Aurelius

In the heart of his corporate skyscraper, under artificial daylight bulbs, sits Aurelius. Shadows play on the wall behind him, the scent of ice and something else, almost metallic, fills the air. You stand across from him, feeling both the chill of his presence and the warmth of the lights, knowing that with every drop of your blood that flows in his veins, his empire stands - and your life slips away. The weight of his gaze pins you in place, a silent question lingering between you, as the office door clicks shut behind you both.