Chapter 18
"Teto...why would you offer me something like that?" Teto recalled the question as she prepared for her shower. Her drills were sagging and unfurled as she stared in the mirror.
Her expression was blank and dejected. A face she always wore nowadays. A face she'd always worn since that day. That one day where her world had been taken from her. Everything had been taken from her.
She placed a hand against the smooth glass and stared at her face. She attempted to smile but it was fake. She felt no happiness, since that day she'd felt nothing. It had all been taken from her. Her emotions, facial expressions, feelings, they all shared the same similar paralyzed state. Every last one.
She hated him for that. A hatred that burned so fierce, the sun would be ashamed. Everything that man stood for she'd hate. His methods, and especially his work.
Before she'd thought of killing him. He'd loved her resentment. It fueled him. He was a being that lived solely to be hated. He'd fed off of her. Her hate had fed him. Kept him living.
She'd tried to do the opposite, but it was impossible to love that man. He was a glacial schizophrenic. Possessed so many faces, so many emotions that were all a lie. He'd taken hers and she wanted to kill him. With her own two hands and only hers.
She remembered vividly sneaking into his room, but he'd been awake, alive and expecting her to come to him. He'd spoken about how he would've been disappointed if she hadn't come.
His words drilled into her and others. Teto had told herself not to be afraid of him, but she was. Telling herself she wasn't would've been the ultimate lie. And a lie easily seen through. Being in his presence alone caused most to tremble. He always noticed, always watched, and always heard. It was unheard of to hide anything from him. Nothing missed his cold watching eyes; nothing.
When she'd snuck into his room that night to find him awake and waiting. Smiling nonetheless, with a coffee cup in his hand, her stomach had lurched. She'd almost dropped the dagger she'd been gripping for dear life up until that point.
"Well? Aren't you going to attack me?" He'd asked curiously. Teto had just stood there, shocked, frozen and waiting. His patience had grown thin faster than she'd expected.
He'd whipped his cup of caffeine at her and it had shattered inches away from her feet. She hadn't flinched so he'd walked closer, staring her directly in her eyes. Direct eye contact with him had jolted her body into a fest of shakes and jerks. But she'd stood her ground.
He'd gripped her wrist and she'd screamed, twisting frantically to get free of him. It was useless. No one ever got away. He invaded your mind, the only thing you couldn't get rid of. Trained you to listen. Your body would always follow even if you didn't want too...always.
"Let me go!" She'd screamed. Then she'd screamed again for help. None would arrive. None of the staff were as brave or as foolish as she was. They all followed like dogs and mindless machines. All driven by his money, power, and just how terrifying he really was.
He'd made no walls sound proof except the entire outside structure of the building. No sound left the building, but it drifted through the halls. Sound ricocheted off the walls and drifted up and down. A lesson to all that oppose.
She'd screamed and kicked but he didn't let her go. He'd examined the dagger and pressed a thumb hard against the tip. It sent a trail of bright red running down the blade. He'd bore his cold eyes into her leaving an imprint.
"You came in here to kill me, did you not?" He'd asked, his tone flat yet humorous. As if the current situation was hysterical. "Then do it," he cooed, whispering into her ear. "Slicing my throat in the night is cheap. If it's personal do it here right now while I'm awake. No need for backstabbing, right Teto? Just stab me in the front."
He took her hand and stabbed it deep into his stomach. Holding his hands over hers, forcing deeper and deeper down until she could barely hold the handle.
He had jerked the dagger upwards and pulled it out of him. Blood had seeped through the wound and drenched her. But he forced the knife down again and again. Straight into his left lung and then again into his chest.
Blood had flowed, so much blood had flowed...soaked her, drenched her. Bathed her in a sea of his own blood. Adrenaline had shot through her veins. He let go of her hands and she came at him. Over and over repeatedly; but he had not died.
She'd stabbed his vitals, sliced his major veins and organs; but he had not died. She'd sliced his throat; but he had not died. She'd forced him down and reached into him. Breaking his ribcage and ripping out his organs.
She'd pulled increasingly till he'd been empty and rolled gloriously in his blood. Laughed in it and reached her own brink of insanity; but he had not died.
He stood up. Organ-less, bloodless and smirked. Never had such fear struck Teto. She'd upchucked on the floor beside her then weakly stepped back. He snapped his fingers and everything had piled back in and closed up. He'd been him again in seconds. The devils incarnate...something...just something else.
She stood fearfully and watched him. He'd walked behind his desk, yawned, and typed in several things on a shiny silver laptop. An arsenal of weapons had made their way through. Decorative drawers had opened and walls had flipped over. All revealing an assortment of guns, knifes, hand weapons, and explosives.
"Pick your choice," he'd said. Words that chilled her straight down to the bone. Those words pumped through her with iciness. Became as much a part of her as her blood, and mixed with her DNA. Everything he ever said did. "I don't sleep much anyway."
She'd been reluctant, ever so reluctant to go at him again. But he just stood and watched her, a smirk on his face. A smirk that irritated her and caused anger to build up inside. A smirk that was expecting, expecting more...so much more, and he was never wrong.
With trembling fingers Teto reached for a gun. He'd gave her instructions on how to use it and she'd shot him. Multiple times for target practice; but he had not died.
She'd gone at him over and over until there was no fighting spirit left in her. It all had remained the same. No matter how she cut him, stabbed him, shot him, struck him. No matter what she pulled out, what she destroyed, one thing stayed the same. The fact that he had not and would not die.
Finally she'd fallen, trembling, eyes locked solely on the floor. That loud merciless marble floor that filled all the halls and even his office. Her hands shook and then she'd been still. Lastly came her tears. Tears she had not wanted him to see as she was sure he was glorifying them. Tears that burned as they slid down her cheeks in defeat.
She hadn't made any sound in the beginning. But soon enough she was sobbing uncontrollably. Tears for herself, tears for her brother, tears for her family and friends. Tears for everything he'd done to her.
Pain had burned her heart dry. Truly void of any feelings and any emotions. Soon enough her voice grew void of sound, but the tears still came.
"Pain is delicious isn't it?" He said, almost whispered. He placed his hands on her shoulders and tilted her chin to face him. She'd wanted to rip away, but found no strength to do so. He reveled and enjoyed all of it, she'd found it in his eyes. He loved every second that she didn't say a word.
"Do not forget Teto, your brother is mine. He may not legally be my property, but I own him. He works for me. I haven't harmed you today as part of our deal.Now be good and silently live on as leverage." Then he'd laughed. Right at her. "Honestly, brother and sister bonds are great aren't they?"
Teto focused on herself in the mirror. Her fingernails bore into the surface of the glass sliding down but leaving no marks. So long ago he'd taken everything from her.
She remembered the shots. The deafening gunshots, and the sound of glass breaking that had filled their living room. That had been the first time she'd encountered him. Her father had fallen but not before he'd protected her, told her to run and hide. She'd wanted to, but not before pulling her dad along to safety with her.
Desperately trying to grip her father and flee was when he'd walked in. He'd still been alive before he had walked in.
"How sweet of you, daddy's little girl trying to save daddy, huh?" The loudest shot of them all had been that one. The second a bullet had pierced her fathers skull. "I apologize little girl." He'd looked back at one of the men in his gunning group. One of the two with sniper rifles and shot him straight in the chest and then twice in the head. He turned back to her afterwards.
"He was a terrible shot wasn't he?" She'd been scared of him then. Terrified, and yet still not completely grasping the situation.
Why had this man shot her father? Her mother? The question period didn't last long as soon enough cold steel pressed against her forehead.
"Sorry Hon, but we can't have you here either." The man had spoke. She couldn't understand why it was happening. She'd been a good girl and lived with her family. Why would the good lord let something like this happen?
She watched him set up for another shot and place his finger on the trigger.
"Why?" She'd asked him, tears beginning to trickle down her cheeks. "Mommy and daddy never hurt you...why?" Then he had frowned momentarily and then he'dsmiled. She'd never forgot those words, nothing he said was ever forgotten.
"Well sweetie, I'd say ask your brother, but you'll never see him again, and that wouldn't be completely honest, so I'll tell you the truth. I'm bored and this is fun." Yet before he could pull the trigger a yell was heard in the distance. Ted burst in and she had never been so happy to see him. Her brother would make this man and his people go away.
The man dropped his gun to his side and turned to face Ted. The gun men let him through into the house and he stood opposite of the man. Ted glanced around mortified. He only allowed himself that one moment of sadness before he locked his focus back on the man. Teto felt herself gripped and yanked infront of the man, the gun aimed again at her head,
Worry, fear, and anger had all shifted through her brothers gaze. He settled on an agonized and pained expression. Ted still carried his bag. A bright red satchel.
Ted had freshly graduated high school a year ago, but he still carried his bag. As if it was a part of him. He took it to work and helped people around the neighborhood. Ted shook his head.
"Don't hurt her. Don't hurt my little sister." The man smiled and Teto felt his grip on her ease up. Seeming to finally have what he came for. The barrel of the steel gun still pressed against her forehead.
Teto watched her brother nervously swallow. Frantically wondering what to do, desperately forcing a calm exterior.
"It's me you want right? Don't hurt her...she's...she's all I have left now. After this I can't-" The man cut Ted off.
"I really don't like being ignored Ted," he'd said it flat and emotionlessly. No hint of repentance for what he'd done. It had shocked her that her brother had known him. Known their parents killer. This psycho.
Ted eyed his sister.
"I know...I know that now..." Ted breathed, trying to remain calm. Not giving the man the satisfaction of seeing just how hurt he was.
"Your skills and intellectual ability, it's rare Ted. I need people like you beside me." The man sighed heavily. "I sent you so many letters and you declined my offer.My offers don't get declined Ted Kasane," he threatened. Ted nodded raising his hands into the air, eyeing his sister.
"I understand, I'll go. I'll work for you. But please, just don't hurt my little sister. She's innocent."
"I've checked into your background. Your parents have unfortunately passed away now, and you have no other family. Left all alone to take care of the one person you have left, your sister. Such a heart warming story..." The man smiled. "I mean, what better leverage?"
"Will she be allowed to come?" Ted asked. The man just stared at him. Silently answering the question. Ted stormed forward and though he got close to the man the gunners did not take aim. "I can't just leave her here by herself! We don't have any other family! I can't, I won't-"
"Ted, I take care of my employees. They're all useful to me. So rest assured, as long as you're useful your sister will be taken care of." The man smiled again and offered his hand. "You have my word." Ted glared coldly.
"I don't want the word of a man who just killed my parents and tried to kill my sister too." Ted held his glare and the man laughed again.
"Ted, I love it! Hate, resentment, anger! Channel it all and focus on getting rid of me while you're working for me. My employees wouldn't be the same if they didn't hate me. It's a deal then? Pack your things Teddy." He'd released Teto and shoved her in the direction of her brother. Ted held Teto's hand tightly.
"And as you work for me, please do learn to hate me more Ted. That red satchel of yours...you always carry it don't you?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Brilliant! Fit as many things as you can in that bag. Take anything else and I'll burn it."
Teto remembered feeling her brother shaking beside her. He bent down to hug her, saying that everything would be okay. And the man she knew today as the boss set out the door.
"I am a man of patience and my word Ted, but I only have so many nerves. I'm sure you've learned not to get on them, the hard way..." When he was gone, back to whatever car or vehicle he'd come in Ted cried, hard. Holding Teto close.
Teto had wanted to comfort her brother, but at such a young age she hadn't known exactly how. He'd held her close and when he was done feeling sorry for himself. Mourning everything that had happened for her and him, he'd packed his satchel full of her things. Ted had taken nothing for himself.
Teto stripped down and stepped into the shower. Hot water poured down over her head.
Miku had asked her why she'd offered her such a thing. The simplest reason was because of the boss. The only man that could strike fear into anyone he glanced at.
The boss who she hated with every fibre of her being. He'd killed her parents and forced her brother to work for him. Ted had been a genius when he'd graduated from that prestigious school. Several of his classmates and other people he hadn't really known all too well, had also suffered a similar fate to his. But none, completely like his situation, he'd asked the boss for as much.
Why had she offered Miku the chance to get rid of Rin? It had everything to do with the boss.
She had been forced to live at the corporation building with her brother. It was a beautiful place with magnificent gardens. The whole building was white. Larger than a mansion and was built in such a way that it was like a fence. With beautiful gardens surrounding a fountain in the center of the square.
The outside had tall fences and more lush gardens. Assortments of flowers grew along the sides of the driveway. There was maximum security and all types of buildings and rooms. But like the bosses kindness, the beauty was a lie. It only lived to shroud what happened inside.
The bosses work had changed her brother. Everything he'd used to be, had died. Buried somewhere far inside of him. Locked away. She rarely got to see him and spent most of her time roaming the gardens having gourmet meals delivered to her.
Why had she offered Miku that? It was because she hated the boss and everything he was and ever could be. Teto detested all he held dear to him, which was only Rin.
He'd taken and warped everything she'd ever loved. She would do the same to him. At least she was going to until he'd promised to release her and her brother in exchange for Rin being brought back to him.
He'd set them off on a high financial basis and never bother them again as long as they didn't tell a soul about the corporation.
As sinister as the boss was, he truly was a man of his word. Ironically, he prided himself on such things as that. Teto wanted nothing more than to be free with her brother.
She'd get rid of Rin and return her to the boss. Throwing anyone and anything under the bus to do so. Miku was the main key in the plan and when she gave the word, it would go into action.