An Interrogation

--

Tommy let his mind wander. It distracted him from the dull ache. The last girl left too, utter silence enveloping him. Finally, he too got up, walking out of the gym.

The cafeteria was empty but a tray of fresh bread loaves and a pot of something hot was there still. He gladly grabbed a bunch, gulping down the still warm liquid in his cup, and walked away.

'Good tea. I'd kill for a soft bed right now.'

His feet were heavy, each step a chore. He eventually exited the tower to see that the real sun had set. 'Is it night already. It couldn't be dinner time, could it? No, the cafeteria was empty.'

He blinked away the drowsiness. And then, he was looking at Babyface.

'What? I walked out of the tower. What?'

Apparently he hadn't. We was lying down on a bench by the door, in a room where Babyface was conversing amicably with a hooded figure.

"Awake, are you?", the man spoke to him.

'Dream? Did I fall asleep? Why was she here?'

"Umm... Yes, I am awake. This is quite embarrasing."

No response. Both of them kept looking at him.

'Like I am an object she can buy. Why is it her? Can I just sneak out.'

He tried just that -

"If you'll excuse me, I'll get going."

And hit a wall face first. No, the wall moved, hitting him.

"Ow. What the hell!"

"What are you doing?" Babyface said

"Sorry professor, I am quite confused. I swear I didn't mean to intrude upon you."

"Cute. Sit down Miles." Her voice was curt and flat.

'No. This is so weird. What's happening.'

He felt warmth on his upper lip. He touched it. His nose was bleeding.

'Nope. Not cute at all.'

Babyface didn't care. She looked at him like he didn't exist. No, like he was food, her birdlike features harsh and unforgiving. Those eyes drilled into him. He felt the world itself pressing down. Black grotesque figures crawled in his vision, trying to grab him.

'Another illusion? What is wrong with this psycho?'

He didn't resist though. He couldn't, exhausted as he was.

"Mr Miles, please take a seat so we can begin the interrogation." the hooded figure spoke, a man.

"Interrogation?"

"I will ask the questions. Say what you know. Don't waste time." Babyface said, same annoyed commanding tone from the class.

Tommy felt the same cold bubbling in him. And with it came anger. He was becoming livid again, reminded of the class.

'This is bullshit. I wish I could fire her.'

He was lucid enough to not comment.

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"Who were your accomplices in the Burbon Cave incident?"

"..."

"Your actions are a direct attack on the Rived Academy, and the Vermillion Kingdom. Why did you kill them?"

'Is this a dream?'

This was making increasingly less sense. He closed his eyes. Opened them.

'Nope, still here. Should I say something, maybe?'

"I did not kill anyone. An interrogation, you said? Did someone die?"

"Miles. Do you think yourself too smart?"

"Huh?"

"Twenty members of the Class 210 died in a blaze. You are one of the accomplices. Spill."

This. The lunch time discussion flashed in his head.

'So, this is how they'll bully us? Who is that man?'

Tommy found himself getting calmer. The visions receded. This was business. His gut churned but he kept it down. What he needed was information, and he couldn't afford to be frivolous with his words either.

"I am not an accomplice. Who is this person anyway?"

The back and forth went on, Babyface continuously accusing him, ignoring his questions. The man had pulled his hood down, openly glaring at him.

'Intimidation then.' Tommy noted. 'Whatever this is, I will go eat after this, and go to bed. Fuck this place.'

The man tapped Kim, taking over now.

"Mr Etome Miles, second grandson and the youngest director of Miles Mercantile Group. Death of the twenty one nobles and mage candidates directly benefitted you and your accomplices. You were admitted to a program you would otherwise have no hope to even think of. Right so far?"

"..."

"Your family not only intimidated but threatened other candidates to get you admitted."

"This is news to me. Do you have proof?"

"Your family business suffering due to the growing influence of the incumbent Rake family recovered as their heir died in the incident. Their venture, dead in the water, was acquired by your father."

"A business deal, won in a bid fair and square against a dozen competitors. My family and I are innocent. I tire of your intimidation tactics, and demand that you adhere to the Kingdom's..."

The world swirled, colors swimming in his eyes, a cacophony of sounds slamming into him. He found himself unable to speak. No, he was speaking. He stopped himself. He didn't know why, but he was being targeted. He hung onto the thread of childhood training, to defy his torturers. There were better ways, but none came to him at the moment. All he could do was hang on.

Then he was back, but he couldn't open his mouth, or move. He was trapped within his body. One of his fingers was lopped off, then another. Until he had none. It hurt. Then, he was back. Whole again.

Repeat of the same event. Same nightmare repeating again. And again.

He was going mad. Blood colored his vision. But it just wouldn't stop.