CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: ORPHANAGE [2]

— Who are these two?

— I’ve never met them before.

— Why do they want to talk to me?

— Are they bad people?

— Will they hurt me?

— I hate pain...

But somehow, that kid still followed them to an apple tree.

Kael sat on the far right.

Hans sat on the far left.

And that kid - named Caster, sat in the middle of the two of them.

A cool summer breeze blew by, making the hair of all three of them flutter.

The silence continued.

No one spoke.

Kael didn’t know if it was because of the wind just now, but suddenly, an apple from the tree fell down, hitting him on the head.

But instead of coming up with Newton’s law of gravity or something, he just thought that his head was hurting.

Both he and the protagonist could feel that they were being watched by most of the guards in this place.

It only further proved that Caster was their experimental subject.

They didn’t have much time, so Kael was the one to break the silence:

"Hey Caster."

"Yes?"

The kid was still very cautious towards both of them.

That made sense, and Kael didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.

"There’s a lab here that specializes in doing evil experiments, and you are their guinea pig, right?"

Caster was startled.

— How does this person know about that?

— Is he one of them?

— Is this a test of theirs to see how well I can keep a secret?

— If I fail, will the pain I’m going through today last longer?

— I have to lie.

"...I... don’t know what you’re talking about."

This kid was lying. He could guarantee it.

Normally, children were the most honest creatures in this world.

But for this kid, it’s a different story.

He’s been through more than an adult.

Therefore, Caster’s soul was now at least that of a 30-year-old.

"You may not believe it, but we’re good people who are willing to save you from this hell. I can guarantee it with my life."

"..."

"If I lie, I will die."

— Nonsense.

— If you two were good people, you should have saved me a long time ago.

— Why are you only saving me now?

That was what the boy wanted to say, but couldn’t.

It was obvious that he didn’t believe Kael.

Next question.

"Will you continue to be tortured tonight?"

"..." The boy chose to remain silent.

But his look said it all.

And so, he continued to ask, but the only response he got was Caster’s uncomfortable silence.

A moment later.

"Alright, I guess it’s time for me to go."

Kael stood up, and Hans followed suit without saying much.

But before leaving, he had one last thing to say.

"Hey Caster, is it true that you don’t need our help?"

The boy pursed his lips.

He wanted to nod, he wanted to ask for help, he wanted to be freed, but he knew that he was not allowed to do so.

Caster still could not trust Kael and Hans.

They had only just met for the first time.

They could not even be considered friends.

Moreover, even if Caster nodded, and he really escaped from this hell, what would happen to the other children, to his friends?

— If they no longer had me as their experimental subject... then the others would become their experimental subjects.

— Even if no one wanted to play with me...

— I still wanted to sacrifice myself for them.

"..." Like before, silence was the answer he received.

Kael let out a sigh, then started walking.

"Let’s go, Hans."

***

The moment the two of them left the orphanage, after making sure that they weren’t being followed by anyone, Kael stopped, then looked straight into the eyes of the protagonist who had been silent all this time.

Even during the conversation with Caster just now, Hans didn’t say anything.

He was like a statue.

"So Hans, what did you find out?"

"That kid has been lying all this time. He wanted us to help, but he didn’t dare say it."

"Is there anything else?"

"...Even though Caster’s body was always covered, for a brief moment, I saw what was underneath that shirt. And to be honest, it looked truly dreadful."

"Does that mean you have enough evidence to kill them?"

"Yes. And if possible, we should act as soon as possible."

"Hmm... Then how about tonight?"

"Tonight?"

"Yes, that’s the time when all the masterminds gather together, instead of being separated like just now."

It’s like fishing.

Humans enjoyed using fishing rods more, but, there’s one truth that no one could deny.

Using a net would be much more effective.

A sinister smile appeared on the corner of Kael’s lips.

"It seems like we’re going to catch a lot of fish tonight."

***

10 p.m.

This was the time for children to go to bed, ending a long tiring day, recharging their batteries for tomorrow’s activities.

But Caster was a little different from his peers.

For him, now was when everything really began.

"Hey kid, it’s time, follow me."

A man wearing a white blouse, rubber gloves and a mask approached the boy.

"Yes."

Anyone could sense that that man was suspicious, and ran away instantly. But Caster had no right to do so.

The boy silently followed the man to a room that he was all too familiar with, the source of his long-lasting nightmare.

Without anyone having to remind him, he automatically lay down on the bed in the middle of the place.

Prepared himself for the physical and mental torture ahead.

— Someone please... save me.

— I don’t want to be in pain anymore...