Chapter 16: Behind The Mask
Zein's Point of View...
Woods. Overgrown. They brought me behind their HU place. Tied up to the only chair in the middle of this forest. It's almost dusk.
My mouth was covered with cloth. I didn't bother to scream; my mouth was tied, and no one would hear me, and even if someone did, I know they would hesitate to help me, especially since I'm held by the DGW.
The two men who kidnapped me are talking, still wearing masks until now.
"He hurt Queen, you think? What will boss do to him?"
"Death. Most likely that will be his end."
I heard their whispers. Why is it like this? I can't feel any fear right now. Is what they said true? That I am not afraid to die?
"No one has ever dared to hurt Queen, and this newbie just slapped her hard. Merciless."
Seriously? Are they really trying to make me hear so I get scared? Well, sorry but I already accepted my death, a long time ago, since I found out about the HU's secret.
I just looked down because my arms were getting tired. Is their so-called boss still coming? My arms are getting tired; if he's just going to kill me, he should have done it earlier.
"Why so selfish, Zein? You don't even think about how we would feel if something happened to you, you're so self-centered!"
I suddenly remembered Vanessa's sermon. They would surely be sad again if something bad happened to me, I've already done a lot of bad things. I haven't made it up to them yet.
I cannot die yet. Not now, not unless they themselves turn their backs on me.
I saw a pair of shoes on the ground because I was looking down. I lifted my gaze and a man looking like an addict appeared before me. Many earrings, tattoos on his body, and his eyes are red. Is this Raze Silvenia? For real?
"Is it her?" he asked.
My forehead creased. Why like that? I can't sense anything in his voice? I must be trembling in fear! He is a demon but how come? There is something wrong here!
"Yes boss," answered one of the two men who kidnapped me.
He smirked at me and removed the cloth tied around my mouth. He held my jaw as if he was going to break it. His hand was even shaking.
There really is something wrong here. I feel it, a big wrong. "Bitch."
I bowed my head when he slapped me. I tasted rust on my lip which I think is already bleeding because of the slap. I must say it fucking hurts.
"How dare you?!"
I closed my eyes again when he slapped me. My cheek is already stinging; it might be numb because of the strength of his slap.
"You are just a newbie! I am the King here!," he said.
I don't know but I laughed. Death has been my ally for a long time; he cannot fetch me because we are allies. We will fight each other before he can get me.
"What's so funny?!"
A vein popped out on his forehead. His eyes turned redder. His teeth were also gritting. No matter what he does, I cannot see the demon. But why? Where is it?
"Raze Silvenia." I said his name without thinking.
He froze and suddenly stiffened. I laughed out loud. Confirmed! I knew it!
"Shut up!"
He was about to slap me again when I spoke. "Slap me once again and these two will know your secret." I pointed at his two companions.
"What secret are you talking about?" he asked in confusion. You really don't know? Great pretender.
"A secret that if I reveal it, it will be the death of you. This is the secret of death."
He stiffened again before signaling his two companions to leave us. Cowardice.
"What secret do you know?" he asked again.
I licked the blood on my lip before smirking. That's why, that's why something felt wrong. They can fool others but not me. From the start, I had my doubts, and because of his reaction my suspicions were confirmed. Pathetic. Such a great pretender.
"Tell me!"
His spit flew at me because of anger but it was not enough to scare me. I can't see the demon. I want to see that demon! But I know there isn't one, no demon in him.
"Tell me your name," I challenged, which made his forehead crease.
"What are you talking about?! I am Raze Silvenia!" He shouted.
He held my jaw and made me face him. Now I am more confirmed in my suspicions; no matter what he does to himself, what is in his heart will never change.
"Raze Silvenia!" He shouted again.
I just shook my head and moved his face away from mine.
"You can't fool me Mr.Whoeveryouare," I said. "You are not him, you are not Raze Silvenia." His face slowly crumpled.
From the start, I should have seen the demon lurking within him but there wasn't one, none came out. It's not because he did those things to his body that he is bad, it's not because he shows that he should be feared that he is scary. No, he can't fool himself...
"W-what are you talking about?! I am Raze Silvenia! The leader of Devil God Warrior!"
"Stop it! You are not him! Don't try to be one! Raze Silvenia is not you!"
I've seen Raze once when he saved us in BBG, yes, their eyes are both red but he can never copy Raze. That unique demon.
The first time I saw the real Raze, my hair stood on end. He didn't need to shout or be violent to be feared; his presence alone made you feel the demon in him. But this guy? Nothing to worry about, he can't scare me with his frightening appearance.
"Shit! How did you know?!" He sat on the tree root and leaned his back against it. He pulled his own hair in frustration.
"You can't copy the original Raze Silvenia, no one can compare how scary and dangerous he is. Even you, when I mentioned his name, you froze, you got scared just by his name!"
That's what I confirmed earlier. When I said 'Raze Silvenia' he froze. Smirk.
"But why? I convinced everyone, even Roxane. She knows I'm the leader of DGW, but why you? You found out?" He asked.
"It's simple, I've seen Raze, once. Them? They haven't seen him, so they won't be suspicious." I replied.
He laughed softly at what I said. The pretense of evil in him seemed to vanish. This is the man behind the mask. Yes, he is scary physically but not enough to compare to a Raze Silvenia.
"You're right, I've also seen Raze but not his real face, he was wearing a mask. He asked for my help, I need to pretend to be him."
"But why?"
"I don't know, but one thing I know. No one has ever seen his face, maybe he's one of the people we interact with but we don't know it."
So no one has really seen the face of the real Raze? Even his proxy. They all think this man is Raze Silvenia, a big mistake, but who really is the real Raze?
"Can I ask you a favor?" He almost knelt in front of me begging. "Don't tell anyone about this, everything will be chaotic, especially if he finds out, he will kill me." He said in fear.
"Let me go," I commanded because my arms were getting tired.
I gave him a strong slap after he released me. He didn't fight back and remained looking down.
I brought my mouth close to his ear. "A secret is a secret," I whispered before turning my back.
I saw his two companions eyes widen when I slapped their boss; they couldn't even speak.
I walked back. I caressed my cheek and it stung so much. I know his palm print will be visible. Jerk.
"What happened to your face?" Matt greeted me when I entered our dormitory.
I glanced at Vanessa who wasn't looking at me. I need to apologize.
"I am sorry,"
She looked at me and only now did I realize her eyes were red and it was obvious she had been crying.
"W-what are you talking about Zein?" Mia asked confusedly.
"Did you do something wrong?" Jerome asked, also confused.
"A lot, so I'm apologizing," I just looked down when I felt tears well up in my eyes.
I might be strong physically, but let's not talk about emotionally.
"I've been selfish, I didn't even consider how you feel, I'm sorry."
I just felt them hug me so I couldn't stop crying.
"Shh. It's okay. We are friends, we're just worried about you. But you did nothing wrong," Davies said soothingly, rubbing my back.
"Friends forever, no leaving each other, forever," Mia said.
I looked at Vanessa who remained seated on the sofa, looking down. I broke away from their hug and went to her.
"No hug there?" I joked.
I just laughed when she suddenly hugged me, I ended up lying on the sofa. She sobbed like a child.
"It's your fault! Huhu! I'm upset with you! We're not friends!"
"Haha you're overdramatic! Let's be friends again, please," I pinched her cheek.
When she acts up like this, she's childish. I suddenly remembered when I didn't tell her I had a crush on Matt, she unfriended me on fb and blocked me too! Haha so overdramatic.
"Hmp! Fine then! Thank goodness I love you! Hehe! We're friends again!"
"Thank you."
I almost couldn't breathe when Mia, Davies and Jerome also piled on us while Matt just laughed.
It feels good to have friends you can trust. The kind of friends who stay by your side even when everyone else leaves you.
Davies, Mia, Jerome, Vanessa, Matt and L. We are friends forever. I guess, no one can tear us apart, I mean absolutely no one.
I hope so..