The young guard sat slumped in a chair, hands bound tightly behind his back, duct tape sealing his mouth shut. He was built solid—muscular frame, shaved head, a thin goatee dusting his chin. His head lolled forward, unconscious.
Traitor.
Heavy footsteps echoed from behind me, growing louder until a figure stepped into view—Li Wei, dressed sharp in an all-black suit, his presence commanding the small room.
Without a word, he ripped off the duct tape, jolting the guard awake.
"Lā shǐ." (Shit.) The guard groaned, coughing.
"Did that hurt?" Father's voice cut cold through the silence.
I sighed, knowing this was going to be a long night. Pulling up a chair opposite the young guard, I lit a cigarette and offered him a long, hard stare.
"Xiānshēng, nǐ zài zuò shénme?" (Sir, what are you doing?) Hao asked nervously, eyes darting.
Father snapped, voice booming. "What am I doing? More like, what the fuck are you doing?"
Hao's gaze flicked behind him, anxiety written all over his face. "Xiānshēng, wǒ wèishéme bèi bǎng qǐlái?" (Sir, why am I tied up?)
No answer. Father lit a cigarette, clipped it between his lips, and took a slow drag. Then, fixing Hao with a cold stare, he spoke quietly but firmly. "Listen, Hao. I don't want to hurt you—I promised your father on his deathbed I'd take care of you. But if you don't answer honestly, we're going to have a problem."
Tears welled in the young guard's eyes. "What? I don't understand, sir!"
"You told the new whore about my history. That's against the rules, Hao. You pissed off the wrong people. That's why you're tied to this chair right now."
I stood and crossed to the corner where a black bag lay. Picking it up, I brought it back to my father.
"What!?" Hao's voice cracked.
Father's eyes burned with fury. "Are you denying it? That you told her about my rise to power?"
"I swear, sir, it wasn't me! You've got the wrong guy!" Hao spluttered.
Li Wei laughed—cold and cruel.
"Wǒ shénme yě méiyǒu zuò, sir!" (I have done nothing.)
Li Wei jabbed a finger inches from Hao's face. "You think you did nothing wrong. But you know you did."
"Méiyǒu!" (No!)
Ignoring the desperate denials, father knelt and unzipped the bag.
"What are you doing? Sir!" Hao's panic escalated.
Father's voice was calm. "Do you see this bag?"
"Yes."
"I call it my little bag of tricks."
"Nǐ huì zěnyàng zuò?" (What are you going to do?)
Father pulled out a timer, setting it to ten minutes. "This timer's for ten minutes, Hao. If I don't get what I want when it hits zero, you die."
Hao's eyes widened, darting between the timer and Li Wei.
Li Wei grinned cruelly. "I wonder what you're thinking, boy. Ten minutes left to live. Your friends? Your family? Or maybe you're regretting telling that whore secrets about me?"
"No! I didn't tell her anything!"
Father's expression twisted in disgust. He pulled a scalpel from the bag and lunged, slicing just above Hao's right eye.
The young guard screamed, sharp pain radiating through his skull.
"Liar! One more lie and the cuts get bigger and deeper," Li Wei spat.
Hao's screams softened, blood trickling into his eye. "I'm not lying! I would never do that to you, sir!"
Father sighed deeply. "Hao, I torture people. It's my job."
He glanced at the timer.
9:45.
I emptied the bag onto the floor—salt, a gun, another scalpel, and two knives. I checked the time again.
9:50.
"If you admit it was you who told her, I'll let you go."
Silence.
Father looked again at the timer. "You know there's a limit, right?"
"I don't know what you want from me! You've got the wrong guy, sir! Please, let me go!"
One of the knives spun through the air, embedding itself in Hao's foot.
"Fuck!" he screamed.
The second knife found its mark in his other foot.
His screams echoed through the room.
"Tell me what I want to know!" Father roared.
Still, no answer. Hao stared down at his bloody feet.
"I will kill you if you keep silent."
Tears streaming, Hao whimpered, "I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Tell me the truth. Or I'll hurt you again."
All Hao did was lower his head and shake it.
Father picked up the scalpel, circled behind him, and sliced through the webbing between Hao's fingers. Blood ran freely as each cut was made.
Hao's screams filled the room.
Father returned to his seat, voice calm, almost sympathetic. "It will only get worse from here. Just admit it."
Tears flowed freely now. "Please don't do this, sir! You're killing an innocent man."
"I don't think I am."
Hao stared at the ceiling. "Please, let me go!"
Li Wei stepped forward, scalpel in hand, and began peeling the skin from Hao's forearm.
He pulled back, grabbed the salt, and poured it onto the raw wound.
Hao convulsed violently, howling in agony.
"Are you thirsty?" Father's voice cut like ice.
Before Hao could answer, father left and returned with a kettle, steam curling into the air.
"Well? Are you?"
Hao's eyes widened in horror. "What are you going to do?"
Just then, Kang and Chen entered the room.
"I take it you're thirsty. So I'm going to pour this boiling water down your throat."
Hao thrashed, panic-stricken. "No! Please!"
Father's glare pierced him. You can stop this anytime. Just tell me what I want to know, boy.
The kettle and timer sat between them—the seconds ticking away.
"I'm innocent, sir," Hao whispered hoarsely.
Li Wei seized the kettle and forced the spout into Hao's mouth.
"Open your mouth!" he barked.
Hao shook his head, frantic.
"Open your fucking mouth!"
The scalding water poured down Hao's throat.
He screamed again, writhing as the water spilled over him.
Father stopped, handing me the kettle.
"Look at me."
Hao's head hung low, voice raw and broken.
"You don't have much time left. I hoped it wouldn't come to this."
He glanced at the timer.
Thirty seconds.
"Just nod, and this ends."
Twenty-five seconds.
Hao writhed, bloodied and exhausted, shaking his head.
Twenty seconds.
Father took the gun from me, cocked it slowly.
Hao's eyes went wide.
Li Wei sneered. "You're lying. Full of shit."
Eighteen seconds.
Father lit a cigarette, leaving the pack and lighter on the table.
"One last chance."
Hao whimpered.
Father stepped forward, gun in hand.
Twelve seconds.
"Your time's almost up."
Eight seconds.
"Any last words, boy?"
Silence. Hao shook his head.
Bang.