The ride back to the Round House was long and dull, a sense of doom lingering in the air like a foul miasma.
The prisoners were stashed in the back along with Inky Clyde and Pinky. Blinky was driving while Pac rode in the passenger seat.
"You won't let my dad hurt them will you", Pac murmured.
"I'll do my best. Far as I'm concerned he might stay true to his word so long as none of them try anything. Might."
Those words were far from reassuring to the boy. He gulped and began to clench his fists. More than anything he was dreading the inevitable confrontation with Betrayus.
After a long, foreboding ride the building finally came into view. The prisoners were unloaded, and Pac stepped out. Not even ten seconds passed when-
"PAC TREASONUS SPHEROS", came a familiar shrill and scratchy voice.
Betrayus stormed over to his son, and began to look him over. "Are you alright?! No cuts, bruises or anything?"
"What do you care", Pac hissed as everyone else winced.
Betrayus was stunned for a moment, then he was angry. "Inside. Now."
Pac stuck out his tongue, but he complied.
"And you four, take the traitors down to the dungeon." Betrayus said angrily.
Pac stomped into the Round House, sitting down on a sofa in the lobby. Betrayus followed suit, standing in front of his son sternly.
"I am very disappointed in you, young man."
"Did you kill my mom and dad?"
"Uh-"
"Tell me the truth. No more lies."
Betrayus sighed, and shut his eyes. "Yes."
"Why?!"
"Simple. I wanted to take over Pac World, and they were in my way."
"Why didn't you kill me too?"
"I couldn't."
"Wait… you were actually going to?!"
"I couldn't!"
"You were going to kill me…"
"Pac-"
"YOU WERE GOING TO KILL ME", Pac wailed as he began to cry.
"Pac-"
"YOU SHOULD HAVE! YOU LIED TO ME! YOU'VE HURT SO MANY PEOPLE! YOU'RE A MONSTER! I HATE Y-"
Before he could finish, Pac felt an impact on his cheek followed by a sharp, stinging pain.
There was Betrayus, hand still in the air.
The tears in Pac's eyes got worse, and he began to whimper. It was only after Pac got up and ran away that Betrayus realized what he had done.
"WELL I NEVER", came Buttler's voice as he ceased whatever he was doing."You saw nothing", Betrayus snapped. Buttler narrowed his eyes, but carried on with his task.
Scrub scrub scrub…
Pac was in the small bathroom that jutted out from his own room. He was washing off his eyeliner and eyeshadow. Granted he should have done it earlier, as the events of the past two days or so had caused it to smear and run.
He was still in shock from the slap, the red mark on his cheek serving as an ugly reminder.
He just stared at his reflection, and his tired self stared back. He remembered why he ever donned the makeup in the first place- he wanted to look like his dad. But that was no more.
Now that the makeup was gone, there was one more step to take. Something else he could do to distance himself from his old life.
He went back into his room, and went to his closet. He pulled out an old parcel with his name on it.
Inside the dusty parcel was something he had received for his birthday a year prior. Being the spoiled brat he was he initially despised the gift and his dad of course gave the gift giver a hard time. But for whatever reason he kept those clothes.
It was a set of orange gloves and a pair of red sneakers with white soles and a typical yellow colored pie-esque symbol on the front. He hastily put them on after he ditched his usual garments. One last thing to do-
He picked up his now worn and tattered cape in both hands, and with a growl he began to rip it in half, the tear going right down the middle of his dad's insignia that was printed on the back.
This was it. Another step into freedom.