Chapter 24

• The man’s grin widened, revealing crooked teeth as he led Simon through the winding corridors. The harsh fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting long shadows across the dull gray walls. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the empty hallway, drowned out only by the occasional groan of the ship’s engines. At the end of the hallway, they stopped before a nondescript metal door. The man produced a key and unlocked it with a flourish, then stepped back to let Simon enter first.
• Inside, the room was small and cramped, the air thick with the smell of sweat and fear. A single naked light bulb hung from the ceiling, casting harsh shadows on the walls. In the center of the room sat a burly man, his face battered and bruised, his arms tied tightly to the back of the chair. His eyes darted between Simon and his companion, fear and anger warring in their depths.
• Simon stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the man in the chair. He could feel the heat rising in his chest, the hunger for violence pulsing through his veins. The man before him was an affront to his authority, a threat to his power. He would not allow him to go unpunished.