𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕖𝕕 ℝ𝕠𝕤𝕖 {ʀᴀʏxᴍ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ}

31:The 'son' of Peter Ratri

15th November 2046

Soft cries filled the room. My wrists and ankles were confined to shackles, unable to move. It's been weeks I think... or months? Or days?

I've already memorised every scratch, every dent, every colour change on the ceiling. On the left side of the wall, 65° North, but around 20cm away from the wall, it's more of a brighter shade of grey, compared to the other side of the ceiling.

'He's trying to make sure you're not going to betray him... that you're desperate for survival...' I closed my eyes trying to convince myself.

My stomach burned and ached with hunger as my throat grew sore and dry over time. I couldn't— no, I'm not allowed to sleep.

Every few hours, or maybe once a day? Someone... alongside Father, would enter. They'd inject me with some sort of liquid, drug maybe? But after that, I was left hanging, as if Father wanted me to lose my sanity, lose my state of rationality, so I'd rely on him for everything.

When I was first brought to this room, I tried to break the shackles with as much force as I could, but after a long time, it didn't work, and I'd be exhausted after. Then, I began to sob and cry, hoping that Father may have a heart and pity me. But as days passed, I realised that I was alone, and no one was coming to help me.

I thought I was free from Lambda, but instead, I was confined to another room for the purpose of making me lose my stability. If I'd ended up back in a place for me to continue my suffering, then it would've been better for me to just rot away in Lambda.

But then I'd be giving up on my family, and I couldn't do that. They needed me! Is that I wanted to believe. But what if they were doing just fine on their own, then I wouldn't even need to be here sobbing for someone, I could've just died at Lambda.

Father would caress my head, my cheek, as if to comfort me, or to mock me, whatever, it didn't matter anyway. He'd say the same thing, or something along the lines of, "you're so close to becoming my son."

What did he mean by that? His son? Was he really serious about his daddy and son agenda?

But I wasn't bothered by that, in fact, that has been the only thing keeping me from spiralling into a sea of insanity.

Father didn't scare me... but that boy standing in the corner of the room did.

He wouldn't say anything, just stare, stare at my pitiful state. It was creepy, but what made it terrifying was that he looked just like me. A younger version of me from when I was a child, still in my clean and pristine white button-up, my hair a mess from playing and gardening all day.

It made me yearn for that, I wanted to be a child again, I wished I didn't have to worry about all this, I wish I didn't have to suffer. I wish, I wish, I wish.

I wished to feel that warm embrace from Mama, from Ray, from Emma, from Norman, from everyone. I yearned to engulf in the warmth I was showered in on the day of Norman and I's shipment. I yearned for those white button-up tees that unified all of us, made us feel equal. I yearned to run around in the forest, hiding in tree trunks, or nestled in the bushes, getting scratched by sharp twigs or thorns occasionally, and then getting scolded by Ray for not taking care of myself while playing tag.

Oh right.

Ray.

Was he doing alright? Was he even alive?

All I could yearn for, as I lay on this metal table, was his smile, to be under his gaze, to hear his laughter, or a soft chuckle as he teased me and the other children.

I wished for so many things, but will those wishes come true? Of course not. Time stops for nobody. And it was my fault that I didn't cherish it enough.

That boy in the corner, he was awfully silent.

I expected him to call me 'pathetic,' that I should just 'eat myself' or to 'let him out' and he'd get me out of these cuffs. But he said nothing, his mouth zipped shut.

"Mama... Ray... Emma... Norman... I'm so scared... I'm so scared..." I cried out, but my voice was hoarse, The boy in the corner stared at me with an unreadable expression, I turned to him, tears trickling down my cheeks, "please... talk to me... I'm begging you!"

All I could do was sob and cry, waiting for no one's comfort.

—————

13th March 2047

I squinted my eyes as I stared at Father's next move. 

'Bishop to d5? Is he sacrificing his pawns.' I huffed, taking his bishop, only for his queen to take my knight. I gasped, 'crap!'

He let out a soft chuckle, "there's a really good move you can do to defend and attack." I furrowed my eyebrows, "but sacrificing your bishop? Rea-" "Hush child," he chuckled again, "you've certainly improved from before."

My gaze flicked back to the chess board, trying to ignore the warm feeling in my heart. 'Is this how a father's love is like?'

________

26th June 2047

"It's been a while, Mama." I stared at her purple eyes, the ones that would soften whenever I'd run up to her. However, it was different now.

"Y/N."

"So you're a Grandma now, congrats." I praised nonchalantly. 'Seeing as Grandma Sarah was killed, I'm guessing that they put Mama as the next Grandma in her place.'

"And you're Peter Ratri's son, now."

A small smile was plastered on her face, "you've grown up so well."

Resting my hands on the handles on my chair, I leaned back. "You miss Emma, Ray, Norman and the others, don't you?"

"Of course I do. I think of them from time to time... if what happened that day never occured, I would never have become Grandma."

I exhaled, a grin spreading across my face. "You're planning to rebel against the Ratri Clan, aren't you?"

—————

1st October 2047

I groaned, gripping my head in pain. 'The spasms are getting shorter... I may not have much time...'

I took my dosage of pills and chugged down a cup of water, gasping for air. 'Crap... I might not have enough to last. Will I be able to last until the Tifari...?'

—————

5th October 2047

"Capture the rebels, offer the cattle to the Royal Family and Five regents..." I mumbled. "When the Tifari comes, I wonder how you'll feel, happy? Relieved? Because your clan will be the leading power in the demon world and human world?"

"10th November 2047, oh how I'm excited to see all of you again..."

I chuckled under my breath, sinking into my bed. "You've already lost Peter Ratri, the day we were born."

—————

Norman 

"Y/N was experimented on, just like me. Except they tested on his physique more." I looked away, 'I'll just leave out the part on mutation.'

"They drugged him, and when I saw him for the very last time, it was like he lost his sanity. He..." I sighed, before a smile was plastered on my face. "Well, now you know. Oh! How about I show you to your rooms?" I asked, changing the subject.

Most of the kids were silent, and Ray didn't speak up. Noticing the tension in the air, Emma called out. "Let's check out the rooms first! Come on!"

As they all left, Vincent walked in. "Did you tell them about... you know..."

I shook my head, smiling. "I didn't want to ruin their spirits. Besides, we'll cross that bridge when the time comes. For now..." I sat at my desk, "let's focus on the plan."