ENGLISH VERSION - Second Star to the Right (Mikey Bonten)

Chapter 5: The King

POV MIKEY

Tokyo, April 28, 2012

The darkness of the room is only pierced by the faint flicker of a hanging lightbulb. I sit in silence, staring at the man tied to the chair in front of me. Blood drips from his forehead, pooling on the concrete floor. The metallic smell fills the air, mixing with the stench of fear.

He's trembling, unable to meet my gaze. My cold, inhuman stare. A bottomless pit where any trace of compassion disappeared long ago. This guy's done for—physically and mentally shattered by the beatings, the threats, and the endless hours of interrogation.

I haven't said a word for a while, just watching this pathetic thing. Then, in a low, almost whispered voice, I break the silence.

"Tell me again what you know about the Black Snakes."

He stammers, terror evident in his eyes. "I've... I've already told your pink-haired colleague everything, please, I've got a family..."

I rise slowly, circling the chair, my footsteps echoing on the concrete floor. I stop behind him, my hands resting on his shoulders in a gesture that feels almost comforting, before tightening my grip.

"See, the thing about me... I hate being taken for a fool." I lean down, whispering in his ear, my voice becoming an icy caress. "So, you better be sure about what you say, because the next time I ask... it'll be the last."

He gasps, too terrified to answer. The seconds stretch, suffocating, until the door creaks open. Sanzu steps in, followed closely by Kakucho. I don't move, but their arrival stirs a wave of irritation within me.

Sanzu, with his usual twisted grin, glances at the man tied up before shifting his gaze to me.

"We've seen Atsushi." His voice is light, almost cheerful, like he's delivering good news.

I straighten, releasing the guy who's now gasping in relief, grateful to escape my grasp for a moment. My eyes stay on Sanzu, waiting for more.

Kakucho, with his usual calm demeanor, steps forward.

"The message has been delivered. He knows what'll happen if he screws up."

Sanzu chuckles softly, his gaze sharpening.

"But there was something interesting... He was with Ayana. They looked close. Really close."

His words slip out with a calculated nonchalance, but his eyes are watching for a reaction.

Ayana.

Chaos erupts instantly in my mind, a storm threatening to tear everything apart. Six years. Six goddamn years. She swore she'd never leave me, and yet, she did. The thought of her being close to another man ignites a cold, visceral rage in me. My fists clench involuntarily, my nails digging into my palms until the pain breaks through. She's back. She dares to return after all this time.

But I stay silent. My face, impassive, gives nothing away about the turmoil raging inside me. I stare at Sanzu, though my thoughts are elsewhere—lost in a twisted mess of hate and desire, in the tangled feelings I've never been able to understand, and the fury threatening to overwhelm everything.

Sanzu furrows his brow slightly, surprised by my lack of reaction. But he doesn't push. He knows better than to wake the monster.

Kakucho continues, "As smart as Atsushi is, there's no way he'll get what we asked for in three days."

I slowly raise my head, still caught in my thoughts. My eyes narrow as a dark idea begins to form in my mind. An idea as twisted as the darkness that lives inside me. It's not a good idea—at least not for her. I shouldn't do this to her. But I don't care.

"So, we'll make sure Atsushi is properly motivated to find a solution." My voice is low, almost imperceptible, but every word is as sharp as a blade.

Sanzu and Kakucho exchange glances. They know this tone. It always signals something terrible, an irreversible decision.

"Bring her to me," I order, my voice cold.

The silence that follows is heavy, my two loyal companions registering the command without question. They know there's no point in defying me. I never change my mind. Ever.

Sanzu smirks, clearly pleased with the idea.

"We'll take care of it, Mikey."

I barely hear his response, my mind already far away, sinking deeper into the darkness of my own madness. She's coming back into my life, whether she wants to or not. But at what cost? Chaos reigns in my soul, and I'm no longer sure I can contain the darkness gnawing at me from the inside. One thing is certain: she's mine, now more than ever. And I won't let her slip away from me again.