The room was dark. Pitch black, for there were no windows, and the only lightbulb that hung in the middle of the room was turned off. It was very empty, with the exception of a chair in the middle, seated by a unconscious stripped, tan skinned man, a collar wrapped around his neck. For many moments, there was silence, not a single noise heard from outside or inside the room.. and then, the man began to stir.
He could feel the cold air of the room attack his body, the question of where was he springing to his mind. Something was wrapped around his neck that shouldn't of been.. where were his clothes? What was the last thing he was doing before waking up? As he regained his senses, he took notice of the darkness in the room, his eyes not able to adjust. The man waved his hands around, trying to feel for anything as he slowly stood from the chair. Clink. There was something hanging in front of him.. felt like it needed to be pulled for some purpose. He gave the chain-like item a nice tug.
And suddenly found his eyes assaulted by a bright light, the entire room becoming lit up. The man felt marvel in his mind, the question being how did such a light work very well? The glass that trapped it looked new, to him at least. He could feel something tugging against the collar wrapped around his neck. Turning, he saw what appeared to be a holo-tape player on the floor, strapped to something on the back of his collar. On it was taped the words, "To Bill".
The man eyed the cable that connected the holo-tape with the collar, before walking to the recorder and lifting it up slowly. Perhaps one of his friends put this here... were they being chased by someone maybe? He clicked the play button, and a dark voice spoke from it.
"Hello Bad Bear, or as your parents named you, Bill. For years, you have lived in these wastes with other slavers, designing new ways to keep your hostages in line. You cared not what fate they had, as long as you got your supplies and entertainment out of it. Never did you have pity on the situation they were in, on the pain that the special collars you built brought them. Today, I will teach you to pity those less fortunate. I will set you on the right path."
'The device that you find wrapped around your neck is a collar that I think you will find yourself very familiar with, but allow me to give you a review. It is activated by a small amount of electricity traveling through the hole, in which the small metal cable that is against the battery of this recorder, has actually transferred to. Upon this small electrical shock, the collar begins to compress against your neck, never stopping until there is nothing left to squeeze against. In other words, it will make your head explode. There is a key to get it off however... here's a hint. It lies near your right knee, but your going to have to cut yourself for it. You will find a bone-saw underneath the chair. When this message finishes, I reckon you will have... three minutes left. Let your trial begin."
Horror took Bill completely! He could feel the collar beginning to compress against his neck, at a surprisingly fast rate. Just as the recorder said, Bill had a limited time to find some way to get the collar off. He had no intention to use the bone-saw for.. what ever purpose who ever did this to him intended however. There had to be someone nearby.
"HELP! Somebody help me!" shouted the would-be slaver, pacing around the room and beating his fist against the locked door. "I need help! Is there anyone out there?!" A minute passed, and Bill could feel the collar growing tight around his neck, something on it pinning against the skin. Was that knives!? He turned around to see if there was anything he could use behind him.
They key is located near your right knee.... You will find a bone-saw underneath the chair...
Bill dashed to the chair, knocking it off its leg's and looking down. Indeed there was a bone saw, and well sharpened to strangely. He got onto his knee's and grabbed the handle, falling onto his rear and sliding his right leg out, gazing at his right knee. He could indeed feel a uncomfortable pain in it, and running a hand under his leg, he felt a burn.. the bastards burnt the area they cut into him shut.
Hand trembling, Bill began to extend the Bone-saw toward his knee, figuring he had about a minute and half left. He pressing the sharp end against the skin, and slid it back and forth.
Pain! Pain shot through his legs, the would-be slaver screaming loudly, but continuing to saw against the side of his knee cap. He could feel the blade now carving against bone, blood pouring out of his leg. The pain was to much, and Bill flung the bone saw across the room, roaring and smacking his hands against the cold floor.
"HELP ME! Somebody fu?king help me!" One minute left. He could feel the collar's tiny nails or what ever they were dig into his neck, some blood beginning to roll down it. He grabbed at the collar, trying to wrench it free. Oxygen, oxygen was halting, the nails digging deeper, one penetrating his skin completely.
And so, upon five minutes of waking up, Bill the Would-Be Slaver had his neck compressed upon, and his head forced off by a device he developed. Scavengers would walk into the room to find a rotten, maggot infested, headless body lying in a pool of blood. They would assume that some other human, or maybe a animal or mutant did the job... they would not think this was a trial. A trial in...
THE GAUNTLET OF REDEMPTION