The next day, as the dim light filtered through the small, barred window of our cell, Michael appeared, his footsteps barely audible against the cold, stone floor. My mother and I exchanged anxious glances as he approached, his voice hushed and filled with urgency.
"I need you to play along," he whispered, his eyes darting around the cell to ensure no one else was listening.
I furrowed my brows in confusion. "Play along to what?" I asked, my voice barely louder than a murmur.
Michael leaned in closer, his breath cold against the cell bars as he spoke: "I told Travis that I killed Emericus in front of you. He still believes me to be Jack, and I need you to look broken."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes in exasperation. "Do I look like an actor to you?" I retorted in a low whisper, frustration tinged with fear creeping into my voice.
Michael's gaze bore into mine, his eyes filled with seriousness as he glared at me. "Do you want to live or not?" he countered in a low, grave voice.
His words made my stomach ache; the weight of their meaning was sinking in. I stared at him, my eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and terror. "What?" I managed to mutter, the word barely escaping my trembling lips.
"If you don't start obeying Travis, he plans to activate your demon side. And once he does, you won't be able to defy him," Michael explained, his voice heavy with the burden of the knowledge that I wouldn't be the same.
The realization hit me like a physical blow, and a cold knot of dread formed in the pit of my stomach. Travis had always been merciless, but the idea that he could awaken the dark, uncontrollable part of me was a nightmare I couldn't fathom.
As I stood there frozen, my mind flashed back to Tara's ominous warning. Her warning lingered in the air like a specter, casting a chilling shadow over the choices that lay before me. It was a stark reminder that the path I was embarking upon was fraught with danger, and the stakes couldn't be higher. I took a hesitant step back, my body trembling with the weight of it all. The gravity of Tara's words was not to be trifled with.
Desperate for some form of support or reassurance, I turned my gaze to my mother, seeking solace in her eyes. Her presence had always been my sanctuary, a source of comfort in the darkest of times. But now, as she bent down to my level and gently pushed a strand of hair away from my face, I could see the sadness etched into her features while her lips were downturned.
"Honey, I know this won't be easy to hear, but Michael is right. You need to do whatever it takes to hold on to the light that's still within you." She urged while gripping my shoulders.
Her words settled on me like a heavy shroud, and I sighed. It felt as if I were trapped in an inescapable web, just waiting to be eaten alive. No matter which road I chose, it seemed I would inevitably follow in my father's dark footsteps. The thought gnawed at me, a relentless shadow that threatened to engulf my very soul.
As I processed the enormity of the situation, my thoughts turned to the difficult path ahead. Playing the role of a broken and subservient prisoner under Travis's watchful eye was a perilous endeavor, one that demanded unwavering commitment and cunning. I knew that failure was not an option, for the consequences were unimaginable.
With a heavy heart, I nodded in reluctant agreement. "I understand," I whispered, my voice a mere breath in the dank, cold air of our cell.
I turned towards Michael, took a deep breath, and questioned, "What do I have to do?"
He met my gaze, and his lips formed a straight line as he spoke, "I'm going to take you to Travis, and he's going to offer you a deal. You are to complete a task for him and succeed in exchange for some freedom."
YOU ARE READING
The Life As The Devil's Son
FantasíaMy name is Austin Hudson, and you won't believe the crazy life I've had. Imagine being the Devil's son, but wait, there's a twist-I was raised by a human! Everything was peaceful until my dad, Travis, kidnapped us and used my mom against me like a p...
