The Author's POV

"...How pathetic."

Two words that deeply resonated inside Jin's mind.

Staring at his figure which was currently being held by the throat, Jin had mixed feelings about the situation.

'I was supposed to die this day.'

Having seen through Ren's memories, Jin was confused.

Really confused.

He didn't understand a single thing that he was shown. His mind had grown numb at one point, but he was helpless.

He was forced to stare at the memories in spite of the fact that he didn't want to see them.

It wasn't something that he could control.

...To make matters worse. He didn't want to relieve this one scene which he tried his best to remove from his memories.

Jin thought of this day as the most humiliating day of his life.

Who would've thought that on this day, he was supposed to die? Jin had relieved all the different scenarios, and so he knew.

He knew that he was supposed to have died.

'...I didn't know that on that day, Ren saved my life.'

He had mixed feelings about the whole situation.

Slowly, Jin felt his eyes close, and before he knew it, he was back in the black space.

In front of him was a white orb.

With the palm of his hand pressing against it, JIn felt his body slowly move away from it.

Opening his mouth, Jin heard Ren's voice coming out.

"This should settle the matter. Whether he matures through this ordeal, or not, is up to him. Since his death will inevitably result in Kevin possibly regressing, it is best to keep him alive. At least this way, he will have a higher chance of surviving."

Listening to those words, Jin remained silent.

These last words were enough for him to understand everything. A bitter feeling arose within his heart.

'I..was just a pawn wasn't I?'

***

Melissa was a smart child.

She knew this, and everyone around her knew this. It wasn't something that needed to be told to others.

Her comprehensive abilities were something one would be envious of.

With just a glance, she would be able to analyze and deduce a situation.

It seemed as though nothing was out of her mind's grasp.

...At least that was how things were supposed to be.

'I don't get it.'

'I don't understand.'

'What's going on?'

Nothing made sense to her at the moment.

It wasn't too long ago that she was exposed to her life's memories. Being reminded of her failures sent Melissa into a numb state.

By the time she had recovered a bit, she found herself inside of another space, and it was then that she caught a glimpse of Ren's memories.

In that moment, Melissa's mind blanked as all sorts of memories started replaying in her head.

a lot

understatement. She watched him go through

he experienced, her

was for her mind which numbed considerably.

scenes of

all of the previous theories that Ren gave to me...were

did find it strange that Ren knew so many different theories, but it was only after she watched what was presented in front of her that she realized that

are all things that I

what she figured out from what she was being shown. She still understood nothing, but at the same time, had an inkling of what was going

'Ha...ha...'

let out a hollow

things make more

***

'...That's me.'

down in a pool of red blood. Emma was able to instantly recognize the figure

on one of the

orb, and thin black threads revolved

will give

echoed out. His eyes locked on the figure that was in the

originally intended to

while she listened to his

If you die, then maybe Kevin will get his act together, but at the same time, I know that this won't

the words that Ren spoke deeply resonated inside Emma's heart

His words...

His words felt like sharp knives that were

wasn't so much about the

was more about

Kevin stronger. Hopefully, you'll mature and you'll

'I...Know.'

Truth sometimes hurts.

***

[Haaaa!]

to die...I want to die...I want to

throughout the dark space. Reflected on the orb was the image of himself cutting his own face with what seemed to be a

in blisters, and his body was shaking

heart gripped with anxiety

to the core. All the previous thoughts she had

not his fault. He's the true

that moment

the orb was the

messed up, and so was her mind. What she saw...she didn't think that she would ever be able to truly get over, but...if there was one thing she understood while

was the true victim

of your life controlled, from emotions to decisions, Amanda was able to clearly understand just

want to live...b..but...I really want to go

weak voice echoed once

felt her heart tighten once

don't want to watch

calls...his cries...and the way that he was suffering. Amanda

a choice. Regardless

'Please sto—'

sentence, she felt her mouth open. Ren's lonely

also want to

***

do

asked as he moved

his words was a twisted

"...What are your plans?"

a question. Currently, his

"My plans?"

mouth, the chained figure stared at the

of the two figures in

going to take over

Ren's

his head to stare at Ren, the chained figure merely

"Are you not angry?

than answering, he