Chapter Six

-Grief-

As drops of rain pelted relentlessly upon the lush canopy above him, Tadashi began to harbour a thought of escape.

Should I run? He sought his heart for an answer. There could not have been a better time to do so since he was now walking alone in the midst of a forest, away from the cemetery where his family had gathered to mourn his 'death'.

He knew that Callaghan would be waiting for his return at the end of the path he was trudging on, and that once he reached it, he will lose his freedom and never be able to see them again. Yet at the same time, he also knew it would be downright selfish and irresponsible of him to flee as he fearfully acknowledged the dreadful consequences his escape may cause for himself and his loved ones.

Professor Callaghan could do anything to hurt them, Tadashi's mind warned. There's no telling to his insanity…and brutality.

Clicking his tongue in irritation, Tadashi started to run down the muddy path, despite a tearing ache running up his legs, and kicked a pile of wet leaves at its edge when he suddenly slipped and fell with his back landing into a dirty pool of rainwater.

"Argh, damn it!" The man cursed, clutching the moist earth around his stretched fingers as he felt the water seeping through his clothes and bandages to sting his burns. He then gazed hopelessly at the thundering clouds above him before he released a loud, feral shout in frustration.

"Why did I rush in that night? Why?!" Tadashi heard his voice boomed across the woods. He later bent forward to hug his knees and silently blamed himself as he remembered the grieving faces of Aunt Cass and Hiro at the mourning.

If I hadn't, none of these would have happened…and they wouldn't have to suffer like that.

Tears slowly streamed down his rain-stained cheeks. Tadashi tried to rub them away with his right sleeve, but upon realising the futility of it, he lowered his face towards the ground in submission to a long sob, a first in nearly eleven years since the night of his parents' funeral.

Mom…Dad…Are you watching? He asked silently as he looked up into the sky again tearily. Please tell me what to do…please…

After a minute spent in silence, Tadashi then lifted his drenched body, with his heart eased of its pent-up confusion, and erased the tear marks on his cheeks as he began to drag his feet across the remaining distance of the lonely path.

Hiro and Aunt Cass must not be hurt anymore, he vowed, having found his answer. He will not escape for their sake, no matter the costs he had to bear. It was his fault that he had run into the fire without a thought for them, and so he must bear the full brunt of the consequences.

"What have you been doing?" Tadashi cast his eyes upwards to meet Callaghan's impatient ones as the elder man stood with an umbrella over his grey wavy tuft of hair, waiting beside a modest-looking car.

"Sorry, I slipped on the way…" He mumbled before he felt a soft towel shoved into his hands.

"Get in, quick," Callaghan promptly ordered, pulling the door open for Tadashi before he slammed it shut after the latter entered, and rushed to his seat. In a moment, the car budged to life with a whine and proceeded to drive bumpily down a rocky path that gradually smoothened as it neared the main paved streets of San Fransokyo.

However, the journey throughout was rather quiet, save for an occasional sound of horn. Callaghan would sneak a glance at every opportunity to find Tadashi staring spiritlessly at the scenery outside each time.

He would not bother to pry into the matter; after all, the young man had insisted on witnessing the funeral, despite having been warned of the emotional dilemma he would experience. And now with his condition fulfilled, he would have to obey the former's wishes as stipulated in their deal.

The car stopped in front of an empty, rust-coloured warehouse. With gravel crunching beneath their feet as they alighted, the two men made their way towards the main entrance, and after unlocking its chains, entered into a spacious interior darkened by the storm.

"Dry yourself and take a rest," Callaghan spoke while opening the door to a small room where a terribly thin mattress and a patched blanket lay on its bare floor. "I can't have you tired and sick since it will be nothing more than an unnecessary trouble to me."

Tadashi merely nodded and plodded in without a sound. The professor stared for a while before he flipped a switch to light up a ceiling lamp that cast an orange glow over the room.

"I will be back in an hour," he murmured as he shut the door, leaving his student standing alone surrounded by a musty air.

Then, with a groan, Tadashi collapsed onto the mattress loudly.

What will happen next? He wondered, his weary eyes fixated on the mouldy ceiling as he ran his hands through his damp black hair in resignation.

Tadashi used to be sure of where he would be in the future, having decided to pursue his passion in robotics and make a career out of it, but after being trapped by a secret with his revenge-bent mentor, he felt his ambitions were no longer in his grasp.

He only knew at the moment that he was to help Callaghan to improve the microbots and do research on an unspecified matter for his plot. After that, Callaghan would decide on how to deal with him.

Or to dispose of me…Tadashi leaked a little smile in self-deprecation.

He took off his wet shirt, placing it directly under the ceiling lamp to dry, before with a yawn, he reached for the blanket and curled his body into a foetal position for warmth.

No matter what, I'll still have to do whatever he says, Tadashi sighed as his eyes began to close. Then hopefully, I can return to them once the deal is off.

-End of Chapter Six-