I slice through the hanging appendage. My whole body feels numb as I drag the knife through his testicles, castrating him in the hopes he’ll just speak. Blood saturates both of us, and a pool of it covers the cement under the chair.
My bare feet leave footprints when I try to step away from the puddle. The man is silent as his body slumps forward. I pull back and blink at his limp form.
Did he pass out?
A beeping fills the room and snaps me out of my daze. My eyes flit down to my hands and drop the knife in a panic. They are covered in blood. There is not one inch of clean skin.
I failed.
Oh, fuck.
I’m next.
No.
No.
No.
Can’t go back.
No back.
Can’t be alone.
No alone.
Alone.
Alone.
Alone.
No.
No.
No.
I spin around, my eyes wild as I face my Sirs. “P-p-please, I fucking t-t-tried. He just passed out. Give me more time. When he wakes up, I’ll try again! I just need more time. Time. Time. Time.”
I’m hysterical as my voice stutters. I twine my fingers in my hair and pull. My chest burns as the feeling of ropescoilingaround my lungs. I walk towards them. Begging them not to put me in the chair.
Sir C steps away from the wall first and stalks towards me. He spreads his arms and I run to him. I plaster myself to his chest, grabbing his shirt in my fists and hiding my face.
Sir Al and B walk past us and to the sleeping man in the chair. Sir B picks up the knife while Al jams a finger to the man’s neck.
“You passed. Good job, Red.” His words send a chill through my body.
I’m confused as he walks to us and cards his fingers through my tangled mop of hair. I look up and wipe my eyes, smearing blood on my face.
“Passed? H-h-how? I d-d-didn’t get anything from him. Failed. Failed. Failed. M-m-more time.” I’m lost in my spiralling emotions, and I don’t notice Sir B joining our group. The knife is nowhere to be seen, and when I look at the wall, the cage is locked.
“He didn’t have anything to say. He was innocent. Just a random man that Al had me grab off the street for this exercise. You passed because you killed him. That was the whole point of this game.” Sir B explains, his hand rubbing my back in small circles.
“Fucking beautiful, by the way. I’m glad you treat my balls with more care. Goddamn, that hurt to watch.” My face drops as I try to process what they are telling me.
I just killed a man.
