The sharp pain of Bloodhound's knife through her heart faded like her vision. The weight lifted from her body as she drifted through a black tunnel. She lingered in that space between life and death for much longer than usual. She focused inwards, at peace with acceptance that her end was near and that Bloth would be okay.
Suddenly, everything came crashing down around her as she was ripped out of limbo and her body cracked onto a cold concrete floor. Every muscle raged against her, a throbbing migraine was a spike in her head, and bright lights seared her eyes. She went cold when she heard a dark cackle in front of her. Her vision came into focus and found herself in a grey concrete cube, each side about fix feet, with one wall being a thick plexiglass-like screen. On the other side of the screen stood the menacing figure of Caustic. She heaved herself to her feet and defiantly walked up to him. She tried to make a prediction but couldn't focus enough.
"Well, well, we've come full circle haven't we?" he said with a smirk.
"Fuck you," Rye said. Caustic laughed, produced a metal controller from his pocket, and pressed one of the buttons. Rye writhed as electricity was conducted into her feet from the floor. She pushed through the pain and remained upright. There was a click and the floor buzzed as the amperage increased, causing her knees to involuntarily buckle underneath her. Another click, and the electricity stopped. Caustic hunched over her on the other side of the screen.
"Keep up the attitude, it'll be more fun for me," he said. He stood up and started to walk away, pausing for a moment to add, "Don't get too comfortable."
There was the sound of a heavy door opening and bolting closed somewhere out of sight. Rye dragged herself to one of the corners of the enclosure and leaned her back against it. She took stock of herself: she was barefoot with no mask, no weapons, and just the simple tunic and pants she had been wearing during the game. She quietly came to terms with the reality of the situation: she knew that all her running would catch up one day. She was just glad it was her and not Bloodhound in that cell.
An hour passed before she heard a door open and heavy footsteps echoed around her. She stood up and waited at the plexiglass. Caustic stood in front of her once again, this time with a metal stool and a clipboard. He sat down and held the controller from earlier in his left hand and a pen in his right.
"I'll start nice and brain dead for you. What's your name?" he asked.
"Up yours," Rye replied. Zap. She winced. Caustic leaned forward on the stool with an amused grin.
"The dose I gave you last time isn't even a fraction of what this can do. Perhaps you like it a little rougher, hm? Does that masked mutt play rough with you?"
"You leave them out of this," she said between gritted teeth. Zap. She involuntarily yelped at the increased amperage.
"Now, I'll ask again: What is your name?" Caustic said.
"I'm not telling you anything."
The jolt of electricity pumped into her body this time was the most unbearable pain Rye had ever experienced. She felt her muscles spasm as she dropped to the floor convulsing. When it stopped, her breath was sapped she had a sharp blade of pain in her chest. Dots of color blocked her blurry vision. She couldn't make out Caustic's voice beyond the ringing in her ears. His voice elevated in volume and then the amperage was turned up. She felt her heart stop and then everything was black.
Rye gasped for a frantic gulp of air as she felt her hands and knees collide with concrete. Her body was heavy and she fought exhaustion to keep her eyelids open. She heard a click and was suddenly blasted with freezing cold water. Rye gasped and jolted upright. There was Caustic, still seated on the stool. He grinned at her.
