Water slowly dripped down in the dark room, the uneven stones falling apart. A man sat on a chair, bound, gagged, and blindfolded. The sound of a door closing bounced off the small walls, echoing through the endless hallways that went deeper and deeper downwards. A man with dark hair and a bandaged arm walked into the room, his worn but durable clothing wrapping around him.

He walked up to the man and crouched down, ripping off the cloth from the tied man’s mouth. The man coughed and sputtered, trying to regain his breath.

“Who- what do you want?”

The man in front of him stood to full height, walking to the side of the chair.

“I’ve already told you that David.”

The man watched David feebly struggle against his bonds, and with a flick of his wrist, he pulled a knife out and pressed it to his throat.

“You have two choices.”

David stopped struggling, shallowly breathing against the blade.

“Look, I don’t know-”

“Hard way it is.”

David’s sharp scream rang through the dark area as a thin needle was inserted underneath his index finger’s nail. The man calmly stood up and looked down at the whimpering mess below him.

“When did they pay you?”

“Please, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The man pulled out another needle, placing it on the tip of David’s finger.

“You sure?”

The needle slowly pushed into his middle finger, separating the flesh slowly. He let out a cry of pain, shivering as the metal settled deeply in the wound. The man pushed down on the needle, bending it and releasing, sending a vibration up it.

“This can continue in a multitude of ways for a long time.”

The man paced backwards, leaning against the wall.

“You had a bag of coins which I know you couldn’t obtain yourself, you were following me for a long time. I know what they asked you to do, and you know what I want to know.”

“... Please, they would kill me if I talked.”

“They’re going to kill you regardless, you’re a loose end.”

The man came close, quietly talking in the man's ear.

“I can make this hurt a lot more than it does now-”

The sound of the door bursting open sounded behind them, and the man whipped around, hand on his sword. In the doorway stood a young woman, long and faded almost white hair falling to the small of her back as she walked in.

“...What are you doing?”

The man turned around, motioning for her to move back, meeting her grey eyes.

“You shouldn’t be here, it’s not safe.”

“Who is that man?”

“Someone who was paid to follow us.”

She looked over the man’s shoulder, seeing David with the needles in his fingers.

“Oh god, what are you doing to him!?”

She tried to push past the man but was stopped by his arm. He spoke in a low tone, almost a whisper.

“What I have to, It’ll be over soon, you need to leave.”

She stepped towards him, her voice quiet.

“You can’t do this.”

He looked at her as she stared at him with her light yet dull eyes.

“Please, not like this.”

His gaze shifted to his arm, her hands gripping onto it softly. With a sigh, he turned to his side, letting her walk by. David shivered in his seat as he felt her hand brush his. He yelped in pain as the needles were taken out and dropped to the ground with a light clatter. The man watched her grab onto David’s hand, ether flowing from her arms. David’s suffering visibly stopped as the ether quickly closed off the wounds with a warm blue glow. The woman shook her head and took off the blindfold. The man resisted the urge to stop her before the cloth fell to the ground.

“I’m sorry that you’ve gotten mixed up in all of this.”

The woman knelt down and held onto David’s hand, averting her eyes. She quietly untied the ropes on the chair, causing the man to step in closer. David looked at the woman in front of him, a mix of awe and relief on his face.

“Who are you?”

The man stepped forwards, putting a hand on the woman’s shoulder.

“You should step back.”

David froze as the man approached and went behind the chair. 3 quick cuts sounded out as the ropes fell to the ground. The man moved back around, standing in front of the woman, looking at David.

“If you want to live, leave, and don’t talk to anyone.”

Confusion came across his face, as he took a look at his fully healed fingers.

“Why are you..?”

The man grimaced and glanced back at the woman behind him.

“Just leave before I kill you myself.”

The man pointed to the door, keeping his body in front of the woman. David moved quickly, hunching over as he shuffled out the door. His footsteps became distant and slowly echoed in the hallways. The man turned to the woman, stepping close to her while speaking in a hiss.

“That was our only chance of getting information.”

She stood firm, looking him in the eyes.

“But you still let him go, didn’t you?”

He looked away and walked towards the now empty chair.

“I could’ve gotten everything out of him within 2 minutes.”

“With torture!”

“Yes.”

She shook her head and quickly stepped to his side.

“That man didn’t know what he was getting into, he didn’t deserve that, nobody does.”

“He did this to himself.”

She walked in front of him to look him in the eyes again.

“No, he didn’t, he was desperate and saw a chance.”

“If he gets caught, they’ll know exactly where we are.”

“Let’s pray he doesn’t then.”

“They’re going to torture him and he’ll break. I could’ve done the exact same.”

“That’s not the right thing to do.”

“It’s what they’re going to do.”

“But you aren’t them.”

He paused and looked at her. She rushed up to him and grabbed onto his hand.

“Please, listen to me.”

The drips of water in the hallway echoed through the open door behind them. She grasped onto him, pulling his arm close to her.

“I know you want to protect me, but not everything that’s able to be done is right.”

The man shook his head, turning away from her.

“You don’t know the lengths I’m willing to go.”

She pulled on his arm, forcing him to face her.

“I know you’re a good person.”

“You don’t.”

She gripped his hand tighter.

“Please, don’t say things like that.”

“I won’t lie.”

“You’re lying to yourself.”

He turned to her, looking into her watery eyes. She pulled his arm up to her chest.

“You’re more than the person they tried to make you, you’ve shown me that.”

The man watched her as she stepped closer.

“I know I’m a burden, I know it would be easier without me, but please promise me you’ll do the right thing.”

The dreary silence followed as she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Please.”

He kept his hand by his side and lowered his head, looking at her fragile frame embracing him.

“... I’ll try.”