Post by John Kramer on May 1, 2021 3:15:29 GMT -6
CONTENT WARNING: MILDLY GRAPHIC
John turned his head to the side, his breathing rasping in and out of a throat that was dry from the operation he received not even an hour ago.
His protegee, Amanda Young, lay dead to his right. His one connection in this world, what Kramer would almost call his prized possession, lay dead up against the cabinet, a victim of a game concocted long ago and continuing no matter what. The rules upheld, the pawns moving as John sat at the head. Everything had gone poorly thus far.
Lynn Denlon lay against the wall, her husband beside her holding her face and telling her 'no, we're okay, we're going to get out of here baby, I'll get you to a hospital and we'll get you help. I love you. I love you. I love you.'
"I can have an ambulance here in 4 minutes," John croaked, swallowing to help his throat. "Should you succeed one final test."
"The rules are simple. Over on that table," Jeff stood up, going to where John had indicated. "there's a host of vicious implements, which you can use to exact your pound of flesh, to take your vengeance, to indulge your obsession. Or, you can choose to put your vengeance aside, and you can forgive. You can forgive me for the pain that I've caused you and your wife tonight. Which is it gonna be, Jeff? It's up to you. Live or die Jeff, make our choice."
John laid back on his makeshift bed, knowing now the mercy of the other man was up in the air, and like always, John watched to see if the man chose to listen, like all the smart ones, or if he was to fail, and John's life and death would be brought to a close. He took comfort in the fact that no matter what, after his death, his work would truly be continued. Through another apprentice, his life's work would go on, and with luck and time, that person would remain hidden until they too played their own game so closely.
When he looked to the side, he saw Jeff had picked up a large saw.
So this was to be his death. He watched as Jeff approached, Amanda's body letting out a final gasp of air (the 'death puff', as John called it). His new life, his rebirth, finally ended in his game. Just like John Kramer had always wanted.
"I forgive you," Jeff said, his voice echoing through John's undoubtable final moments. Then, the large saw he had picked up came up, close--then cut through his trachea and jugular. Blood spurted, and John's lungs started to pull through the hole in his neck that was officially larger than his mouth.
"JEFF!" Lynn Denlon screamed, watching what would ultimately be the beginning of the end of John Kramer's life. He pulled the saw up, placing his hand on Kramer's chest and repeating "I forgive you". A clear, clear lie. John reached and pulled out a tape recorder, which had a tape loaded to play.
He pressed 'play'.
"Hello, Jeff.
I made this tape as an insurance policy, if you will. And if you're listening to it, then it's time to collect.
I was your final test of forgiveness, and if you're listening to this, then you've failed. Now you must pay the price. The price for living for nothing but vengeance. Now I will give you something to live for. I told you that you couldn't kill me, Jeff, but I didn't tell you why. The answer is simple. I am the person responsible for the loss of your child. I am the only person who knows where your daughter is. She only has a limited supply of air, Jeff, and if you want to get her back, you'll have to play a game."
This moment, this exact moment, was one John had expected to come for years. His head throbbed where the operation to relieve the pressure on his skull was gone. His fingers and toes, ever-cold as they were, began to dip down into temperatures where he could no longer feel. His breath rattled in his chest, his heart dutifully carrying out its' job and pumped the rest of his blood out of his body.
John had a gruesome admiration for it. He smiled, his games continuing, and closed his eyes for the final time.
Except... it wasn't the final time. John opened his eyes, finding himself... in a... forest? Was John to play the game that resulted in... this?
He looked around, coughing loudly, and felt his feet bare on the forest floor, dirt and plants and leaves shifting around his feet. He listened, carefully, for the sound of other life. Truly, he did not expect to be alone.
John fell to his knees, shouting to the sky that was no longer his own home. The walls around him that clearly kept him in, and at the same time, betrayed him with the depth of the world beyond. Nearby, there was a fire, and when John walked to investigate, it was lit by... nothing. The fire itself had a few sticks, but no real substance to keep it going as light as it was.
John was no longer in control.
John turned his head to the side, his breathing rasping in and out of a throat that was dry from the operation he received not even an hour ago.
His protegee, Amanda Young, lay dead to his right. His one connection in this world, what Kramer would almost call his prized possession, lay dead up against the cabinet, a victim of a game concocted long ago and continuing no matter what. The rules upheld, the pawns moving as John sat at the head. Everything had gone poorly thus far.
Lynn Denlon lay against the wall, her husband beside her holding her face and telling her 'no, we're okay, we're going to get out of here baby, I'll get you to a hospital and we'll get you help. I love you. I love you. I love you.'
"I can have an ambulance here in 4 minutes," John croaked, swallowing to help his throat. "Should you succeed one final test."
"The rules are simple. Over on that table," Jeff stood up, going to where John had indicated. "there's a host of vicious implements, which you can use to exact your pound of flesh, to take your vengeance, to indulge your obsession. Or, you can choose to put your vengeance aside, and you can forgive. You can forgive me for the pain that I've caused you and your wife tonight. Which is it gonna be, Jeff? It's up to you. Live or die Jeff, make our choice."
John laid back on his makeshift bed, knowing now the mercy of the other man was up in the air, and like always, John watched to see if the man chose to listen, like all the smart ones, or if he was to fail, and John's life and death would be brought to a close. He took comfort in the fact that no matter what, after his death, his work would truly be continued. Through another apprentice, his life's work would go on, and with luck and time, that person would remain hidden until they too played their own game so closely.
When he looked to the side, he saw Jeff had picked up a large saw.
So this was to be his death. He watched as Jeff approached, Amanda's body letting out a final gasp of air (the 'death puff', as John called it). His new life, his rebirth, finally ended in his game. Just like John Kramer had always wanted.
"I forgive you," Jeff said, his voice echoing through John's undoubtable final moments. Then, the large saw he had picked up came up, close--then cut through his trachea and jugular. Blood spurted, and John's lungs started to pull through the hole in his neck that was officially larger than his mouth.
"JEFF!" Lynn Denlon screamed, watching what would ultimately be the beginning of the end of John Kramer's life. He pulled the saw up, placing his hand on Kramer's chest and repeating "I forgive you". A clear, clear lie. John reached and pulled out a tape recorder, which had a tape loaded to play.
He pressed 'play'.
"Hello, Jeff.
I made this tape as an insurance policy, if you will. And if you're listening to it, then it's time to collect.
I was your final test of forgiveness, and if you're listening to this, then you've failed. Now you must pay the price. The price for living for nothing but vengeance. Now I will give you something to live for. I told you that you couldn't kill me, Jeff, but I didn't tell you why. The answer is simple. I am the person responsible for the loss of your child. I am the only person who knows where your daughter is. She only has a limited supply of air, Jeff, and if you want to get her back, you'll have to play a game."
This moment, this exact moment, was one John had expected to come for years. His head throbbed where the operation to relieve the pressure on his skull was gone. His fingers and toes, ever-cold as they were, began to dip down into temperatures where he could no longer feel. His breath rattled in his chest, his heart dutifully carrying out its' job and pumped the rest of his blood out of his body.
John had a gruesome admiration for it. He smiled, his games continuing, and closed his eyes for the final time.
Except... it wasn't the final time. John opened his eyes, finding himself... in a... forest? Was John to play the game that resulted in... this?
He looked around, coughing loudly, and felt his feet bare on the forest floor, dirt and plants and leaves shifting around his feet. He listened, carefully, for the sound of other life. Truly, he did not expect to be alone.
John fell to his knees, shouting to the sky that was no longer his own home. The walls around him that clearly kept him in, and at the same time, betrayed him with the depth of the world beyond. Nearby, there was a fire, and when John walked to investigate, it was lit by... nothing. The fire itself had a few sticks, but no real substance to keep it going as light as it was.
John was no longer in control.