Raymond watched Ariel through the door and nodded. She seemed to be in good shape.
"She can be discharged in a few days." Steve said to him and he nodded, not taking his eyes off Ariel. "Do you really plan to use her as part of your plan?" He asked and Raymond finally looked away from Ariel towards his direction.
"Am I supposed to assure you everything you ask? If you're not going to believe it then forget it." He said and started walking away.
"That's not what I meant though." Steve said as he followed after him. "She's not learned, neither is she experienced."
"But she knows how to follow orders well. As long as it's something she understands, she can do it."
"And how sure are you?" Raymond stopped and Steve stopped as well. He turned his head to Steve and asked a question completely off topic.
"Did you look into her hair issue?" He asked and this ticked Steve but he still responded accordingly.
"Yes. I'm working on the solution already. We just need to wait a few days to see if what I made is effective or not."
A few days later, thankfully, Steve's remedy worked out and Ariel's hair started growing at a fast rate.
"Ahh!" She exclaimed, staring at herself in the mirror. "I never thought... I never thought that I... " A single tear rolled down her right cheek but she held it in, turned to Steve and smiled. "Thank you."
Her gratitude reached him, coupled with that smile. He blushed a bit and cleared his throat.
"Don't mention it. I'm just doing my job. I'm getting paid to do this, afterall." He said but she looked at him confused.
"Was reviving my hair also a part of your job?" She asked and Steve realized he had let the cat out of the bag.
He immediately darted his eyes as he adjusted his glasses.
"Ah, I consider it a part of my job, okay? All the ingredients I used will be paid by Raymond anyway, so..." He watched Ariel's expression and decided to just stop talking. "By the way, you're getting discharged tomorrow." He said and she nodded but suddenly looked sad.
'I will have to go back to that house.' Ariel thought, mindlessly staring at her reflection in the mirror. 'I left the only thing I have of mom in my drawer.'
"Something wrong?" Steve asked and she looked up.
"What?"
"Well..." He paused as his sight fell on Raymond at the door.
But Raymond did not want to be discovered by her yet so he simply shook his head a little.
"Anyway, have you planned out what you're going to do once you're discharged?" Steve asked.
"Of course it's to take revenge on that scum." She said over gritted teeth, showing the deep hatred she had towards 'him'.
"Oh, right."
It was a bit awkward trying to bring up a conversation when he knew that Raymond was standing at the door and listening to them.
Raymond, who was silently observing Ariel, tilted his head as he wondered the 'role' that would suit her perfectly. In order to include her as a fierce chess piece, he needed to bring her character to perfection.
"Ariel," he suddenly called, startling Ariel who quickly turned to him.
"Ah, you're here." She said, showing surprise and a bit of confusion in her expression.
"How well do you know how to act?" He suddenly asked, confusing her more.
"Excuse me?"
Raymond got to her and took hold of her hand.
"If I told you to act like someone you're not, a completely different person compared to who you are right now, do you think you'll be able to do it?"
Ariel was silent for a while. What he was asking was if she was good at acting, right? Well, she had never tried it before so she... An image of her past attempts to steal suddenly flashed through her mind and she flinched.
"Well?"
Ariel's eyes fell right into Raymond's and she stared at his deep cold brown eyes which were more of the darker side. They were eyes that held no emotions and were filled with endless void. These... Were what defined Raymond's heart.
"Are you going to answer me or not?" Raymond's voice brought her back from her unpermitted searching and she looked away.
"Ah," she exclaimed, still lost in a bit of her thoughts. Yes, if it was this man, she wouldn't have to worry about falling into another abyss. A man who weighed losses and gains, a man stated out flat, his interests and dislikes.
A man who could rescue her.
Though she wouldn't be able to read him, she never had been good at reading people, she knew one thing. As long as she was deemed useful in his sight, he would help her get the revenge she so longs for.
'I just need to become a slave that he won't get tired of easily, even if I have to do what I have never done in my life.'
That was that. And once she had gotten her sweet revenge and Raymond did not need her anymore, she... After which, she...
"I can." Ariel answered, ignoring that last panel of thoughts. "I'm not very good at it but if I get used to my role, I'm sure I can do well."
Raymond looked into her eyes, the determination and confidence he saw were commendable.
"Good." He let go of her hand. "Let's hope you keep that spirit up till the end." He said and Ariel nodded, feeling like she had unknowingly passed a difficult test.
Raymond turned to Steve who avoided eye contact like he was guilty for a crime.
"We won't wait till tomorrow to come before getting out of here." He suddenly said, "Prepare what you have to, she's getting discharged right now."