by Danny and T5
Ring, ring.
"Speak."
"Uh... sir? It's me..."
"'Me'?"
"Pat..."
"Oh. Richards. What do you want?"
"Listen, this thing with these... I don't know, monsters...?"
"Yes."
"We've lost half a dozen men to these tentacles that just keep... appearing! From underground!"
"Then hire a half dozen more men. I'm sure there's some peasant village around somewhere you can take advantage of."
"And there was a giant fucking lizard thing today!"
"What are you doing about it?"
"I... I called in these guys, MBL Consulting."
"Outside contractors?"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that."
"Fine. Whatever it takes to save my mining operation."
"To save your mining operation? What about these workers? INNOCENT LIVES ARE BEING LOST! And all you care about is the damn mine."
"Do NOT raise your voice to me."
"Sorry, sir."
"Yes. You are. I'm hanging up now. Do not bother me again unless it's an absolute emergency."
Click.
Ring, ring.
"Yes?"
"Sir? I just spoke to Richards."
"Richards? Ah, yes. The mining operation."
"Yes. In Uruguay."
"What about it?"
"These... monsters. They're causing all sorts of havoc down there."
"Excellent."
"Richards doesn't know where they came from. He's as clueless as we want him to be. But... he's hired in outside contractors. Those MBL guys. To get rid of the creatures."
"Hmm... that... complicates matters. Ah, well. Hopefully this 'MBL' won't live to fuck things up too much."
"And Richards? And all the miners?"
"I need that land. I need what is on it. And I need what is under it. What do you think the creatures are there for?"
"Right, exactly..."
"I honestly couldn't give a flying fuck what happens to a village full of backwards mining folk."
"Yes, yes, sir... the land will be empty. And yours. I'm sure it's only a matter of days."
"I'm sure it is."
Click.
Somewhere else:
Crasher woke up with a tremendous headache. She ignored it. It was nothing compared to the wounds she now carried within her. The last two days of torture and humiliation at the hands of the two men had taken the will to live out of her.
She managed to open her eyes and looked at the chains that tied her to the wall. Blood trickled from her wrists and ankles where the bracelets were.
The door opened to the damp cellar where she sat, and the two Scorpion brothers entered, smiling. "Ready for round four?" said the one with red silk trousers.
Her swollen lips and dry throat could only manage a groan. They began taking their clothes off. She resigned herself into a dark corner of her mind, awaiting the inevitable pain.
Then, suddenly, a bright flash in the room startled its occupants. Someone in shining armor appeared and took hold of Crasher. "Don't worry, dear. I will take you out of here."
They disappeared in a similar flash and left the Scorpion brothers looking at each other in surprise.