Psychotic Tendencies

Chapter 3

Jeremiah stared in horror, not wanting this nightmare to continue playing. He had to be imagining this, traumatized from the events earlier that night. No. This was real, gazing upon a digital rendition of his brother's mangled face. Jerome had begun moving to the right, motioning for the camera to turn in his direction. Jeremiah panicked, unable to process what he was now looking at.

Ecco was strapped to a chair, unconscious, and Jerome leaned down next to her, staring into the camera. Jeremiah was paralyzed, fearing what Jerome would do to her. Jerome lifted Ecco's chin, revealing the bruises and blood which stained her face, marking the pain she had to endure.

Jerome spoke, "Pretty, isn't she?"

Jeremiah boiled with rage, clenching the glass of whiskey he held.

Jerome let go of her chin and moved behind the chair she sat in,"This one is a fighter, I see why you like her,"

Jerome grinned, ordering a goon out of the camera's view to bring in a table of torturous instruments. A few seconds later, the goon had wheeled in a small table which had a layout of shiny objects. Jerome moved to the tools, wiggling his fingers over the selection, deciding which one to pick.

He had decided, picking up a simple surgical knife, "How bout we start with a little art,"

Jeremiah shifted unsettlingly and downed the rest of his whiskey, not wanting to find out what his brother meant by those words.

Jerome stepped toward his unconscious prisoner, kneeling down. Jerome began to cut a small section of her leggings, exposing a patch of skin on her thigh. He brought the blade closer to the skin, beginning to carve out a design. Ecco began to stir awake, into an agonizing consciousness. She hissed in pain from a sharp sensation on her thigh. Her eyes flickered open and found Jerome carving into her skin. Ecco struggled, but she was restrained to the chair she sat in.

Jerome looked up at her and told in a scolding tone, "Don't move or you'll ruin it. Now sit still,"

He returned to his work, marking her thigh with a heart and a 'J + E' in its center. Jeremiah remained observant, trying to understand his brother's motives.

Seemingly satisfied with his work, he stood up motioning to the design, "There, perfect,"

Ecco stared poisonous daggers in Jerome's direction.

Jerome noticed her reaction, "What, you don't like it?"

Ecco was about to give him a piece of her mind, but her words were muffled by the gag stuck in her mouth.

Jerome grinned, turning to the camera, "Right now you're probably wondering what the point of all this is. Well, I can't tell you. Not now at least,"

Jeremiah recovered from shock, listening intently and searching for anything which indicated a location. He had no such luck. Jerome continued on, positioning himself next to the table. Jerome picked up a few objects, inspecting them in the dim light.

He turned towards Ecco, "We're going to have so much fun,"

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Jeremiah couldn't stand watching Ecco in any more pain. Tears streamed down his cheeks having to watch Ecco endure the torture for the past hour. Jerome had drilled into her arms and legs, cut her face, and had begun electrocuting her as she let out an agonizing scream.

Jeremiah was in too much shock and disbelief to call for the two cops standing outside the door. He had to watch the video, with Ecco's life on the line. He had no idea what Jerome was expecting from him, hoping to reach the end of the video and receive any instruction of how to save Ecco.

Jerome continued the torture, all while mocking his brother helplessly watching, "I don't think she can take much more. She'll probably break in a few more hours,"

Jeremiah was terrified by his brother's words.

Jerome turned toward the camera, "Better turn this off, its gonna get ugly in here, but don't worry, I'll fix her. Just you wait and see. Bye brother,"

The video ended. Jeremiah's eyes were rimmed red from crying, desperately praying Jerome wouldn't kill Ecco. Jeremiah crumpled realizing Jerome had him watch the entire video, without giving any instruction to rescue the person he cared for. His brother had him watch the intense pain which Ecco felt. His brother was truly sick.