Chapter 2: Sadist
"Here, Marcelo." The younger man offered a piece of paper with a couple of numbers on it. Jimenez looked at the parchment in wonder. "This is the combination to the safe. If you have any papers to add to the research, here's the combination." He took the paper with slight hesitance and slipped it into his coat pocket. He smiled a false grin a Ruben stepped out of the room. Exactly what he was waiting for: a slip-up. Ruben got too comfortable with him when he should have left well enough alone. He did this to himself and sooner or later, he would regret it. He threw his research away, burned it all because of that little piece of paper with meaningless numbers.
"Than you, Ruben..." Jimenez though. He looked towards the safe on the table. "33-24-18.." The safe opened with a vintage creak. The entire safe was half-way full with diagrams, all of them on the brain. He took out the first quarter of the papers and scattered them all of the table. He looked at the diagrams, al of them of the different sections and lobes. He smiled mischievously. "Thank you, Ruben..." he thought grimly. The door suddenly opened and in came his burned partner.
"Marcelo, I forgot someth-.." He saw the mischievous smile on his face. "Reading the papers, are we?" Ruben walked over to his desk and picked up the briefcase he left.
"Yes. I just wanted to see how much you've done so far." Jimenez muttered, his head buried in the papers. "I must say, Ruben," he looked at the younger male, "I'm impressed."
"Thank you, Marcelo. I appreciate it." Ruben opened the door once more and strode to his chambers. It was late and tomorrow had to be productive. They had a deadline to meet, and it wasn't that far away.
The next day was beautiful. Ruben had woken up to the scarlet sun and buttered croissants brought in on the courtesy of Jimenez. He took his croissant with black coffee with sugar, soothing music by Debussy, and the daily paper. He took his time, considering the hour and the beauty of the world outside. The morning sun gave everything such a marvelous color. He opened the window, letting in the warm, summer air. He took his shower, and dressed himself. He went into the workroom, seeing it a mess. Well, wasn't that a spoiler. He immediately went to his safe to see that it was empty. Jimenez burst into the room, his face looking as if he was previously panicking.
"Marcelo, where's the research?" Ruben asked gravely. His voice was low and raspy and grim, almost lifeless.
"That's why the room's a mess- I can't find it!" Ruben closed his eyes, trying to keep the storming rage under wraps.
"You LOST IT?!" He screamed, scaring Marcelo, making him fall on his backside on the dusty floor. "You impudent fool! That was ALL I HAD!" He grabbed him by the neck and lifted him above his own head, single-handed.
"Ru..vik.. Stop-!" Jimenez pleaded, choking on his own tongue. Ruvik? Where'd that come from? He seemed to agree with the new name. It had a nice ring to it and it was less of a mouthful to say Ruben Victoriano. He looked the man in the eyes, a grim smirk on his face. Jimenez's own eyes started to close, the world fading to black and dots crossing his vision. Ruvik dropped him like a rag-doll. He saw something in his head as he dropped the older man. A man in chains was all he could see. He placed his hand on his head as Jimenez fell into a fit of coughing.. Ruvik walked away from the man on the floor. The man in chains started to get more defined, and armored. A cage with spikes covered his face and.. a chainsaw was in his hands.
'That's an interesting figure..' He thought, opening the door and leaving a petrified Jimenez on the floor.
