--- [Shiki’s perspective]

Luck plays a big part in everyone’s life, all the way from birth.

Some people are born in rich cities; we were not…

Some people are born into loving families; we were not…

Ever since we were born, the odds were stacked against us.

Even as toddlers, our parents would beat us regularly.

Any time we did something ‘wrong’, they would beat us.

When we got a little older, Miki started protecting me.

She would take the beatings meant for me for herself.

Why?

Because she thought it was her job as the older twin…

There was an incident once; I spilled some soup on the floor.

For whatever reason, my father was even more angry than usual.

Maybe he had been drinking more?

I don’t know why, be he was.

He went to hit me, but he didn’t hold back at all.

He swung his fist as hard as he could, and Miki got in the way.

She took the hit head-on and was instantly knocked out.

She flew across the room and banged her head into a table.

Blood started pouring out.

I thought she was dead, we all did…

My father had just murdered my sister because I spilled some soup…

How did he react?

Certainly not with regret or remorse.

He just got even angrier.

That was the moment when something snapped inside me…

I picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed him in the stomach.

My mother started screaming at me, telling me she wished she never gave birth to us.

She tried to hit me, but then I…

I…

I did to her what I did to him.

A bowl of spilled soup was the reason why my entire family died.

Well, at least I thought they were all dead.

Miki survived…!

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Soon after, we ran away from home.

This all happened when we were just five years old…

No one should ever have to experience anything like that, but especially not children.

While living by ourselves in the wilderness, we learned to take care of ourselves.

That was until we randomly met a group of travelers.

“What are you kids doing out here?!” – Alice

Lord Arthur, Lady Alice, Edward, Cinder, and Cat…

They took us in, and we’ve lived with them ever since.

They taught us that even someone like us, someone who had experienced nothing but terror our entire lives, could still be happy.

Nothing could ever let us repay the debt we owe them…

Well…

Almost nothing.

Alex is our only hope of saving Lady Alice.

If we could just capture him, make him help her, then that might just be it.

But it looks like it’s over for us now…

That girl, she knocked out Miki, and is about to do the same to me.

By the time we wake up, it will all be over.

Either Lady Alice has been saved, or they’ve escaped.

Either way, we’re out of the game.

All we can do now is put our faith in the other sins…

But…

As long as Edward is still standing, it will all end up working out in the end…

--- [Cinder’s perspective]

“Ugh… My head…” – Cinder

“Oh, you’re finally awake.” – Shin

Oh, shit!

He has a sword at my throat.

If I move, I’m done for.

“Did you sleep well?” – Shin

What?

What is he even talking about?!

Why is he asking me that?

“Oh, don’t look so confused, I’m just messing with you!” – Shin

He pulls the sword away from me, and steps back.

The sword was cold; like it’s made of ice.

That must be his specialty.

Wait, now is my chance!

I’ll control him with my ability!

“Why are you grinning like that?” – Shin

I stand back up.

“Put the sword away.” – Cinder

“Sure.” – Shin

And sure enough, it disappears into thin air.

He’s already under my control, that was fast.

“Explain what happened earlier. One of you managed to attack me, even after I had already activated my ability, but I can’t quite remember what happened.” – Cinder

“Oh, right. Well, uhm… I pretended to be under your control, then slammed your head into the ground.” – Shin

“Pretended to be under my control? Were you not effected?!” – Cinder

“No, of course not.” – Shin

What does he mean ‘of course not’???

There isn’t a single person out there it doesn’t work on!

Anyone, regardless of sexuality, regardless of gender…

Everyone is affected.

He takes a few steps towards me.

“Oh, and by the way, I thought you might want to know this. I’m not under your control now either.” – Shin

“What?!” – Cinder

“You said your ability is to make people fall in love with you, obviously that wouldn’t work on me. I’m not interested in that stuff. Simple as that.” – Shin

“Not interested? But… My ability literally makes you interested!” – Cinder

“Nah… Not me.” – Shin

“I don’t get it…” – Cinder

“What is there not to get? I already explained… I’m not interested in you, or anyone else for that matter… Now let’s stop talking about this shit, and just get on with the fight. My friends need me.” – Shin

Fight?!

How am I supposed to fight him in my current condition?

My head is still spinning after all the blows I’ve taken.

I can’t even use my specialty!

“This isn’t fair! I’m in no condition to fight and-” – Cinder

“Fair? Who the hell said this would be a fair fight? You’re the ones that kidnapped us, remember? You’ve already given up your rights to a fair fight.” – Shin

He looks pissed…

For good reason too…

He summons two ice swords, one in each hand.

Due to my dulled senses, he has already reached me by the time I’m able to react.

The edge of his sword is already on my throat, with the other one behind my back.

If I move forwards, my throat will be slashed.

If I move backwards, my back will get stabbed.

I can’t move…

A single move is all it took to put me in checkmate…

“Do you surrender?” – Shin

“Yes! Please, don’t kill me!” – Cinder

“K.” – Shin

He steps back, and one of his swords disappear.

“Lay down on the ground.” – Shin

“Huh? Why?” – Cinder

He sighs loudly.

“Just do it!” – Shin

“Okay! Okay!” – Cinder

I get down on my knees.

Just as I’m about to lay down on my back, he gives another command.

“On your stomach.” – Shin

“Okay.” – Cinder

After laying down, he grabs my legs and puts them together.

He squeezes his sword between them, and they freeze together.

“Gaaah!” – Cinder

Shit!

It hurts!

“Stay still! If you don’t, I might freeze more than intended.” – Shin

After freezing my legs together, he does the same to my arms.

At the end, he freezes both my arms and legs together, rendering me unable to move.

“There we go. Now you won’t be causing any more trouble. Well then, my friends are waiting for me. See ya never.” – Shin