(A/N: So... I just realized this would be the perfect prologue for Withering Hope... Pretend like this was always here?)

INTRODUCTION

The stale air was damp and musty inside the old, dark room. Mold and grime coated the tiled walls and black rats squeaked as they scurried around the dusty cobblestone floor.

In the middle of the room were eight tables positioned in one long row. Each table had one person lying spread-eagled, chained by their ankles and wrists. They were all unconscious and wearing identical black shirts and purple shorts.

Gradually, they began to wake up from their slumber. "Wh... What..." one man mumbled as his eyes slid open. "Where am I..."

"Why can't I see?" another man asked.

"Where are the lights?!" a woman yelled. "What the hell's going on here?!"

The woman next to her began to struggle against her bonds to no avail. "We're trapped!" she cried out.

Everyone was now panicking, writhing desperately as they screamed for help. For a few minutes, it seemed like they were all alone, but then...

"Oh dear, it looks like the subjects are awake! Right on schedule too... Good job, me! Keep this up and you'll be an excellent show host in no time!" a voice rang out through the darkness. There was a static noise as the loudspeaker began to make a screeching sound. "Hey! Stop that! You stupid PA system!" the unknown person said. The sound of the person tapping their microphone filled the room before the feedback noise stopped. "Ah, that's much better... I really need to get better equipment for my show!"

"Y-You!" one of the men shrieked.

"Ooh, so you recognize my voice? Isn't it lovely?"

"Let us go!" a woman shouted, her haughty tone in her voice failing to conceal the way it trembled with apprehension. "What is the meaning of this- this nonsense?!"

"Well you see, when people want to show their appreciation for another person, they give a token of their friendship, right? So in return for all the hard work you've done, I decided to give you... well... a parting gift in return, pardon the pun..."

Bright lights suddenly flashed on and the eight people shut their eyes tightly before squinting. When their vision fully adjusted, they blinked rapidly and looked up to realize that the ceiling was quite a distance above them. Dangling from the ceiling was a long metal pole which had a large, razor-sharp saw blade attached to the end. They distinctly heard the sound of a button being pressed before the contraption activated and the blade began to spin wildly. For a moment, everyone was too bewildered to speak.

Then the pole started to swing back and forth as it slowly descended from the ceiling towards them, and everything broke into chaos.

"NO!" a man shouted, struggling in vain to free himself. "NO! NO! NO!"

"LET US GO, PLEASE!" a woman cried out.

"We'll do anything! Anything you want! Just don't kill us!" a man wailed.

"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" someone else shrieked.

All eight people were screaming and flailing on the tables, and some were actually sobbing in terror and anguish. The iron saw blade, swinging like a pendulum of a ticking grandfather clock, whirred loudly as it spun. Its jagged edges were so sharp, one could almost see the air itself being sliced apart as well...

"Ah, these sounds..." the voice said over the PA system. "These sounds of pure agony... These sounds of utter terror and anguish... I know them well... They're the tragically hopeless sounds of despair! It's like a demented choir from hell, isn't it deliciously wonderful? As an aspiring show host, I make a pretty good composer too, don't I? And no, none of your petty bargains will work with me! I am completely satisfied with this! My very first execution... I spent so long planning this out, I'm so glad to finally see it happening! My dream is coming true!"

The saw blade drew closer and closer to the group by the second, still cutting through the air.

"P-Please..." someone begged. "Don't do this..."

"Oh don't worry, it'll all be over soon! Maybe you won't feel the pain as the blade slices through your flesh and bone, ripping out your internal organs and completely disemboweling you in one instant! Or maybe you'll feel it for only one second before death claims you? I don't know, but we'll find out pretty soon! Isn't that the beauty of scientific experiments? If you don't know something, just test it yourself and you'll know the answer in no time!"

The saw blade was now swaying to and fro just a couple yards above them. The people had all quieted down and were now just whimpering in fear and apprehension.

"Well? How does it feel?" the voice continued, their voice suddenly dropping to a low, menacing whisper. "How does it feel? Huh?! HOW DOES IT FEEL?! HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE EVERYTHING OUT OF YOUR CONTROL?! DOES IT FEEL NICE?! WELL I BET IT FUCKING DOESN'T!" The voice cleared their throat. "Ah, pardon my language... I got a little heated just there! My dearest apologies for my rudeness, I shouldn't have gotten carried away like that! An aspiring show host like me must learn to keep their language in check for the audience!"

The saw blade descended at an even faster pace than before. The tension and anxiety in the air was palpable.

"Come on now, any last words? No? Aw man, this execution is going to be so boring... But I'm not that upset. After all, you eight are only the beginning, and it's not like anyone's going to know what's happened to you, let alone miss you! Soon... Soon I'll have lots more people under my control... I can see it so clearly now... The entire world plunging into despair because of me... Ah, my mind's going numb at the thought! It's quite unfortunate how you're not going to be alive to watch it though, but I'm going to be the most excellent show host! I've already chosen the 16 lucky people who're going to participate! So you see, I'm going to have lots and lots of despairing entertainment without you guys!"

The yards had now dwindled down to feet as the saw blade closed in for the kill.

"Hmm, maybe this calls for a song! What song would you guys like to hear before you die? Actually, I've got the perfect one for you! I changed the lyrics to fit the mood!" The voice suddenly started to sing raucously. "So we back in the mine, got a saw blade swingin' from side to side! Side, side to side! This task a grueling one, hope to cause some despair tonight, -night, -night! Despair tonight! Heads up! You hear a sound, turn around and look up! Total shock fills your body! Oh no it's me, your friend, now you'll never forget this slice, slice, slice! Slice, slice, slice!" The voice giggled breathlessly. "Oh, this is why I never became a singer. But hey, I thought the lyrics matched quite well, don't you think?! Plus, the song is titled 'Revenge'..."

The blade now mere inches above them, the people were actually sucking in their breaths. All of their eyes were bulging with horror, their mouths hanging open as they gasped for air. Their hearts pounded furiously as they squirmed desperately in their final moments...

"Welp! Guess this is it now! Have fun burning in hell! Upupupu!"

The saw blade made one final deadly arc through the air. The voice cackled gleefully as agonized screams ripped through the air, cutting off right before crimson blood splattered the walls and the floor.

The saw blade, whirring as it sent specks of blood flying through the air, stopped spinning. The pendulum slowed down gradually before finally swinging to a halt.

"Whooo! That was so thrilling! First execution went off without a hitch!" the voice cheered before bursting into peals of unhinged, deranged laughter. Then the voice paused and let out a sigh of pleasure, still giggling breathlessly.

"I guess... I guess this can be a little introduction before we start the real show..."