I watched Black Star's face closely, seeing a glint in his dark green eyes. He didn't trust me, I could tell. I sighed, folding my hands in my lap. "So... About what I said earlier... I didn't mean it. Maka's-" I started, but another blast of electricity shot through me and I winced back in pain.
Black Star frowned. "What was that?" He asked, surprised. I could tell he was very confused about all of this.
"Electrocuted. I can't... Agh. Talk about that stuff right now. Not while she's watching us..." I said, cringing back midscentance. "All I can tell you is that sometimes... I'm not myself. Don't take it personally, I just..." I trailed off, not knowing what else to say at this point.
Black Star nodded. "So she's controlling your... Insanity?" He'd obviously seen the ominous black lines around my lips earlier.
I grimaced. "Yep." I said plainly, standing up. I rubbed my back that ached from the electricity. Suddenly, insanity washed over me, and I lost control, sinking back into a strange relaxation as I watched the happenings around me.
First, I walked over to a seperate cell, one I'd never been to before. I watched in horror as my father came into view, laying on the hard, dirty ground. I wanted to scream out to him, let him know I was okay. Tell him how happy I was that he was okay.
My father looked up at me weakly, a smile lighting his not-too-happy face. His cloak had been taken, and the three stripes-that connected, unlike mine-in his hair glistened softly. "Kid. You're all right." He was using his regular voice. He moved to hold onto the bars.
I didn't want to, but I grinned down at him mercilessly. Suddenly I noticed that he was wearing a collar. A shock collar. I pushed back just enough insanity to regain my voice for a split second. "Father, I-" I was cut off by the insanity returning. My grin was back and I realized that I was holding a remote.
To my horror, I pressed the large red button that was inset on the top of the remote. My father fell to the ground, writhing in agony. I could almost see the sparks rising from his tensed body. "Kid...?" He whispered.
Tears wouldn't form in my eyes. I had absolutely no control. Maka was purposely making me watch my father in pain. If that wasn't bad enough, she was making me torture him. I electrocuted him again after he had spoken. I couldn't take this. It was then that I regained sanity, falling to my knees. After being held back for so long, the tears flowed freely from the corners of my eyes, sliding down my cheeks.
"Dad... I'm so sorry... Maka... She..." I tried desperately to make the words come out, but I kept sobbing in between. I felt my dad's firm hand on my shoulder, and I looked up, blinking tears from my eyes. I saw him looking at me with a warm smile, reaching through the bars awkwardly.
"I know, Kid, I know." He said quietly. I could tell he was thinking.
"She's doing this to me, dad... I've been in and out of control all day..." I mumbled, looking down at my hands. I felt trapped. Like a bird in a cage. It was horrible to even think about.
I lost control just then. I stood and slapped my dad's hand away with a disgusted look on my face. Maka had not liked the way I'd almost given away her plan. Her plan. I knew her plan now. She was going to make me feel awful about myself until I reached the point of true-so that I could never go back to myself-insanity. It was a cruel, sick thing, but this was the new Maka we were talking about. It was very likely that this was true.
When I'd been thinking, I had walked over the elevator platform. At least my stomach didn't churn as we-I thought of myself as a different person when I was in this state-rocketed up to the top floor. I peered out through 'his' eyes, watching the people toil away on each level. I wanted to help, but what could I do? I was just a forgotten presence in some guy's head.
I almost laughed mentally as I realized that 'he' needed a name. If 'he' was a different person, I at least needed a term for it when I was this way. 'What to name him, what to name him...' I thought, not paying attention to the fact that the elevator was still going up. I thought for some time, but finally came up with Byoki. This of course meant 'sick', or 'ill'. I laughed silently to myself, and waited for the elevator to reach the top.
When it finally did, Byoki stepped off of the platform and into my living room once more. I saw Maka reclining comfortably on my sofa. Byoki walked quickly to stand next to her, and she noticed at once, smiling warmly up at us.
Suddenly, Byoki slipped away, and I felt an angry vibe dissapear shortly after. I regained my senses and blinked a few times, looking down at Maka. I blushed, which I shouldn't have. Why did I blush. 'Stupid, stupid...' I thought bitterly.
Maka smiled and patted the cushion next to her. I gulped, remembering the times when we used to sit together and watch movies. On this very couch. I obidiently sat down next to her as if Byoki had never left.
"So, Kid. How has your shift been?" Maka asked, smiling still. But she looked different now. Smug. It didn't seem right at all.
I didn't say anything. I couldn't. For some reason I didn't talk. I was mad at myself for this. I worked up the nerve slowly, and it all came out in a rush. "It was horrible. What are you doing to me? Why do you hate me so much?" I said through gritted teeth.
Maka frowned now, looking innocent. "Oh, I don't hate you, Kid, I just... Find it... Interesting to control you like this. Byoki." She added that bit at the end, making me gasp.
She'd been reading my thoughts. How? I bit my lip, remembering the thoughts I'd had recently. "Stay out of my head." I hissed slowly.
Maka laughed. "Oh you're so funny, Byoki..." She teased.
"Don't call me that." I growled, but my voice cracked at the end, making it sound broken.
Maka merely reached behind her without taking her red eyes off of me. She grabbed out a remote, similar to the one Byoki had used on my father. She pressed it lightly, smiling that horrid smug smile again.
Byoki crawled out of the recesses of my mind to take control. I swore I could hear laughing. My voice. But creepier, the one he used. His lips turned up into a triumphant smile. "Thanks." He said, still sounding harsh.
'Thanks?' I thought, surprised. 'So he really is me. A different person, but... Me.' This was horrifying. He enjoyed it when Maka let him out? It was like he was in a cage, and when Maka let him out, I was locked in.
A prisoner of my own mind.