…Finally…after all of the torture…I'm finally free…

SLASH. A heavy thud followed by a maniacal cackle. The figure walked towards the collapsed person, grabbed him by the collar and forcefully punched him. Now what have I told you about saying 'no' to me?

Silence.

Damn you! Another sound, slicing of human flesh, blood splatters to the floor, an anguished scream. Screaming shows weakness. I thought I told you that. Scream again and see what happens.

Another slice, another scream. More blood soils the floor. I told you not to scream again, now you have sealed your fate.

Get up hikari.

Bloody and broken, Ryou struggled to get to his feet but he couldn't make it. He collapsed in a pool of his own blood, causing his yami to send a savage kick to his face. "You worthless piece of shit. I said get up."

"Y-yes…Bakura"

And yet, he couldn't get up. His body wouldn't respond to his brain. "If I say get up one more time"-

"I can't."

Before he knew what he said, Ryou found himself face to face with Bakura. "Did I just hear you say you can't?"

Ryou stayed silent. It's not like he had the strength to speak anyway. "Answer me Ryou!"

And he of course stayed silent. Ryou knew he was in more trouble than he needed and if he said anything, it would just make it worse. "Don't want to talk now? Has your courage exhausted, or is it just your mind?…Pathetic."

He then threw Ryou to the wall, causing him to slide down painfully, leaving a trail of blood on the wall. Bakura pulled out a pocketknife and walked towards Ryou. Pulling him closer, he placed the cold steel blade to his face. "Since you have apparently lost your importance to me, I could just kill you now." "N-no…I am…still useful…to you…" "Then prove it hikari. Make it so that you don't die." Then Bakura thrusted the knife into Ryou's hair, cutting it and scraping a bit of his scalp, then stepped back to see what Ryou was going to do.

Crap.

Now Ryou is in a tight situation. He had no strength left, losing blood at an alarming rate, and Bakura was just watching him, not even going to help. When Ryou tried to get to his knees, he slipped, falling face first and making his yami laugh at his struggles. He tried again, well wanted to, but that was it. He used the last bit of energy he had to say, "Help…me…please cough …help me…Bakura."

"Help you? Why should I help you when you can't help yourself? You're better off dead. The weak are nothing but fodder; slaves to whoever deems it so. Only the strong survive, hikari. I'll see you in hell."

And that's when Ryou blacked out.