Whumper slammed their hands on the table, and Whumpee flinched.
“Tell me who hired you!” Whumper demanded.
“I—I don’t know…” Whumpee shrank into their chair, avoiding Whumper’s gaze.
Whumper laughed incredulously. “What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“They never tell me who!” Whumpee’s voice broke. “Please, I’m just paid to do it and leave. They tell me nothing!”
Whumper stood and unfastened the cuff from Whumpee’s right wrist. They lifted whumpee’s hand slowly, turning it over, studying it like it was something delicate.
“You like having working fingers?” Whumper asked calmly.
“Please, don’t—” Whumpee pulled back, but Whumper’s grip tightened.
“I asked you a question.”
Whumper’s fingers clamped around Whumpee’s ring finger and squeezed. The pressure built until the pain was nearly unbearable.
“Wait! Stop! Please!” Whumpee gasped. “I don’t know anything!”
Whumper twisted Whumpee’s finger, and a crack resonated through the room. Whumpee screamed, and Whumper put a hand over Whumpee’s mouth.
“You want me to break another?” Whumper murmured, tilting their head. “No? Then stop wasting my time and tell me who you work for. I’m not asking again.” Whumper released their grip on Whumpee’s face. “Now. The truth. Before I pick a finger you actually like.”
“I told you, I don’t know…” Whumpee sobbbed, hunched over, shoulders shaking. “Please.”
Whumper picked up a Manila folder from the table and slapped Whumpee across the face with it, leaving a bright red mark on Whumpee’s cheek.
“Tell me the truth!” Whumper snarled. “I have proof right in here that you know!”
“It’s lies!” Whumpee cried.
Whumper circled Whumpee’s chair, leafing through the papers and photos inside the folder. “What could possibly be worth enduring all this pain, when honesty would be so much easier? Hmm?”
“They’d kill me…” Whumpee said meekly.
“Oh, Whumpee…” Whumper stopped to stand directly behind Whumpee and put a heavy hand on their shoulder. “Not my problem. And really, what’s the difference if I’m going to kill you first, anyway?” Whumper abruptly tilted Whumpee’s chair back, tipping it over. Whumpee let out a cry as it clattered to the floor, bringing them with it.
“I’ll get my answer. Whether you want me to or not.” Whumper landed one more kick to Whumpee’s stomach before turning and leaving them in the empty room.