"How are you doing, Pride?" Felix asked, his voice dripping with false kindness as he plastered an almost plastic smile
Subaru lay slumped against the cold stone wall, his bruised and battered body trembling with each breath. Purple bruises covered his skin, marking his sweat-drenched form. His fingers were twisted at unnatural angles, nails mysteriously absent. Bright red whip marks adorned his entire body, and jagged ribs pushed against his torned flesh. Each wound was a testament to the precision of an Enthusiastic Julius. A grim yet beautiful masterpiece of calculated cruelty.
The cell was oppressive, a suffocating mix of dampness and decay that grew worse with each passing day. Water relentlessly dripped from the ceiling, pooling on the stone floor. Mold clung to the corners, feeding on the unchecked humidity and the decaying chunks of flesh. The metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air, mixing with the pungence of Subaru's filth and waste.
Subaru's hair was tangled, covered with grease, dirt, and dried blood. His throat ached, and each movement was an effort. ""I... I'm not Pride..." he managed to say with a raspy voice.
Felix scoffed, his tone switching from mocking to venomous in an instant. "Yeah? Ferris has heard that one before" he moved closer, sidestepping a deep crimson puddle. Without hesitation his pristine white glove touched Subaru's bloody shoulder, ignoring the involuntary flinch beneath his touch.
"Are you still going to deny it hmmm? While Crusch-Sama suffers because of you?" Felix's finger dug into the bruised flesh. Subaru let out a weak whimper, his body shivering under the weight of primal fear.
"Who are you" Felix didn't ask, he demanded
"I… I'm Pride" Subaru stammered, the words slipping out before he could think. His heart pounded fiercely inside his chest. The fear in his soul helps him ignore the sharp pain coming from his injuries.
Felix's smile returned, cold and calculating. "That's what I like to hear" he praised, his tone sickly sweet. Emitting a blue glow, his hand moved away from Subaru's shoulder and pressed his side. A warmth began to spread through Subaru's ribs as Felix healed just enough to keep him alive a while longer.
"I brought you a gift, just like I promised," Felix said, grabbing a metal collar from his uniform. The magic stone in the center gave a faint glow and a small nameplate dangled in place, inscribed with a single word: Pride.
Felix leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Do you like it? It took Ferris some effort to acquire such a rare little toy." Without waiting for a response, he snapped the collar around Subaru's neck. It clicked into place, an ironclad grip against his bare skin.
Subaru's hands trembled as he reached for the collar, fingers brushing against the metal. His mind raced, torn between morbid curiosity and the dread of what this new torment might entail.
"You're curious, aren't you?" Felix teased, pulling back his white sleeve to reveal a bracelet on his wrist. A wicked smile twisted his lips. "This, dear Pride, is the key to your obedience."
Before Subaru could react, a surge of electricity coursed through his body. He convulsed, his scream echoing off the damp walls. The pain was indescribable, a burning inferno that left him gasping for air.
The shock came to an end as Felix crouched down beside Subaru as if admiring his handiwork "This is a collar of Submission otherwise known as a Slave Collar. With just a thought," he tapped the bracelet, "Ferris can remind you of your place at any time."
Subaru's vision blurred, tears streaming down his face as he struggled to catch his breath. If he were still the Subaru he once was, he might have met Felix's taunts with his usual defiance—a witty remark or an insult to mask his fear. But that Subaru felt like a distant memory now, buried under constant days of pain.
Subaru's mind was lost in darkness, drifting in and out of a restless void, dragged back into awareness by an ache that pulsed throughout his body. His eyelids hastily opened, only to squint against a dim light. He shifted instinctively, but a cold pressed against his wrist, and ankles stopped his attempt.
A familiar figure loomed into view, a sinister smile playing on their lips. "Ah, you're awake," they said, their tone mockingly cheerful. "Perfect timing. Ferris had just finished setting things up"
Subaru blinked, sluggishly taking in his surroundings. The ever-so-constant touch of stone against his back was missing, replaced by that of wood. Thick metallic cuffs lovingly embraced his wrists and ankles, binding him to the table in a semi-spread eagle position. His mouth was stretched painfully wide, a gag forced between his teeth. A warm furry feeling almost goes unnoticed.
Felix moved closer, leaning into Subaru's line of sight. His ever-present smile was maddeningly calm, "We've got something special planned today," his hand approached Subaru's face before being stopped by metal bars "When I told Julius about my idea he ever so diligently helped me prepare the tools"
Thats when Subaru noticed his vision was obstructed by a device strapped tightly over his head. Skittering sounds of movement within the dome, the warm fur pressed against his face. His stomach churned with nausea, goosebumps signaling his cold sweat. The pieces of the puzzle came into place, and the realization of his situation began to sink in.
"You see, Ferris saw how you flinched when one of these came close to you. Can you believe it?" Felix continued, his mouth shaping into a mocking grin "The Archbishop of Pride is afraid of little animals. The irony is almost hilarious."
"In case your simple mind hasn't understood yet, let me explain," Felix moved, reaching for something Subaru couldn't see "You see, inside that lovely little dome, there's a family of rats. Curious creatures, aren't they? But here's the interesting part—they really don't like heat."
A Fire was lit. The screeching and movement inside the dome grew erratic. His heart pounded wildly, each thud echoing in his ears as his mind raced to deny the horrifying truth. Subaru's eyes flickered towards the side, coming face to face with the rats. Basts with gray fur, big sharp teeth, and eyes reflecting their animalistic desperation.
"They have an amazing survival instinct, don't they?" he mused, his tone light and conversational."These little creatures will do anything to escape the heat,"
Subaru tried to move, but the restraints dug into his bruised wrists and ankles, holding him firmly in place.
"Of course," Felix continued, his tone taking on a mocking edge, "there's only one way out for them. Isn't that right, Pride?"
The rising heat from the metal bars kissed his skin.
Subaru's breath caught in his throat, his mind spinning. The memories flooded back, sharp and fresh despite the time that had passed. The Great Rabbit. The pain of being torn apart, the gnawing, the biting pain as they burrowed themselves and ate him from inside out. The helplessness he felt then overtook him all over again, and his pulse quickened, the panic building as the rats within the dome began to stir.
He could feel the first rat crawl across the skin of his face. It brushed past his ear, its fur soft yet somehow repulsive. Then, the first bite. Sharp, small teeth dug into his exposed skin, right beneath his eye. His body tensed, muffled screams barely escaping from his throat.
Red droplets dripped down Subaru's face like a signal for all the rats to commence their assault. Guided only by instinct he closed his eyes just before their claws and teeth gnaw on his flesh. Every time they sank their teeth into him, it felt like a jagged shock of agony. His skin burned as they gnawed at his exposed muscles and bone. The rats grew sticky, covered in his red goo.
Subaru continuously broke free from reality, flashes of the rabbits invading his mind. He was no longer in a cell, he was once again in a field covered in snow.
His eyelids were ripped off, allowing the rats access to their softest escape route. Unimaginable pain shot through his nerve endings as the rats almost burrowed inside his eyes and ears. His vision went black for a split second only to be brought back just as fast.
"Eh? You thought Ferris would let you off so easily? Well think again," Felix placed his other hand on his collar bone, a faint blue light being emitted "This will be a fun little challenge to test my healing Abilities."
The knowledge that his torment would never end as long as the healing magic persisted was more terrifying than facing the Great Rabbit. He wished he was back in that snowy field, he wished that his next death was permanent. He wished and wished in Vain, a Rat disturbing his train of thought. It went inside his mouth scratching his tongue and the soft tissue, making its way inside his throat.
No more sounds escaped Subaru's mouth, his vocal cords were missing. The bulges down his neck made him choke on his blood. Claws scratched his brain, and blood dripped from every pore, pooling on the table. Sweet Death quickly approached him, only to be brought back by Felix's masterful hands.
Flesh ripped
Flesh Healed
Flesh ripped
Flesh healed
Flesh ripped–
Then Darkness
Subaru's consciousness drifted in and out of the void, the phantom pain still present. His body convulsed but the restraints around his wrists, and ankles stopped his movements. His eyes opened, expecting to see a rat ripping his flesh, only to be met with a similar dim light.
A familiar figure loomed into view, a sinister smile playing on their lips. "Ah, you're awake," they said, their tone mockingly cheerful. "Perfect timing. Ferris had just finished setting things up"
He had returned by death?
Well, it was to be expected. Everyone, even the best healer, can make mistakes sometimes. It's always been Subaru's job to make every situation a success. Let's just hope he can avoid Felix's mistakes this time.