Tokusatsu musebox

I run until my body literally can't keep it going. No particular direction, no particular destination, just running, trying to outrun my own thoughts, the frightening feelings that have plagued me since Basco showed up dead on our doorstep. No, before that. It's been longer than that.

I collapse to hands and knees in the street, my stomach's roiling but nothing's happening. I didn't have dinner, after all. My head is pounding, and my throat hurts, and I'm sobbing brokenly. I need to get up, I need to go home and try to explain to Jou how there's something wrong with me. Out here in the middle of nowhere I recognize that I need help.

"Ohh la la," An unfamiliar voice purrs in front of me. "What have we here?"

I lift my head, but my eyes are still hazed with tears and it's dark enough that I can't see properly. "What-"

Something presses down over my lips. It's too thin to be a finger, never mind cold and slick. Like some kind of wire or electric cable. A weapon? "I think I could make some good use of you."

Whatever weapon he's using is longer than I thought, and he's good with it. It slips around my neck and tightens across my throat, and then-