“How much can you take?”

The voice sounded off inside her head again. Always when she was approaching the limits and getting ready to push them a little further. It was there, supporting her attempt and yet going against it at the same time.

“Do you think you can make it beyond your threshold this time? You have failed before. Quite a few times if I remember.”

Getting a fishhook in with blood-slicked fingers is tougher than what most people would think. But finally the last one bit through the skin and into the meat. Now all that was left to do was stand up. A bit of anxiety passed through her for a moment. This was a method she had never tried before, something that she had read about and studied intensely.

“You are doing well. Thinking in new directions.”

One deep breath, an exhale and then a second breath that is held. She stood straight up in one determined slow motion. Straightening her legs and back in synch with each other. The hooks pulled taut against the lines that they are attached. They in turn were tied to nails driven into the floor under her. Gazing upwards into the mirror adorned ceiling she could see her skin pull taught. Lips parting, breasts pulled down, blood welling up under a hundred metal insertions, her eyes filling with excitement and an uncontrollable stream of tears.

It was pain that brought about a feeling of pleasure deep inside of her. An underlying lust for something that she was always on the edge of, but never able reach.

“Excellent. That was a truly magnificent display. You are going further than before.”

The voice faded away. The hooks, lines and room around her faded with it as well. Slowly everything in her vision shifted to red and began to take form. Wall formed from rusted metal grating slowly blurred into view. Chains began to swing from the ceiling, each with a meat hook at its end. Rising out of the floor a figure stood. It’s height easily being six feet, thin, wiry and completely bare of flesh. Blood and scab coated the muscle tissue, tendons viewable.

“Welcome my dear.” The voiced sounded as if it was being forced through thick unseen liquids but it was still distinctly male. “It has been some time since you have graced me with your presence and your beauty.”

“I’ve had to let my body recover. A few of my… experiments… didn’t turn out like I had hoped. But I am happy to be in your presence again.” She walked forward as he extended his hand. Grasping it gently with both hands she fell to her knees and kissed a ring that resided on the middle finger. “Forgive me for my absence.”

“I know of your trials and what you have done. What is success without some failures along the way? It is through those failures that we all must learn. Therefore my forgiveness is unnecessary for your actions were justified in the name of your personal progress.”

“Thank you for understanding my teacher.” Glancing off to the side she was hesitant to say what she came here for.

“Don’t be afraid child. The act you performed to come here was one of request. I already know you want something from me or you would’ve came a more direct route. By my appearing I have already shown my readiness to grant you that which you desire if it is within reason.”

“There is somebody… somebody who understands me. He knows what I do and of my actions. I think… I …”

“You think you love him.” The muscles pulled from over his teeth creating a macabre smile.

“Yes. Yes I do. But now he is in trouble. With those who he used to be a part of. They plan on killing him.” Tears began to flow from her eyes again. “I have to stop them; I need the power to stop them.”

“There is no greater agony than to be helpless while the one you love is being taken. I can feel the sweetness of it inside of you even taste it in the air you breath out. True suffering and pain. I could refuse to help you in this and then feel that multiply.”

“Please… I… I…”

“You’ll do anything, yes, I know. But that is not what I want. You see if I don’t help you and he dies I may lose you forever. If you stay you will grow cold in emotions and that is something that I do not want either. The only real choice is to help you. Besides I know love, it will keep bringing you back here in pain and anguish.” Raising his hand he placed it on her forehead. “Take them apart my dear. Tear their flesh and do so in my name.”

She came too curled on her floor. The blood only beginning to dry on her skin. When she moved her arm the hooks pulled tight and the line attached to it broke. Staring at this she realized that she felt no pain. Standing back snapped even more of the wire and assured her that his words were not a lie. Examining her hands she could see her fingernails extending, she could feel her muscles tightening and growing stronger.

“I’ll tear them apart in your name. I’ll kill them till hell won’t take any more. I’ll make them sorry they ever decided to attract my fury by harming the man I love.”

The voice in her returned. “Yes, let’s do this. Finally you are sensing your capabilities.”