Warning: It's a dark chapter
"Five missing fingernails. A broken wrist. Three broken fingers. I'm not going to ask you again Caffrey. Where is the treasure?"
Neal could barely raise his head to follow the all-too familiar voice. His eyes were closed, sheltered from the cruelty inflicted upon him. Yes, in the dark he could pretend and hope. In the dark he was safe. The voice grew impatient. A tool wrapped around his finger. A split second later a crack was heard. The pain followed then, shooting up his arm, consuming him with torment. He further squeezed his eyes shut, as if to wipe out the reality of his situation.
Neal knew what Keller was up to. He wanted to crush his talent in art forgery. He relished in stealing his name and rendering himself as the new con artist. Neal's true weapon lay in his hands. With them, he was everything. Keller knew this. To break the skilled art forger, he was targeting Neal's hands. Without them, you're just an ordinary man, a small voice dreadfully echoed in his mind. No. He couldn't let Keller win. He remained silent.
Clapping was heard in the distance.
"I see you like playing games Neal. How about we play some hot poker?"
Neal detected amusment. Keller was enjoying himself. Gradually he opened his eyes, locking contact with the monster of a man.
"I never took you for a man of violence. Sure, I heard stories circulating here and there. About this jake bloke...and the notorious Ana Frost case. But I thought them to be speculations. In all the years I've known you, you never lifted a finger on any of your victims. You prefered to hide under your guns. I guess prison changed you. You take satisfaction in people's suffering. You, Keller, are a sadist. If you think i'm going to give you the location of the treasure..." Neal paused, laughing weakly. "You are sorely mistaken."
"SHUT UP" Keller screamed. He was surprised at Keller's sudden rage. Clearly he did not take a liking to the word sadist. A split second later a fist smashed against his face, disorienting him instantly.
Neal managed another laugh, despite his pounding headache. He could taste the blood on his chaffed lips. He felt cocky all of a sudden, willing to push Keller to his limits.
"I guess Keller doesn't like being called a sadist. How about a sadistic pervert? Does that work for you? Wasn't your last girlfriend sixteen years old? You were old enough to be her father. Hey now that i think about it-"
Another fist smashed into Neal, this time it was directed at his gut. He gasped, wheezing for breath. The dizziness consumed him. Neal could barely proccess Keller's presence. Vaguely he heard the man snarl out a remark.
"I'll give you a piece of my mind. But first, let's shut you up a little bit..."
Neal watched solemnly as Keller produced a long strip of duct tape. He knelt in front of the consultant and aggressively pressed the tape against his lips.
"I'd like to hear you scream as loudly as you can now." Keller grinned as he dissapeared from Neal's line of vision. Darkness was caving in as his concussed head pounded away. He wanted to pass out before Keller returned and revealed further surprises in store for him.
Suddenly, as if in sync with his thoughts, a hot burning sensation engulfed Neal, and he let out a muffled scream. He looked down blurrily, at a hot poker stick, gleaming in front of him.
"That wasn't loud enough. Again!" Keller cried out as he jabbed him again, and again. Neal began counting in his head as an attempt to subdue the pain. One, two, three, four- "ARGHHHH" He screamed out as tears spilled down his cheeks. The pain was unbearable. It was as if his whole body were on fire, a million searing pricks continuously stabbing him. . Frantically he tore at his bloody wrists, yet they remained firmly tied. Another jab-this time to the stomach. Sweat, mingled with blood caked his forehead.
And as suddenly as he had started, Keller stopped.
"I don't want to kill you just yet" He muttered under his breath as he walked away. Time seemed to slow, and Neal closed his eyes, begging for oblivion to take him. A desire to vomit became urgent, and he bit back his tongue as a feeble attempt to lessen the urge. If he puked now, he would drown in his own contents.
Keller came back with a syringe.
"You need to get some rest while I go and talk to that Burke friend of yours. Don't want to get distracted by your presence." Keller knelt down, rotating the needle in front of Neal purposfully. His eyes locked with Neal's. His piercing blue eyes were fierce-indeed there was still fire in them. Eyes with hatred, mingled with fear, Keller decided. He smiled suddenly as the young man frowned in confusion.
"Sleep tight" He said lastly as he pricked the consultant with the needle in the neck. Keller watched as Neal's eyes became droopy and then eventually, they closed. Satisfied, he rose and started dialing Agent Peter Burke's phone.