"It's show time." A thunderous clap echoed through the air, letting the audience know his arrival on the live stream. The masked teen emerged from the shadows and strode confidently into the center of the camera's view. Despite Anthony's muffled whimpering coming from behind him, the teen was focused on his grand entrance. In his mind, he was the star of this show, and Anthony was merely a prop to enhance the entertainment for the audience.
A sharp intake of breath escaped Hana's lips, and I could see her trembling from the corner of my eye. Despite what Anthony did to her, Hana is not a malicious person. Even as she watches his execution on the livestream, she does not wish harm upon him. If she were to find out that I am responsible for this, she would never let me forget it. Right now, she is oblivious to my dark side. I need her more than ever in order to achieve my goal. I must continue to play the role of my weak-willed brother in front of her.
"He's not going to make it, Yugin," she states the obvious, her voice trembling and fearful. She was scared, not for her own well-being, but for another being in desperate need. It was as if she could feel his fear and pain as though she were in his very shoes.
"It certainly seems that way. I wonder which shinigami is responsible for that user. They must be having more fun than us, trapped in this room and just watching everything happen." Ryuk's voice was muffled by the apple in his mouth, and he sounded bored as he spoke.
"This is far beyond the realm of fun. It's twisted and disturbing," Edel argued with Ryuk, causing me to cringe mentally.
Our eyes were glued to the monitor, our hearts pounding with anticipation as the familiar woman with lifeless eyes reappeared on the livestream. This time, she was hauling out a worn wooden table, its surface cluttered with an assortment of mysterious objects. Among them were seven sharp darts, their metal tips glinting in the dim light like deadly weapons. Next to them sat a tall glass bottle filled with a bubbling, dark blue/black liquid that seemed to swirl and writhe inside. The woman's movements were slow and deliberate as she arranged the items on the table, each one holding a mysterious significance. There's a sense of familiarity when I look into her eyes, but I can't quite place it. It feels as if we've met before, but my memory fails me at the moment. The tension in the room was palpable as we waited to see what would happen next in this strange livestream performance.
" As I said before. I am the rightful owner of this new world that is coming." The teenager's voice echoed loudly through the livestream as they reappeared in the spotlight. Anthony's incoherent mumbling grew louder and more frightening. Despite watching his livestream, I couldn't make out his words - it was all just nonsensical rambling.
With a graceful stride, the masked teen glided to the side of the table, beckoning for the audience to join in on the spectacle. The room was set with Anthony's body hanging against the back wall, while a wooden table stood proudly in the center, creating a perfect frame for the haunting scene. From where we stood, it was as if we were watching a twisted work of art come to life before our eyes.
Hana let out another sharp gasp, wincing at the sight of Anthony. Edel remained stoic, standing tall with his arms crossed over his chest. Meanwhile, Ryuk was floating lazily in the air, seemingly unaffected by the situation.
"I see this person as my new plaything, someone who will showcase strength. I'm curious to see how long he can endure the pain I will soon inflict upon him. The initial punishment he received was nothing compared to what was to come. The true entertainment begins now." With a gentle twist, he removed the lid from the glass jar, revealing its contents to the dimly lit room. Carefully, he plucked one of the sharp darts from its resting place next to the jar and dipped it into the mysterious liquid within. "Nightshade berries," he mused, his voice laced with reverence. "My mother's prized possession. She tended to her whole garden, but these berries were her passion." He swirled the dart in the liquid, watching as it turned a deep shade of purple, almost black. "She knew just how to care for them, how to harness their deadly beauty."
Panic and desperation flooded through Anthony's body as he whispered, almost shouting, "No no no no," repeatedly shaking his head as if trying to rid himself of a nightmare. He strained against the metal chains binding him above his head, desperate to break free with his raw strength. But his fragile state prevented any movement, the cold metal refusing to budge even a fraction of an inch. Fear gripped him tightly, his dilated pupil reflecting the terror that consumed him. Despite one eye bulging from its socket, he couldn't tear his gaze away from the ominous figure standing before him.
"Silence your incessant whining, for your fate lies within your own hands," the masked teen taunted, With a swift motion, they released the first dart from their hand, aiming directly at Anthony's chest. The projectile flew through the air with deadly precision and landed with a sickening thud in the center of his chest. A pained scream erupted from Anthony's lips as he felt the sharp needle pierce his skin and sink deep into his flesh, sending waves of agony throughout his body. His cries echoed off the walls of the dark dungeon where he was being held captive. The masked figure cackled triumphantly, relishing in their victim's suffering.
Hana stumbled backward, falling onto her butt as she frantically covered her eyes with trembling hands."This is so cruel," Every muscle in her body seemed to shake as she whispered the same phrase over and over again, a desperate plea for this cruel situation to end. We could all hear her muffled words through her fingers, the anguish and disbelief evident in her shaking voice.
Ryuk casually asked, "What effects do nightshade berries have on humans?" He didn't seem to care about Hana's vulnerable state.
"Extremely toxic. A high dose can be fatal to a human. The first symptoms include nausea and the urge to vomit everything lurking in their stomach. Then, intense itching and hallucinations set in." I replied as my eyes stayed fixed on the live stream.
I can't bring myself to harbor hate towards this person, even though their behavior often annoys me. This just proves why I haven't been able to find someone else like them. They may have a short fuse, but they possess knowledge in a variety of subjects that make them fascinating.