faint strains of music invaded the building, slithering through each vast space and reminding the synister members of their obligation to the business; however, the night promised thrills and conquests. each moonless night provided the members with an opportunity to prove their skill and attempt to advance through the ranks. their leader believed in survival of the fittest and invited them to slaughter each other like lamb. synister never boasted of being a family oriented affiliation; no, they thrived in the primal atmosphere of the underworld and gained their reputation due to heartless cruelty. for the night, temporary workers had taken control, attempting to emulate the elites of synister and maintaining the constant hum of the rhythmic music. the night remained young, and the inexperienced workers masked their unease with charming smiles and witty retorts. everyone awaited the appearance of their leader. the moonless night beckoned them forward, whispering of their promised rewards and eliciting an anxious energy from each individual. their anxiety delighted the psychotic man, and he decided to leave them waiting—trembling in anticipation and ready to burst at the slightest noise. their pain fueled his resolution. tradition was meant to be broken, for dimitri refused to allow the members of synister to fall into habit, to surrender their guard due to familiarity.

with a soundless huff, he leaned back, bare skin connecting with the wall. the chill seeped into his body, but the greenette ignored his discomfort. he did not succeeded by catering to every ache that assaulted his frame. no, he managed to survive by pushing himself past his limits, breaking each due to his tenacity and willingness to kill in cold blood. for a brief moment, he contemplated leaving the club—disappearing into the night and hunting for a new victim. boredom wrapped around his prone figure, and he loathed being idle. however, the expectation of his underlings kept him locked away in his chosen chambers. if he decided to exit the room, they would commence the mindless contest of strength. conquest, dimitri breathed, the sole word breaking the silence of the room. to an extent, he questioned the sanity of binding criminals together… but when he remembered the thrill of the hunt, the pastel haired male merely burst into laughter, knowing that he would continuously select the same options if granted the opportunity to venture to the past. a pale hand rose, fingers shifting between the green locks and pulling them away from his face. stars twinkled in the dark sky, calling for their mother, yet the moon refused to answer their calls, trapped and unable to move due to her ineptitude.

laughter shattered the silence, dispelling the illusion and filling the empty room. voices floated in from the hallway; however, with his impromptu display, they walked past his adobe, tumbling into the next room and attacking each other with fervor. several minutes passed before he managed to regain control of himself. dimitri relished living on the edge, walking the fine line between sanity and insanity, and as he turned his body away from the window, he debated the consequences of his choice. regardless of his decision, blood would taint the earth, spilling from lifeless bodies and providing the sadistic sacrifice with a front row seat to death’s show. bare feet connected with the carpeted floor, bringing the man back to reality. with practiced ease, he pushed himself into an upright position, body swaying as he traversed the distance between himself and the door. pale fingers wrapped around the knob, twisting the object and then pulling the door open. light spilled into the room, and the protesting of the hinges alerted patrons to his presence. he expected to travel unhindered through the club; however, as his eyes adjusted to the sudden light, he found himself facing his fighter. one pale eyebrow rose as he leaned his body against the door frame, his unvoiced question written upon his pallid features: how can i assist you?