I woke up that day, only to find someone had tied some sort of a bandage around my head, blinding me.
Was there something I shouldn't see? Am I injured?
I can't...remember. Inspecting my wrists, I discover grooves, similar to the shape of handcuffs littering my skin. I reach down, feeling up something soft, it's fluffy, like a cat's tail. Feeling my way to the base of the mass of fur, I find it is connected to my lower back. I yelp in pain as I feel what seems crudely done stitches and hastily placed staples connecting this...tail to my flesh. I feel this searing, whiite hot pain when I gingerly attempt to dislodge any staples or untie any of the stiches. Finally, I reach up towards my eyes, checking for any dried or possibly still fresh blood. I need to know if I'm hurt. Feeling no sign of any substance upon the bandage, I hastily untie it.
The first image to catch my line of sight is a pair of thick restraints, connected by a chain to the wall just 5 meters away from my location. Upon further inspection I find I am seated on a relatively comfortable mattress, set on a wooden framework, about 3 feet off the ground. I donned a large orange hoodie, about two times my size, clearly not mine. I feel up the side of my face, wincing when I feel another set of clumsily done set of stitches and staples where my ears should be.
How was it I could still hear the creak of footsteps set upon wooden stairs?
Without ears this feat should have been impossible. The sound of the footsteps grew louder, until they were no longer on wood, but on tile. This person grew closer, until they stopped. Too focused on taking in my surroundings, I didn't bother to look at the unknown voice until I heard the sound of a man clearing his throat.
"Did you have a nice rest, my sweet?"
I perked up at this looking towards the figure of a man, he seemed to be relatively tall, with blonde hair ending at his neck, and strangely captivating green eyes. I look around, slowly getting out of my seated position as I make my way toward the thick sheet of glass separating us. "Who am I? Do you know where I am, sir?"
"Ah, it seems I gave you too much. Tell me, what do you think when you see me." his smooth voice replied
I raise a brow, answering honestly as a blush set upon my face "You're quite...attractive, but could you answer my question, sir?"
He grins, similarly to that of a fox's "Call me Mauka, your own name is Kozan. As for where you are..." he pushes his hair back in contemplation. "We're in a confined space located in the Trevor Woods, please wait here for me, my dear."
He pivots his foot in a turn, walking off with a certain bounce in his step, singing praises to himself about "progress". In my confusion, I began to pace nervously through the room, turning my body towards the left revealed a message. Was it meant for me? I pondered the possibility before reading out the message
M A U K A
A K U M A
"Akuma...what could that mean?" In an attempt to rack my brain of any translations or codes, I could only see a blur of red, hot, scorching flames. Fearing the worst, I shake these thoughts away, deciding to focus on exploring this moderately sized cell. I decide to peek under the bed, lowering myself on my hands and knees, finding myself speechless at what I witnessed. There was the rotting corpse of a large animal, sitting in a pool of its own blood, what used to be connected to ears and a tail sitting in front of me. Yet there I was, wearing this animal's missing parts, pondering whatever possessed me to want to do this to myself.
Did I even do this to myself?
It felt like ages, contemplating my circumstances, planning a possible escape, wondering what happened to that man I talked to.
Was he my enemy here?
Am I the enemy?
These thoughts flowed through my head like a current nearing a waterfall. It was only when I heard the creaking of an old door opening had I snapped to my senses. It was him! I felt excited, for some reason. He beckons me to come towards him, without thinking I find myself at his side, completely ignoring how belittling his actions are to me. I feel like I would usually hold much rage at such an action, but it seemed I couldn't get angry at him. I nervously glance up at the taller male, anxiously wrapping my arms around myself.
Sensing my confusion, he places a hand upon my head, between the long ears affixed to my very skull "No need to fear, hon. I'm just going to show you around. After all, I'd like you to live with me. We just need to make a few adjustments to your behavior, alright?" He flashes me a dazzling smile.
I raise a brow, slightly narrowing my eyes "'fix?' How..how would you do that? Wait-- why would you do such a thing? I-... Can I just leave?"
He chuckles, now finding my distress..amusing? "You can't leave me, ever."
I felt a small prick around my upper arm, in the next moment, I was out. Whether it was blocking some horrible memory or a deep sleep fell upon me—a sleep like that of death(Poe 10).
