Lavender Snow

Monster or Man

Tommy glared at the men in front of him. "Let me go."

Pyro yawned. "Yeah, I don't think so. It's been a long day, we're not just gonna throw you off the ship."

"Long day?!" Tommy struggled against the ropes tying him to a chair. "You kidnap me and call it nothing more than a 'long day'?!"

"To be fair, kidnapping you was the easiest part of the day." Pyro picked some dirt from under his fingernails. "That or killing you. I mean, you didn't even notice me until you were already dead."

Tommy blanched. "That— you killed me— you killed me a month ago, at least, it wasn't—"

"Uh, no, that was definitely today." Pyro glanced at Hyphae. "What do you think, Hyphae? Feel like a month to you?"

"No." Hyphae's glasses glinted under the electric lights. "That's very interesting. Tell me, Enderian, what was it like in hell?"

"My name is Tommy." Tommy ground his teeth. "You're playing with me. Let me go right now, you sick bastards."

"Oh, Tommy, we aren't playing," Pyro said. He snapped, sparking a flame on his thumb, and brought it close to Tommy's cheek. "Unless you want to play. You want to play a game, Tommy?"

Tommy pulled back from the heat. "G-get back, I don't want to play—"

"I have a fun game!" Pyro grinned. "How about this, I ask a question, and you answer! How about that, huh?"

Tommy squeezed his eyes shut, breaths quickening. "No, no, get away from me, I don't want to play—"

"Prime, dude, chill out, we haven't even started yet—"

Pyro went silent. Tommy opened his eyes to a slit, looking over. Pyro and Hyphae's earrings were glowing faintly with lime light.

"We're just having some fun," Hyphae said. "We aren't going to do anything."

There was silence. Tommy breathed heavily, hands shaking behind his back.

Pyro pulled his hand away from Tommy's face. "Fine. . . I'll go check on the other."

The earring went dark. Pyro and Hyphae looked at each other, then Pyro swept out of the room, glaring at Tommy one last time before he left.

Tommy watched him go, then stared at Hyphae, who was standing still, frowning.

"We have orders not to hurt you," he finally said.

Tommy blinked. "W-what?"

"We were ordered to ungag you, not to hurt you, to make your binds loose and comfortable. . ." Hyphae walked around to the desk and sat in the chair so he was facing Tommy. "What is it that makes you so special to him?"

Tommy's stomach sank. "The— the emperor ordered this?"

Hyphae nodded. "Dream is very interested in you, and that makes me very curious." He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the desk. "I looked up your files. Your power is strong, but not particularly useful. Dream already has illusion type Enderians. So why you?"

Dream wants me. Tommy's blood ran cold. "I don't know."

Hyphae scowled. "You must know something. What's so special about you?"

"I don't know!" Tommy kicked at the desk. "What do you want me to say, he wants me for my immeasurable charm and style?"

"I don't think that's it," Hyphae said dryly.

Tommy gasped. "I— you— offense! I am the most charismatic person in the End and Earth! Look, I'll show you my charm!"

"Oh no," Hyphae said.