The hunter Hampton Fensen flicked at Cody's nose a few times, waiting for his prey to awaken. Sniffing the air, his nostrils almost burned from the bleach and cleaning solutions the med team left behind for 'sanitary reasons,' they said. He walked around to the side of the exam table, staring Cody down.
Cody Winterwolf slowly opens his eyes, blinking hard from he light then closing them to keep his eyes from hurting. "Where'm I" he asks barely able to speak. Fensen leans in a bit closer, examining the fresh bandages, then Cody's pale face as color slowly returns to it. "Where you are isn't important, Mr. Winterwolf. Whats important is that you survived."
The captive tries to get up. It takes him a moment to figure out he's strapped down on the bed and his side aching badly.
Fensen half-grins when he watches Cody fight to get out of the restraints. "Believe me when I say this, Mr. Winterwolf; getting that bullet out of you will be my only charitable act for the duration of our time together."
Cody grits his teeth then snarls as he pulls on the bindings. He can feel the straps cutting into his wrists as he does. "What.. you want with me?"
The bounty hunter leans over the table, his face coming into the light better, scars cascading against his skin and through his thick beard. "You? Who said I want you? You're merely another message; a pawn in this great scheme to get your friend, the murderer Holmeforth, to deliver himself to me."
Winterwolf pulls harder on the straps waiting for them to give out. "He's not gorram stupid..... And he didn't kill no one..."
Fensen glances down at the restraints; reinforced so his captive could not escape. "A job is a job, Mr. Winterwolf. You of all people should know that. I have a man to deliver, whether he's guilty or not." He steps away slowly, heading to a side panel by the door, pushing a few buttons.
Cody can hear the slight tapping of the keypad. His ears pick up the faint hum around the room. He frowns. "Hurtin' folk ... don't work..... Just riles em."
Fensen slowly approaches the examination table again as a slit in the ceiling reveals a long robotic arm. At its end is a recording lens, red light starting to flash. "I beg to differ. Now wave to your friends. They'll want to be sure its you."
Cody tries to open his eyes, but can't. The light's too bright for him.
Fensen lifts his arm and bashes it down over the new bandaging, breaking the stitches underneath. Cody feels the shock of pain as he's hit hard. All he can do is grunt and gasp. He tries to curl up to protect his injured side, but can't as the restraints hold him in one place. He groans and tries to catch his breath.
Fensen gets closer, removing a small scalpel from the table. He slides it under the bandages, lifting it, slicing through the bandages to expose the wound. A small stream of fresh blood trickles down. "Now, I have a small bet going with myself. I am trying to figure out which of your friends will hand over Holmeforth. Who is your bet, Mr. Winterwolf?" Cody feels the cold metal as it slides up the inside of the bandaging. He tries to move away from it. "Don't know...." he says hoarsely.
The hunter tosses the scalpel aside, one hand parting the sliced bandages. His other hand hovers over the wound, making a tight fist, minus his index finger, which jabs into the wound, exploring. "I can't hear you!"
Cody cries out as he feels the finger enter the wound. The pain is excruciating as he struggles hard against the bindings. Fensen slides his finger out of the wound, flicking his finger, a few droplets of blood shot over the examination table. The hunter steps away and collects himself. "You'll answer... or next time I go in, I'll find your appendix."
Cody gasps again trying to get the pain under control. His head spinning as the pain threatens to send him into oblivion. Fensen approaches the table once more, taking a long breath. "I take it you're not a gambling man, then. But your silence won't save you, Mr. Winterwolf. Only one thing will...."
Cody tries to open his eyes to focus on the old man. His eyes squinting against the glare of the light. "Won't... work...... bettin'... you'll..... meet.... Lily... soon… 'nough.."
The hunter snickers at the wounded pawn. "This 'Lily' may try... but she'll only find you if she has Holmeforth in tow. I'll hand you over in exchange for him."
"If….. she..... don't? Lily.... She... ain't... like... any.. one..... you ever.... met….."
Fensen grins widely, his gross breath filling Cody's nostrils. "Then someone will. Out there... " He points to the closed door. "...someone wants you returned safe and sound. They'd have nothing to gain from harboring a known fugitive."
"Deluded….." Cody mutters as he tries to pull against the restraints again.
"Then enlighten me, kind sir. What makes Holmeforth so damned important to you and your people?"
"A friend. Co-worker."
"And all of your friends and loved ones around you are ready to watch you die for this friend... co-worker?"
"Won't die….." Cody smirks even though he's in pain.
Fensen admires Winterwolf's resiliency. "I watched them fix you. I can unfix you twice as fast."
Cody growls at the man. "Won't... stop.. me."
The hunter steps back for a second, winding up, and laying a swift right hook into Cody's face. Cody feels his head reel at the hit. His eyes register stars as he tastes blood in his mouth.
Hampton Fensen steps down the examination table, laying some heavy jabs into Cody's ribcage, wishing to hear a small crack. Cody feels the damaged rib on his right side give way under the assault. He feels the wind knocked out of him then starts having trouble breathing below the layer of agony. Fensen turns away and shakes his fist some, feeling some searing pain inside. He hasn't full-on punched a big brute in a long while. But damn, it felt good. Cody groans as he tries to breathe. His world starts to spin out into darkness as he starts to lose consciousness.
Fensen watches Winterwolf choke for air. Realizing he's still on camera, he strides slowly to the wall panel. Cody continues to fight for oxygen, while Fensen stares down at him, then glancing up at the camera, displaying a cold, deadpan stare for a few seconds before cutting the transmission.
