Entry #216:
Dear diary,
I saw him today. I almost threw up. That insufferable wretch with a smile as fake as his image—why even bother to put a smile on that indifferent face? We all know how evil he is deep down. Beneath his perfect facade is the face of a devil. The mere sight of him sent shivers down my spine, as if every cell in my body was severely repulsed by his presence. How can one single individual be so infuriating, so utterly detestable, and so intolerable?
His voice alone is irritating enough; it keeps playing on repeat in the recesses of my mind, even as he's gone. It's like a siren's call; it lures you down into a sea of despair and deceit. Once you're in, you can't escape; you'll only die in the process. But not me. I refuse to be entangled in the web of a venomous spider.
They say that no one can leave, that no one can escape, that no one has freedom in his reign, and that he can't be defeated. I'll prove them wrong. I'll leave. I'll escape. I'll be free, and most importantly, I'll make sure to beat him. I'll play his games and come out victorious. Today will be the beginning of his downfall.
Entry #217:
Dear diary,
I met a woman today. No, it's more accurate to say that I bumped into one today. I know who she was. Her name was Hailey Addie C. Ted. She was quite popular; the men on the ship all knew who she was. Perhaps it's because she's attractive, or maybe it's because she's outgoing and likes to involve everyone. However, it seems that she's a big fan of that person.
I can't help but wonder how the world continues to be so blind to his true nature. Are they oblivious or just willingly ignorant? I'm starting to think that it's the latter. Perhaps they're all blinded by the same charm that makes my stomach turn. Underneath the polished surface is nothing but filth. Even after the heinous acts he has committed, some people still idolize him. Do they really wish to become a terrible person?
Does he sleep at night, I wonder, knowing that so many lives have been lost because of him? Or is he just a soulless creature, impervious to the suffering he causes? He's not like me. He doesn't understand anything. He doesn't know the pain.
I've come to despise the way he carries himself and the arrogance in his stride. as if the world owes him something. Well, I owe him nothing but contempt. I watched him burn my home, so I will burn his. I will be the one to free his men, to free the souls he held captive for far too long, and I will finally extinguish the flames of hatred. These people need to be saved, and I'll do the honors to be their hero.
The very air he breathes feels tainted; it's poison for those around him; hence, I will get rid of him, put an end to the toxin that permeates through the air, and bring peace. Once my mission here is over, he will meet his demise.
Creak… A wooden door opened, revealing a small and messy room. Dirty clothes were scattered on the floor; crumpled paper was thrown all over the place; things made up of plastic, such as bags, bottles, and cups, filled the space; unevenly stacked books and magazines, ripped-off posters, broken vases, unfolded towels, and sheets were cluttered across the walls, the shelves, and the floor. There was no sense of organization at all.
A person with a gorget took a step inside, and upon closer inspection, he found an intruder sitting by his desk, reading a leather journal. He jumped in fright and quickly closed the door behind him, rushing towards the person to retrieve the diary from their hands. In one swift move, he passed through the rubbish on the ground with a few clanks here and there and arrived in front of the unexpected visitor.
Pang! He grabbed the journal and retreated a few steps back. His dark pupils were shaking, sweat was dripping from his forehead, a slight blush was present on his cheeks, his lips were pursed, and his actions had a tad bit of awkwardness to them. Although he only rushed for a brief moment, he was panting quite heavily, and he desperately tried to put on a straight face.
"Uh, who would have thought that you had a side like this? Acting like some kind of hero, haha. I certainly wasn't expecting that, especially from our talented Neil." The intruder spoke in a low, deliberate manner, as though they were chilling by the beach, looking at the sweet sunset while sipping on some juice. It was a woman's voice, and it had an elegant quality to it.
She showed a sly smirk. "How was your day, little darling? Are you doing well? I'm sure you were before seeing me here. Sad to say, but I have some bad news for you, dear." She didn't seem to be in a hurry. "I received a call today. Unfortunately, we won't be returning today as promised since something came up. Oh, and…" she cut him off before he could even speak. "You might say that 'that wasn't part of the plan; this is upsetting, yada, yada.'" She slammed the desk with her foot. "But you… no, we don't have a choice in this, dear. I know you've been whining about wanting to leave for a while now, but we'll have to stay for another day and possibly for another week."
The man's face had contorted, openly dissatisfied with what was said. She continued, "The commander wants more intelligence. He'd angered the Artificer, and now he's a bit paranoid. He is a hundred percent sure that the Andromeda Empire will eventually retaliate. He's hoping to know about the Artificer's plan regarding this."
He clicked his tongue and tossed the journal onto his bed. "Are you crazy?" He stated, "Getting him the information he asked for last time was the limit. You know that. Memorizing this ship's design was almost an impossible task."
"And now, he wants me to snoop around that person? How am I even supposed to do that unnoticed? And if I can't sneak around, how am I supposed to figure out the plan? Do you realize how risky this is?"
He spoke fast, a contrast to the way the other had spoken. "It took us six years to get in here, two years of being an obedient slave, and another two to study the ship so we could get him what he wanted. That's a decade of my life I've committed to this! I've spent that much time on this, and on the day I finally get to leave, you're telling me I can't?"
"And all your life, you've been waiting for revenge. This is your chance, Neil." She got up from the chair, her hips swaying as she walked. "I understand what you're feeling. I know it's been rough for you. Being in close proximity to the person you hate the most is absolutely terrible. I understand, darling."
She traced his arm up to his shoulder. "He took everything from you; it's reasonable to have this much hatred for him. You might believe that you can't beat him yet at your current level; that's why you're hesitant to do this, but… well, if you think that, then you'd be correct. However, beating him in a fight isn't the only way to win; you don't need to engage with him; you just need to stick around."
She touched his face and looked straight into his eyes. "You've already won once. We managed to retrieve one of the things that he values most. But is winning just once enough for you? I'm sure it isn't. After all, he's made you lose everything. Hence, we're presenting this great opportunity just for you. This is the perfect chance to release your anguish, to fulfill your dreams, and to finally play the hero."
"Find out what he's going to do next, and then leave the rest to us. Once you get what the commander wants, you only need to sit back and watch the show unfold."
"…why am I the one who needs to do this?"
"What do you mean, why? Isn't it your role as a spy? To gather intelligence on the enemy? Besides, isn't this the image of a spy you've been imagining in your head? I saw it in your diary… you've long wanted to play hide and seek with your foes, blending in, and silently making a difference."
Neil's face heated up, and he yelled out, seemingly flustered. "You didn't have to mention that!"
She smiled and turned around, walking towards the door. She stumbled slightly on the trash scattered across the floor, but she kept her cool and looked back at Neil. "Of course, if you don't want to, we won't force you. We aren't monsters, not like him, who treats others like machines; as if we're mere slaves under him. Sigh… I feel sorry for those people who remain ignorant of his crimes, those who still willingly work for him despite everything."
"So pitiful."
She glanced at his face one last time before leaving the room. Click! The door closed. Just as she left, the light from outside the window peered through the gap in between the thick curtains and shone on a small compartment under the desk.
Neil hesitantly pulled on the drawer. His face returned from flustered to emotionless and empty. His action revealed a featureless mask. It resembled the masks worn by the puppets. He carefully picked it up and traced his fingers across the surface. Upon inspecting the mask, his expression showed a slight discomfort.
A sigh of discontent came out of his thin lips. He placed the mask on the desk, and he dejectedly slumped down on the chair. His eyes shifted to the corner of the table, where there stood a broken mirror that reflected his face. A golden brown light was shining on his skin, making him appear a bit serene.
He slowly raised his head and looked up at the ceiling, his head resting on the back of the chair. His green eyes glowed as the light hit them. He had sharp features and a muscular build, but his posture revealed this feeling of tiredness. His expression was down; a hint of melancholy could be seen in it.
Meanwhile, outside his door, the woman remained standing in front of it for about a minute. "He'll do it," she whispered beneath her breath. Her plump lips twitched, and her amber eyes rose. She had a mole under her left eye, and a scar under the other, but that did not cause her beauty to falter. Her long lashes were thick and curled, and her brows were the same color as her hair—dirty blonde.
Her skin wasn't perfect; it wasn't without blemishes, but that was barely a flaw. "Why does it have to be him?" She repeated the question that was asked. "I almost slipped up when he asked. I didn't think he'd figure out the part where we didn't need him to be the one to do it. After all, he can be pretty darn dense. I can do it myself, but that's not the reason why I'm here." She spoke as though she were speaking to someone.
"He doesn't seem to know it himself, but his soul ability has a lot of potential; it's just that it's hard to activate. We've already spent a long time trying to trigger it; this is our last effort. We've been nurturing him for far too long; the resources we have been providing him need to be repaid."
She began to walk on the long corridor. "Raising someone this powerful while simultaneously causing the destruction of the Andromeda Empire…" she chuckled, her pupils shaking in excitement. "It's like hitting—no, it's killing two birds with one stone." She revealed a twisted smile.