Misanthropy - [ryden]

15. Demonstrations

**WARNINGS: TORTURE, MURDER, HEAVY MENTIONS OF BLOOD. PLEASE AVOID IF YOU FEEL YOU WILL BE TRIGGERED OR HARMED IN ANY WAY. INBOX ME FOR A SUMMARY IF NEEDED. STAY SAFE EVERYONE.**

The muffled sound of a door – presumably the front – opening upstairs is what woke Ryan from his sadness induced slumber. He slowly shook himself awake, awaiting the inevitability of Brendon coming down into the basement to either check on him or feed him. However, upon hearing the sounds of two pair of footsteps on the flooring above him, he knew that he would not be graced with Brendon's presence anytime soon.

Ryan wanted to scream, wanted to call attention to whatever guest Brendon had in his home, but he knew it would be of no use. Not only was the entire basement soundproofed, but his throat was raw and abused from his sobs and cries from help, not to mention his trachea being practically crushed under Brendon's hands. Tears began pooling at his eyes once more as he was faced with the harsh reality that he was going to die down here in Detective Brendon Urie's basement, and no one would ever know.

He might as well be dead already.

* * *

After listening to soft muffled voices for however long, Ryan was beginning to feel tired once again, his eyelids beginning to close on their own accord until he heard one of the upstairs voices rise into a state of yelling. The voice was feminine, and it was angry, almost absolutely livid. Ryan's eyes snapped open to the sound of harsh footsteps resonating above him along with the second voice – which he assumed to be Brendon's – following the female voice in a much quieter tone; so quiet that Ryan barely even heard any sound at all.

It wasn't until the footsteps began making their way toward the direction of the basement door that Ryan's heart started beating faster in his chest and his hands began shaking in their restraints. He listened as the locks unclicked and the door creaked open louder than he'd ever heard it, squeezing his eyes shut as he braced himself for whatever was to come. The door slammed shut and a heavy pair of footsteps descended the stairs in a haste until the concrete floor was reached and a breathy laugh was followed. "Oh, Ryan, love," Brendon's sickly sweet voice cut through the vacant space, causing him to shrink in on himself, "are you awake? I have a surprise for you!"

Ryan felt his entire body tense as he refused to open his eyes and just kept his ears open. He heard something fall to the basement floor, almost causing him to look but he held his position as different sounds filled the room. Ryan couldn't quiet place them, and he didn't know if he wanted to until he heard what sounded like duct tape being ripped from its roll. At this point, the young man's curiousness got the better of him and he opened his eyes and nearly screamed in horror to what he was met with. Brendon was just finishing restraining Ashley to a wooden chair not too far away from where he himself was restrained, slapping a strip of tape against her mouth. He heard himself let out a strained whine, his chest constricting at the sight and immediately causing Brendon to turn and face him with a wide smile on his face as he bounded over.

"Oh, hey, you!" His voice was overly excited and Ryan felt the tears – once again – fill his eyes as he nervously watched Brendon walk over to him. "I was worried you were going to sleep through all the fun." The emphasis on the word fun terrified Ryan more than he believe he could be after all that has happened, and he let out a slightly choked sob as he looked up to the older man who was now practically leaning above him.

"W-What is she doing here," he choked out, turning his head to face his friend briefly before turning back to Brendon. "What did you do to her, you sick son of a-" Ryan was abruptly cut off by the feeling of Brendon's palm coming into harsh contact with his left cheek, tasting blood in his mouth as he let out another choked whine. He looked back up to Brendon with fearful eyes as he watched the older man tear off another piece of duct tape and place it across his mouth harshly.