Pak

　　I watch the stranger across the table pretend to break down. His tears are so convincing. The strain in his face seems so real. But he`s not even a person to me, anymore. He`s just a babbling puppet.

　　"What`s your name?" I ask, though I don`t know why. It doesn`t matter. The words leave my mouth with an eerie calm. My left palm tingles.

　　"Joma," he says. "Oh, my son& I`m so sorry. Please forgive me. I`ve failed you."

　　"Joma&"

　　My body is made of thick, chilly glass. He stops blubbering. I look him in the eyes and hold his gaze. My lip trembles. I see a glimmer of fear, the first genuine expression he`s displayed. It`s sickening.

　　"This is bullshit&"

　　BADUM BADUM BADUM

　　"I don`t know what you-"

　　"Shut up!"

　　My body ignites. The chilly glass shatters. My mind goes up in flames. Tears pop out of my eyes like blood from pierced skin.

　　Kill it.

　　Pip.

　　I stand and take a step towards him. He scoots back.

　　"Hang on," he says, watching my hand. "There`s s-some sort of misunderstanding-"

　　"Shut up!"

　　He scrambles out of the chair, backing into the wall.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

　　"Listen, it wasn`t m-my idea - they made me do it!"

　　"Who are you?" I growl.

　　"N-nobody! I`m just another prisoner, just like you," he says. "They made a d-deal with me - you would`ve done the same thing!"

　　I lurch forward and stagger, lightheaded. I`m barely breathing. My vision skitters. The spoli twinkle, red. I can`t think.

　　"We can both have our freedom," he says. "If you just go along with it, they`ll let us both go, and if you want I can take you to the surface, and then-"

　　"What should I do&?"

　　I whimper, swaying in place, and bring the weapon to my chest like a child holding a stuffed toy.

　　It lied to you.

　　It deserves to die.

　　"Please don`t hurt me," he says. "We can still make this w-work - Nobody has to know!"

　　I watch the spoli`s reflections on the blade, glittering stars on green-tinted metal. It`s not fair. I did everything they wanted. Why would they lie to me?

　　"Please, son-"

　　"DON`T CALL ME THAT!"

　　I lunge forward and push my hand into his throat, pinning him to the wall. He squeaks and squirms, but my grip is too strong.

　　"Please," he gurgles. "M-mercy&"

　　My grip tightens. I raise the weapon.

　　KILL IT.

　　Deep in his pupils, faint traces of sparkling spoli dance and drift and spin. I hate him. I hate this place. My blood rushes, whitewater barreling towards a cliff. I can`t do it anymore. I want to go home.

　　A sick, primal screech erupts from my throat. My knife-wielding arm twitches, rippling, surging with power. Red lightning crackles all over my skin. Joma screams. The door behind me flies open and crashes against the wall. The guards rush in, but it`s too late.

　　I plunge the knife forward&

　　D I S A P P E A R

　　&and bury it into the stone.