The three captives waited. Waited for the hour hand to strike. Waited for the steel door to open. Waited for the torture to begin.
All three wondering who they would choose to be the target.
But Shuri knew.
She saw Kate still healing from the bruises and Peter nervously bouncing his leg.
It had to be her.
Kate informed the other two how the kidnappers get offended easily. She was no stranger to annoying people, her brother could vouch for her.
Hopefully she could annoy them enough to spare Peter and Kate from the punishment.
"Guys," Peter said.
They looked towards the clock.
5:00
As if on cue, the doors swung open. Skinny, Kenny, and a few other men walked in. One with a tripod and camera.
"Ah everyone is up now," Kenny said.
Here goes nothing.
"Yeah Captain Obvious," Shuri responded, rolling her eyes.
"Ah another snarky one like your friend," Skinny said, an unsettling airiness to his voice.
He looked towards Peter, "are you a jokester too?"
The Spider-Man smirked, "Actually-"
"He's not," Kate interrupted.
"Yes he's really quiet," Shuri added, shooting a 'don't say anything' look to Peter.
He looked confused, but stayed quiet.
"Tommy should we get to it," Kenny said to Skinny.
"Tommy?" Shuri repeated, "Your name is Tommy and his name is Kenny. What kind of country music band are you all starting?"
Kenny clenched his fists and she could feel Tommy radiating anger
Shuri smirked.
"You know I think you're right," Tommy said, as he walked over to a switch on the wall that Shuri hadn't noticed. He flipped it down.
The chains on the captives arms retracted and they were pulled against the wall.
"Shit." Peter cussed, struggling against the restraints.
"Relax, it's only temporary," Tommy said.
Shuri felt a small zap.
Suddenly things felt weird. Her vision blurred and muscles felt weak.
"Shuri."
Was someone saying her name?
She heard a lock click, yelling, footsteps. She felt someone undo her chains and basically drag her. To where? She had no idea.
"P r I n c s."
What was that
"P r i n c e s s."
Was someone saying her name?
"Princess."
The world focused around her.
The fuvk happened?
"Princess."
She realized that Tommy was standing in front of her.
She blinked the last of whatever happened to her.
"Ahh finally alright I see," Tommy smirked, "that was just a small dose of venom from a snake we bought from Mumbai. Just enough to pacify, not kill."
"I didn't ask," Shuri retorted.
Tommy huffed and walked over to a duffle bag by the door.
Shuri looked over to the cell and saw Peter and Kate giving her nervous looks. She shot them an 'it's ok' look.
Tommy cleared his throat, and brought everyone's attention to him.
He held a long metal rod. Multiple buttons and knobs stuck out from it.
"Do you know what this is?" The kidnapper asked.
"No," Shuri answered, "But I'm sure you're going to tell me."
Tommy turned to knob a notch.
"This is an electric taser rod, it's used to tame lions." Tommy admired the torture device, then turned to his whumpee, "let's see what it does to a human target."
Tommy pushed a button on the rod and electricity crackled from the tip. He grinned at Shuri.
This is gonna hurt like a bitch.
It felt like fire shooting through her body. She bit down on her tongue to stop from yelling out.
Tommy pulled it back and stared at Shuri, "how does that feel?"
Don't show weakness.
"I've been stabbed in the stomach before," she responded, "this is nothing."
Tommy's smile disappeared and turned into a thin line.
"Fine."
He cranked the knob up more.
Then jabbed it into her side.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck!
He continued for what felt like hours. She made sure not to show any signs of reacting to the pain. Each time Tommy turned the knob more and left it jammed into her for longer.
He prefered the exposed skin. It really wasn't the day to wear a sleeveless hoodie and shorts.
Black dots dotted her vision and she could feel her heartbeat everywhere.
She could hear her friends yelling at her,"Stop!"
"She's had enough!"
Each comment egging Tommy on in his torment.
If he couldn't get Shuri to have a reaction, he'd settle for her friend's distress.
"C'mon princess," The whumper teased. "One cry, and this will stop."
Shuri lifted her head to him and spit in his face. "You'll have to try harder."
Instead of cranking the rod up, he shut it off.
"I will break you."
Shuri's world suddenly went black.