The shriek tore through the hushed silence at a tremendous pace, shattering the tension which had built up around them in the air. The sound was joined by Chows rumbling laughter, adding to the discomfort the soldier felt. Two were holding the American down, one holding his injured leg straight as the other pinned his arms and chest to the floor. There was no need - he was in too much pain to be able to stop them.
Chow had been angered when Jack refused to pick which punishment he would endure. Instead he had stared at the officer; after he had calmed himself from the attack on his foot. Chow had smiled as he had rolled up his neatly ironed sleeves, deciding that he wanted to do the job himself. He had started from the injured foot, moving his way up the shin slowly; having not yet reached the knee.
He paid a lot of attention to the now shattered ankle before moving upwards relishing in the mans pain and torment, it seemed to fuel him. The man had passed out but he didn't care, he continued the attack, knocking the man further away into oblivion. It was too much, they all knew it - even Chow.
He seemed to accept the fact that he would soon have to stop as he moved away, giving Jack space as he began to vomit the bile from his empty stomach onto the floor as he came too. Jacks eyes watered from the effort, his whole body trembling, the shockwaves sending shooting pain up and down his leg; it was too much. They all knew it. Defeat had settled into his eyes as he had rolled onto his back, watching the officer grasping the sledgehammer with tearful eyes.
His eyes were pleading with the man to stop, and he would, but not yet. He had a job to do. He observed the small speckled splats of blood which patterned his uniform and scowled, before going in with another hit to punish the man for that. If they didn't come out, he swore under his breath, he would be back.
Jack rolled as best as he could on the floor as another raw, long yell of pain surged from his throat. He had been naïve earlier, when he didn't think he could scream anymore. Of course he hadn't expected the degree to which they would go to, to ensure he found his voice again.
His movements were restricted as his leg was still firmly held in place; but his upper body was no longer restrained. Why bother waste the effort? He twisted over as though he could relieve the pain he felt trapped in his body, inside the limb lying limply on the floor, waiting for more torment.
He herd the soft tap of the salty tears hitting the floor as they rolled over his face, he couldn't stop them now; he was well and truly finished. Chows spirits, however, were not dampened, as he crouched down leaning over the prisoner threateningly, tapping the heavy object against the ground as he started menacingly at the man.
"Please," Jack whispered, "please, don't… please." Chow had to lean in to hear him, and was satisfied with the pleads, but he knew it wasn't over yet.
He could see Jack was fading again as his eyes began to roll to the back of his head; he caught his attention with a few slaps to the face.
"Please," he whispered again as fresh tears replaced old ones.
He didn't know what else he could do, to make them stop. He could beg and plead but he didn't have the energy of the focus to form complete sentences. They were not asking him for anything, he couldn't even give them false information to give himself a break. Who was he kidding, he would have told them what they wanted to hear by now if this was an interrogation.
Would he, his mind questioned as he tried to hold on to some sense of pride. Maybe. It was hard to know for sure; maybe the knowledge would have made him hold on. But this, complete unprovoked brutality, it was all too much. He couldn't hold on anymore, he wanted to let go and be free of this life, this torment.
The grin slowly faded from Chows face as he listened to the mans fading pleads as he thought for consciousness once more.
"You have a visitor Bauer, would you like to see your visitor?"
Jack looked up at the man confused, was this another trick? Was there somebody waiting outside who would hurt him ever more, maybe even take his leg? He looked at the man sceptically, why would he change the 'focus' in the room, all of a sudden? Maybe they wanted to catch him off guard, so he would be open to even more pain and abuse afterwards.
Looking up at Chow and then down at his leg, he swallowed hard before trying to nod his head. The effort was too much, so he let out a gruff 'sure,' before closing his eyes. Chow snapped an order and the men left the room silently. He followed them out so he could go and prepare, get himself ready to bring the visitor in - knowing that the work was sure to be complete once the American was alone again. They had finally allowed the darkness him away.
Please reivew ;)