Arc 1: The American Psycho [VII]

Chapter: Terrifying Truth.

Someone was sprinkling water on her face. When that didn't help, the same someone lightly slapped her cheeks. It was a man's hand, strong and big, but without an ounce of violence. If Yor had to guess, the man was concerned, worried about her wellbeing and was trying to help her regain consciousness. For a moment she thought it was Loid, her husband and it made warmth bubble in her chest. Using every ounce of strength she could muster, she tried to open her eyes and her eyelids started to flutter open. But instead of being greeted by light, she was met by darkness – Yor Forger was blindfolded.

A bit alarmed, but not quite panicking, she tried to remove the blindfold from her eyes and that's when she made another dreadful discovery – Yor Forger couldn't move her arms. A moment later she found out that she couldn't move her legs either. Now she was starting to panic. Fear was beginning to set in. She started thrashing around on the bed, trying to break free of her restraints, when a large, warm hand was placed on her flat stomach and that's when she realized another thing – she was practically naked, dressed in nothing but a set of lingerie and a pair of stockings.

For the first time in her life, Yor Forger was truly afraid and she started thrashing about even more, trying in vain to break free of her restraints. The hand that was placed on her bare stomach was thrown off by her haphazard movements and she counted it as a small victory. But she wasn't allowed to revel in that moment for long.

"Calm down Mrs. Forger." Hikigaya said and immediately she remembered everything that had transpired between them which had led to this moment – how she had tried to drug him at the bar, how he had switched their drinks, how they had fought in her hotel room and how she had slipped on a banana peel, smacked her head against the coffee table and lost all consciousness.

Everything was coming back to her, even the state of her undress. Curse her and her habit of trying to keep everything neat and tidy. She shouldn't have bothered to clean up the broken shards of glass. Instead, she should have gotten dressed in her assassin's attire and completed her mission. But there was no use crying over spilt milk. It was better to get some answers instead.

"Where did you get the blindfold and these…things to restrain me to the bed?" Yor Forger asked.

"I found them under your bed. There was a black tote bag with the words 'Kinky Shit' printed on it in bright pink letters and wouldn't you know it, the bag was full of, well, kinky shit. From your reaction, I take it you didn't know anything about it, huh?"

Yor shook her head.

"There's an old Japanese proverb – 'the walls have ears and doors have eyes.' Whenever I stay in a hotel, I spend a good amount of time searching for hidden spy cameras and recording devices in my room. I also take the effort to search under the bed, but this is the first time I actually found something noteworthy. It makes all my previous attempts feel worthwhile somehow."

"But what's the purpose -"

Hikigaya cut her off. "Behind all this? Well, didn't I tell you Mrs. Forger? I'm being tested. Kanra wants to know my limits, how low will I go to get the job done…" His voice grew dark and cold. "…Will I be willing to torture a woman for some information."

For a second, Yor almost forgot how to breathe. There was something about that voice. It was almost like a completely different man was speaking to her. A man who knew no levity, no happiness, only the darkness which dwelled in other people's hearts – a cruel and sadistic man.

But Yor Forger was not an ordinary woman. She was the infamous assassin, codenamed, The Thorn Princess. And even though she felt afraid, she wouldn't let it show on her face.

"You won't find me especially forthcoming, Hikigaya-kun." Yor stated coolly. "I can handle being tortured by the likes of you. Besides, I doubt you have the nerve." Her voice softened. "You seem like a good guy."

For an entire minute, she was greeted by nothing but silence. And then she heard his voice once more.

"Why did Kanra hire you to kill me?"

Yor kept her mouth shut.

This time there was a hint of impatience. "Look, I'm trying to help you here. Didn't you tell me that you were looking for information? I can't help you if you don't help me."

"…I said no such thing." Yor replied. "Back at the bar, you said an assassin was after you and I simply suggested that he might not be interested in killing you, but might want some information instead."

Hikigaya let out a dry chuckle. "…So we are actually doing this." Anger and impatience. "You know Kanra set you up. He sent you here to be sexually tortured by me. He even sent me a bag full of goodies." He spat out that word like it offended him on a deeply personal level. "I have everything from a tazapper to a samurai deluxe clitoral and vaginal vibrator electrode. I even found a bullwhip and a cattle prod under the sofa. And here you are, still trying to cover for that man. Are you really that much of a pro or are you an idiot?"

Yor Forger listened to his tirade in silence and when she opened her mouth, her voice sounded confused. "A samurai is an ancient Japanese swordsman, yes?"

"…Unbelievable." Hikigaya cursed. With the blindfold, Yor couldn't see what was happening and before she knew it, Hikigaya grabbed her nose and squeezed tight. Now she couldn't breathe. She tried to throw him off, but without her arms and legs at her disposal, it proved futile to struggle. She held out for as long as possible, but the urge to open her mouth and swallow a mouthful of air soon overpowered her. And as soon as she opened her mouth, Hikigaya poured something into her mouth – no - pouring wasn't the right word.

It was just a few drops.

Yor couldn't quite explain it, but she felt like something was wrong with her body. With a voice, which suddenly didn't sound like her own and a quiver which was rather unbecoming of an infamous assassin, she managed to voice her innermost worries. "Hikigaya-kun, what did you do to me?"

The blindfold was removed from her eyes and after adjusting to the light, Yor got a good look at the man. He was sitting on a wooden chair, hunched forwards, his fingers steepled, placed under his chin – there was a striking look in his eyes. She also noticed the cute band aid he had put on the side of his neck, from where her blade had broken skin and made him bleed.

"I should have cut your head clean off." Yor replied calmly. Her blood was boiling, she was livid, but it was almost like she couldn't get angry or change her tone of voice. "You went through my belongings and used one of my band aids. Those are for Anya."

Hikigaya looked unperturbed. "Did you bring Anya along with you?"

No, I didn't.

"Yes, I did."

Fear. Abject horror. That's what she felt at that moment. What was she saying? Why in the world did she tell this man that Anya was here in the hotel? Yor was good at lying. She had meant to lie. Then why couldn't she lie now? What was wrong with her? What was happening? Yor was panicking. But her breathing didn't grow erratic. No other physical change took place over her body. Despite her mental turmoil, she continued to remain calm.

Unnaturally calm.

"What did you do to me?" She asked again, in that same voice which didn't quite feel like her own.

"I gave you Veritaserum." Hikigaya replied smoothly, showing her a small vial. It contained a clear, colourless liquid, which was almost indistinguishable from water. "It's the most powerful truth potion known to man. Three drops and you will be spilling your most deepest, darkest secrets. Terrifying stuff, isn't it?" He asked with levity. "You are scared, afraid, terrified even – you can be feeling a myriad of dreadful emotions, but you won't be able to show anything else on you face other than a calm, almost languid expression. Like you are in peace. But don't worry," he added. "I will let you keep your secrets. Well, most of them anyway. I'm just interested in a few things." And immediately like someone had turned off a switch, his sunny disposition disappeared.

"Who hired you?" Hikigaya asked darkly.

And Yor Forger told him the truth.

"Yukino Yukinoshita."