!" Teammate said.

They sounded relaxed, completely unaware of what was happening.

The moment the call was over, something snapped, and Team Leader screamed.

“What, did you think I was going to help you? Help yourself.”

“Stitch yourself up.” “What?” “You heard me. You’re conscious, your hands work. Fix it yourself.”

“If you pass out, I’m leaving you.”

“You left me for dead!”      “You'd have done the same.”

“I told you, we are no allies. You're on your own.”

“Your compassion is truly heartwarming.” “Quiet.”

“Please… Someone…”

“Aren't you going to help me?”      “Why would I?”

The characters learn the whumpee changed their emergnecy contact to one of the caretakers, instead of their own family.

Caretaker and their team are running from Whumper’s base. They’re rounding the corner, the exit in sight, when Caretaker comes to a screeching halt. The rest of the team turns to them.

Whumpee who has a hallucination/nightmare so vivid they're now struggling with a traumatic memory that never happened.