Could the man...not speak?

Yuugi didn't move closer; he knew better. He knew that test subjects often got skittish when they first came.

A scar around the throat. What did those monsters do to this man? This man who was familiar, why was he familiar? When did he see this man before?

No, boy. He was a boy.

"I...A while. I don't know how long I've been here."

He bit his lip.

"You...don't have to try to speak if it hurts, but...you can mouth it. I can read lips.

"Was this"

He tapped his throat twice.

"A death?"