Killin Hood laughed maniacally in a stained lab coat while holding an electric bone-saw that began to spin. The old witch joined in the cackling while she raised a large crystal ball that functioned as a mirror. The patient screamed at himself strapped to the operating table.

Edward faced his reflection for the first time ever since escaping from the planet's hollowed core. He had been on an extended winter vacation in the land where crystals got their powers. On returning to the surface he had received an incineration. Killin Hood had burned him into a disfigured creature with a flaming arrow, but he was kept alive for Now.

Edwards' once handsome features worn underneath the crown only a few short months ago had long diminished. In its place his new face was burned, with wrinkles galore, and dark bags under reddening eyes. It almost looked like he had the beginning of an outbreak of some sort of infection. The saw reached into the reflection, and came down across the operating table. Edward screamed until he could no more, and his vision grew dim.

The witch watched the operation in excitement. Killin Hood's eyes remained laser focused and his attachment began to spark. Hot red pain seared into the patient's cranium blinding him. A foot pressed against his arm as the surgeon adjusted the angle of his cut.

“Clang.”

“Good job, hehe you only sliced the baby a little bit,” her voice laughed and echoed in the dark.

“Open your eyes. All I have done is remove your hook attachment ha ha ah. The real pain has yet to start, give him a few shots or something,” said Killin Hood.

Edwards' eyesight gradually returned with a migraine. He heard clanging, and didn't register the syringe until it had finished inserting into his flesh. The crystal ball shoved directly into his face further revealed a bald headed body that was too close for comfort. It was sprouting growths, lumps, bumps, and scabs of dying skin. Added to the mix was hard crystal deposits covering the entirety of what was previously his arm. It now formed a brute’s battering ram that was tied down.

“Where’s my mother? My memories haven’t mutated. I remember that you kidnapped her,” cried Edward, unsuccessfully attempting to lash out at his captors.

How very astute of you brat,” said Killin Hood, drawing closer while his finger pressed down the saw's trigger, cutting off his calm voice with the sound of attacking motion.

“Yes, the note I wrote you got hehehe, and her body lies here in my laboratory,” the witch interrupted, using her crystal ball to amplify tired vocal cords.

The candles in the swaying chandelier dimmed blowing side to side where hundreds of beakers filled with potions. The shadows scattered throughout the room that began to rumble threatening experimental combinations. The cobwebs covering the walls in a connected tapestry bounced.

“Sometimes we gotta deal with the crystal mines below,” said the witch Isebela.

A large spider with a skull shape on its exoskeleton fled underneath industrial ice boxes big enough to store human bodies. She cleaned away the dust from her crystal ball with a tattered sleeve, then tapped its surface with a licked finger and the picture changed. A captured vision of the Queen being kicked outside the big rig cab to the curb. Mule, and Jed laughed through the window at her brains being devoured by the zombie grizzly bear.

“I’ll kill everyone involved in this plot just you watch witch!” screamed Edward, unleashing a wave of spit that mostly stuck to himself.

The ancient assistant set down the ball in order to roll back the sleeves on her tattered witches robes. “My name's Isabella for farc sakes,” she finished extending a hand with a coughing fit. She shook the captured stump that couldn't resist.

“Aha funny. I’ve got cameras hidden everywhere, and here's the most nosy witch here to monitor them so there’s no secrets that go unnoticed in my woods,” said Killin Hood.

“The crystal ball keeps me company now that my hips are bad and I’m not so mobile anymore,” she croaked in jest.

“Give me the names of those truckers turned kidnappers before I murder you first,” demanded Edward.

“That’s enough of that. I assure you they remain inconsequential, but nevertheless a loose thread that my men will soon crush if it pleases you,” said Killin Hood, raising a finger to the crystal ball.

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The picture switched view to a picture of the big rig parking at a tollbooth with the party of two getting out. He swiped across it again, and vision switched to a Killin hit squad wearing tactical uniforms, and ski masks on route. They ran through the bushes to ambush with their machine guns while the custom Killin Company gyro-copter flew overhead scouting for information.

“OK, that's settled. Hey, wouldn't you rather learn my master plan for domination of the nation?” asked the head of the operation. “It’s much more interesting than what’s gonna be a shooting gallery trust me,”.

“I have a gut feeling you’ve already gutted my mother, and plan the same for me,” responded Edward.

“Yes, soon you too will be experimented with. You can gag him now, Isabella I don’t need anymore mouth," said Killin Hood, licking underneath the underside of his oversized mustache.

Isabella attempted to place a cotton ball in the patient's mouth. She ended up dodging a bite targeted at her finger.

“Very naughty boy,” she scolded, spraying him with funny smelling chemicals from underneath her dress.

The room began distorting in shape and colors. A changing perception that stretched the constricting air with laughing gas, and frowning skulls that flew around before disappearing into a vortex. Out emptied leeches, and beatles from the void crawling all over his skimpy hospital gown. Edward fought hard against restraints that would not budge, while the claustrophobia increased. A special surgical mask with six layers snapped over his skull to muffle his cries for help while the spiders tickled the few sensitive spots left.

Isabella's crystal ball had returned to mirror mode. As she brought towards the struggling prisoner it reflected further mutation into a fusion reptilian with a beak, flippers, and feathers.

“This here is a magic mirror, and you will see our special plans inside,” she croaked.

The picture had become a cartoon diagram of an operation procedure on his human form. It showed the blood being sucked dry, and stored. The next slide was an installation of the King’s heart into another body followed by his stolen royal blood.

“Humanity is hardwired to be sick in the mind believing that bloodlines can only handle the throne with their genes. I can’t change the minds of the average citizen that this dumb indoctrinated belief in special family nobility is without evidence. Regardless I will find every way to exploit this weakness for all it’s worth for the ultimate gain of Killin Company Inc,” said Killin Hood.

“A key to the kingdom and maximum power is the royal family blood contained in your veins, but we are about to hack it for everyone to have access,” confirmed Isabella.

In the background the sheets started rustling. The rain poured through an opening in the rocks where a tower tilted to the sky. Killin Hood threw back the covers revealing Elizabeth's corpse. In death her face was blank while the caking of heavy makeup had begun to drip away like a melting candle. Her eyes were covered by the mask of a crystalized cyborg helmet.

“Nooo,” screamed Edward.

“Yes ha,” responded Killin Hood, clenching his fist towards the source of power flashing above them.

He smiled with sadistic pleasure on feeling the pain of another that fed his essence the most. He began pacing back and forth across the cavern revving in anticipation. High in the sky, lightning sparked, and thunder clapped. The harnessed energy zapped through the metal tower before the current visibly traveled through disorganized piles of cables including the saw. The battery banks in the corner hummed with high voltage, and Killin Hood looked high too.

“This isn’t simply snuff torture to get my rocks off it's long term plans of domination finally happening after a decade of effort,” he finished, setting down the spinning saw onto Edwards chest.

The device started smoking upon entering, and slowed to a crawl in between the scales. The victim screamed, convulsing. The cutter clanged to the floor with a blade snapped in half. A small trail of blood and puss leaked from the orifice. The failed surgeon fell back clutching his arms vibrating, and riddled with arthritic pain.

“You are one tough son of a bitch to butcher,” he remarked, throwing open the exit door with his boot. “I'm going to my workshop to get a better blade,”.

“Now wait just a second, “ interrupted Isabela with a raised finger. “Let me do it the old fashioned way I insist on traditional operating procedures, and that's where we have faltered tonight,” she scolded

“After you my dear, after all this your laboratory after all,” said Killin Hood, slightly bowing.

Isabella stretched out her fingers towards the injured chest. In her other hand she grabbed a needle. Then went over to the set of fridges, and opened them. Inside a heart was contained in a block of ice.

“That’s exactly the condition we found the Queen’s heart in when we cut it out. Swear honey It was frozen rock solid, but I bet yours is fucked up in a different way that’s part of the fun haha,” cackled Isabella, removing something else from the icebox.

She grabbed a knitted figure of her victim who groaned debilitated. She stuck it in the doll, and the blood started to flow. The witch struggled to free something inside her creation. She worked in another needle to the doll while Killin Hood pressed against the chest cavity to keep it from exploding.

“Pop!”

A tiny red knitted pincushion flung outside the body to the floor. The King’s heart followed beating rapidly. Killin Hood looked stunned from where it had slipped between his bloodied fingers. The witch scooped up the prize in a dustpan, then she sprinted to the icebox and set it inside.

“Well are we saving him for anything or should I pull the plug?” asked Isabella, monitoring the blood going into storage

“Let’s give him your old beater synth heart, and use the spare fluid from the last three. He can live in my mines as payment for his organs while we take the throne,” said Killin Hood, coloring his mustache as he played with it.