Footsteps entered the room without hesitation. Their firm, proud sound giving away who they belonged to if there was any question to begin with. When finally reaching their destination, a figured silhouetted against the glass front of the small case. After pushing a few buttons on a small watch, the glass shimmered to reveal a young boy crushed into a corner, chained.
Time ticked by moment by moment as both waited for the other to show signs of conversation. After the seconds spread into more than a few minutes, the elder of the two spoke. His voice rang clear as his footstep had on their approach, echoing in the silence.
"Hello, little badger. How are we today?" There was an obvious taunt in the voice, knowing the true answer.
The boy behind the glass failed to suppress a violent flinch at the loud noise after his long last in silence. It had been days, maybe weeks, without sound. The reintroduction of voice was both a pain and relief, but there was no reply.
"Well then, I'm glad to see that you are enjoying your 'room'."
There was a slight growl in response so low the man almost missed it if not for his enhanced hearing.
"Tsk tsk," The man chuckled lightly, "It seems you require more 'alone-time' than I first assumed; a few more weeks perhaps. We can't have you disrespecting your master, now can we?"
The reaction was immediate. The boy jumped off the floor and rushed towards the man, a whimpering plea escaping his dry lips. He came as far as the chains would allow, enough for his hands to fully press into the glass.
The man looked into those impossible, blue eyes. They held a broken glaze yet, to the man's delight, retained their fire firmly lit in the shadows.
When the man made no move to relieve any of the boy's fears, another plea tore through the silence. "Please, I'm sorry!"
The response was a chuckle. "Hit a sore spot did I? Well, I don't see the harm in letting you out for a few hours." He mused.
Light broke through the boy's eyes as his whole demeanor seemed to brighten with hope. He nodded vigorously, pulling at the chains' hold on him to move closer.
Lips pulled into a dark smile as the man saw how truly broken the boy was becoming. "Perhaps I will check my schedule for the day after tomorrow, or this weekend. I am very busy as you may imagine and I can't be slacking off on my duties for a troublesome boy, now can I?"
The faint hope in the boy's eyes shattered like the frail light he had held onto for so long. He shook his head slowly, trying to understand. It was only moments before realization hit him. Fighting against the chains, the boy pulled and pleaded for freedom, for another chance, a promise of obedience, but it all fell on deaf ears. Without a second thought, the man reestablished the sound-proof, one way mirror to replace the glass.
Guiltless, the man's sure steps walked out of the lab and into his study where he sat as the large desk harboring his computer. Typing quickly, he activated the camera hidden in the boy's case and watched his prize break before his eyes.
The boy was still pounding on the glass, though it was now a mirror only reflecting the sole being in the case. When he tired, the boy's fist slid down the mirror as he fell to his knees. Shoulders shook, telling the viewer that the boy was crying.
Smirking proudly, the man continued to watch as the boy let his hand fall into his lap followed by tears, tracking down his young face. It was at least ten to twenty minutes before the boy made another move which was to slowly back his way into the corner he was first seen in. He brought up his knees and hugged them tightly, burying his face to hide behind them.
Heart wrenching as the sight was, the viewer felt another smirk split his face. He turned triumphantly away from the monitor and made his way to his private chambers. Readying for bed, one thought rang through his mind accompanied by that last sight of Daniel Fenton. Vladimir Masters smiled.
Soon.