A Slight Tilt

Silence settled thick against the dark red wall. My fingers twitched, tightening slowly around the small toy knife in my grip. I turned my head just a fraction, steady and unhurried. Standing right beside me was the masked, chained figure, entirely still. With a calm, measured motion, I tapped the flat blade lightly against the metallic links draped across his shoulder. A faint, hollow clink broke the quiet. I lowered my hand, settled my boots flat against the platform, and stayed watching into the dim room.