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This chapter contains graphic violence and is slightly longer than the others. I try not to make the chapters too long so they aren't eyesores, but this one has to be. Enjoy.
It's been hours since Gabriel left her in the room by herself. She's on the verge of falling asleep. Granted, handcuffs are uncomfortable, but she has a moment to be alone with her own thoughts. Time to breathe. Being confronted by Reyes was nerve wrecking, but it has been done and she doesn't have to worry about it anymore. Punishment is her biggest concern now. Nodding off, she is brought back to attention when she notices the door open. Has Reyes returned from the mission already?
A tall slender man steps inside the room, a butler. Sombra forgot that there are "housekeepers" keeping the base tidy while the operatives are away. He is carrying fresh towels to be placed in the bathroom. Sombra catches his attention by releasing as many muffled screams as possible. The butler goes into shock. How long has she been in here? Why is she tied to the bed? Can he release her? Rushing to her aid, the man forgets whose room he is in. Most staff at Talon know not to interfere with Reaper, but that passes the man's mind. All he can think of is helping this poor woman in front of him on the floor.
The pure white towels the man is carrying are dropped. That won't help the man achieve his goal. "Dear God..." the man whispers trying to remain calm. He doesn't want to frighten this tiny soul any more than what she has been. She looks like a mess. The butler is almost disgusted by how much blood is around her mouth, but sees past it to assist her. Sombra quiets herself as the man approaches her and begins to remove the duct tape. It hurts, of course and he is removing it slowly, only making the experience worse. While the butler tortures Sombra's lips by removing the duct tape, she watches the door.
He's returned. Panic.
Reyes enters the room slowly, noticing that Sombra isn't by herself. How did that get in here? Sombra's eyes are set on Reyes as she mumbles to the butler, "Run idiot." The man doesn't understand her pleas. He knows she wants out, she just has to be patient.
Once, he removes all of the duct tape he smiles at Sombra. "There, isn't that better?" he asks. She notices the man has a bit of age to him. He's not old, but he most definitely isn't young either. Reyes stands directly behind the man now, saying nothing. This is his only chance to leave with his life. Sombra yells, "Don't kill him Gabe!" She's begging with all that is left in her soul and she hates begging. She's vulnerable. She's frantic. He can take out his anger on her, but not this gullible man. Before the man has a chance to turn around and try to understand what this woman is talking about, he is grabbed by Reyes and is pinned against the wall.
"He's helping you escape!" Gabriel shouts at Sombra as he squeezes the man's throat.
The servant is shocked. He's never seen the Reaper up close and in person before. He's petrified. He can't even vocalize his fear. He just stares into the mask.
Sombra begs again, "He's just a man! He's done nothing to you."
"And he'll never be able to," Reyes doesn't hear Sombra anymore. What will happen now is of his own choosing. This man must meet his end. Changing his grip, Reyes stops choking the man and forces his fingertips into the man's throat. He'll tear his way into the man's flesh hoping to pierce his arteries. He is successful in this. Blood is rushing down Reyes' hands and the man is gasping for air. Blood spills from the man's mouth. Life is slowly draining out of him.
Sombra screams as tears pour down her cheeks, "Damn it! Damn it! Stop!" Another man killed in front of her. She hides her face in the side of the bed. There's no way she could've stopped or prevented this.
Dropping the man, the lunatic walks towards her. He's laughing. It's sinister. It's like he's happy about what he's done. Reyes crouches down as he runs his fingers over Sombra's cheeks covering her in the man's blood. As if her own dried blood wasn't enough. "Still can't learn your lesson can you?" he says as he removes her handcuffs. Oh God, what is he going to do to her now?
Standing to her feet as fast as possible, Sombra runs for the door. It's open and if she can catch him by surprise she'll make it out. She can't even make it past him. He grabs her by her arm and pulls her back in front of him. "You're going to help me dismember him," he whispers to her. Sombra can't believe what she's hearing. He can't be serious.
Wrapping his arm around her torso, he walks with her to a cabinet. There's box filled with knives that he grabs. Opening it he tells her, "Take one." She wants to do as he says to avoid punishment, but she comes to her senses. "No," she thinks as she speaks, "I won't do this. You're sick Gabe. SICK." Sombra punches his shoulder. There's a first for everything. He shrugs it off and pulls out a knife with multiple jagged edges. "You have no idea," he replies.
Walking back to the dead man, Reyes smirks and removes his mask. This should be a thrill. This man, this man died for his satisfaction. It's been a minute since he's devoured a soul. He's been too focused on Sombra's absence to think about himself. Reyes begins to stab the dead man in his eye sockets. The sound helps ease the tension he's been carrying.
The sight is gruesome. Sombra covers her mouth to prevent herself from throwing up, but she does regardless. She didn't eat today so she vomits stomach acid instead. It burns her throat and she hates herself for it, but it had to come up.
"God...please...Gabe what's wrong with you?" Sombra knew the man was insane, but she never expected...this.
Exhaling a hearty sigh, Reyes prepares himself to remove the man's limbs. He knew this man wouldn't be capable of freeing Sombra, this man was just an opportunity to release the urges he gets. He saws at the man's arms. Sombra's accustomed to seeing the dead now. Murder doesn't traumatize her, not like it used to. She's taken down a few people while on the job, but she had to. It wasn't a want. Their life or hers. This is...different. Reyes killed this man, because he was trying to help her. He committed no crime. And his eyes, they are filled with excitement. This varies from when he killed that man back at the bar; Reyes was marking his territory to a man that should've known better. Reyes was his commander and that man was a traitor for trying to steal his girl. The mutilation of this butler was for arousal. He could have easily let him go. No harm done to anyone and his ego would still be intact.
Sombra doesn't consider herself to be a good person, but this surpasses wicked. It's bringing back painful memories of her old town perishing from the Omnics. She shakes her head vigorously to get the thought out of her head. She's…not like this.
"You force me into these spontaneous situations Sombra. Take responsibility for your actions," Gabriel throws one of the man's limbs on the floor near her.
She has to get away from him. She has to tell somebody. If she tells another leader of Talon, maybe there might be repercussions for his actions.
Pushing away the man's limb, Sombra stands and runs out of the room. This has to stop and with the help of someone else, it might. She is unable to make it around the corner before Reyes shadow steps in front of her. Wrapping an arm around her waist while his other hand covers her mouth, he carries her back into his room. Sombra is shouting through his palm, but no one is close enough to hear her.
This bonding moment is between the two of them solely. No interruptions. No distractions. She now has the ability to see into his world, to understand who he is. Sombra will engage in this whether she likes it or not.
Placing Sombra on the bed Reyes tells her, "You'll learn to like this." She knows not to run for the door again. She has to watch this until the end. Thoughts of covering her eyes appear, but she can't. She's motionless. Her eyes are fixated on the tragedy before her. The crushing of bone, the ripping and tearing of flesh, the smell; it sticks to her. There's so much blood. Enough to pool at her feet. The man's heart no longer beats, but the thick red fluid is so bright and fresh. This man was alive. Whatever exists of him is now scattered in pieces.
He needed this, the sensation was a deliverance. It's been so long since Reyes' cleared his head and his issues with Sombra made his urges worse. He can't relate to people, but this makes sense. Control belongs to him. He determines where he cuts into the man and where to place his remains. It's perfect. And he finally has the chance to share this with someone. Everyone who has ever laid eyes on his craftsmanship had to perish as well. The mental damage tends to be beyond repair.
Sombra's handling it much better than expected. She's only throwing up her stomach. She's made this possible for him. She gave him something to fiddle between his fingers. So much potential. Yes, there is physical exertion needed to satisfy his desire, but the outcome is relaxing. He knows it will scar her, but her behavior has to stop and his true self might be able to accomplish that. After this she might respect him, if not she will understand the correct way to fear him.
Reyes is soaked in blood, but hasn't broken a sweat. He butchers people often enough for it to become second nature. There's intent in every motion of his blade, like a rhythm. It could be a melody; a demented one that he has orchestrated.
Sombra can barely keep her eyes open. The room smells of blood and stomach acid. Her head is spinning and her eyes are out of focus. She can't handle this. If she lives through this there's definitely no way she could pretend like this never happened. Reyes will probably dispose of the man's remains so that he can never be found. This man might have had a family, but they'll never know of what has happened to him and she can never tell.
Walking over to her once he has finished his task, Reyes grabs Sombra by her wrists to get her attention. Her head falls over to the side. She's not very present anymore. Her eyelids are swollen and pink. There were tears, but those are gone now. She's not the same anymore, the usual light in her eyes has faded, she's not there. Whatever is left of her is just some broken recording of a sensation she once felt. A part of her died here. "No, no, no, no," she's whispering.
Holding her head still Reyes stares at her. "No what?" his voice is speaking directly to her. He doesn't get a response. All she can do is repeat the same word over and over again, it becomes slightly more distorted with each utterance. No use in keeping her awake if she can't communicate. Pinching one of her nerves, Reyes forces her to pass out. He'll play with her again later.