Kite and his group now stood before Rook Enterprises, the towering corporate fortress that loomed over the undercity like a mechanical monolith. The air hummed with the distant thrumming of drones circling the upper levels, their red optical sensors scanning for any signs of intrusion.


    Sleek black security ships patrolled the sky, their sharp angles cutting through the thick smog that perpetually blanketed the city below. The neon-lit streets flickered unpredictably, casting long, distorted shadows across the cracked pavement where Kite, Lira, Rad, and Kay stood before a reinforced glass window, its dark tint making it impossible to see inside.


    Ray hovered behind them, his cybernetic eyes quietly observing their surroundings while Kay, now bundled under a black umbrella and oversized sunglasses given to him by Ray, clutched the handle of his umbrella tighter. His transformation was still progressing, and being around the others now made him uneasy.


    Rad groaned, shifting impatiently as he crossed his arms. “This is taking forever,” he complained.


    Kite, standing at the front, clicked the doorbell again, its soft chime barely audible over the distant hum of machinery. Ava leaned forward slightly. “Maybe those weird people from before didn’t expect us to find all the pieces” she commented, rolling her eyes.


    Lira crossed her arms. “Yeah, feels like a setup now.”


    Kite sighed, rubbing the back of his head. “Wouldn’t surprise me.” But before he could dwell on the thought, the window abruptly slid open, revealing a rugged chimera peering at them with sharp, yellowed eyes.


    The chimera’s face was partially covered in old, metallic plating, suggesting it had been through several augmentations, some definitely not voluntary. His fur was a patchwork of faded brown and black, one of his ears was clipped, and his left eye flickered between organic and cybernetic as if the implant was glitching.


    His posture was relaxed, but his muscular arms and clawed fingers hinted at past battles. The chimera’s gaze immediately locked onto Ray, his expression unreadable before shifting his attention to the rest of the group. His scarred lip curled slightly in amusement.


    “What do you kids want?” he asked, his voice rough, like static over an old speaker.


    Kite lifted the reformed guitar, its surface gleaming faintly under the dim streetlights. “We were told we’d get a reward for bringing this back,” he said, holding it up so the chimera could get a better look.


    The chimera’s brows furrowed as he studied the instrument, his eyes scanning the intricate craftsmanship, the way the strings shimmered faintly as if imbued with something beyond the physical. Then, realization dawned on his face.


    His demeanor shifted subtly, shoulders straightening as he disappeared behind the counter for a moment. When he returned, he held a small robotic pet in his hand. The pet, a sleek, metallic creature with shifting plates that gleamed like liquid metal, immediately sprang to life, jumping out of his palm and onto Kite.


    Kite giggled as he caught it, the pet already nuzzling against him in excitement. “Whoa! No way!” Kite exclaimed as he cradled the shifting creature in his arms.


    The chimera gave a toothy, sheepish grin. “Pleasure doin’ business with you kids,” he said, then, without another word, shut the window with a quiet thunk.


    The robotic pet chirped softly, its form morphing and reshaping as it adjusted to its new surroundings. Its eyes, bright and expressive, flickered between colors as it took in each of the kids.


    Ava grinned. “Alright, so… who’s keeping it?”


    Lira gently scratched under the pet’s metallic chin. “Yeah, we gotta figure that out.”


    Kite, still mesmerized by the pet’s fluid movements, grinned. “I say we let them decide.”


    Ava groaned dramatically. “Ugh, fine.”


    Kite carefully placed the pet onto the ground, and the group immediately burst into chaotic calls, each trying to coax it toward them.


    “C’mere, buddy!” Lira cooed.


    “I got food!” Ava lied.


    Ray simply watched in silence, his arms folded in slight amusement. Meanwhile, Rad stood off to the side, arms crossed, staring at the passing hover cars, seemingly uninterested.


    The robotic pet twitched its ears, stepping hesitantly in different directions, its processors clearly struggling with the decision. After a few moments of consideration, it turned and walked straight toward Rad.


    Then, without hesitation, it nudged its head against his leg. Rad blinked, caught completely off guard. He stared down at the creature, momentarily speechless as it affectionately pressed itself against him before climbing up onto his shoulder.


    The rest of the kids erupted in collective shock. “Rad?!” they all shouted in unison.


    Lira and Ava both threw their hands up in exasperation. “Oh, come on!”


    Kite and Ray, though surprised, simply smiled quietly at the unexpected choice.


    Rad, still stunned, hesitantly reached up and scratched the pet behind its metallic ear. The pet let out a soft whirring purr, settling comfortably against his shoulder.


    Rad finally sighed in defeat. “Guess I’m stuck with you, huh?”


    The pet nuzzled into his neck. Ava groaned in irritation. “Unbelievable.”


    The apartment was a cramped, dimly lit space that carried the weight of neglect. The couch Rad sat on was old and sagging, its fabric worn thin and stained from years of disrepair. A single flickering light overhead cast a sickly yellow glow over the room, barely illuminating the peeling wallpaper, cracked tiles, and scattered junk.


    Empty cans, discarded wrappers, and piles of unwashed clothes littered the floor. The faint hum of a malfunctioning ventilation unit was the only sound besides the occasional distant shouting from neighbors through the thin apartment walls.


    Despite the bleak setting, the tiny robotic pet brought an almost surreal contrast to the space, shifting its form with boundless energy. It transformed into a sleek, metallic falcon, its wings glimmering as it soared through the dusty air before seamlessly shifting into a small monkey, playfully flipping off the couch’s armrest.


    It then darted across the room as a neon-lit fox, its fluid movements mesmerizing, before leaping into the air and shifting mid-fall into a small dog. It landed with a soft thump directly onto Rad’s lap, its synthetic fur feeling surprisingly real beneath his fingers.


    Rad watched in silent amazement, his breath catching slightly as he hesitated, his hand trembling before he slowly reached out. His fingers brushed against the robotic dog’s head, feeling the warmth of its smooth metallic surface blended with something eerily lifelike.


    It felt soft, gentle, comforting. The sensation was unfamiliar, almost foreign, yet… nice. “So cool…” he whispered, his voice barely audible. He began petting the dog more firmly, his touch growing steadier as the tension in his body loosened, bit by bit.


    After a long, quiet moment, Rad hesitated before finally asking, “…Do you talk?” The robotic dog perked up, its ears twitching before it let out an adorable, soft bark.


    The sound was so pure, so full of life, that it caught Rad off guard. His heart skipped a beat, and before he even realized it, a small, genuine smile formed on his face, one he hadn''t worn in a long time.


    His hand, which had been shaking moments before, was now steady as he gently stroked the robotic pet’s head. The tension in his shoulders eased even more, the quiet comfort of the moment settling deep in his chest.


    Then, without warning, Kay’s words echoed in his mind again. “If I get the pet, I think I’ll give it to my mom as a gift, you know? I think she’d really like it.”


    Rad’s smile faded slightly as those words settled in, heavier than before. His mother… What would she even think of this thing? Would she like it? Could she?


    His body slouched slightly as he glanced down at the robotic dog resting peacefully on his lap. He hesitated, the thought feeling strange, almost laughable, but it left his mouth before he could stop himself.


    “I think my mom would really like you too,” he murmured softly. The robotic dog let out a gentle, content sigh in response, as if it understood. Its small body relaxed, its expression resembling a peaceful, happy smile.


    Rad chuckled quietly, his smile returning, though more subdued. He continued petting the robotic dog, his fingers no longer trembling, his heart no longer racing. For the first time in what felt like forever, he felt something close to peace.


    But the peace didn’t last long as the door burst open with a violent force, the hinges groaning under the pressure before it slammed shut with a deafening bang. The walls of the cramped apartment seemed to shake from the impact.


    The once-peaceful silence was shattered, and Rad instinctively flinched at the sound, his body tensing as his breath hitched. He forced himself to stay still, gripping the couch beneath him with stiff fingers.


    The robotic dog reacted instantly, its body twisting mid-air as it let out a shrill metallic shriek, morphing into a sleek robotic cat. Its claws extended as it scrambled up the wall, latching onto the ceiling with an unnatural grip. It hung there, Its synthetic fur bristling, wide glowing eyes locked on the doorway.


    From the dimly lit entrance, Rad’s mother stepped into view. She was a ghost of a woman, her figure gaunt yet muscular, her arms littered with old scars. Her jet-black hair was a tangled mess, barely held together in a haphazard tie at the nape of her neck.


    The deep-set blue of her eyes held no warmth, just exhaustion, bitterness, and something unreadable. Her black tank top, once fresh, was now stained with splotches of dark red, the dried liquids blending into the worn fabric. Loose grey sweatpants hung off her frame, the material thin and wrinkled from neglect.


    Her posture screamed of someone who had long since stopped caring, about herself, about anything. Her sharp gaze flickered over the room before snapping to the robotic cat still clinging to the ceiling.


    “The fuck is that?” she muttered, her voice low and scratchy, like someone who smoked too much and slept too little.


    Rad swallowed the lump in his throat. “…It’s my new pet,” he answered, voice steady but soft. “Me and my friends found it while in the undercity.”


    The robotic cat tensed, its mechanical pupils dilating as it stared directly into Rad’s mother’s deadened eyes. At first, its gaze held pure fear, but then… something changed. It didn’t look scared anymore.


    Rad’s mother raised a skeptical brow, exhaling sharply through her nose. “Friends?” She scoffed, folding her arms. “Since when?”


    Rad hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. “…Well, it’s only been a couple days.”


    She let out a slow, heavy sigh, as if just speaking to him was exhausting. Without another word, she stalked across the room, dropping onto the far end of the couch, as far from Rad as possible.


    She pulled a cybernetic cigarette from her pocket, flicked it on, and took a long, slow drag, the tip glowing faintly. A heavy silence settled between them.


    Rad watched her from the corner of his eye, his fingers digging into the cushions beneath him. His mother’s face was unreadable, her gaze locked on the wall ahead as if he wasn’t even there. The air in the room felt suffocating.


    Rad took a breath. “You know, I…” His voice faltered for a moment. He gritted his teeth and tried again. “I wanted to give it to you. As a gift.” His voice had softened to barely a whisper. His grip on the couch tightened until his knuckles turned white.


    But she didn’t care. “Did you clean the dishes?” she asked flatly, not even glancing at him.


    Rad’s chest tightened. His stomach twisted. The slight shine in his eyes dulled as they widened in quiet pain.


    “…No,” he admitted after a long pause, his voice barely above a breath. He lowered his head, his shoulders curling inward.


    His mother took another drag before exhaling through her nose. “Did you pick up the trash around the house?” she asked, her tone just as disinterested, her dead gaze still locked on the wall.


    Rad hesitated, his throat dry. “I didn’t…”


    Her eye twitched. And then—snap.


    She turned sharply, her piercing blue eyes locking onto him with a burning intensity. “Then why the fuck are you in here?”


    “I-I don’t know, I just—"


    “Exactly,” she cut him off, her voice rising. “You had all fucking day to do this shit, yet instead, you goofed off with your ‘friends.’”


    Her lip curled in disdain. “Every damn day, it’s the same thing. I come home to a dirty house. Trash and wrappers all over the floor like we don’t own a damn trash can.”


    She gestured to the mess surrounding them before glaring toward the kitchen, where dishes were piled high in the sink, untouched. “Not to mention the fucking mountain of dishes from your constant late-night snack heists!”


    Rad’s breath caught in his throat. He hadn’t expected her to notice. His eyes widened slightly, giving him away.


    His mother’s gaze sharpened. “Oh, you think I don’t know?” she sneered. “Yeah, I notice your sneaky little ass creeping out of your room every night. Your heavy-ass footsteps damn near wake me up!”


    “Wait, but—”


    “Like, God,” she interrupted, throwing her head back in frustration. “If I wanted an alarm clock for a son, I’d have bought an automaton instead, at least they aren’t fucking useless!”


    Something inside Rad shattered as he heard this. His breath stilled. His vision blurred slightly as his eyes welled with moisture. His lips trembling as he spoke. “Useless?” he asked just under his breath, already on the brink of breaking apart.


    His mother noticed the reaction immediately. She tilted her head, mocking. “Useless?” she echoed, her voice dripping with condescension and mockery.


    Rad’s heart pounded in his chest, his stomach twisting so violently it hurt. “Useless.” she repeated, her tone crueler this time, sharper, louder. “All you ever do is sit around and cry like a little brat! Every day, I curse myself for giving birth to such a fucking disappointment!”


    Rad sucked in a shaky breath. The words hit like a blade straight through his chest.


    His mother finally acknowledged the robotic cat, now cautiously pressing against her leg, purring softly as if trying to soothe the growing storm in the room.


    Her expression darkened further. ”And now, you bring in a pet? As if we can afford to keep one?!”


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Before Rad could react, she lifted her foot and kicked the robotic cat hard.


    The force of the impact sent it flying across the room, its small metallic body slamming into the wall with a sickening crack. A crater formed where it hit, shards of its synthetic plating breaking apart as sparks burst from its ruined frame.


    “Mom!” Rad cried out, leaping to his feet. His breathing was sharp, uneven.


    His mother snapped her gaze to him, her expression eerily calm, but her eyes were seething with something ugly. Something vile.


    “I’m done with you, Rad.” Her voice was final, like a slammed door. “You better find a new place to stay, ‘cause I’m sick of your shit.”


    Rad’s breath hitched. He felt like he’d just been doused in ice water.


    She wasn’t just mad. She meant it. Every last word.


    Tears now flooded Rad’s face, hot and endless, streaking down his bruised cheeks as his whole body trembled. His breath came in ragged gasps, choked and shallow, his ribs aching with each inhale. His wide, terror-stricken eyes darted between the ruined remains of his robotic pet, its shattered body still twitching with fading sparks, and the looming figure of his mother, the monster who had just destroyed it.


    “M-Mom, please!” Rad sobbed, his voice cracking under the weight of desperation. He staggered forward, reaching for her, clinging to the last slivers of hope that she would relent, that somewhere beneath that seething rage, she still had love for him.


    But there was nothing. No warmth, no hesitation. Just a cold, empty fury.


    “Shut up!” she spat, her face twisting into something monstrous, something barely human. Before Rad could react, her hand lashed out, striking him with a force that sent him hurtling backward.


    The sharp, explosive pain of the impact was immediate, ringing through his skull as his body slammed into the couch. The world blurred for a split second, his ears ringing as the couch overturned, spilling him onto the hard floor.


    Rad barely had time to breathe before she was on him again, a towering, shadowy figure against the dim light of the apartment. Her piercing blue eyes glowed with unbridled fury, cold and lifeless, like the eyes of a predator.


    Rad opened his mouth to plead, to beg, but no words came fast enough. The first punch drove into his face like a hammer, splitting his lip open.


    Then another. And another.


    Pain exploded through his body, each blow rattling his bones, his mind spiraling into a fog of agony. The taste of blood filled his mouth, metallic and warm, dripping down his chin as his screams tore through the apartment.


    Outside, a few passersby had stopped, their faces flickering with vague discomfort. But that was all. No one stepped forward. No one knocked on the door. No one cared.


    “Mom!” Rad choked out between sobs, his voice breaking, his words reduced to a helpless wail.


    But his mother didn’t stop. Her fists rained down like a storm, each one landing harder than the last, battering not only his fragile body but his very soul.


    Time lost meaning. Seconds stretched into eternity as the assault continued, grinding away at whatever was left of Rad’s spirit. His sobs grew weaker, his struggles feeble.


    The world shrank to the pain, the suffocating weight of betrayal pressing down on him like an iron vice. How could a mother hate her own child so much?


    How could she hurt the boy she had once cradled in her arms? Was there nothing left of that love, or had it been swallowed whole by the bitterness of her life?


    Rad couldn’t understand. And then, finally, mercifully, the blows began to slow. His mother’s breathing was ragged now, her shoulders heaving as if she had exhausted all the rage inside her. Her fists trembled mid-air, hovering over his battered form.


    Something changed in her expression. Her eyes, once alight with fury, now flickered with something else, something raw. Something broken.


    Rad lay there, sobbing violently, curling in on himself, his body wracked with pain. His soul screamed louder than his voice ever could, but his mother wasn’t looking at him anymore.


    She was looking at her own hands. They shook, bloodied and bruised, marked by the violence she had unleashed. Her breath hitched, and then, as if all at once, the weight of what she had done crashed down on her.


    Tears welled in her eyes. Her lips quivered. And then, a sob ripped from her throat, a sound of pure, unfiltered grief.


    She fell apart completely. Rad flinched at the sound of her wailing, his entire being too drained, too shattered to comprehend what was happening.


    His mother clutched her head tightly, her cries growing louder, as though she were being torn apart from the inside. Her body shook violently, her screams mingling with Rad’s own, filling the apartment with a raw, agonizing symphony of pain.


    Rad gasped, shakily rolling onto his stomach, dragging himself away from her, his entire frame convulsing with sobs. He didn’t want to be near her. He couldn’t.


    Behind him, his mother wept, her cries desperate, unrelenting. But Rad didn’t turn back.


    He crawled forward, leaving her alone in the wreckage of their ruined home, her broken sobs echoing behind him like a ghost of what could have been. Hours dragged by in suffocating silence as Rad now lay curled atop his filthy bed, his legs dangling over the edge, the mattress sagging beneath him.


    His ragged breath hitched every so often, his chest rising and falling in uneven gasps as he stared blankly at the locked door. His red, swollen eyes stung with every slow blink, fresh tears brimming at the edges but refusing to fall. Every inch of him ached, his face throbbing, his ribs sore, but none of it compared to the hollow, gnawing pain inside his chest.


    He shuddered, wrapping his arms around himself, his blood-stained fingers gripping his own sides like he was trying to hold himself together. His sniffles, the occasional shaky sigh, these were the only sounds in the dimly lit room, a lonely rhythm to his suffering.


    But then, the silence shifted. Rad felt it before he saw it, a familiar presence beside him, small yet steady, like an anchor in the storm. His guardian angel.


    Slowly, Rad turned his head, his vision blurred from exhaustion and tears. And there, sitting next to him, was Ray.


    Rad’s breath hitched. He hurriedly wiped at his tear-streaked cheeks with his trembling hands, his voice a broken whisper. “…R-Ray?”


    Ray nodded once, his black-and-white form still against the dim glow of the room. In his lap, he cradled the shattered remains of Rad’s robotic pet, its tiny frame no longer sparking, its wires limp and lifeless.


    Rad’s lips trembled as he gazed upon the broken machine. His chest tightened, his voice barely escaping. “W-why are you here?”


    Ray didn’t answer right away. Instead, he slowly reached out with his white cybernetic hand, placing it gently on Rad’s shoulder.


    Rad flinched at the touch, his body tensing on instinct. But Ray didn’t move away. He only whispered, his voice quiet, yet certain.


    “Because… I know what it’s like to be alone.”


    A strange warmth spread from Ray’s white palm, seeping into Rad’s bruised skin. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before, soothing, weightless, like the warmth of the sun on a cold day.


    He barely noticed the violet glow pulsing from Ray’s hand as the pain in his body slowly dulled. Wounds knitted back together. Bruises faded. Scars softened.


    Rad shuddered, another tear slipping down his cheek as he took a long, shaky breath. His voice cracked as he whispered into the quiet air. “…It’s not fair.”


    Ray slowly pulled his hand away, his violet glow fading into the darkness. “What’s not fair?” he asked gently.


    Rad wiped his face roughly, frustration bleeding into his sadness. “T-that everyone else gets to be loved…” His voice wavered, years of unspoken pain unraveling all at once. “Why can’t it be me?”


    Ray blinked, his cybernetic eyes widening ever so slightly at Rad’s words. Something in them flickered, emotions, memories, but it they were gone in an instant. His gaze softened, but his voice remained steady.


    “Sometimes, Rad…” Ray said quietly, tilting his head ever so slightly toward him. “To be loved, you must love others.”


    And then, without another word, the ruined remains of Rad’s robotic pet began to rise. Rad gasped, his breath catching as a cosmic glow surrounded the tiny wreckage, lifting it into the air. The soft violet light pulsed like a heartbeat, radiating warmth as the fractured metal and torn wires twisted and reformed, reshaping into something new.


    For the first time in a long time, Ray wasn’t using his power to destroy. He was using it to mend.


    The broken machine trembled as it shifted, its metallic form rippling like liquid stardust. It flickered through a series of shapes, a sleek black wolf with luminous eyes, a shimmering silver fox with a flowing tail, a small glowing rabbit with gentle ears, each one forming and dissolving in a breath before finally settling.


    A radiant violet phoenix. Its metallic feathers gleamed with cosmic energy, each one shedding tiny embers of light that cascaded through the air like falling stars.


    It let out a soft, melodic chirp before flapping its wings, sending a ripple of glowing energy through the room as it soared in a graceful arc. Rad stared, utterly mesmerized, his lips parting as the celestial creature circled above them, a living ember of something beautiful, something impossible.


    Ray’s voice was quiet, almost distant. “That is what my aunt taught me.”


    Rad glanced at him, catching the fleeting sadness in Ray’s gaze, the pain buried beneath his robotic monotone. Whatever memories he was reliving, whatever ghosts haunted him, Rad could see them lingering in the edges of his expression.


    The cosmic phoenix let out another chirp before swooping down, perching itself on Rad’s shoulder. It nuzzled against him gently, its warmth spreading through his skin, a feeling so foreign yet so… comforting.


    Rad let out a small, breathy laugh, the first one in what felt like forever. The bird’s soft feathers tickled, and for a moment, just a moment, the weight on his chest felt lighter.


    Ray watched him, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. It was subtle, but it was there.


    But then, Rad’s laughter faded, replaced by something quieter, something heavier. He lowered his gaze, his voice soft. “I want to change.”


    Ray’s cybernetic eyes locked onto him, unreadable, yet patient.


    “I want to become a better person,” Rad whispered. “Someone others can love.”


    Ray didn’t hesitate to speak. “You will.”


    He placed his white hand on Rad’s shoulder once more, this time, Rad didn’t flinch. And there, in the dim glow of the violet phoenix’s light, the two sat in quiet understanding, the warmth of each other’s presence filling the spaces where loneliness used to be.


    But then, a bloodcurdling scream tore through the fragile peace, slicing through the silence like a blade. The sheer rawness of it sent a jolt of fear through Rad’s chest, his body tensing as his breath hitched.


    The sound was primal, agonized, desperate, and filled with something far worse than mere pain. It was suffering. A loud crash followed, making Rad flinch violently, his fingers digging into the mattress as his heartbeat thundered in his ears.


    The robotic phoenix perched on his shoulder cawed sharply in alarm, its cosmic energy flickering like a dying star. Rad’s wide, tear-streaked eyes darted toward the door, panic flooding into his expression.


    Ray, however, did not react with surprise. His warm smile faded, his glowing eyes dimming with quiet, solemn understanding. The echoes of the future had already whispered their warning to him, painting a picture far more terrifying than Rad could imagine.


    Ray knew what was happening. He had seen it.


    Rad’s voice wavered as he swallowed past the lump in his throat. “What—” He barely managed to get the words out, his breath shaky. “What’s happening?”


    Ray hesitated, his gaze shifting, flickering with something almost human—pity, perhaps? For a fleeting moment, his fingers curled slightly, his cybernetic form betraying an unnatural stillness. And then, with careful precision, he lied.


    “Your mom…” Ray said, his voice quieter now, laced with a softness that almost felt like mourning. He averted his gaze as if ashamed. “She is not well.”


    Rad’s breath caught, his pulse pounding against his ribs. Concern overtook his fear, overriding every ounce of self-preservation that should have been keeping him frozen In place. Without thinking, he began to move, pushing himself up off the bed, his hands trembling as he steadied himself. “I have to—”


    But a firm, small white hand pressed against his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. Rad looked down, startled by the unexpected pressure. His gaze snapped up to meet Ray’s, only to find himself staring into those unblinking glowing eyes, eyes that, despite their mechanical nature, seemed to hold something human, something infinitely tired.


    “What?” Rad’s voice was growing more frantic. “Why are you stopping me?”


    Ray said nothing at first, simply watching him with that same knowing, sorrowful look. And then, finally, he spoke.


    “I need you to trust me, Rad.” His voice was barely above a whisper.


    Rad’s lips parted, his breathing uneven as he processed those words. The second scream rang out, more raw, more broken. It sent an icy bolt of terror straight through his chest.


    His mind screamed at him to run, to help her. But another part of him, the part that knew his mother, that knew the violence she was capable of, kept him rooted in place. Something was wrong.


    “What are you talking about?!” Rad turned his head toward the sound, his movements jerky, panicked. “She’s hurt, isn’t she? I have to—”


    Ray didn’t respond. He merely closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again, his expression unreadable. Slowly, he extended his white cybernetic hand toward Rad, his palm open in silent offering.


    “Let me handle this, Rad.” His voice was steady, but there was something else beneath it, something unspoken. Something fragile. “Hold my hand.”


    Rad hesitated. Another bloodcurdling scream tore through the apartment, this one even more guttural, more inhuman. The sheer agony in it made his stomach churn. His body trembled with indecision, his mind waging war against itself.


    Go. Stay. Move. Don’t.


    Rad clenched his fists, his breath ragged. Ray’s eyes softened further as he spoke gently. “Please, Rad…” That voice, Ray’s voice. A pained voice that should no longer be capable of pleading, of shaking, of feeling, and yet, it did.


    Rad took a shaky breath, his vision blurring again as he turned toward Ray. His large, chubby hand hovered over the robotic boy’s palm, fingers trembling as he made his choice. With a final, shuddering exhale, he placed his hand into Ray’s. The contrast was stark, his warm, flesh-and-blood hand completely enveloping Ray’s smaller, smooth cybernetic white one.


    Ray gave a slight nod of approval, though his expression didn’t change. But if one looked closely, if one really looked, they would see the pity etched into the fine details of his face. The sorrow buried within his tired eyes.


    Slowly, Ray’s grip loosened, his fingers barely holding on as his glowing eyes dimmed. Rad felt his body tremble as silent tears slipped down his face once more.


    His free hand clenched the mattress, his nails digging in as another sob threatened to rise. But his voice, when it finally escaped his lips, was not filled with anger.


    Not for himself. Not for his own suffering. But for her.


    “Please be okay…” His voice was barely a whisper, shaky and raw, filled with a desperation no child should ever have to feel. His chest heaved, his heart aching. “Please be okay… please be okay… please be okay…”


    The room was a void of darkness, suffocating and heavy, pressing against the walls like a living thing. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, blood, and something far worse, something wrong. And in the center of it all, she lay upon the bed, her body writhing and jerking as if something unseen was tearing her apart from the inside out.


    Rad’s mother’s screams were a raw, jagged thing, bursting from her throat with a force that sent shivers through the very walls. They were not just screams of pain.


    They were filled with something deeper, more visceral, regret, shame, despair. A chorus of suffering that had long since lost its rhythm, unraveling into a discordant wail of a tortured woman who no longer belonged to herself.


    But the screaming never stopped as she thrashed violently atop her bed. Her body contorted unnaturally, her muscles jerking as if being torn apart by unseen hands.


    Her nails, jagged and cracked from years of abuse, dug into the mattress beneath her, piercing the fabric like claws. While the walls bore the scars of countless internal battles, craters, cracks, the remnants of every time she had held herself back from ending the life of yet another child.


    But now, the battle was reaching its end. And she was losing it.


    And above it all, a single ancient window cast an eerie, sterile glow into the room. The cold white light slashed through the darkness, illuminating the woman’s contorted form, giving her a ghostly, almost unreal presence.


    She did not look like she belonged here, in this time, in this world. She was something else entirely, something lost, something displaced, a relic of a past that no longer fit within the present.


    A tortured soul who was forced to exist in a body that no longer belonged to her. Her shrieks no longer fully human. But now the cries of something far worse, something broken beyond repair.


    And in the shadows, watching with unblinking violet eyes, stood Ray. No longer in his childlike form, he was something else now, taller, heavier, his onyx-black exosuit blending seamlessly into the darkness. His tattered black cape hanging completely still over his backside.


    Black chains dangled from his wrists, their cold metal links barely making a sound as they scraped against the dusty floor. But his expression beneath the visor was not one of malice. There was no hatred, no anger. Only pity.


    Ray stared at the woman before him as one would stare at a deeply broken child, one long beyond saving, one that should have been put out of their misery long ago. But he knew the grim truth.


    She plans to kill Rad. Ray’s fingers curled slightly as he thought to himself. I won’t let her.


    He took a slow step forward, his movements utterly silent. But it didn’t matter, she still heard him.


    The woman’s body seized immediately, her head snapping up with a sickening crack as her almost lifeless, haunted blue eyes flared to life.


    And then she lunged. Her body soaring through the air like a predator. A bloodcurdling shriek ripped from her throat, raw and inhuman, her body moving with terrifying speed. The artificial light caught her midair, illuminating her in an eerie, almost ethereal glow.


    “Tiempo Jue—” The woman screamed out, her cybernetic black bracelets flaring to life with a crimson red glow.


    But Ray was faster. With mechanical precision, he caught her mid-flight, his grip unyielding as he slammed her back into the mattress. The entire bedframe groaned under the force, but Ray did not falter.


    The pale light streaming in from above now bathed his exosuit in white, distorting his silhouette, turning him into something that almost—almost—resembled the hero he once was.


    But he was not a hero. Not anymore.


    The woman shrieked, thrashed, her nails clawing at his exosuit, striking at him with everything she had. But it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. The suit did not dent. The force did not faze him. She was powerless.


    Ray didn’t even flinch. Instead, he reached out, his black-gloved hand settling atop her head, his fingers threading through the tangled strands of her jet-black hair.


    The woman sobbed violently, her body trembling beneath him. Tears—hot, fast, relentless—spilled down her pale cheeks as she choked out the words, her voice cracking under the weight of everything she had been forced to endure.


    “Kill me!” she wailed. “Kill me, please!”


    Her voice broke completely as her chest heaved up and down rapidly. Her willpower crumbling. But Ray remained still.


    His grip did not tighten, did not falter. Instead, his palm began to glow, a soft, sorrowful violet, pulsing gently against her skull.


    “I know,” he murmured. His voice was quiet, almost tender, filled with something that should not have been possible for someone like him. Understanding. Empathy. Sorrow.


    His starry violet eyes softened beneath the visor. “I know, Amelia…”


    Amelia’s bloodcurdling screams of anguish continued for a long while. But not forever.


    Bit by bit, her shrieks grew weaker. Her thrashing slowed. Her body, once taut with agony, began to relax. And then, at last, silence.


    Amelia now lay still. Her chest rose and fell in steady, even breaths. Her face, twisted in torment just moments ago, was now peaceful. She looked as if she were merely sleeping, as if the horrors of her existence had never touched her.


    Ray did not move. He remained there, hand still resting atop her head, his gaze fixed on her with an unreadable expression. The pale white light shone down upon them both, casting long shadows across the broken walls.


    And then, at last, he spoke. His voice shaking ever so slightly. His spirit now on the verge of shattering completely. “Im sorry…”


    His voice wavered beneath the unimaginable weight of what he’s done. Of what he has now indirectly allowed to happen. The silence that followed was deafening.


    Ray’s violet starry eyes flickered, his fingers twitching as he finally, finally pulled away. His head dipped slightly, his shaky breath became barely audible.


    This… this… is the result of Rook’s brainwashing experiments.


    A process so vile, so inhuman, that it leaves its victims completely hollow. Left fully incapable of love or empathy. The brutal conditioning doesn’t just break them, it erases them completely. Their souls, rung out over and over and over again, until there is nothing left.


    What now lies before Ray is not a person. Not anymore. That girl’s light had been snuffed out a century ago.


    This is a husk. A tragedy. A warning.


    This… is what Kite will become.