#torture.ment

Villain was dragged into a large cell by the group of heroes, thrashing as their wrists were locked above their head into cuffs.

“Let go of me!” Villain snarled, yanking at the restraints futilely.Their struggles were instantly hindered by a swift kick to the stomach and they doubled over, coughing.

Superhero made their way to the front of the band, chin infuriatingly high and their expression spiteful. “You know the drill,” they said to Villain as they sucked in a ragged breath. “We can either do this the easy way or the hard way.”

Villain grunted, hands twisting in the cuffs. “I told you, I didn’t do it. The bomb was—,”

Superhero slammed their knee into Villain’s ribs before grabbing their chin roughly. “You are always the source of trouble around here. Don’t think you can get away with lying to me or anyone else here,” they spat. They shoved Villain away and walked to the back of the room to grab something.

“I’m...” they wheezed, “I’m not lying. I swear...” They abruptly cut off as Superhero walked back with a horrid looking whip in their hands, the tip glistening with something sharp.

“No, nononono!” Villain shouted, jerking against the shackles again. “No!! I-I’m not lying!! I didn’t do it! I didn’t set off the bomb!!”

Superhero walked behind them and cut their shirt off, exposing their back. “Then who would’ve done it, Villain?” The whip uncoiled, hitting the ground with a loud slap.

“I-I don’t know! Supervillain? Rival? It wasn’t m-me, I swear!” Villain thrashed, panting hard.

“Do you have any proof?” Superhero’s voice was much too gentle for the pain they were about to bring to Villain.

The captive swallowed, falling still for a minute. Then they whipped their head around to lock on the familiar eyes of Hero, who was standing near the back of the group. “Hero, Hero please. You have to believe me. I didn’t do it,” they rasped. “Please.”

The room fell silent. Hero stepped forward after a minute and looked up.

The disappointment was all too clear to see in their usually tender gaze.

“I’m sorry, Villain,” Hero said softly, then turned to Superhero and nodded. “Whip them.”

“No—!”

Villain’s outcry soon became a plea for mercy.

.

Hero had only heard the horrid stories of what Villain’s prisoners had to endure in captivity. Or what they could endure, before they broke. Or died.

They never thought they’d become one to experience it.

They sat in the small cell they’d been tossed into a day or so ago, back against the stone wall, wrists in tight shackles that left deep red marks against their skin. Tear marks from their quiet sobs streaked their cheeks, brushing off grime and dirt from their recent scuffle with Villain.

It had been a day or so since they were caught, but they were already flinching at every noise outside their door, cowering at the distant screams down the hallway, shuddering at Villain’s unintelligible murmurs through the walls. They couldn’t block it out, couldn’t ignore it. They curled in on themselves, shivering as they buried their hands in their hair.

A few hours later, the sound of footsteps outside their doorway ensued a nauseating wave of sheer panic.

Please not me. Not today. Please—

All hope drained wholly from their soul when the squeak of rusty hinges filled their ears and the room was suddenly bathed in light.

Hero whimpered, pressing themselves into the corner, too afraid to look up and see Villain’s face. Tears were already spilling from their eyes and their breathing was ragged, choppy. They were going to die here in this hellhole. Villain was going to kill them. They weren’t going to make it back—

“What a sorry sight you are,” Villain’s smooth voice broke through their haze of terror. “The brave Hero reduced to a trembling little ball of patheticness.” They walked closer and fit a cool hand on Hero’s chin and tilted their head up, who in turn flinched so hard at the unexpected touch they nearly whacked their head against the wall.

Villain laughed in disbelief. “Aw, what’s wrong? Scared of me?” They used their free hand to reach into their pocket and bring out a small knife, dangling it in front of Hero mockingly. “Scared of this thing?”

Hero sobbed, unable to form words. They were shivering violently, eyes wide and tearful as they stared up at the face that haunted their dreams.

“Aww.” Villain clicked their tongue, grinning. “How sweet. Too terrified to even talk to me.” They brushed a thumb over their cheek. “That’s all right, dear. After all, screams are so much more lovely than words.”

All Hero could whisper was “Please,” before Villain began to work.

.