David Natividad stood over the bound and groggy Harris, who was still blinking away the effects of the cold water splash. The dim, stark room offered no comfort, only the harsh reality of the situation. David's men stood silently in the corners, their presence a silent reminder of the control they wielded.
"Good to see you awake, Harris," David said, his tone cold and devoid of any friendliness. "Now, let's revisit what we discussed last time."
Harris, still groggy but defiant, spat at David's feet. "I told you, you won't get anything from me."
David's expression hardened. "We'll see about that." He nodded to one of his men, who moved to a table against the wall and retrieved a large, plastic sheet and a jug of water.
Harris's eyes widened slightly, recognizing the setup. Waterboarding. Despite his training, the thought of enduring the technique was enough to unsettle anyone. Still, he steeled himself, knowing he had to resist.
David leaned in close, his voice a menacing whisper. "You're a trained agent, I get it. But everyone breaks eventually. Let's see how long you last."
The men set up the plastic sheet beneath Harris's chair and positioned him flat on his back, strapping his arms and legs securely. One of David's men placed a cloth over Harris's face while another held the jug of water ready.
"Last chance, Harris," David said. "Tell me why you're here, and we can avoid this unpleasantness."
Harris remained silent, his jaw clenched in defiance. David sighed and nodded to his men.
The first splash of water hit the cloth, and Harris's body reacted instinctively, thrashing against the restraints as the sensation of drowning overwhelmed him. The waterboarding continued in measured intervals, each pause giving Harris a brief moment to gasp for air.
David watched impassively, waiting for signs of breaking. Harris, despite his training, struggled to maintain composure. The panic induced by the waterboarding was intense, but he clung to his training, forcing his mind to focus on anything but the agony.
Minutes felt like hours as the process continued. David finally raised a hand, signaling a stop. Harris was left gasping for breath, his face pale.
"Ready to talk yet?" David asked, leaning over Harris.
Harris, barely able to speak, managed a hoarse whisper. "Go to hell."
David nodded to his men, who positioned Mitchell in a chair facing Harris. They strapped her down, making sure she was secure. David leaned in close to Harris, his voice a cold whisper. "Let's see if you can watch her suffer and still hold your ground."
He signaled his men to begin. The cloth was placed over Mitchell's face, and the jug of water was raised. As the first splash of water hit the cloth, Mitchell's body convulsed, her desperate attempts to breathe thwarted by the relentless flow.
David watched Harris intently, searching for any sign of breaking. After a few excruciating minutes, he raised his hand to stop the torture. Mitchell was left gasping for air, her face pale and contorted with pain.
David turned back to Harris, his voice low and deadly. "Ready to talk now?"
Harris, his breathing heavy and his face etched with anguish managed to glare back at David. "You're wasting your time."
"Look, if you don't talk, both of you, then we have no use holding you anymore. We might as well kill you."
"Then do that, stop fooling around!" Harris spat defiantly, his voice hoarse but resolute.
David chuckled, shaking his head in mock amusement. "You know, Harris, it's almost funny. A man like you, so dedicated to his cause, willing to die for it. But for what? A country that probably won't even acknowledge your existence if you disappear?"
Harris's eyes blazed with anger, but he said nothing. David continued, leaning in closer. "You see, you're just a pawn in their game. They sent you here, knowing full well the risks, and they'll forget about you just as quickly. But here you are, ready to die for them. It's almost pathetic."
Mitchell, despite her condition, managed to glare at David, her eyes filled with contempt. "You don't understand loyalty, do you?"
David laughed outright at this. "Loyalty? To what? An organization that uses and discards people like you without a second thought?"
Once she was gone, David turned back to Harris. "Last chance, Harris. You've seen what we can do. Tell me what I need to know, or your death will be slow and painful."
Harris, exhausted but unwavering, glared up at David. "You'll get nothing from me."
"You leave me no choice."