Chapter Text
My head was burning like flames.
The floor of the cage was freezing, chilling my bare legs as they slipped out of the fabric of my dress. With trembling lips, I brought my knees to me and hugged my own body.
The image of that tall, blonde girl was still present in my mind. Rika... the much-loved Rika that the RFA used to tell me about. The much-loved young woman they had once met.
I thought she was dead. But I saw enough photos to be able to identify her face. That was, in fact, the Rika all my friends talked about. V's fiancée... the woman who committed suicide. But then, why was she here? Why would V lie about something like that to the whole family that was the RFA? Why on earth was Rika alive and holding me captive in this strange place?
Something told me that there was a lot more to this story hidden beneath the surface. It was all very strange. And I had no idea how I had got myself into this mess.
Suddenly, I heard a door open.
"Welcome, Mr. Ray," said a man from the top of the stairs, although I couldn't see him from there.
I waited. Slowly, footsteps sounded on the steps. A figure emerged from above, entering the cave where I was being held.
I swallowed. It was him. The boy who had kidnapped me from Rika's apartment and brought me here.
He kept his eyes fixed on me while a man in a black cloak unlocked the bars of the cage.
"I see you're awake," said Ray, flashing a mischievous smile as he walked towards me. "I'm honored to finally be meeting the RFA's little darling... even though I was responsible from the start, of course."
I remained serious, sticking my back to the wall and preparing to move at any sign of threat.
Ray let out a cold laugh, crouching down in front of me and examining my face closely. He was very close now. So close that I could feel his breath hitting my cheek.
"But they're right to adore you. You really are fascinating," Ray murmured, his voice dripping melodically down to me.
I glared at him angrily, controlling my breathing so as not to show how panicked I was.
"Let me out of here," I spat. "I don't want to get involved with you guys."
He let out a low, velvety laugh.
"How cute. Giving me orders... I kinda like it."
I shut the face, my body going rigid.
"What do you want with me?" I muttered, avoiding eye contact. "I was just helping out. I got the message from that weird hacker, and..."
I stopped talking. I looked at him, startled, as my mind began to comprehend things.
"It was you," I hissed slowly, staring at him in amazement. "You sent me that message. You made me find that device. It was you who led me to the RFA."
The silver-haired boy's smile widened so much that it almost reached his eyes.
"Bingo. It was all me. And you, my angel, were the girl who accepted. Who listened to me. Who took that device in her hands and followed my instructions." He was still smiling when he rested his forearm on his knee and leaned over me. "You're as much mine as you are theirs, MC," Ray whispered, pronouncing my name as if it were a special dessert.
"Having taken me there doesn't give you the right to boss me around," I growled at him. "I helped. I am helping. I'm part of the RFA now," I said angrily.
He laughed.
"Part of the RFA?" Ray repeated with mockery. "You were never part of it. You're mine. Mine and mine alone. His voice became a whisper at the end, and he placed a finger on my chin, making me pull back with desperation, gluing my body to the wall and desperately wanting to push his touch away from me. "Mine."
I moaned with desperation, pushing him away with my face. This caused him to pull his hand away and stand up, a tall, powerful presence beneath me, looking down at me.
"I'm going to give you some time to process everything," Ray said at last, his face closing in seriousness. "I didn't mean to keep you here, that was the Savior's idea. I'll take you back to your room soon. I'm just trying to convince her."
I wrinkled my nose. Was he talking about Rika?
"I know you don't trust me. But I promise you that all I want is to protect you from them. Think about it, MC."
When I looked up, Ray was already walking away.
Leaving me alone in that dungeon again.