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.

went through a lot during that

rather, a lot of would be an understatement. She watched him go through what seemed to be

through what he experienced, her

same was for her mind which numbed considerably. Everything felt

of her and

all of the previous theories that Ren

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

are all things that I came

was 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.'

the image of a young girl lying down in a pool of red blood. Emma was

was her on one of the battle

the orb, and

will give

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

originally intended to kill

didn't say anything while she listened

you, and you rely too much on him. If you die, then maybe Kevin will get his act together, but at the same time, I know

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

His words...

words felt like sharp knives that were stabbing straight through

so much about

was more about one

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

'I...Know.'

Truth sometimes hurts.

***

[Haaaa!]

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

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

blisters, and his body was shaking

heart gripped with anxiety when she

her to the core. All the previous thoughts she had in her mind

fault. He's

that moment

in the orb was the true

ever be able to truly get over, but...if there

was that he was

every single aspect of your life controlled, from emotions to decisions, Amanda was able to clearly understand just how much Ren went through, and she felt

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

voice echoed

heart

to watch

that he was suffering. Amanda

have much of a choice. Regardless of

'Please sto—'

her mouth open.

want to

***

do you

asked as he moved

followed after his words

"...What are your plans?"

figure, Ren asked him a question. Currently, his expression

"My plans?"

mouth, the chained figure stared at

as neither of the two figures in the dark

going to take over

Ren's

his head to stare at Ren, the chained

"Are you not angry?

answering, he asked a