"Do you think all Demirs are bloodthirsty?" Dyara asked calmly giving Felix a false sense of security.
After taking a few seconds to come to terms with what happened, Felix glanced at her but remained silent.
Unlike last time, he wasn't suppressed by any force, leading him to believe that the Demir had converged her aura.
This allowed him to breathe but he still felt his heart palpitate as he realized that she had heard everything he said.
"Hmm," Dyara looked Felix over for a few seconds before sighing. "Most Nulls possess broken wills and no sense of self. Tell me, how did you manage to avoid that?"
Felix pursed his lips unsure of how to respond.
He knew himself well and without a doubt, he would respond with something annoying that could very much cost him his life.
Dyara wasn't Charlie.
Demirs had no qualms about killing humans and even though Felix hated them, he could only exert revenge if he was alive.
So, he remained silent.
"You don't want to talk," Dyara said as she slowly got to her feet. "Are you scared of me?"
Still no response.
Dyara extended her right hand and the floor of the room reacted to the movement.
Nanotech.
Felix was familiar with the technology since it was what was prevalent in the Awakening project.
A metal bat was quickly outlined by the nanites before the ground returned to normal.
Felix's gaze alternated between Dyara's face and the bat.
"Do you still wish to remain silent?" Dyara asked as she took hold of the bat and slowly made her way toward Felix.
Felix's breathing turned heavy as Dyara came within arm's length.
"My name is Dyara," Dyara remarked as she brandished the metal bat. "Tell me, what are you to me?"
Felix clenched his jaw. "…Your slave."
"So you can speak?" Dyara acted surprised.
Felix trembled as anger burned within but he could only swallow it all as he replied. "I… apologize for staying silent. I'll do better next time."
Dyara placed her left hand on his cheek and stroked it softly. "I only ask that you obey me."
Felix was about to respond when she added. "Do the opposite and I will have no choice… but to break you."
"No, don't…"
Dyara slammed the metal bat into his side causing Felix to gasp as horrifying levels of pain shot through his body from that angle.
He convulsed as the pain reached the point where the screaming was pointless.
By the time she pulled back, Felix was already unconscious with foam coming out from his mouth and the blacks of his eyes completely gone with only the whites remaining.
Felix regained consciousness several hours later as he opened his eyes to find the masked man from earlier standing before him with a tray.
"You…"
"I will tell you one thing… do as the lady wishes and you won't have to suffer as you did earlier." The masked man said in a hoarse tone.
Felix kept eye contact briefly before dropping his head. "You are human."
"Does it matter?"
"How do you do it?" Felix put up his head but this time, unrestrained anger could be seen. "How do you manage to serve them with everything they have done?"
"…" The masked man remained silent.
"Did you suddenly turn mute?" Felix asked.
The man slowly shook his head as he dropped the tray and turned to leave.
"Don't turn your back on me!"
Wham
"Ugh." Felix groaned as the masked man delivered a punch to his torso.
"You think I like it?" The masked man asked before adding. "When under eaves, it's only right to bend your neck."
"And so you sell your dignity?" Felix muttered weakly.
"As long as I and my family can live well… I would sell my soul."
Felix was left speechless.
The masked man pulled back and made his way out to the exit.
"Eat… you will need the strength." The masked man said before snapping his fingers.
The tubes binding Felix's limbs retracted causing him to drop awkwardly to the ground.
By the time he raised his head, the masked man was gone and the door was locked.
Felix gritted his teeth but found himself unable to say anything against the masked man.
He was right to surrender for the sake of his family.
Unfortunately, Felix didn't have a family any longer.
His father was gone, same with his sister and he couldn't even tell what condition his mother was currently in.
[Notice. Congratulations to host for escaping his previous location successfully]
Felix froze momentarily.
[Notice. I advise that you use your inside voice. This room is like an open sandbox to your new owner]
"Escape your head!" Felix remarked aggressively using his inside voice. "You ghosted me and then come back talking like it was part of some master plan."
[Notice. It was not my intention as I was worried that a flaw in my programming would be discovered thus, I promptly hid]
"Tch, I should flay you."
[Notice. That is logically impossible as I am artificial intelligence and possess no skin]
Felix sensibly dropped the matter to avoid puking blood as he sighed. "Did she discover you?"
[Notice. I cannot say]
Aya's response wasn't registered as Felix instinctively moved toward the tray left behind by the masked man.
He took off the cover and sucked in cold air at the sight before him.
It was bread… not moldy, but fresh.
Felix couldn't recall the last time he had such luxury.
He gulped subconsciously, only regaining himself as Aya repeated herself.
"So what now?... Unlike the stone cell Charlie put me in, this one is built with Nanotech, so unless you know a way to back nanites, escaping would be difficult."
[Notice. I can hack the nanites but my calculations show that there is no need for an escape for the time being]
Felix instinctively frowned as he asked. "What the hell are you talking about?... You expect me to remain a slave!"