IN THE CAGE

27. TOTAL BLACK

...FAWN...

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I was lying on the bed with my eyes staring at the ceiling of the ivory-colored room. My mind was hovering around, thinking of many things that were going on but at the same time not happening at all. Ah, that must sound weird.

My point is, I'm thinking about the situation that's happening where I'm at right now, and how does it not affect my life but still bother my mind, is it?

Fabian's death, betrayal, violent infighting outside the room when I was alone, I heard it all. I sat on the balcony and heard how the guards were gossiping on the front page about Ace and Miss Margot's astonishing showdown. That, without doing anything, my existence remains influential in adding chaos to this house.

I should be happy. To think that Ace and Miss Margot were fighting because of my existence that was able to create a family war, that was an incredible thing. Feel it! Who told you to lock me up!

I want to think so, but-at the same time I don't feel comfortable. I'm used to seeing Miss Margot. Even though she's an annoying woman and wants a lot, I don't want her to accept Ace's rudeness.

That woman-however is the one who has made my confinement a little colorful. He brought lots of toys, he played dramas, he brought snacks. I quite like Miss Margot, putting aside her demanding attitude and her incredible carry.

"Huff!" My breath was blowing long, my chest heavy with a feeling of uneasiness. This is no good. I thought I was a dumb girl. Being locked up here shrinks my IQ to a single digit. Where did you find a captive who was worried about his captor's condition? Hah..., what is this so-called stockholm syndrome? It's funny, I want to punch a hole in my own head.

"What are you thinking?" Ace-man who just came out of the bathroom, spread the aroma of his fresh and sharp bath soap to the whole room. He waltzed leisurely without a boss, stepping towards the bed. When he came, I spontaneously pulled myself to a seat. Be vigilant anytime and anywhere. No one knows when the psychopathic side of the man came out.

"I heard you had a fight with Miss Margot?" I pulled myself back and leaned against the head of the bed, I pretended to be looking for a backrest to avoid Ace's reach. The man has been acting increasingly suspicious lately. It was calm before the storm.

I was afraid of the comfort he gave me.

"You have sharp hearing." Ace answered me while drying his hair with a towel. He didn't seem bothered by my question. And here I timidly asked, afraid of being slapped.

"Then..., what happened?" I held my voice in order to sound less obsessive and curious. Act normal, Fawn, act normal!

"I'm just disciplining him." The fucker's words made me want to kick him in the face.

"What do you mean discipline? You-you hit him, right?"

"Seriously? Who told you?" Ace was curious about the unimportant.

"As you said, I have sharp hearing." I won't divulge anyone's name, I know this guy is crazy. He could kill his subordinates just because of a trivial matter.

"So, tell me..., did you really hit Miss Margot?"

"Yes." Yeah." Ace answered with a pair of black eyeballs that shot straight at me. "I did, and before you judge me, he's entitled to take-"

"You fucker!" I cut his words with aggravation. "Whatever the reason, do you think you have the right to use violence on anyone?"

"Yes, of course. I am the head of this family. I deserve the respect of my people."

Someone, please call a psychiatrist for this man.

"You need therapy, Ace. You..., do you think violence will lead to respect and loyalty?"

Ace smiled, "Of course not. But it'll give birth to fear."

"You're so mean." I don't understand this guy at all. What makes it like this? Is he a monster in human form?

While I was staring at Ace with a feeling of disgust, Ace turned his seat back to me. He again dried his hair while his eyes glared away towards the open balcony. I don't know what he's thinking. I want to think that he is a man who has a little bit of kindness in his heart, gray. But my expectations always disappoint me. Total black.

The day when I thought she was a little human only when she cried beside me that day.

I was so naive.

"You know Ace, using violence to conquer people is a good method of controlling people. Unmistakably, human fear is one of the things that can be manipulated. That is the most practical way.-

However, that method can only be done if you are stronger than others. If you have a weakness, your strength will be swallowed up by another."

You'll never really lead, you'll only be a symbol of being feared and a target of people who hate you.

"Then what do you think is the best method of conquering people?" Ace hung the little towel around his neck and turned to me. His pair of eyeballs glared at me with a calmness that I could not define its meaning.

"You can be a good and wise man."

"Pffff!!!" Ace let out a laugh, his eyes turning witty. He fell down lying on the bed while holding his stomach. Scream with laughter.

Good, laugh. I was funny. Who do I expect to be good and wise? This man is a demon!

"Did you know you had a very pure mind, Fawn?" Ace wiped the corner of his wet eyes, then leaned against me. The savage laughter on his face, shrunk into a witty smile.

"I feel deeply touched by the glory of your heart."

"No need to be sarcastic. Just tell me I'm a moron. Miss Margot told me that." I sat cross-legged with slumped shoulders. The regret after speaking at length smashed into my face like an invisible punch. I was ashamed and wanted to curse myself.

"I don't mean to be sarcastic. You're a moron sometimes, but your thinking just now wasn't wrong at all. It's just, it sounds so innocent." Ace got up to sit and hooked his fingers on the knee. "You're very kind, Fawn. I'm serious."

I can't believe Ace's words. I mean.., this guy is so random and weird. Why did he suddenly praise me for such stupidity?

"Listen," Ace spoke again. "How to lead with kindness and policy is one of the correct methods as well. You're not wrong. But..., to do that, I will manipulate my people using kindness. Do you think I'm capable of that?"

I don't know.

"The answer is no. Being kind and wise is Jem and Anggara's way of leading. I.., I prefer to dominate people with fear. Because I need results that are practical, not idealistic."

"What if you're defeated?"

"That's gonna be the end for me."

"So, are you going to keep hitting Margot, hitting me and anyone you think doesn't respect you?"

"No."

Huh huh? Did he just deny the meaning of his own words?

Ace suddenly dropped his head on my lap, left me shocked and frozen. He lay there, wet with hair that caused an electric shock in my body.

"I'll give you a special situation" Ace stabbed me in the chin with his index finger. "I'm not gonna hit my pet."

"What about Miss Margot?" Ignoring Ace again calling me his pet, I asked Ms Margot's situation.

"I put a limit on how far people can trigger my anger. Margot is not an exception at all."

"Well..," I lowered my head and turned back to look away as Ace's eyes and eyes met. It was quite shocking to see the man's gaze fall into my eyes. Like a stream of electricity touching the surface of water. My heart ripples.

"You don't seem to like me hitting Margot. Have you fallen in love with her?"

"Miss Margot isn't a bad person" I said with great difficulty. "I hope you didn't hit him."

"I'll tolerate it more if that's what you want."

"Seriously?"

"With one reward," Ace smirked faintly. Without asking what he meant, I had already understood the man's purpose when he got up from his lying position and climbed closer to corner me. His clear eyes glared at me with a twinkle of lust. Before I could reject him, he had already moved forward and blocked all my rejections.

I leaned against the head of the bed with Ace giving me a deep kiss. I don't know why our conversation led here. But I know one thing, tonight, just judging by the intensity of Ace's pagutan and how his hand reached the drawer to take safety, I knew I'd be stuck in his passion again.

This psychopathic man!!!

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