Chapter 2 - A Caged Truth

 feeling his strength returning, Bayu realizing Bagas's intentions. Without hesitation, he pushed himself up and started walking away.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Bagas called out, stepping forward to block his path.

Bayu didn't even glance back. "I have to leave. This has nothing to do with you," he replied flatly.

But escaping wouldn't be that easy.

Before he could take another step, Bagas moved with lightning speed, grabbing Bayu's wrist and twisting it behind his back. In a matter of seconds, cold metal snapped around his wrists—handcuffs.

"What the—?!" Bayu gasped, struggling against the restraints. "What the hell is this?! Is this how you thank the person who just saved your life?"

Bagas pulled him closer, his grip firm. "First, you messed up my mission. Second, you literally fell on top of me, and I'm still sore because of it. Just because you saved me doesn't mean I'm letting you go." His expression darkened. "Besides, there's something about you I need to investigate."

Bayu gritted his teeth, realizing the situation was turning against him. He thrashed in resistance. "Let me go! I'm not a criminal!"

Bagas ignored his protests and dragged him along. The tension between them thickened as they moved further away from the battlefield.

But neither of them noticed—hidden in the shadows, just beyond the ruins of a collapsed building, a soldier clad in Shattered Star's uniform watched their every move.

Bringing a communication device to his lips, the soldier whispered into it.

"Reporting in. Experiment subject has been taken. Requesting immediate backup. Over."

A crackling response came through.

"Roger. Reinforcements en route."

That Day been closed with the rhythmic clatter of train wheels echoed through the steel tracks, the mechanical hum of the locomotive blending with the steady release of black smoke from its chimney. Thick clouds billowed into the sky as the train pressed forward, cutting through the vast landscape. Inside the passenger cars, travelers busied themselves in various ways—some resting, others admiring the passing scenery, while a few engaged in quiet conversation.

In one of the more secluded compartments, Bayu sat with his hands still restrained behind his back, the cold metal of the handcuffs pressing against his skin. He had attempted to escape earlier, but with his weakened state and the unyielding strength of the cuffs, resistance proved futile. Left with no choice, he sat in silence, his expression unreadable.

Across from him, Bagas lounged comfortably, unfazed by Bayu's predicament. He casually unwrapped a loaf of bread from its cloth, taking a slow bite as he gazed out the window, watching the landscape blur past.

Bayu, however, found himself unable to look away. His empty stomach twisted painfully at the sight of the food, hunger gnawing at him from within. The apple he had taken earlier had long been discarded in his desperate attempt to flee from the Shattered Star soldiers. Now, every bite Bagas took felt like torture, his eyes unconsciously following each movement.

A bead of drool trickled from the corner of his lips.

"Hey, you're drooling," Bagas remarked, not even bothering to look at him.

Snapped out of his daze, Bayu quickly wiped his mouth against his shoulder, turning his gaze away in embarrassment.

Bagas smirked, holding the bread out teasingly. "You want some?"

Bayu's pride flared. Even though his body screamed for food, he refused to accept anything from the man who had cuffed him like a prisoner. Instead, he turned toward the window, feigning indifference. "No. I'm not hungry."

Unfortunately, reality had other plans.

A loud growl erupted from his stomach, betraying his words instantly.

Bagas chuckled, amused. "Sure about that? Sounds like your stomach disagrees. You want the bread or not?"

Bayu stiffened, his face heating with frustration. "I said no."

Bagas sighed dramatically. "Come on, don't be stubborn. If you don't eat, you'll collapse before I even get to interrogate you."

Bayu shot him a glare. "And how exactly am I supposed to eat like this?" He raised his cuffed hands behind him as if to prove his point.

Bagas hummed in understanding before leaning forward. With a swift motion, he adjusted the cuffs, bringing Bayu's hands to the front instead.

"Problem solved," he declared with a smug grin.

Bayu scowled. "That's not what I meant!"

"Quit whining." Bagas tossed the bread into Bayu's lap. "Here. It's yours."

Still fuming, Bayu hesitated for a moment before reluctantly taking a bite. His pride might have taken a hit, but his hunger outweighed it. As the taste of bread filled his mouth, he couldn't help but sigh in relief.

Bagas watched him quietly before speaking again. "When was the last time you ate? You look like you're starving."

Bayu swallowed, refusing to meet his gaze. "That's none of your business. Not like you'd care anyway."

Bagas let out a disappointed sigh at Bayu's response, while the latter simply continued eating his bread, unfazed. The conversation had barely begun, yet Bayu was already dodging his questions.

Not one to give up so easily, Bagas leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees as he eyed Bayu carefully. "Hey. What's your name?"

Bayu barely glanced at him. "Does it matter to you?"

Bagas shrugged. "Of course. I need to know the name of the guy who saved my life."

Bayu huffed, chewing for a moment before answering flatly, "Bayu. That's all."

"Bayu, huh?" Bagas repeated, nodding to himself as if committing it to memory. "Where are you from? Do you have a home somewhere? Or…" His voice trailed off before he asked, "Were you taken from somewhere?"

At that, Bayu's chewing slowed. His expression darkened slightly before he shot Bagas a glare. "You sure ask a lot of questions. Do all of them really matter to you?"

Bagas's easygoing demeanor faded slightly, his voice turning serious. "Of course, they do. You fell from a rooftop—right on top of me, by the way. Then, you shielded me from a gunshot that should have gone straight through your back. Any normal person would've been critically wounded, bleeding out on the spot… or worse."

Bayu froze. He knew exactly what Bagas was talking about. He had noticed it himself—how the pain disappeared too quickly, how his body seemed to repair itself faster than it should. It wasn't normal.

But instead of acknowledging it, he merely swallowed the last of his bite and muttered, "I don't know what you're talking about. And I don't know why I ran to save you, either. I could've just left you behind."

Bagas leaned back, exhaling through his nose, clearly disappointed. "Hmph. That so? What a shame."

Bayu thought that was the end of the conversation. With his meal finished, he licked the crumbs from his lips and changed the subject. "So, where exactly are we headed? Can I leave now?"

Bagas didn't answer right away. He turned his gaze toward the window, watching the sky shift into hues of deep orange as the sun began to set. Then, without looking back at Bayu, he said, "No. You're not going anywhere. I'm taking you to find out who you really are—whether you like it or not."

Bayu's body tensed. His breath hitched slightly as the weight of those words settled in.

So, this wasn't going to end easily.

Outside, the train continued its journey, its iron wheels clattering along the rails, while thick smoke curled into the sky—silent witnesses to the path they were about to take.

In a grand mansion filled with servants, a middle-aged man sat at his large desk, focused intently on the papers before him. The only light in the room came from the lamp casting a soft glow over the late hour. Suddenly, a woman entered the room, walking up to the man and standing right in front of him. She spoke quietly.

"Mr. Wren, a letter for you," she said, placing the envelope onto his desk.

"Thank you," he replied, taking the letter.

He unfolded it and began reading. His expression grew more serious, signaling that this wasn't a love letter but something far more significant. After a moment, he nodded, folding the letter back up and setting it aside.

"Is there anything else?" he asked, his voice calm but firm.

"Mr. Wren, Bagas has returned from his mission," the woman replied.

The middle-aged man's gaze sharpened. "Alright, have him come here later for a report."

The woman nodded, but her next words made him pause.

"However, sir, this time he brought someone with him."

The man's eyes widened in surprise. He looked up at her, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "Someone? Who?"

"I don't know, sir, but perhaps you might want to meet them."

The man remained silent, his mind racing, trying to piece together who Bagas could have brought with him. Meanwhile, Bagas walked through the mansion, leading Bayu, whose hands were still bound in cuffs. As they passed the servants at the entrance, they greeted Bagas.

"Please," one of them said.

Bayu couldn't help but feel awe as he stepped into the grand mansion, his eyes taking in the stunning decor. The large marble floors gleamed under the light of steam-powered chandeliers, and lamps mounted on the walls bathed the room in a soft glow. It was a far cry from anything he had seen before.

"Hey, are you some kind of noble?" Bayu asked, breaking his silence.

Bagas nodded. "Yeah, you could say that."

Bayu nodded in return, still in awe of the lavish surroundings. "Wow, I never thought I'd end up here. My place was nothing like this."

Bagas raised an eyebrow. "What was your place like?"

Bayu hesitated for a moment, then answered, "Ah, just a small, private room. The walls were made of metal... like cold iron."

He trailed off, realizing too late that he had revealed a bit too much about his past. Bagas, curious, tilted his head slightly, sensing there was more.

"Forget I said that," Bayu quickly added, turning his face away.

"Hey! Come on, don't stop there," Bagas pressed, still intrigued. "What happened before?"

Bayu refused to answer, keeping his gaze away, but Bagas wouldn't give up. Just as the tension built, a voice called out from the second-floor balcony.

"Bagas! What have you done?" The voice echoed through the hall.

Bagas froze, and Bayu turned to face the speaker. A man stood there, with dark hair streaked with silver, indicating his age, though his face was clean-shaven and sharp. Bayu immediately recognized him as the owner of the mansion.

"Lord Wren, my apologies for the inconvenience," Bagas said, bowing his head.

The man, Hendra Wren, waved it off casually, his demeanor calm. "Bagas, I told you before, just call me Tuan Hendra. No need for formalities, especially not in my own house."

Bagas nodded sheepishly. "Alright, Lord... I mean, Mr. Wren."

Hendra shook his head with a chuckle, then turned his attention to Bayu, who was looking up at him curiously. With a small smile, Hendra spoke.

"Looks like you brought a little something back from your trip, huh?"

Bagas sighed, knowing the moment had come. "Yeah. Let me introduce him. This is Bayu. He's the reason my mission failed. He fell from the roof."

"Fell from the roof?" Hendra asked, his voice tinged with surprise.

Bagas nodded at the mention. Bayu, feeling the tension rise, quickly tried to explain himself. "Uh, please forgive me. It was just an accident, I swear. I was... I mean, I was in a hurry and accidentally stepped on a weak spot and fell."

"Not only that, but he was also chased by Shattered Star soldiers," Bagas added.

"Shattered Star?" Hendra's eyebrows shot up in shock.

Bagas nodded again, continuing, "And on top of that, he was the victim of a stray bullet... but strangely enough, his wound healed completely."

Bayu, realizing the situation was getting worse, tried to defend himself. "No, wait, listen! It's all a misunderstanding!"

"Servants! Take him to the medical room."

Without further words, three servants quickly restrained Bayu, grabbing his arms and shoulders, making it impossible for him to move. Despite his attempts to struggle, he couldn't break free. Bayu tried to speak again in a last attempt to clear things up. "No! I don't need the medical room, I'm fine!"

"Don't worry, Bayu, you'll be alright," Hendra said calmly. "Take him."

The servants proceeded to drag Bayu away, his resistance futile. As he was pulled along, he struggled and yelled, "No, no, I'm fine!"

But his words fell on deaf ears. Bayu was swiftly escorted out of the room, leaving Bagas and Hendra alone.

Hendra turned to Bagas, his tone shifting to something more measured and wise.

"Bagas, how did your mission go?" Hendra asked.

Bagas sighed and answered, "As I said before, the mission failed because of that kid. I never expected it to turn out like this. I'm sorry, Tuan Hendra."

Hendra nodded thoughtfully. "It's alright. I've already received a report from the head of police. This was not an easy matter, considering the treachery of that mafia, right?"

Bagas gave a small nod in agreement. Hendra continued, "Then let's put it behind us. We have more pressing matters to attend to."

"What's that?" Bagas asked, curious.

Hendra pulled out an envelope and handed it to Bagas. "This is an official order, for action against Shattered Star."

Meanwhile, Bayu found himself in an unfamiliar room—a medical chamber, though it felt more like a confinement cell. He lay restrained on a sturdy bed, thick straps binding his wrists and ankles, preventing any unnecessary movement. His immediate reaction was to struggle, but his efforts were in vain.

"Let me go! I told you, I'm not injured. I'm perfectly fine!" Bayu protested, his voice laced with desperation.

One of the attendants gave him a sympathetic look but remained firm. "Apologies, sir, but this is Lord Hendra's order. I hope you understand."

Without another word, the attendants departed, leaving Bayu alone, tied down with no means of escape. He exhaled sharply, his chest rising and falling in frustration.

"Great," he muttered, staring at the ceiling. "Now I'm strapped to a bed like some test subject. What's next? A mad doctor coming to dissect me?"

As if the universe had answered his sarcastic prayer, a chilling voice echoed through the room.

"Well, well, a new patient, I see."

Bayu's eyes darted to the side, his breath catching in his throat. A man with long white hair stood in the doorway, dressed in a pristine doctor's coat, though faint stains of unknown origin marred the fabric. His face was partially obscured by a mask and round glasses that reflected the dim lighting. In his hand, he casually twirled a drill.

Bayu swallowed hard. "Oh, dear God."

The doctor placed the drill down with deliberate care before striding toward him. The glint in his eyes behind the glasses suggested an unsettling excitement.

"Ah, you must be the one they spoke of," the doctor mused. "Very well. It's time for your examination."

With a swift motion, he dragged a metallic cart closer. Bayu's stomach twisted at the sight—an assortment of crude instruments lay atop it: a hammer, pliers, a hacksaw, and other tools that had no place in a medical setting. His pulse quickened, horror settling in.

The doctor confidently picked up the hacksaw, its steel blade catching the dim light. "Alright, let's begin."

Bayu's panic exploded into full-blown hysteria. He writhed against the restraints, his voice rising in desperation. "Please, sir, I swear, I'm fine! There's nothing wrong with me!"

The doctor chuckled softly, amused by his panic. "Oh, don't worry. It won't hurt… Well, only for a little while." He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper. "After that, you won't feel pain ever again."

Bayu thrashed violently, struggling with every ounce of strength he had, but the bindings held firm. He gritted his teeth, sweat trickling down his temple. This can't be happening.

Then, a sudden knock at the door shattered the moment.

The doctor froze. His head tilted slightly before he sighed in annoyance and turned away. "Now, who could that be?"

He set the hacksaw down and approached the door. Bayu exhaled, his heart pounding against his ribs. His frantic mind raced, grasping at the faint hope that whoever stood on the other side would be his salvation.

Peering at the doctor's back, Bayu strained his ears to catch the conversation beyond the threshold.

"Ah," the doctor said, his tone shifting. "Really? He's looking for me?"

A brief pause, then the doctor nodded. "Very well. I'll be right there."

Bayu remained motionless, barely daring to breathe as the doctor turned away from the door.

Bayu let out a sigh of relief, releasing the panic that had gripped him after nearly becoming the subject of that doctor's experiment. However, just as the doctor left, someone else approached him—a girl around his age. With short brown hair and curious eyes, she looked at him and asked, "Hello! Are you okay?"

Bayu, realizing that his troubles weren't over yet, could only resign himself to fate. "Please… I'm not sick. Don't torture me..."

The girl simply giggled and replied, "Don't worry! You're Bagas' friend, right? That means you're a good person," she said innocently.

Then, without hesitation, she picked up the saw and cheerfully announced that she was going to set him free—sending Bayu into a fresh wave of hysteria.