twenty. text. backdated to monday.

[goryteller]

In the 1940s, rumor has it that a prisoner on the island of Alcatraz was killed by a ghost.

Back in those days (unlike these days), they had isolation chambers called hole cells where the prisoners were kept in near darkness for weeks on end. "Bang bang bang," one prisoner cried and pounded. "Someone's trying to murder me in here." But the guards thought he was hallucinating, as those being tortured with solitude tended to, and so they did nothing. When the prisoner stopped screaming, they were quite content until they opened the cell and found that he was dead. He had markings on his neck. Strangulation. No one else was in the cell.

Ghost stories have a sort of charm, don't they? Whether or not you believe them, I mean. I don't generally because we didn't have imports back then and because the living can be fucking horrible enough. I'm certain one of the guards killed him and thought they had a clever way of covering it up. Which they did.

I wonder what the prisoner's crime was. But I don't even have a name.

I know I would take death as a legacy if nothing else.

Comments

private

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

Fine.

But you do feel some discomfort towards me, don't you?

private

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

[Pained sigh.]

Yes. Some discomfort, the most minimal amount conceivable. Happy now?

private

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

Very.

private

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Careful, now. One might mistake you for a sadist, if you go on like that.

private

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

But everyone KNOWS you're a masochist.

private

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Really? Everyone? [Beat.] And what do you think about that, Thomas?

private

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

I don't recall you being too bothered by me coming over just to hurt you.

private

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Well it prevented you from prolonging your anger with me, didn't it?

private

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

It might have.

But it's not like I was planning to torture you.

private

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Despite the popular grievances, I doubt many are willing to go to that extreme.

private

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

Torture isn't all that bad.

If I really wanted to, I could have. But I didn't.

private

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Oh, no doubt. But I can survive a few snapped fingers, you know.

private

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

"A few snapped fingers?"

I'd do a lot worse than just breaking a few bones, Nygma.

private

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I'm sure. Your definition of "a lot worse" certainly compares to Hush or Batman.

private

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

I think you're underestimating me. Again.

private

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Well if you're so determined to impress, I'm willing to listen.

private

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to list my torture methods, but you're wrong. That's it.

I'd hope that I'd resist the urge, but if I found out who might have taken my life. I'll send you a tape.

private

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

You're unwilling to present the data, which weakens your argument that I'm wrong to underestimate you. Just so you know.

Aren't you thoughtful? But really, I might decline the offer. A bit crass, isn't it? [Beat.] Do you have any theories, Thomas? On who killed you.

private

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

No, and I hope I don't gain any. I hope I don't know who he is.

I'll obsess over him, if I do.

private

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

"He"? You're sure it was a he?

private

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

Yes.

He forgot to click in his whatever voice modulator thing he used at first. His laugh was male.

private

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Have you informed the authorities?

private

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

I'm not telling anyone. If anyone finds him out, it'll be me.

He's mine.

private

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

What happened to staving off obsession?

private

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

I don't want to stave it off, I'd like to satisfy it.

Scratch an itch, rather than ignore it.