"Prelude."

There wasn't much to do here, and that, although he wouldn't ever admit it, frustrated him to no end, and made him wish he could have killed that old stupid man when he had the chance.

The lack of light would have made anyone blind in here, but it wasn't the case for Kakarot. He could see, very well, but there wasn't much to see except for four walls, a ceiling, and the floor, all colored black. There was also door in front of him…which was also black.

Boring.

If he were younger, he would have struggled against the chains that held him captive, foolish as he was. He was still young, but the difference was that he had realized it was futile to try to break free, for many reasons he wished not to recall.

So, Kakarot just remained like that, on his knees, with his arms chained to the wall behind, and his head hanging down.

Even if his body screamed for him to do something, he knew better than to listen. It hadn't gotten him anywhere, anywhere but this cell.

He expected this night to go like many others did, with him unable to sleep, quiet in the darkness, and his arms annoyingly numb.

So, when the lights of the cell turned on and the door in front of him slid up open, he was startled and confused.

The person standing at the door gave him a stern, stony gaze. Kakarot knew why, why was it that he looked at him like that, but what he didn't know was why did he come here, at this hour.

Maybe it was daylight? Maybe time passed quicker than he thought, and maybe he didn't wake up at midnight! Kakarot fought against the urge to grin.

Maybe he would get out sooner!

The old, stooped man stepped into the chamber, arms folded behind himself, and spoke with a cold tone, "Are you alright?"

No.

Yes.

Kakarot wanted to say yes, but a hoarse sound was all that escaped his mouth. Then, he answered, "Yes."

"Aren't you hungry?"

Yeeees.

"Yes."

"Have you had another hallucination?"

Kakarot appeared to shut down at the question, falling silent.

"They're not hallucinations," he said after a few moments.

The man sighed. "So you've had them."

"Yes," Kakarot replied. "Can I get out?"

"No."

And just like that, all of his hopes were crushed.

"Why did you come here?"

His question was laced with venom. He could no longer hide his frustration, or his hatred for this bastard.

"To see how you were."

A tiny, very small amount of warmth poked at his chest when he heard those words, but it was so insignificant that it was squashed by the overwhelming bitterness that the part of him aware of the true meaning of them felt.

"Didn't you do that already? Leave."

No answer came from the man, who just stood there, his eyes as stern as it was when he came in.

Kakarot grinned. "Or better yet, why don't you just kill me?"

Yeah, he'd make him do that. At least that way he wouldn't have to be greeted by that frigid gaze every day of his life, a life he spent mostly restrained.

"Come on, kill me. There's no one watching. No one will know that you killed me."

And even if they did, he doubted they would care. He was not a member of their species, so why would they care?

He was worthless to them.

"No."

Kakarot gritted his teeth.

"Then go away."

The man stayed there for a bit, and then turned around, walking to the door. "As you wish."

As he abandoned the chamber, he spared Kakarot one last glance.

"There's a reason I'm doing this. I hope you can forgive me someday."

"AS IF!"

His voice boomed across the room, and even the old man, for all his lack of emotion, seemed taken aback.

"You want me to forgive you? Release me and let me slice your head off!" Kakarot yelled, chorelic. "Then maybe, just maybe, I'll forgive you!"

The man didn't reply to that. His gaze remained set on him, but they seemed off.

Sad?

No, that was impossible. Kakarot knew better than to let himself be fooled by that display.

"I'll come back with food," he said, and Kakarot roared.

"GET OUT!"

At last, the man walked out of the chamber.

The lights turned off, and Kakarot was left, alone again.

He didn't find solace in his loneliness, though. Anger and resentment seemed to build up more and more, a lethal, boiling combination that threatened to destroy everything if it were to be released.

Just you wait…

He would get out. He would be free. He couldn't hold him in here forever, he would grow stronger.

And when he did, he would paint the ashes this world would become with red.

Without knowing so, Kakarot fell asleep again, telling that to himself.