In an unfamiliar basement, the air smelled of rust and raw flesh.
Water dripped somewhere in the dark steady.
A woman stumbled in panic.
Behind her, from the dark a masked figure walked towards her, by the time she realized, he was already in range.
Leaned his head slightly to the side observing her. His right hand moved forward with deliberate slowness.
His hand rested on her shoulder. Instantly his grip tightened and pushed down.
She collapsed to her knees. As he let go, she crawled to the corner and faced him.
"Please… please don't do this." Her voice cracked. "I'll give you money. I'll disappear. I won't tell anyone… I swear, I won't work for them anymore…"
The masked figure stood before her.
The mask he wore was warped into an inverted smile as if joy itself had been twisted into mockery.
He crouched slowly, seized her jaw tight, She gasped as her face was forced upward to meet his cold, lifeless gaze as it bore into her soul.
"Have we met before?" the masked figure asked softly, it wasn't loud but that made it worse.
Her pupils shook. "I don't even know who you are!"
"There's a slight chance you do." The figure tilted their head. "But, I know you better."
His grip tightened slightly not enough to break skin, just enough to remind her she was powerless.
"Do you remember, once a child begged someone to let them stay, clearing every test with a perfect score." the figure continued. "Do you remember his face?"
Her body froze. as she tried to comprehend the threat standing before her. "I—I don't know what you're talking about! Trust me! I won't get in your way." Tears streamed down her cheeks.
The mask paused, and right after he started to laugh.
"In this world… everything acts to be pure." The masked figure leaned closer. "Trust. Love. Family. They only last until they face despair."
"I have children! They're waiting for me! Please… I can change!"
"Ha!? Change?" His eyes narrowed down. "You only changed when money was involved. When power was offered. When THEY asked!"
"Children? Ha, they are probably your test subjects too right!?" He said aggressively.
Her breath hitched. So he knew.
"I would let you leave…" the masked figure said calmly. She felt as if there was still hope.
"…from this world." The hope vanished in seconds.
He drew a blade from his coat. Steel caught the dim light.
"You worked for them."
The woman's lips trembled. "I had no choice—"
"There is always a choice."
One swift motion. A quiet, wet sound.
Her body collapsed against the concrete. The basement returned to silence.
The masked figure stared down at her. And dropped a paper with a canceled/anti smiling face.
"Goals…" he murmured. "People cling to them like they're salvation."
A drop of blood slid from the blade's edge.
"But goals are just chains you put on yourself."
"Time doesn't save anyone."
"But if you are that ambitious, you would know that, having a goal is no different than being lost in a deep dark cave, only after you take blind steps you'll begin… to see the light"
"Through countless dead ends. Goal drives humans insane, but you aren't insane for your goals, you're nothing but a mere puppet."
He turned and left the place.
Only the dripping water remained.