Pain wracked Daneel as soon as he felt himself in the body of a little boy.
He hadn't known exactly what to expect, but for some reason, he had thought that he might forget everything about reality and pletely bee the little one who was going to go through so much.
However, it was different.
As the little boy opened his eyes and looked down, Daneel realized that he was like a bystander inside Aran's head.
He couldn't control anything, but he could experience each and every feeling and emotion that Aran went through.
He was in a small room, and he had just been woken by a guard who looked at him with pity.
That was when Aran looked down to see that scars were forming all over his body where his skin had been boiled away before.
Which day was this? Was it the first, or the ninth?
"Which day is this? Is it the fifth, sixth, or the ninth? Father should be back on the ninth…"
Wait… Where did that e from?
This startled Daneel, which was when he realized that he could also listen to Aran's thoughts.
Oh… So this was what 'mimicking' meant.
Well, at least he knew that he would definitely be getting the answers he wanted.
The pain soon got to a point where Daneel was ready to scream but he held it in.
In many ways, it was as if he had been captured by an enemy and was being tortured while being tied up to a chair. He couldn't move, but he had to endure everything with no other choice.
However, Daneel learned the true meaning of torture after he was taken down a corridor to a room where a man in regal robes was sitting.
"If you thought that I was going to get tired of seeing you scream because you tried to kill me, you're wrong, boy. Wele. I have a special plan for you, today. I couldn't even sleep all night because I was so excited! It seems you are close to death, though, according to the healer, so alas, this might be our last day together…well, we have to make it count!"
Saying this, the prince gestured at something in front of him, which was when Aran turned his head to see a stone bed on which arranged burning coal had been neatly spread out.
As the guard proceeded to hold Aran's hands and slowly lower him onto that bed, Daneel realised what was going to happen, and he braced himself for the pain.
All around him, he had noticed multiple instruments that had been used for torture so far - a metal human-shaped casket, of sorts, with marks of soot all around it as if it had been burned with someone inside, a roasting pit with dried blood around it, and so many more that he couldn't even explain. Of course, Aran had been subjected to them all.
Daneel marveled at his fortitude even more now. How had he not lost his mind due to the pain and the hopelessness?
The answer was given by a thought that filled Aran's head like a mantra as he got closer to the coal.
"Father is ing…Father is ing…Father is ing…"
Getting his answer, Daneel prepared to scream, but suddenly, an explosion was heard from outside, which caused most of the guards to run out with panic to see what had happened.
Aran was thrown to the floor, but he had no energy to sit up. His breathing was labored, as even though he had been healed, he was still very weak.
The prince was hastily ushered somewhere while being securely guarded, and Aran was left alone in the room.
He faded in and out of consciousness, and Daneel could feel the life leaving him slowly.
That was when the door burst open to reveal the hazy silhouette of a man who was frantically searching for something.
In an instant, Daneel understood and recognized that this was Aran's father.
The man hastily ran to Aran and shook him, but Aran was so weak that even his pulse had gotten very feeble.
Shouts could be heard from outside the door, which meant that the guards and mages were definitely hot on his trail. Hence, he didn't have any time to check thoroughly, so when he held Aran's hand and didn't feel any pulse, he looked around and saw all the torture devices present.
"No, no, no, Aran, you can't be dead, too…"
Pleading the heavens in this way, the man hastily took out some sort of medicine and forced it inside Aran's mouth. It was bitter as it slid down his throat, but the moment it reached his stomach, it immediately started healing his insides and giving him strength.
Alas, it wasn't fast enough to kickstart his pulse, as the man felt his hand again and still felt nothing.
Behind him, the shouts of the guards got louder and louder, and the man kept looking around again and again as if he didn't want to accept it.
Yet… As he finally did, the 'snap' occurred, causing his eyes to go mad as he began that maniacal laughter that would echo for hours and hours on end.
Daneel could see him deciding to burn everything for revenge, as the same flame that shone in his eyes appeared on his hands.
Aran could understand what was happening, but he was half unconscious. Even his eyes were half-open, and he tried to muster the energy to show that he was alive, but it all failed.
With one last look at his son, the man flew out of the room and began the massacre, which was clearly conveyed to the two of them from the screams of pain and the faint smell that floated inside.
The medicine began to work quickly, and Daneel soon realized that it was a top grade one that only Warriors could afford. It quickly gave Aran enough energy to stand up and move out of the room, only to e upon the first corpse he would see that day.
Of course, it had been burnt to death, and as Aran moved through the large house, his mind was blank with no thoughts whatsoever.
"Father, father, father…
Reviews
All reviews (0)