Ameliorate

Chapter 7: Change

In a dark and abandoned warehouse, a man in a black mask and red hooded cloak stood in front of a camera on a tripod. "Is this thing working?" He asked, his voice high and playful. He turned back to the young man who he had tied to a chair behind him. "Do you think it's working?"

The man didn't answer, his black hair falling into his eyes. The single lightbulb above his head cast the rest of his features into shadow.

Nightmare snapped his fingers before pointing at him. "Right. You're gagged. My mistake." He chuckled and turned back to the camera.

"Well, if you don't understand this message, don't worry about it. It's not meant for you." He held his hands behind his back. "This one goes out to a certain... bug over in Europe. You know who you are. Come and visit when you get a chance-"

"Well, I didn't know that I was wanted," A distorted male's voice mused from behind him.

"What the shit!" Nightmare yelped, turning quickly. He saw a man dressed in black, his throat was slit but he was still standing.

The camera fell over on its side due to Nightmare's jolt.

Glitch's eyebrows quirked up. "Not expecting a house call?"

He approached the hostage that Nightmare had taken, a knife in his hand.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Nightmare asked, masking his sudden fear with anger. "He's my hostage."

"Not anymore, he isn't," Glitch stated. The hostage shied away as much as he could in his bonds. "Relax, I'm cutting you free."

"What?" Nightmare's voice was shrill with surprise. "Why would you do that?"

"There's no reason for you to have taken a hostage here," Glitch explained plainly. "You want publicity, you hijack a broadcast."
"That's what I did-"

"And it's still goin'."

Nightmare fumed silently as Glitch freed his hostage and removed the duct tape gag. "Why are you freeing him?"
"Quit your whinging, you sound like a toddler," Glitch grumbled. The hostage stood and turned to run. "Hey." He turned back. "What's your name?"

"Mike," The man said quietly.

"Mike. This never happened, if you know what's good for you you'd keep it quiet. Understood?" Mike nodded, eyes wide, before bolting for the door.

He didn't get far before a man in a gray tuxedo stepped out of the doorway. His expression was neutral as he stepped in the way of Mike's escape.

"You thought it would be that easy?" Harbinger asked.

Before MIke could process it, there was a knife twisting in his gut.

Harbinger pulled the knife out, allowing Mike's body to fall with a thud. Harbinger glanced down at the body, wrinkling his nose slightly in disgust. He reached into the inside pocket of his suit coat, pulling out a black silk handkerchief. The silvery blade was quickly wiped clean, the golden embroidered 'H' glinting in the light.

"Dude," Glitch remarked. "That was so fuckin' unnecessary."

"No need for loose ends," Harbinger remarked.

"If Mike's a loose end, what does that make the whole of the internet?"

"Details, details. The fact of the matter is that I have a proposition for you. Now if you would be so kind, would you turn off the camera? It's served its purpose."

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LightLad: hey

TechnoPotato: sup