Somewhere far far away from the hidden chamber, in the depths of a forsaken cave, a man hung in chains, his body limp yet still breathing. His chest rose and fell in uneven, ragged breaths, each one a battle against the crushing weight of exhaustion.

  His wrists were bound by obsidian-black chains, forged from a material not of this world—chains that absorbed light rather than reflected it. His skin was pale, stretched taut over his bones, his breaths shallow but defiant.

  His clothes—or what remained of them—were little more than tattered rags, strips of fabric clinging to his emaciated frame. His once-strong arms hung slack, his muscles wasted from days—perhaps weeks—of torment. Bruises and deep gashes marred his skin, dried blood forming dark trails down his ribs. His bare feet dangled just inches above the cold, uneven stone, toes curling instinctively at the sensation of unseen movement beneath them.

  Two figures loomed over him, their twisted forms barely human, their glowing violet eyes burning with cruelty.

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  “Speak,” one of them snarled. “Tell us what you know, or we’ll strip your soul from this body and add it to our master’s collection.”

  The prisoner lifted his head slightly, his lips cracking into the ghost of a smile. “Go to hell,” he rasped.

  The creatures snarled, their claws twitching in rage.

  From the darkness, another presence stirred.

  A cloaked figure stepped forward, its mere presence causing the others to bow, lowering their heads to the ground in submission.

  The voice that followed was cold, inhuman—a whisper laced with venom.

  “Has our guest spoken yet?”

  “No, Master,” one of the beings replied. “But he will.” Their voices trembled. They feared the master that stood before them more than they feared failure.

  The figure let out a slow, measured sigh. “Fine. Make it quick. I have no patience for weakness.”

  It turned, disappearing into the shadows beyond the cave, leaving the prisoner alone with the creatures.

  The moment their master was gone, the two creatures exchanged nervous glances.

  One of them exhaled sharply. “We’d better hope he breaks soon.” The other swallowed hard. “Or we’ll be next.”

  They turned back to their prisoner.

  And the screams began.