Page 16 of Queen of Vice

“Let’s start on the right. When we get to the other room, I can consider it delayed gratification.”

He snorted in response. I rolled my cuff links back and pushed open the steel door. I was greeted by the sight of two men tied side by side with cloth bags over their heads. Yellow and green puss had accumulated around the gaping hole I’d left in one of their thighs. The maggots I sprinkled over top were sliding right through it. If I listened closely enough, I could hear their tiny bodies moving.

Diablo and his current trainee both stood waiting for my arrival, dressed in the usual plastic gear to protect their clothing fromblood. The kid couldn’t have been any older than seventeen, but he showed promise, and his father had requested he be placed here.

“They haven’t said anything new since you questioned them. I pulled that one’s teeth out about a half-hour ago,” Diablo explained, pointing to the man on the left.

“Well, that explains why he's got drool all down the front of him.” I turned to my cousin. “I want you to capture every second of this. When it’s done, send a message to anyone you think might have the slightest inkling to do what these two did, or may find incentive to come forward.”

He placed his bag out of the way and began pulling out his gear. I glanced around the room while I waited, my gaze landing on a lime-green chainsaw. “Is that new?”

“Thought I’d switch it up,” Diablo replied with a grin.

“By all means.”

“You may want to move. This will be messy,” the trainee advised.

I wasn’t sure why he suggested that. Blood didn’t bother me. It was as common as air. Some days I wore it like a second skin. He dipped his head, and I looked down at the same time my brother spoke.

“He’s being considerate of our shoes.”

“These are nice, aren’t they?” I mused, looking at my Mantellassis. “Good eye.” I heeded the trainee’s advice and moved to the far side of the room with Elias and Sergio, who was now poised and ready for the show.

Diablo slid a face cover in place and grabbed the chainsaw from the large hutch that held his tools. He then approached the hooded men. “Good to go?” he asked Sergio.

Diablo gave his companion a thumbs up before pulling the cord on his tool. The room was suddenly filled with a deafening whir as the motor kicked into gear.

Diablo lunged towards the man on the left, wielding the large chainsaw with effortless skill. The sharp blade tore through flesh and bone, slicing through the man's neck with savage force. Blood sprayed and spurted from the wounds, staining the walls and floor red. Despite his strength, Diablo's arms trembled slightly from the effort of keeping the heavy tool in place. As the blade cut deeper into the man's body, his limbs convulsed and strained against their restraints.

For a moment, it seemed as though he might break free in a burst of desperate adrenaline. But in one swift motion, Diablo finished the job and sent the chair crashing to the ground with its lifeless occupant. The severed head rolled across the concrete floor, leaving a trail of blood in its wake before coming to a stop at my feet. The sudden movement caused Diablo to lose control for a split second.

The chainsaw veered off course and sliced through the next man's arm. The sound of bone being torn apart mingled with agonized screams as he writhed in pain. With a dark grin, I watched as Diablo continued his brutal work, relishing the chaos and carnage that peppered the room like macabre confetti.

He cut the chainsaw off and the kid stepped forward, putting an end to the whole debacle by shooting the man in the side of his head. The bang echoed throughout the room. Once it receded there was no sound but both bodies twitched for a few seconds, making a slapping sound in blood that had congealed around them.

“Well, that was just fucking beautiful.” I clapped slowly. “I suppose we'll have to add that technique to your repertoire," I said to Diablo.”

"It would be my pleasure," he replied with a possible grin. It was difficult to tell with his mouth covered in blood and a facemask.

As he began to clean up, I noticed Elias was watching the trainee with contemplation. I’d ask him about it later when we were alone. I turned to Sergio. “Did you get it all?”

“From start to finish, a few frames each.”

I gestured to the door, and he and Elias walked with me as I left the room. “How soon can you have everything ready?”

“Within the hour.”

“Alright.” I crossed to room four, my pulse picking up the moment I entered. Four different men were bound by their wrists and ankles, all stripped naked. The chains that restrained them were bolted into the concrete, offering no slack, and constructed in such a way that regardless of how badly the muscles in their legs burned, they had to remain standing.

“Which one of you pissed yourself?” Elias asked jokingly.

I chuckled and rolled my sleeves higher. Only one dared to lift his head and look at us.

The others remained staring at the floor. They reminded me of terrified rodents, trapped and huddled together as much as they could be in some pitiful act of comfort and solidarity.

“Should I capture this too?” Sergio asked.

“Only some of it. I’d like to have a couple mementos.”

---