Punished Burglar

Two men, one broad-shouldered with dark hair, the other leaner but still thickly muscled, stand over a bound figure while a blade slices through their hair, each tug of the rope tightening the grip. The bearded one wields a switch, the crack of leather against bare skin sharp and rhythmic, while the other holds the scalp steady, fingers digging into the scalp as strands fall. The restrained man’s arms are bound behind him, his body bare except for the marks already blooming on his back, the outdoor light cutting through the scene like a blade.