Chapter 569: The Reflection
"So, what's in the bag, sir Riley? And why are you doing a mission alone? Did you hunt something?"
"It is more like he hunted me, Ms. Pia."
"Pia, stop disturbing the whitey. And if you're interrogating him, then stop asking mundane questions! Ask him why he fucking looks like that. Hey, whitey; where are you from? You look like you could be from Hel, but not quite."
"I'm from outside, Ms. Aita."
"...Outside?"
"Sister, I thought we shouldn't bother Mr. Riley."
"I'm just curious."
Riley was still in the cave where he butchered James's body, except deeper into its cavities as he followed behind Rylo and his group; watching as Rylo pulled Aita away and gestured to her to lead the way.
Aita was somewhat similar to Hannah in the way that they talk and interact with other people; Rylo, on the other hand, could not be any different from Riley. Their relationship also seemed to be different—the two of them were equal.
Whenever Riley talks to Hannah, it always seemed like…not all of him was truly talking to Hannah. He tried his best not to pretend and show Hannah who he truly is, but couldn't.
"..." Riley initially wanted to leave the group, but when he saw the dynamic of Rylo's group, he decided to stay and observe them in hopes to learn something. So far, however, even though the surroundings were quite bright even when they were already far away from the mouth of the cave, he didn't really find anything that could help him.
In fact, even though Rylo and Aita talked to each other normally, Riley and Hannah seemed closer. He and Hannah are always physically close to each other; their skin touching, and their arms holding each other whenever they are together.
As for Rylo and Aita… they seemed quite distant.
"Are the two of you biological siblings?" Riley then asked as he could not help but be curious. Perhaps it had something to do with blood?
"Fuck no!" Aita quickly raised her voice and laughed, "My genes are biologically superior to this boy. He's my cousin, we adopted him when his parents offed themselves. They—"
"Stop telling a stranger our stories!" Rylo covered Aita's mouth before she could finish her story. Riley didn't seem to mind, however, as he quickly turned his attention to the woman wearing a pair of glasses.
"Are you having sexual relations with Mr. Rylo, Ms. Milla?"
"!!!"
And as soon Milla heard that, a cough forcefully escaped her lips as she almost choked on her own breaths.
"How… how did you know!?" As for Rylo, he immediately let go of his sister's mouth and took a step back, almost tumbling to the cold hard ground, butt first.
"Wait, what!?"
Milla could really only cover her face as the two other girls almost screamed; their voices of shock, echoing back to them from deeper inside the cave.
"It… it was only one time!" Rylo reasoned as his sister started strangling him.
"Tell me the truth!"
"O… okay, at least once a week."
"Rylo!"
"..."
No.
Riley closed his eyes and sighed as he saw Rylo's group bickering and laughing. They may seem familiar, but they were not similar at all.
Riley can never laugh like this with the others—if he could, then everyone would still probably be in the Baby Crew. They would have probably fully replaced the Hope Guild by now, and they will actually have a life.
Riley… stripped that from them. They were still alive, yes… but Riley has prevented them from living like this. Laughing, having fun together.
Hannah's sadness, her anger, her depression, her suffering. It is all his fault. It always has been and always will be.
Riley…
…Riley will never be Hannah's happiness. He will never be anyone's happiness.
"Shh!"
And all of a sudden, as the group was laughing and arguing, Aita suddenly kneeled; her palm, touching the ground as she raised her other hand.
"Shut the fuck up, everyone," she breathed out, "The Ratking is near, go to your positions."
Rylo, Milla, and Pia all nodded their heads, before just disappearing at the same time. As for Riley, he just stood there, looking around for any signs of the so-called Ratking.
"You…" Aita then blinked a couple of times as she noticed Riley just standing there… so eerily still and quiet, "...Fuck, why did they have to leave me with you."
"You are the one who proposed I come, Ms. Aita."
"Fuck… I'm not good with strangers when I'm alone," Aita let out a small groan as she stood up, "Just… I suppose you can come and support me. My task is to lure the Ratking when it comes."
"Okay," Riley nodded.
"...Okay? That's all you have to say?" Aita rolled her eyes, "It's the Ratking, you know how scary this fucker is?"
"Is it some sort of large rat, Ms. Aita?"
"...No," Aita shook her head, "It's a—!!!"
And before Aita could finish her words, a large hand suddenly grabbed her entire head; its long and sharp nails, almost digging through the back of her head.
"..."
"..."
Riley stared at Aita's eyes, which were peeking out through the gaps in the black hand's fingers.
"...Fuck. Run—"
And once again, Aita was not able to finish her words as the Ratking started to tighten its grip. Aita's head, slowly but surely being crushed.
"..." Riley dropped the sack he was holding as he turned his eyes toward the owner of the hand, only to see… a gorilla—no, not quite. Its head was similar to that of a rodent, if it didn't have hair, that is.
"T..t…trespassher… die."
And it was able to talk. The Ratking did not seem to care for Riley, however, as its nose was just pointed at Aita; its sharp teeth, chittering excitedly at the thought of a meal.
"..." Riley then turned to look at the rest of Aita's companions that were hiding on the side, only to see them just looking at her; their eyes, trembling and filled with fear.
"Do you want to live, Ms. Aita?"
Riley then calmly touched the Ratking's arm, causing several of its veins to pop out as his grip on Aita slightly loosened. Judging from how the gorilla rat was just looking around and sniffing everywhere, it didn't seem to know what was happening…
…perhaps it wasn't even able to see Riley.
"S… save me," Aita breathed out as her deformed head started to heal; she then desperately stretched her hand to Riley, "P… please, I… I want to live."
"..." Riley, on the other hand, just stared at the tears starting to trail from Aita's eyes. And soon…
…tears also trailed from Riley's face.
"You…" He then breathed out as he grabbed Aita's hand, "You're clinging to the wrong person…
…Hannah."
"...What?"
"I told you… I told you that I will only bring death. That I will only get you killed," Riley muttered as he tightened his grip on Aita's hand, "I am a monster, Hannah…
…and I am not done."
"What… what the fuck are you talking about? Who… who the fuck is Hannah!?"
"Your suffering… your suffering ends now," a small smile then crawled on Riley's face as he looked Aita straight in the eyes,
"You won't see what I will become."
"Wh—"
And before Aita could let out another word, Riley removed his palm from the Ratking; Aita's head, instantly obliterated by the sudden force that rippled from the Ratking's hand.
"..." Riley then once again turned his eyes toward Rylo and the others, who were still hiding and cowering behind the rock they thought was life.
"I apologize, everyone…" Riley whispered as he wiped the tears trailing down his cheeks, "...but no one lives...
...no one."