- You're lying.

- Oh, faith is truly a subjective matter.

A thin razor blade dug into the skin on his ribs and marked a bloody path along the left side of his body. Whole days seemed to pass in a single night as Raziel, with no movement, no water, and no food, endured the slicing, slashing, piercing, and cutting of tiny scraps of his skin, hearing the same questions over and over again.

- Well, curare, my dear, has unusual properties. Usually...

- TELL THE TRUTH! - a loud, desperate scream interrupted the doctor's gentle speech, who, without taking his eyes off the rapidly rising chest, smiled faintly and continued his experiment.

- You must accept that what seems certain - a groan of pain spread through the small space as another blade plunged into a place with properly functioning nerves - does not always turn out so.

Hateful flames ignited more strongly in the darkening eyes, and a growing feeling of disappointment began to displace the searing, burning pain in the right side of the mangled body. Raziel longed to shout everything he was thinking about the doctor's words and actions, but knives, needles, and vials of foul-smelling substances assaulted his senses with increasing intensity, forcing only a single shriek from his clenched throat.

- All right, that's enough for today - the quiet words anchored itselves in the mind of the half-conscious man, whose pale skin protruding from behind the torn fabric of his shirt was almost completely covered with bloodstains, like a white canvas painted with scarlet.

- I think you've earned it - Derico supported the back of the detective's head with a smooth motion of his hand, lifted it slightly and put a glass vessel to the blue lips - Your only chance for the next few hours, I advise you to use it.

The cold drops dripped slowly onto the dry tongue, and as the clouded mind identified the mysterious liquid, the neck muscles themselves tense violently, lifting the blond's head even higher, and the sounds of rapid swallowing and amused laughter began to fill the space.

- Careful, I don't want you to choke yourself to death- Derico placed the empty bottle next to the metal leg of the bed and straightened over the heavily breathing figure, whose animated gaze focused on the azure crystals.

- Before, you'd been...disappointed...with me being alive...what changed? - Convulsions of intermittent coughing shook the petite body as the doctor gently tucked the bloodied instruments into a wooden box standing on a high table.

- My plans change frequently... Ah, I would have forgotten - Derico turned towards the double doors leading outside - I have an important task for you.

The wooden surface opened wide and regular rumbling and clattering began to mix with quiet groans and the scuffling of boots on the dry straw covering the uneven floor. Two cloaked figures stopped two steps away from the bound man, pushing an inert body to the ground. A quick glance in the direction of the kneeling man was enough to see the stained white caftan and the fuscous liquid dripping onto the cold concrete floor.

- If you don't mind - the long fingers lifted gently in ordering gesture to reveal a face hanging towards the ground, at which one of the men grabbed a handful of short dark hair that was streaked with a thick smear and jerked it sharply, eliciting a weak, helpless moan from the patient. The harsh light of the lamp was directed at him and the choking reflex of vomiting overcame Raziel's trembling body in a second, squeezing salty tears from his dark, dilated eyes.

- You're too sensitive - Derico approached the detective, forcefully turning his head towards the deformed face with a single jerk. The remnants of needles stuck in profusely bleeding forehead reached the swollen, purple eyelids, bloody patches ran along the slashed cheeks, disappearing within black-stitched mouth, and flaps of skin dangled from the torn, twisted jaw. The moaning stopped completely, and the detective's horrified gaze was absorbing the nightmarish image while the doctor crouched beside both men and turned his excited gaze to Raziel's pale face.

- Now listen carefully...

***

The clang of metal rang out across the stuffy courtyard, catching the attention of all those present outside the building, among whom could be spotted a cluster of green uniforms by the stairs and a bunch of walkers accompanied by grim-faced nurses. When the wings of the gate opened sufficiently, a low wooden carriage entered the gravel path, but before it came to a complete stop next to the first step, three figures jumped out nimbly.

- Good morning, can I speak to the head doctor? - The official tone and alert gaze was directed towards the first man at the stone steps, while a wrinkled hand showed a shiny badge attached to a leather cloth. Joseph endured the long gaze sliding slowly from the badge to his face and back again, mastering the urge to tighten his free hand on the grip of the gun invisible from the outside.

- Yes, sir, wait here - the man finally tore his gaze away from the detective and covered the distance separating him from the entrance of the gloomy building with a few large steps, disappearing behind the double, penetratingly creaking doors. Pierre glanced fleetingly at his two companions, whose roving eyes were intensely admiring the architecture of the mighty building, and whose open mouths let out loud sighs of delight from time to time.

The detective felt that he had not made the wisest choice of subordinates, who would have shown more sense and professionalism, but he quickly chased those thoughts away from his consciousness, knowing that however he had no other option. After several minutes, a distinctive sound again irritated the man's ears, and a tall figure in white clothes and beige leather boots appeared in the entrance.

- Welcome to the Black Asylum - the black-haired man descended the steep stairs with a light step, shook the outstretched hand and focused his attention on two grey, cloudy irises - What brings you here?

Joseph took a moment to collect his thoughts and choose the right words after seeing a young doctor, who looked to be in his early thirties, taking such a serious and responsible position.

- Good morning, my name is Joseph Pierre, detective in charge of the intelligence division of the Pennsylvania police - the man struggled to reciprocate the doctor's slight smile, which seemed to convey a gentle, barely perceptible aura of anxiety and challenge - one of my subordinates, Raziel Torres, was here yesterday with...

- Ah yes - a melodious, relaxed tone broke through the official one, and shining eyes studied slowly every feature of the tired face - Mr. Torres was here all night, he wanted to take a closer look at our activities under different conditions.

- I see - Joseph measured the building with his eyes from the façade to the pointed roof of the tower, then he focused again on the still smiling doctor - It doesn't surprise me at all, he is a born perfectionist. He must examine everything in its length and breadth, otherwise he will not sleep...

A quiet laugh of amusement broke out from between the raspberry lips, to which the older man replied with a faint smile that did not, however, extend to the watchful eyes that hung on the massive door behind his interlocutor's back.

- So will you be kind enough to bring Torres here, in the office he will give me a report and we will send you the final decision on...

- On the further operation of our hospital, of course.

Joseph quickly focused his attention on the taller man, whose gaze peered hypnotically inside the old, experienced soul, savoring every slightest sign of fear and uncertainty.

- Oh look! Just in time.

The detective struggled to turn his gaze toward the reopened entrance at the top of the stairs, where strong rays of natural light reduced his visual acuity to patches of white and black. The man squinted slightly, trying to focus on the features of the figure unhurriedly moving toward them, and as its shadow drifted smoothly down the stone driveway to where Joseph stood, a pair of burgundy crystals stabbed intensely into the stunned face.

- Good morning boss.