The bucket sloshes as he tilts it slightly, letting a small stream of water spill over the edge. The chair creaks as he leans forward, watching the droplets patter onto the floor.

“You’d be surprised how something as harmless as water can break a person,” he says conversationally.

Then, without further warning, he presses their head down into the basin.

Water rushes around their face, muffling every sound. A few seconds pass. Then ten. He yanks them back up, watching as they gasp for breath, coughing violently.

“Too soon?” He chuckles, tilting his head. “Come on, that was barely five seconds.”

Their chest heaves, but they don’t look away. He grins.

“Good. We’ll go for ten next time.”