The morning sun rises, and I open my eyes, lying on the hard bed. I sigh, swinging my legs slowly—almost lazily—and sit up.
In the bed across from me, Parker is sitting, his back pressed against the wall, legs drawn close to his chest. He's staring at me, his eyes uncertain.
I meet his gaze lazily. "You want chicken?"
Parker blinks, startled. "Wh-what?"
"Chicken. You want?"
"Y-yeah," he says hesitantly, his voice wavering as if unsure whether this is a joke or a trap.
"Alright," I say, standing up. "Wait here."
Before Parker can ask what I mean, I vanish. There's no puff of smoke, no dramatic flash of light—one moment, I'm there, and the next, the space I occupied is empty.
Parker's jaw drops, his mind reeling as he stumbles back, his breath coming quick and shallow.
Minutes pass in silence. Then, just as abruptly as I disappeared, I reappear in the same spot, holding two neatly packed meals in my hands.
Parker's legs nearly give out at the sight.
I shove one packet toward him. "Here. Take this."
Parker hesitates for a moment before accepting the warm packet with trembling hands. The smell of fresh chicken wafts up, and his stomach growls audibly.
I sit back down on the bed, opening my packet without ceremony. I pick up a piece of chicken and take a bite, chewing slowly.
Parker, still shaken, sits on his bed and does the same, his hunger overpowering his fear.
Silence stretches out as we eat until Parker finally breaks it. "Wh-where did you get this?"
"Bought it."
"From a shop?"
"Yeah," I say flatly, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
We continue eating in silence until Parker's curiosity gets the better of him again.
"Wh-who are you?"
"Human," I reply, taking another bite of chicken.
He looks suspicious, his brow furrowing. "Why are you here?"
I turn my head slightly, looking at him. "I was bored."
"Hmm? Bored as in… had nothing to do?"
I stay silent, chewing slowly.
"You think prison is fun?"
"…For me."
He stays quiet for a moment, confusion brimming in his expression. Then, as he starts to ask something else, I cut him off before he can start.
"Shut up and eat," I mutter, my voice low and annoyed. But there's a flicker of amusement, just a little.
When we finish eating, I stand up and stretch my arms. "Come with me," I say, walking to the cell door.
He follows me, less hesitant now that he's eaten.
We walk through the corridor, the distant clanging of metal ringing in the background. Parker—though less scared now—has questions brimming in his head, and he can't stop himself from asking.
"So… how do you do these things?"
"I just do it."
"Is it magic or—"
"Old man," I interrupt, my face showing mild annoyance. "Stop talking, or I'll go on my own."
He swallows hard, nodding silently, though his mind is a storm of questions.
We walk into the open yard where many other prisoners are gathered. Some are playing cards, others working out, and a few arguing loudly.
I find an empty bench and sit down, leaning back to feel the warmth of the sun against my face. Parker sits beside me, glancing at me uncertainly.
"They look happy," I mutter to myself.
Parker hesitates before speaking. "Are… you not?"
I glance at him, then look up at the sky. "…No," I whisper. "I'm not."
"Why not?"
"Because… because I don't have anything to do."
He looks puzzled. "Nothing to do?"
I glance at him. I don't usually talk to others about myself, but somehow, speaking to this old man feels a bit... relieving.
"You have powers. You could use them to get wealth, power, influence. You have so much you could do."
"…I have wealth, power, influence. I've traveled the world, done everything I wanted. I've had sex so many times it's boring now. And now…"
"And now?"
"Now I don't feel anything. No joy, no excitement. Nothing."
He stares at me for a long moment, unsure what to say. After a pause, he speaks again. "Maybe… maybe you're looking in the wrong places."
I give a faint, humorless chuckle. "Maybe."
I close my eyes, letting the sunlight warm my face. For a moment, I feel a sliver of comfort. Then, I sense a shadow falling over me.
"Hey, hey, pretty face," Valeria's voice rings out, playful and mocking.
I open my eyes to see her standing in front of me, her gang beside her.
"Enjoying the sunlight?"
"Yaa," I reply, my voice as lifeless as the prison walls.
She leans down and pats my back hard, making me stumble forward on the bench.
"Oops, sorry, kid," she says, not looking sorry at all. "You need to work out sometime. Put some muscles on those bones."
She leans closer, her tone dripping with mockery. "Work out and get ready for tonight, baby."
Her group bursts into laughter as they walk away.
Parker glances at me, his curiosity piqued. "You like her presence?"
"No," I say simply, leaning back and closing my eyes again.
"Then why do you let her mess with you? Can't you do something about her?"
I open my eyes and look at him, my gaze calm but detached. "I could make her disappear in an instant. Or make her forget me. It's easy for me."
"But… is that fun?"
I consider the question for a moment, then shake my head. "No."
He rubs the back of his neck, glancing at Valeria in the distance. "Then why don't you make it fun?"
"…How?"
"I don't know. But if I were you, I'd humiliate her in front of everyone. That'd be fun, right?"
I tilt my head, thinking. "Why don't you do it, then?"
He hesitates. "I-I can't. She's too strong for me."
"Go on. I'll help you. Just challenge her, and I'll take care of the rest."
"I… I think that's a bad idea," he stammers. "Let's just leave her alone—"
I fix him with an unrelenting stare. "I said, do it."
He gulps, his body tense under my gaze. The suggestion he gave as a passing thought now feels like a trap he willingly walked into.
"F-fine," he stutters, standing up. "You'll help, right?" he asks nervously as he walks toward Valeria and her gang.
I lean back, my expression finally showing a flicker of amusement.
Hesitantly, Parker walks over to Valeria and her gang. His heart pounds with every step he takes forward.
What have I gotten myself into? he thinks, stopping just behind her.
She is chatting and laughing with her group, completely unaware of his presence.
He takes a deep breath and stutters, "Stop bothering him."
Her laughter halts, and she turns her head slightly, curious. "Huh?"
Her muscular build towers over Parker. "What did you say?"
Parker swallows hard, glancing back at me for reassurance. "I said, don't bother—"
But before he can finish, a fist crashes into his face. The blow sends him sprawling backward, hitting the ground with a heavy thud.
"This fucker," she growls, shaking her fist. "You got a death wish, old man? Need a beating to straighten your head?"
I sigh quietly, resting my chin on my hand. With a thought, I take control of Parker's body, and he immediately straightens up, standing tall as if fueled by some unseen energy.
"Stay down, old man. Or do you not like living anymore?" Valeria sneers, her tone full of menace. When Parker doesn't move, she gestures to her group. "Beat him a bit, will you?"
Another tall, muscular woman steps forward, cracking her knuckles.
Parker stands still, his gaze sharp and focused.
The woman swings her fist, aiming for his jaw. But at the last second, Parker twists his head, dodging by mere inches. His hand shoots up, gripping her chin.
With sudden, brutal force, he slams her face into the ground.
The impact echoes through the yard, gasps rippling among the onlookers.
"What the hell?" someone mutters, wide-eyed.
"Did that old man just smash her to the ground?" another whispers.
Valeria snarls, "What are you standing around for? Take him out!"
The other women at her side rush Parker, their fists raised.
One swings at his ribs, but under my control, Parker swiftly steps back, the punch grazing air. His hand darts out, jabbing her neck. She collapses to the ground, unconscious.
Another aims for his head. Parker ducks and counters with a punch to her stomach, making her fall to her knees, clutching her midsection in pain.
One by one, the women fall. Parker, swift and relentless under my control, dodges their attacks with ease, countering each with precision. Heads meet the ground, bodies crumple, and within moments, none of them can stand.
The last woman swings wildly, desperate to land a hit.
Parker ducks again, catching her fist mid-air. Redirecting her momentum, he sends her crashing into the dirt.
The yard erupts into chaos.
"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" the spectators chant, prisoners banging on tables and fences.
Valeria's face twists in rage as she stares at her gang laid out before her. She steps forward, cracking her knuckles.
"You think you're strong, old man? Let's see how you handle me."
She swings a massive fist at him. Parker ducks, swiftly moving to her side and slapping her butt with enough force to make a resounding smack echo through the yard.
"Mnnh!" A sound escapes her lips involuntarily, her eyes wide in shock.
Her cheeks flush with embarrassment as the crowd erupts into laughter.
"You bastard," she snarls, throwing another punch.
Parker sidesteps again, delivering another slap to her other butt. The sound is just as loud as the first.
Valeria's attacks grow wild and desperate, but Parker—strong under my control—dodges, blocks, and counters with humiliating precision. Slap after slap lands on her butts until they are swollen and red.
The laughter and cheers from the crowd grow deafening, prisoners doubling over at the absurdity of the scene.
Finally, Valeria drops to her knees, panting and exhausted.
Parker, still under my control, crouches to her level, his thumb brushing her trembling lips.
"Don't bother him again," he says, his tone low and commanding. "That guy's under my protection. But if you do, I'll smash you first... then bang that big ass of yours. Got it?"
Valeria glares at him, her face a mix of fury and humiliation, but after a long moment, she gives a reluctant nod.
Satisfied, Parker retreats, walking back to me. The crowd watches in stunned silence as the old man strides away.
He sits beside me, his body trembling slightly as he clutches his knees.
"Had fun?" I ask, glancing at him.
"Never… never again," he mutters, his voice shaky.
"We'll see," I say, chuckling to myself as I lean back, closing my eyes once again.