Mortimer quickly made his way through town, his feet stomping harshly into puddles below him. With a face of unphased determination, Mortimer pushes through the doors to a business company he was all too familiar with.
"Sir, you can't just go into Mr-"
"I have an appointment." Mortimer snaps, walking past the women at the front desk and directly to the elevator. He hits the button to the top floor, tapping his foot impatiently. After it stops, he walks into Grendels office uninvited.
Grendel looks up from his desk with a tilt, his cigar hanging from his mouth. His blinds were already closed, the room dark with the exception of one lamp on his desk. He sets his cigar in the ashtray before giving a smile with a greeting to his uninvited guest.
"Ah, Mortimer. What brings you to my office this fine night?"
Mortimer swallows, making sure he speaks quickly before he loses what's left of his bravery.
"I don't want to do this anymore, it's over." He quickly says, not caring to explain what he means. Grendel stares at Mortimer in what seemed to be amusement. Mortimer doesn't even notice Grendels eye twitch for a moment.
"What was that?"
"I don't want to do this anymore, Grendel."
Grendel looks firm now, eyes piercing into Mortimer. Mortimer tried to ignore it as best he could, despite how terrifying it was.
"I can't do this, I want the kid to be free."
There's a moment of silence between them, Grendel closing his eyes and putting out his cigar fully in the ashtray. The light sound of the flame dying makes Mortimer jump slightly, but he keeps face.
"You're already years into this and the kid doesn't even know who you really are. She doesn't even remember you taking care of her when she was a pinkie. What, do you think she'll trust you? Besides, I told you that if you break your part of the deal, then I'll break mine." Grendel smiles, leaning back in his chair and kicking his feet up onto his desk carelessly. Mortimer glares, grinding his teeth.
"Fine then! Break it! I don't care if I never sleep again, I'm taking the kid out of there and you're not going to stop me."
Grendels smile immediately falls. Mortimer turns to walk away but stops when he hears Grendel respond.
"Hmm... That's quite bold of you Mortimer." Grendel starts, his voice very calm. Nothing that Mortimer expected. Mortimer turns around, eyeing Grendel curiously.
"Oh? I mean, so… It's fine? That means we have mutual respect and we can both move on and-" Mortimer is cut off, Grendel suddenly using his magic to slam Mortimer against the wall hard. Mortimer gasps in pain and surprise. He feels his own skull rattle a second, and his back popping from the impact of his body against the wall. He notices quickly he can't breathe. It seems like something is choking him, but he can't see it. It held him up against the wall, ever so slightly up so his feet couldn't touch the ground.
"Bold. But incredibly stupid. I was really hoping it wouldn't come to this." Grendel finishes.
Mortimer tries hard to breath, straining and clawing at whatever was at his throat, but feeling nothing. The confusion and fear is clear on his face. Grendels eyes are completely black, terrifying Mortimer even more. Grendel tilts his head, trying to figure out exactly was going through Mortimers mind. Once it clicks, he smiles wide.
"Oh, you don't know what's happening to you right now, do you? Well, right now you can probably tell I'm holding you there with my magic. It's amazing what I can do, isn't it? I'm using your own shadow against you." Grendel begins to laugh loudly, wiping a happy tear from his eye.
"Something about that is so entertaining to me."
Mortimer begins to kick slightly, the fear of his air being slowly cut off terrifying him. He didn't want to die, and it felt like he would pass out any second. The corners of his vision started to blacken.
"Stop! I-I can't-"
"You know, I'm pretty tired of you trying to assume you can do what you want. First of all." Grendel began, his hand raising, using his magic to tighten around Mortimers throat harder for a moment. Mortimer kicks more, panic climbing rapidly. He felt his own heart thump hard against his chest. Then Grendel continued.
"I didn't say you could speak. Second, I'm not done talking, so listen. Okay?"
Grendel waits a moment before continuing. As terrified Mortimer is, he listens to Grendel carefully.
"Listen Mortimer, you're so used to being the one in charge, it seems you don't understand the dynamic we have here. I'M in charge. You have no choice in anything. I've given you enough chances, but it seems a long overdue lesson is in order."
Grendel cracks his knuckles, his voice going softer another moment.
"Mortimer... I'm going to use my magic to attack you. You, are going to say 'Thank you for the lesson' after I do so."
Mortimers eyes widen and he struggles more. This was sick, and he was not about to play his game. Mortimer didn't care, he's going for self-respect, and he opens his mouth to protest.
"No! Auha-"
Mortimer once again finds himself unable to really breathe, the force getting tighter another painful moment. He saw the black starting to take over his vision completely, but as quickly as it came, it went. He was suddenly allowed to barely get enough air in to stay conscious.
"I really don't like it when others tell me no." Grendel says coldly. He walks over and easily grabs Mortimer by the collar, throwing him hard into a nearby wooden chair, smashing it to splinters. Mortimer tries to breathe, weakly trying to sit up on his knees, the force still around his throat. Grendel stands over Mortimer.
"Now say it."
Mortimer glares at Grendel, not saying a word. If he could, he'd snap at him. He'd declare he'd never do as he was told The pain shot through him harshly again. Mortimer wanted to move. To get himself out of there as fast as he could, but he felt glued to the ground.
Grendel kicks into Mortimers side hard with no hesitation. Mortimer eyes widen as he hears a crack from his side. He falls over completely again, holding his side. He couldn't even process that his rib was broken.
"I said, say it." Grendel growls, still standing over the mouse. Grendel slams his foot down onto Mortimers back hard, sending another loud crack throughout Mortimers body. Mortimer felt his fear climb again, knowing he couldn't take anymore abuse.
"Please, I can't- ah!"
Grendel kicks again hard in Mortimers side, causing Mortimer to cough and try to gasp for air more. Mortimer hears nothing but loud ringing in his ears now, the pain nearly sending him into shock. It was if Grendel was hurting him enough to barely keep him conscious, but make sure he suffers as much pain as possible.
"Say what I told you to say." Grendel snaps. Mortimer doesn't even think this time, turning and weakly responding.
"N-no-" His pride might be the death of him, and he didn't even get a chance to finish.
Another kick, this time to the face, sends Mortimer flat on the ground. Grendel calmly walks around, getting down to one knee to get close to Mortimers face. Mortimer weakly pulls himself to his knees again. He couldn't tell if it was himself or Grendels power making him do so.
"I recommend you be a smart rat and do what you're told before I completely break you." Grendel warns. Mortimer looks down, his eyes shifting as his mind races. Out of fear and pain, Mortimer manages to finally speak.
"T-thank you for the lesson." He felt sick to his stomach saying this. If he had the energy, he'd probably throw up. This was just humiliating, as much as he tried to think of a way out of this, he couldn't. He felt his body fall in defeat. Mortimer then suddenly feels the force completely drop, finally being able to breathe fully again. He rolls on his back, gasping and breathing deeply for air. His vision became fully clear as well, and the ringing in his ears started to die. He felt incredibly weak.
"Good job! Now, that wasn't so hard, was it? Would you kindly stand now?" Grendel smiles and stands up, leaning back against his desk.
With great strain, Mortimer pulls himself up, but still holding on to his side in pain. His legs are shaking as well, threatening to collapse beneath him at any moment. Grendel rolls his eyes with a frown, walking back over to Mortimer.
"Hmm, that's annoying to see, let me get that for you friend."
"Wait, what are you do-?!"
Mortimer tries to pull away from Grendel as he suddenly jams his hand into his side. He yelps in pain for a second, but his breathing slows as the pain starts to fade. Grendel pulls away finally.
"There." Grendel says, walking back over to his desk. Mortimer looks at his abuser surprised.
"Wait, how did you do that?"
"Magic of course. Not everything I do is destructive."
"But, why heal me?"
"Well, I wanted you to walk yourself home... But Mortimer, remember. What I did to you today, isn't even close to what I'll do to you if you try to say no again. And next time, don't count on me helping you recover. Understood?"
Mortimer swallows thickly before responding. He was too scared to argue. Never in his life had he ever been this scared. So he did all he could do. Respond and obey.
"Y-yes, I understand." He weakly responds, anxiously looking down. This was extremely out of character for him, but a near-death experience can change someones attitude quick.
"Good. Now, you can see yourself out Mortimer. It's okay, I'll clean up the broken chair." Grendel said with a light-voiced tease, a smirk on his face. He had such a look of innocence for a man who nearly beat someone to death a second ago.
"I-... Okay." Mortimer quietly said, turning and slowly making his way out. Once out the door, Mortimer runs out of the building, and doesn't stop until he reaches home. He slams his door closed, and quickly flops on his couch. His body shakes in weakness, his mind still not calming down. He couldn't even bring himself to shower that night, every noise made him jump. He felt truly trapped, scared. Mortimer realized many things that night. Himself and Desi were safe as long as Desi stayed in that orphanage, as horrible as it was. They had to do as Grendel says. He sighed out, finally calming his breathing. Grendel had them both trapped.