I let Starlight and Twilight sleep on the bed while I slept on the floor.

They tried to argue against it, but I wasn't going to take no for an answer. They deserved a good warm bed, even if they had to share it. I could deal with the floor for now. Besides, even with an eye gone, I feel like they're being hit the hardest. I've been here for over two years. They've only been here for a couple months.

Big difference.

Also, I still couldn't feel pain coming from my left eye. I already knew what the outcome was, that being my eye no longer being usable. Living with only one eye was extremely disorienting, and caused me to stumble across something in the room because I couldn't see it. So, now not only do I not have a finger, I no longer have an eye.

Also, those mechanites from a couple days before were gone. I didn't feel sick. Whatever medicine they had given me must've killed them off, wiping them from my bloodstream. I wanted to be thankful, but the medicine was given to me by a complete monster. Should I really be thankful? I'd rather have dealt with the pains.

Starlight spoke to Twilight about what happened to her.

While she was asleep, Twilight gave me a brief summary, and it's not a happy story. She was raped, violently, by royals and guards. Since she didn't want to do what she was commanded to do by Tarbo, he allowed anyone free reign into her cell. Most who indulged in the act constantly made fun of her, telling her that her body was ugly, built like an animal, but that she had human qualities. And, that those were the only qualities that mattered.

I swear, if I could, I'd kill them.

But, I know that I wouldn't be able to, atleast not now. Tarbo is too strong, and that guard, JO-11, is hyped up on something else. He probably has his own psychic amplifier thing, or implants that were able to get his strength all the way up to eleven. He also seemed to be the right-hand guard for Tarbo. If anything needed to be dealt with, JO-11 was sent out to do it.

I asked Starlight if he had done anything to her, to which she responded no.

Despite working for a monster, he seemed the most human out of any interaction I've had here. Several other guards and royals would visit our 'cell' and mock us, or deliver food and other things. Yet, he spoke casually. He was definitely intimidating, but something about him seemed much different than the others. That didn't make me hate him any less though.

I watched Twilight and Starlight sleep from the chair I sat on. They cuddled up together closely. I'm sure that it made them feel much better. I'd love to join them in sleepy cuddles, but I just didn't feel right at the moment. Something was bothering me. I really didn't know what precisely, but it was something major.

I was going to let my head fall back on the chair, until the door quietly opened. It was late, who is it?

Tarbo took a step in, and motioned me to come outside the room. I stared at him, my glare returning. Each time I saw this man, I could feel my blood start to boil. Maybe that's what killed off the mechanites, hm? Hating the fact that I had to obey, I got up and quietly exited the room, to which he shut the door behind me.

He smiled at me. "How are you, dear Rex?"

"It's late." I said, ignoring his question.

"It is, but I knew you'd be awake. I needed to speak to you in private."

I groaned in my own mind, knowing that this wasn't going to be anything pleasant. I eye'd him, hating his little smile. "And, what exactly did you need to speak to me about?" I asked, putting on a fake, cheery attitude. I knew he could see through it, but that didn't stop him from playing along.

"I'm glad you asked! Dear Rex, do you know what this is?" He said, pulling a red pill from behind him, holding it between his thumb and pointer finger. I stared at it, knowing exactly what it was. It was luciferium. It was a crimson-red pill, almost like old blood, and it shined slightly in the light.

I nodded.

"Good! It's yours." He said, forcing me with his own hand to open up my palm, before placing the pill in my hand.

"Why would I want it?"

"Well, I would assume that one would like to stay alive, hm? Why else do you think you don't feel any pain?"

What?

"I might've said a small lie when I was talking to you. I had my guards administer tough medication to you, knowing that it would dull the pain. If you were too busy focusing on the current pain, you wouldn't be able to endure the pain later down the road, hm? So, I slipped one of these into you."

"W-What?" I said, choking on my saliva slightly. My eye's went wide, and my heart felt like it was going to shatter. I began to hyperventilate almost immediately, but I stayed standing, not allowing myself to completely break down. That would be the reaction he wanted.

"Oh, I know I should've asked for your permission, but I just... couldn't. I'm sure you understand, hm? I'm going to give those two the pill too in order to make you all, how do I say it, connect? Bond together closer?"

"N-No!" I yelled, to which he placed his hand over my mouth.

"Hush Rex, you will wake them up. You don't want me to give them the pill?"

"No.."

He giggled. "You know you have no say over that. But, I'll buy into it. You do as I say, or else I'll slip a little pill into their food. They'd be enslaved for the rest of their lives, but not to me. To the Luciferium. You would hate that, wouldn't you? Don't answer, I know the response, which would be 'Yes Tarbo, it'd be a terrible fate. Please, don't do that, I will do anything you say!' Splendid!"

He mocked me, but I was powerless to stop him.

"Tomorrow, I will abuse you as I see fit. And, don't go and tell them about your little luciferium problem. I want to tell them myself. I want to see their genuine reaction, knowing their friend will suddenly die at random within a week, without a simple dose of this little pill. You'll do as I say, correct?"

I nodded.

"Good. Now take the pill, as payment for accepting."

I stared down at the pill in my hand. It shined slightly from the light that sat overhead. I shook my head. How did my life come to this very moment? With nothing left, I lifted the pill into my mouth, and swallowed hard, feeling it slide down my throat, to which Tarbo began to laugh.

"I would've thought you picked up on my joke, dear Rex."

"W-What do you mean?"

"Oh, you silly man. I didn't even give you the luciferium, it was all a lie. You just took your first dose of it, yourself. I thought you would've been the one to spot my trickery, but I suppose you really aren't fit to be a king, are you? You'd shamefully rule a dull world."

"What?!" I yelled, to which Tarbo forced his hand onto my mouth once again.

"You don't want me to beat you, do you? Go back inside, and go to sleep. You'll need it for tomorrow, I promise. It will be a rough day, and you'll need your rest. Now go, friend." He said with a smile before opening the door. When I didn't move, he kicked me into the room, and slammed the door shut behind me.

Twilight and Starlight awoke to the loud noise. "Hu-h..?!" They both said with a gasp, before seeing me on the floor.

"R-Rex? What.." Twilight started, before I got myself off the floor.

"J-just a late night visit from Tar.. I'm fine, I promise."

"You better be..." I could hear Twilight say with a whisper, before laying her head back down. Starlight eye'd be, scanning my body to see if there were any injuries. After that, she scanned my face, which was slightly red. I looked away from her, trying to keep my calm.

She decided that I was okay, and let her head fall back onto the bed, almost instantly falling asleep.

I wanted to cry. He tricked me into taking the pill myself. What was I going to do now? What will happen to me tomorrow? He specified me, and not them. I assume another torture session, to try to get the two of them to comply with whatever crazy commands he wants them to do.

I wasn't one to believe in god, but I prayed to him that night.

Author's Note

Short chapter update. This was supposed to be added to the previous chapter, so consider this an add-on to the previous chapter.

Love you guys.

Also, finger update: It's healing!