With an audible gasp for air, Hallow’s eyes shot open. Frantically looking around a room swallowed by complete darkness. Not a single stream of light came from any source. Not even a sound other than her hyperventilating. Unlike her appearance and mask she wore to those around her. Hallow was afraid of the darkness. Not just any kind of dark, for she didn’t need a night light. Only when all that can be picked up from the blind eye is more pitch blackness. Swinging her head around, before attempting to move her arms. It was made very clear that such a task wouldn’t be happening. For the moment she tried moving them. She was met with a slight burn of rope against her skin. From what she could tell once calming down as much as possible. Her arms were bound to her side, and she herself was strapped to a wooden chair. Then came the sudden jolting pain to her head. Everything slowly flooded back to her. The women knocking her out, the drunk man from the ally, and “Blade!?” Moving around in her chair to the best of her ability, she called out. The blood, oh god the blood. Was he okay? What happened after she passed out? Hallow then was dragged out from her thoughts by the sound of shoes against the cold ground beneath her feet. “Who’s there? Babe is that you? Blade?!” No Answer was given back. A few more seconds passed, as the feeling of slight cool feeling lips pressed against her own. Even with the loss of heat, she knew those lips anywhere. “Oh thank God you’re okay my love! Can you find a light? You know how much I hate this much darkness. I need to see your face right about now. I’m freaking the fuck out!” Her prayers were answered, with the bright flash of lights breaming to life. Squinting at the sudden change in the spectrum before her. Rapidly blinking in hope to adjust her eyes quickly. Slowly the outline of a face started to form. Once again not taking much for her to recognize Blade. She sighed in relief, only for the breath to hitch in her throat. Her vision finally cleared fully, and became filled with terror. Letting out a blood curdling scream, struggling harder against the ropes around her. It was indeed Blade before her, just not in the form she wanted. Instead of her darkened, lover. Before her gently swung only his head. His mouth hung open, and eyes looked back with a white glaze over them.

“Oh whoops! Sorry my dear Hallow. He was just dying to get one final kiss!” the head came back, as the drunk man from before stood. Holding the detached head’s hair between his fingers. Michael snickered, swinging the head back and forth. Turning it to face him, he shrugged with a smile. “Sorry mate, looks like she can finally see you don’t have a good enough head on your shoulders.” tossing the body part back, it hit the floor with a slight squish. Rolling off to the back of the room, stopping inches away from Astrids feet. She leaned against the wall, jumping slightly as the deadened face looked up at her.

“Jesus fuck Michael! Watch where you throw that shit!” Kicking what was left of Blade away from her. Michael smirked over his should before turning back to his now awakened guest. The head of her lover rolled back, now finding a home at Hallow’s feet. Looking down at it then back to her captive. She started squirming and stomping her feet harder, and harder. Eventually sending her backwards, her head hitting the cement. Knocking the wind out of her lungs. Once again gasping for air, and coughing in-between sobs. Getting a good breath of air, which she sharply and painfully took in.

“Please don’t do this! I’ll do anything just please let me go!” Her cries filled the room, which annoyed not just Michael but also Astrid. Michael walked over, reaching down grabbing onto her shirt. Pulling her back up roughly as all four feet of the chair slammed against the floor. His knife moved quickly to in front of her face. She gasped and galped, shutting up right away. Tears rolled down her cheek, and she shook.

“Good, now don’t speak unless spoken to. If you want to not end up like your boy toy down there.” Michael slightly tapped the head with foot. His eye burning holes into hers, with a smile that didn’t even slightly match the look he wore. Quickly nodding which made him back away slowly. She suppressed her whimpers to the best of her ability. Turning away Michael looked to his companion tilting his head. “Astrid why are you all the way over there? You have yet to do anything to really contribute here.” Moving over to her. He placed his back against the space of wall next to her. His hand behind his back. Slightly pushing him up and back down against it. Moving slightly away from the male, with her face turned away from his own.

“Well sorry! I’m new to this remember? I mean fuck! Why is she even still alive? why couldn’t of you just done her in like fuckface?” Michael replied with a sigh. His head shook as his hair followed in suite.

“Where is your sense of fun my dear? How can you ever truly know if you enjoy ice cream, if you have never tried all the flavors?” As the odd conversation continued, Hallow’s eyes moved back and forth between the two. They talked as if they didn’t just kill a person in cold blood and wasn’t planning to do God knows what to her. Her sobbing started up again with her head hanging low. Michael’s smile remained but his teeth began to grind. Jerking his head to the side about to yell and threaten the women in the chair before them. To his surprise, a knife pierced into the corkboard behind Hallow. Rattling the tools that hung from it. Astrids arm now extended and a huff leaving her mouth.

“Hallow, was it?” Astrid asked with an irritated smile and her eyebrow twitching in annoyance. “The adults are talking, so how about..” storming over to the younger women, to grab her hair. Yanking up receiving a yelp and cry from Hollow. “Shutting the fuck up for a moment before I carve you up myself?” Those words sending a shiver up not just the victim’s, but also Michael’s spine. His face relaxing and his smile widening. What a find he had before him. This woman kept up with his expectations and beyond even that. He clapped starling both females before him. Astrid still holding hallows hair tightly. Now just looking over her shoulder as a fire burned in her eyes. Much to the fact that if those oceans of blue were real. They would quite literally be boiling over like a pot on the stove.

“Oh I do enjoy when my guest get along so well!” Michael chuckled moving to Astrid’s side. Looking between the two women, then letting his eyes fall on his date’s. “I would take this new spark of energy as a sign that you are ready for the main event?” The blond snapped out of her fit of rage. Quickly letting go of the other female’s hair. Backing away covering her mouth, shocked at her sudden outburst. Had she really threatened a complete stranger of mutilation? Was Michael getting to her? He had to be! His bullshit is just making her go as bonkers as this fucker.

“Yeah right, like I could ever be ready for this fucked up game of yours.” Storming over to the wall she had once resided against. Michael simply rolled his eyes smirking down at Hallow.

“The things we do for a pretty face right?” snickering as he reached over grabbing ahold of a cart. Wheeling it over, with several tools spread across it. A surgical knife, plyers, small hammer, and some extra rope just in case. Hallows eye moved over the items. Shooting back to Michael while he rolled up his sleeves and pulled on some gloves.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“If you want a pretty face, then take me.” Hallow pleaded just loud enough for him to hear and not the women across the room. “I like ten times better than that hag. Im younger, healthier, probably a lot more helpful.” Getting a quick glance at Astrid, before returning to her captor. “In more ways then one~” trying Her best to sound seductive, which barely could hide her ever growing fear of what is going to happen if she didn’t get out of here. Michael’s eyes stared down at her without much as a peep. Suddenly starting to take his gloves off. Hallows eye widened as a small thankful smile spread her face. Immediately being wiped off her face, as the back of his hand connected with her cheek. A yelp, followed by more whimpering and sobbing was heard. The slapping sound causing The forementioned female to jump once again.

“And what makes you think you are such a catch?” roughly Michael took ahold of her face, leaning down to eye level. “I’d rather listen to that god awful thing you call music again.” without much warning grabbing the knife from the tray. Slamming it down into the goth girl’s leg. Yarning a hiss, scream of pain, and more crying. Astrid watched from her wall, unknowing to her that she started biting her lower lip. Her eyes drawing straight to the knife, and steady flow of blood running down her leg.

“W-what is going on... umm over there Michael?” keeping her arms crossed against her chest moving closer to the pair. Slowly moving up his arm to meet his emerald stones. His smile warm and unphased by his actions. Ripping the knife back from the other’s leg. Which got a gasp, but was caught off by a stern look from the male. Hallow started to let it settle in, that she couldn't do anything nor say anything to get out of this. She was to be quiet and hope to maybe be released for good behavior.

“Please don’t worry about it Mon Cher. Miss Hallow here just needed a friendly reminder that talking out of turn can be quite rude~” Michael started patting the top of Astrids head. Getting a look that could curdle milk with sourness. Brushing off his hand and taking a step back. Her eyes moved to the other tools. Moving over, brushing her finger tips lightly against them.

“Do we really need all these for just once person?” taking ahold of the hammer, taking a light swing down. Hallow jumped in her seat. Tears staining her cheek, as well as making her heavy makeup run.

“Yes we do~. This will be a slow process.” he smirked devilishly at the women tied to the chair. “Well as long as we can get out of her.” Turning to the blond, he reached forward. Throwing an art smock over her head. “There now you don’t have to worry about getting this cute outfit of yours dirty.” Looking down at the smock with a raised eyebrow.

“Really? What are we finger painting? Going to make a pretty picture for Mommy and Daddy?” Astrid’s tone full of sarcasm, while giving it a childish tune.

“Well actually, I'd say the opposite~ this will be more of an art... removal.” Taking the knife and running it up Hallow’s arm. Stopping the point against one of her Tattoos. “See these blasted things have always annoyed me to no end. Yes, art is to be displayed but these are just a wannabe attempt at looking edgy and deep.” slowly pushing in the tip of the knife at the top of a pentagram Hallow had on her arm. Biting her lip to hold back a hiss and another cry of pain. The sharp instrument moved across her skin. A line of red making its way around the body art. Only stopping once, the lines were connected. “Mind passing me those plyers Astrid dear?” looking over his should at his would-be assistant. Slowly reaching over taking ahold of them, then passing to Michael. “Thank you thank you.” He then dug the tip of the plyers under her flesh. Pinching the points together lifting up on the skin. Causing Hallow to jerk and stomp her feet. Biting down on her lip harder, blood now trickling down. Michael then grabbed the knife once more. Cutting away the strings that kept the skin connected to the women. Eventually pulling it fully off and waving it in front of her face. “One down~ many more to go~” flinging the chunk against the wall. Blood and mess keeping it attached to it.

Astrids heart started bumping away like a drum in her chest. Arms crossed once again, digging nails into her own flesh. Why did this shit actually excite her? It was in no way sexual, just like a rush of energy. She really didn’t want to let Michael know of this feeling. Mainly for not wanting to admit that they understood one another. Keeping to herself she watched as he repeated the action to every tattoo on her arm. Blood now covering his shirt and face. Hallow’s head hanging back as pain and shock set in. Her arms looking as if having the same texture of Freedy Krueger’s face. This didn't even drive Astrid to want to look away. The only feeling in her chest was jealousy. It felt like he was just rubbing it in her face. Look at what I can do, that you don’t have the guts to do. She’d show him and whip that nonexistent smug look off his face. Quietly picking up the hammer from before again. Moving slowly up behind Michael who seemed to be preoccupied. Raising the blunt object over his head. Swinging it down to only instead strike Hallow’s hand. Jolting her out of her pain-stricken daze. An ear piecing scream echoing through the room. “Son of a fucking hell!” Her head rocking back and forth. Causing the chair to do the same with creaking of the wood underneath. Happening all within a handful of seconds, Astrids eyes widened at astonishment.

“What the hell!? Where did he?” unfinished questions being met with a hand grabbing her wrist. Like a flash, she was across the room and against the wall. Arm held above her head, and the one with the hammer slamming against the wall. Causing her to drop her hopeful murder weapon to the floor. A loud clank and bang joining the screams from Hallow. Michael’s eyes stared directly into Astrid. Both giving off slight sounds of panting. In a single moment the world melted away. All there was left was them. What made the sudden atmosphere change? Not even the two bodies slightly pressed against one another could answer. Some strange sudden force was bringing the two of their faces closer to one another. The respective heated breaths of one another’s peppering the others lips the inches closing more and more with every millisecond that passed. Just as their wanting lips about closed the gap a screech sounded behind them.

“What is wrong with you two fuckers!? I’m tired of this shit! Stop with this weird ass foreplay! Either go fuck and let me go! Or just fucking kill me already!” Hallow’s head falling down with tears pouring from her eyes. She sobbed and broken down finally. At this point who cared what happened. She was probably dead no matter what, so fuck it. “Just end this please...” The two that were so focused on one another a few moments ago looked at the destroyed women sitting there. Michael released Astrid’s wrist before taking her hand.

“Well, who am I to deny a women’s dying wish?” looking up at Astrid with a sly smirk. “What do you say Mon Amour~ Ready to get those answers you wanted?” Astrid looked back into his eyes. These feelings were becoming too much to ignore. This man caught her full attention now just like she had done for him. He was someone she could finally be herself with. Why not let it play out and see where it goes. Then if anything just kill him once he served his purpose. Having finally made up her mind, her hand gently gripped his. Nodding slowly keeping their eyes locked before turning to Hallow. Looking up from her tear-filled defeat. Her eyes widened as the two walked over hand in hand. A knife in Michael’s and the hammer back in Astrid’s.

“Sorry for the wait... my dear~”

“Wait... wait! I was just kidding! Go back to making out or whatever!” Her finally pleads changing into horrific screams. Screams that would be never heard by the outside world. The Screams that would mark the end of Hallow. Most importantly starting what would be the turning point for two strangers. Who were more connected than they could have thought possible.