The man was strapped tightly to a metal chair.
The room was completely dark, as if the shadows had swallowed the walls whole.
The only thing resisting the darkness was a single lamp hanging above his head.
Its light flickered weakly, swaying slightly, like it was tired of staying awake.
The man slowly lifted his head.
Then he sighed.
Stroker:
"I know what you're thinking right now."
His voice was calm, almost amused.
Stroker:
"How did I end up like this?"
"And why did I ever dream about wearing the suit of a superhero?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Not a happy smile.
The kind that comes from someone who already knows the ending of the story.
Stroker:
"Let me tell you a little secret about this comic."
He tilted his head slightly.
Stroker:
"Or maybe I should call it… my personal novel."
He chuckled softly.
Stroker:
"Well… names don't really matter."
His eyes slowly drifted toward the darkness surrounding him.
Stroker:
"Let me take you back… to what happened before I ended up tied to this chair."
Ten Hours Earlier
Jim was walking down the sidewalk at a relaxed pace, trying to catch the bus before it left without him.
The evening air was cool, and the city lights reflected softly off the wet pavement.
When he arrived at the bus stop, he noticed a girl standing there alone.
The street felt strangely quiet.
Everyone waiting for the bus stood silently, like strangers trapped inside an endless waiting room.
Jim pulled out his phone to kill time.
He began scrolling through short videos.
Suddenly, music started playing from one of them.
The girl turned toward him with a small smile.
Girl:
"I like that song."
She tilted her head slightly.
Girl:
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Jim raised his phone slightly.
Jim:
"You mean this one?"
He replayed the clip just to be sure.
The girl smiled wider.
Girl:
"Yes. That's the one."
She paused for a moment.
Girl:
"Do you like it too?"
Jim shrugged casually.
Jim:
"Yeah… I guess I do."
Girl:
"Nice."
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then she asked:
Girl:
"By the way… what's your name?"
Jim hesitated briefly, scratching the back of his head.
Jim:
"My name's Jim."
The girl raised her hand in greeting.
Girl:
"Nice to meet you, Jim."
She smiled warmly.
Girl:
"I'm Raimi."
Jim shook her hand.
Jim:
"Nice to meet you too, Raimi."
Right then, the bus arrived with a loud hiss of air brakes.
Raimi sighed dramatically.
Raimi:
"Perfect timing."
She smirked.
Raimi:
"The bus only arrives at the most awkward moments."
She quickly pulled out her phone.
Raimi:
"Here."
She held it toward him.
Raimi:
"Take my number."
She leaned closer slightly.
Raimi:
"I don't like talking inside buses."
She shrugged.
Raimi:
"It's… a little awkward."
Jim chuckled.
Jim:
"Honestly… I think you're right."
He saved the number.
Raimi:
"So… we talk later?"
Jim:
"Deal."
Jim sat in the front seat of the bus.
Raimi sat a few rows behind him.
Three hours later Jim reached his stop.
Raimi had already gotten off long before that.
Jim returned home exhausted.
He tossed his phone onto the table, turned off the light, and collapsed onto his bed.
Sleep slowly began creeping over him.
His body relaxed.
His breathing slowed.
Then suddenly—
His phone vibrated.
A message.
Raimi:
"Did you make it home safely?"
Jim smiled while typing.
Jim:
"Yeah, I made it home."
He added another message.
Jim:
"Looks like you missed me already."
A few seconds later her reply arrived with a confused emoji.
Raimi:
"No."
Raimi:
"I just wanted to check on you."
She added another message.
Raimi:
"Don't let your imagination run ahead of you."
Jim laughed quietly.
Jim:
"So just checking on me?"
He added a dramatic sigh.
Jim:
"What a disappointment."
Her reply came quickly.
Raimi:
"Maybe if I get to know you better…"
She paused.
Raimi:
"I might actually miss you."
Raimi:
"At least that would make sense."
Jim smiled.
Jim:
"Well… that gives me a little hope."
Raimi:
"Good."
Raimi:
"Talk later."
Jim:
"Talk later."
Jim placed the phone beside him.
Within minutes he drifted into sleep.
Then suddenly—
A loud crash hit the window.
Jim shot upright in bed.
Jim:
"What the hell—?!"
His eyes darted toward the window.
And then he saw the shadow.
A tall figure stood behind the glass.
Massive.
Broad shoulders like a trained soldier.
He wore a completely black suit and a dark mask with glowing green lenses.
The window burst open.
The figure stepped inside.
Soldier:
"You're coming with me."
His voice was cold and mechanical.
Soldier:
"Whether you want to or not."
Jim forced an awkward smile.
Jim:
"Fantastic."
He slowly backed toward the door.
Jim:
"I have a terrible feeling this night won't end well."
He ran.
The soldier chased him instantly.
Jim tried to escape several times.
He tried the door.
The hallway.
Even the back entrance.
But the soldier was too fast.
Finally the soldier grabbed Jim by his jacket and dragged him outside.
Minutes later Jim sat inside a large black vehicle.
His hands restrained.
He slowly raised his head.
Then he saw the man sitting across from him.
A well-dressed man in a black suit.
Elegant.
Calm.
Dangerously confident.
The man smiled faintly.
Man:
"Jim Rakmi."
He leaned forward slightly.
Man:
"I expected capturing you to be… a little more difficult."
His smile grew colder.
Man:
"I must admit…"
He glanced at the restraints.
Man:
"I like how you look when you're chained."
He crossed his legs calmly.
Man:
"As I told you before…"
His voice lowered.
Man:
"You will undergo the experiment."
His eyes locked onto Jim's.
Man:
"Whether you want to…"
:
.
—