Infinity's Row - Interlude

Chapter 3

I walk out of the security room with long strides. Gentry has to run a little to catch up to me. "So we need to find that bomb, right? How do we do that?"

"Simple," I say. I unsheathe my sword. "We need only to ask one of our little friends."

Before she can say anything else, I move ahead through the hall. I pass several doors, among them being ones that lead to a library, a medical room, and some sort of closet, but not once do I spot one of the gunmen.

I continue through the hall with Gentry, quietly stepping through the hall and around a corner--

That's when I see one. 

A single gunman, likely a sentry of some sort.

I hold up a single finger to Gentry. Then, carefully controlling every bone in my body, I creep towards him--

I clamp his hand over his mouth. Within seconds I have him pinned to the wall.

"Now, there are two ways we can handle this. I trust you know what they are. Tell me where the bomb is now or--" 

"Or you'll what?" the man says. He smiles broadly, displaying several missing teeth. "You'll kill me?" 

"No," I say. "As much as I'd love to decapitate you right here and now, killing you would only be detrimental to my plans. So no, I won't. Instead, I'm going to make you feel pain until you tell me where it is." 

"There's no way you'll actually go through with it, heroes are too moral for--"

I hear Gentry shriek when I cut off one of his fingers. 

I look up at the gunman's face. He's not smiling anymore. In fact, it looks like he's experiencing a great deal of pain. 

"I am a man of limited patience," I say. "Do bear that in mind. Now, where is the bomb?" 

"Do you really think I'm going to tell you?"

I slice my sword through his middle finger. He jerks his head upwards, his face contorted in pain. 

"Do I need to repeat the question?" I say. 

"Go screw yourself." 

A third finger falls simply to the floor. Dark, thick blood splatters the white. 

"E-Elias?" Gentry's voice quivers. "Please, Elias, there has to be another way--" 

"Where. Is. The bomb." 

The man's eyes look very frightened. Yet still he spits right into my face. 

I sigh in annoyance. I lop off his pinkie. 

I notice the large lump on his throat. He's in a world of pain. He'll crack at any moment. All that is required is one more push. 

"Don't worry," I say. "I suspect you won't need that in the future. In fact, now that you've lost four out of five fingers, I reckon you don't even need your hand."

The man gives a great bellow of pain when I decide to cut off his entire left hand. 

"The storage room!" he says. "The one directly below the chamber! Just go to the bottom floor, take a right, and go straight, you'll find it soon enough, I swear!" 

I look at him directly in the eye, searching for any sign of a lie--

There is only fear. People will do much under the weight of fear. 

I smile. I release his neck and let him fall to the floor. 

"Your cooperation is much appreciated, truly it is," I say. "But I simply cannot allow you to give us away."