{Kouki's pov}{time rewind-in car ride home}
I stayed tied up in the front seat of my father's car. My breathing was unsteady the whole time. My father stayed silent while I hyperventilated beside him. I would occasionally scream and start kicking but dad stayed silent and kept driving. I soon would tire myself out but once I got my energy back the tantrums started again. I kept doing this until we arrived home.
Dad pulled me out of the car and practically dragged me inside. I squirmed in his grasp but it was no use. His grip was tight on my arm. He threw me on couch and sat across from me. He kept me tied up but took off my gag. "GET AWAY FROM ME YOU MONSTER!!" I immediately screamed and began kicking.
Mom heard my yelling and quickly walked into the room. She gasped and dropped to her knees. I ignored her and continued yelling and cursing at the devil. My father just stayed silent and took every insult. Eventually I tired myself out and my sobs were the only thing to be heard.
"Honey," my father said, talking to my mother. "Hm," was what she replied with. My mother was never big on words so it was nice to see that she didn't change much. She still had heavy bags under her eyes so that also didn't change. "Will you make us some tea?" My father asked. Mom nodded and walked to the kitchen.
My father turned to me. "Damn," he said. "I can't get over the fact that you look so much like me," he silently chuckled to himself. Those words hurt. It hurt because they were true. I hated looking in the mirror because all I saw was my father staring back at me. The only difference about us was that I was obviously younger and he was more buff then I.
"What have you been up to?" My father asked, trying so desperately to break the awkwardness. I didn't want to talk so I stayed silent. My father sighed and asked, "Kouki, what happened to you that night?" I knew exactly what he meant. He meant the night he sent me off to kidnap a woman. I still didn't say anything.
Mom walked in the room with a tray in hand. On it contained a tea set. She placed the kit on the coffee table and immediately handed out our cups. I stared at mom for a while. I really did miss her. I regret leaving her here all by herself and I hope she can learn to forgive me.
Dad untied me then cuffed one of my legs to the couch so I couldn't escape. I took my tea and put some milk and sugar in it. I bring the cup to my lips with my shaky hands. I could feel my father staring at me. The warm liquid poured down my throat. It felt nice considering I was yelling my lungs out for at least an hour.
"Now can we talk?" My father asked. I cleared my throat and put on my well behaved butler act. "You may," I say gently. Dad repeated his question, "what happened that night?" He had pleading eyes. He seemed scared. "I ran away," I say as I shrug and I take another sip of my tea. "I don't get it, I thought we were a happy family," my father said, digging for answers.
I let out a soft but kind chuckle, "what can I say, I'm a fabulous actor." My father massaged his temples and sunk further into the couch. I could tell that he was trying to wrap his head around the whole situation. "Mother, this tea is absolutely incredible. Thank you for preparing it," I say as I squint my eyes, tilt my head, and give a soft smile. Mom seemed taken aback by my words. She then gave me a genuine smile which was strange. I've never seen mom smile before. It was fantastic look on her.
After dad had time to think, he shifted his head to look in my direction. He looked at me for a hot minute then said, "why weren't you happy?" I was a little annoyed by his cluelessness. Did he really not know? I don't want to say it aloud. The wounds were still too fresh. I let out a shaky sigh but quickly covered it up with a smile, "you can't be that clueless, can you?"
Dad shook his head in understanding. "Listen cookie, I'm sorry about the way I approached you with the news. I should've been more thoughtful about it," dad said while dropping his head. I flinched at his nickname, cookie. He always called me that when I was younger. Todoroki even called me that sometimes because he knew it was a trigger for me. "Kouki," I say, correcting him. "Y..yeah, right," he said while scratching the back of his neck.
"By the way, you don't have to worry about me escaping. Young master ordered me to stay here so here I will stay," I say while taking another sip of my tea. "Young master?" My father questioned. "Ah yes, I'm a butler now. I work for the son of endeavor, shoto todoroki. I disobeyed him so he sent me here as punishment," I say. Dad nodded his head.
Mom let out a tired yawn. "Mother, you look exhausted. When's the last you slept?" I say gently. She shrugged her shoulders in response. I gave her a warm smile and say, "please, get some rest. It's healthy for you." Mom didn't say anything which was kind of expected. She just looked at my dad for approval. He shook his head, giving her permission to go to bed.
She stood up and began to grab the dirty cups on the coffee table. I let out a little chuckle and stop her. "Don't worry mother, I can clean the dishes, you just go to bed," I say. She gave me a shocked look and nodded. Dad stared her down as she headed off into her room.
Once she was out of sight, dad focused his gaze on me. "Ya know, you should get some sleep too," he said. He then hesitantly uncuffed me. I got up to clean the dirty cups but his eyes never left me. I hummed a sweet tune while I did the dishes. I didn't notice it at first but it was one of your songs that you would play on the piano. I weakly smile to myself. I really hope that you'll be okay.
Dad's harsh stare finally left me when I entered my room. I closed the door behind me and I could tell that dad locked it from the outside. I look around the familiar room. It's smaller then I remember. I fell onto the bed and let sleep consume me. If felt nice to finally close my eyes.
{present time}
It's been a few weeks since I first arrived here. I put on a fake smile on my face everyday while I hid my utter disgust for my father. Depression claws it's way inside me everyday but I was too stubborn to let it get to me.
Dad still did his "hobby," every weekend which I'm not surprised. I tried my best to get him to stop, I even begged, but he didn't change his mind. He'd even ask if I wanted to join him. I refused the offer every time. Even though the basement was soundproof, I felt like I could still hear their screams. And that brings us to now.
I laid in my bed, looking at the ceiling. It was a Saturday which meant it was hobby time for dad. I could hear faint screams even though I knew they weren't there. It was all in my head but yet I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned in my bed but couldn't get comfortable. All of a sudden I have had enough.
I jumped out of bed and went to the door. I tried opening my bedroom door but it was locked. I went over to my dresser and grabbed a bobby-pin. I always kept some in my room when I was younger cause dad would often lock me in here. So late at night I'd usually picklock my way out to eat some dinner. I'm surprised he never caught me.
I successfully opened the door and went downstairs. I tried opening the basement door but of course it was locked. If I remember correctly, the pin to the door was the date of my father's first murder. I pinned the number in and it successfully opened. I triumphantly smirk. Stupid idiot, he didn't even change the passcode.
I walked down the basement stairs, each step the screams got louder. I could hear my father's heavy breathing and sadistic laughter. It all brought back so many bad memories. Once at the bottom I see an all too familiar sight. I was frozen with fear. My mind flooded with every woman I had tortured.
Once the woman spotted me she began to call out for help. My father noticed her actions and followed her gaze onto me. He smirked then asked, "ah son, so you came to join me?" I balled my up fists. My nails dig into my skin and I could feel a warm liquid on my hands.
I quickly regathered my composure and walked over to the woman. I then began untying her. "Hey, boy, what're you doing?" Dad practically yelled. I held the injured lady in my arms. "Can't you see you're scaring her. That's not how you treat a lady," I say as the girl shook in my embrace.
Dad's face grew red with anger. He stormed over to me which made me hug onto the lady tighter. I would do anything to keep her safe from a monster like him. "You wanna take her place then," he said with obvious anger in his tone. I could feel his hot breath on my face.
The lady dug her head into my chest. She began whispering, "p..please don't let him hurt me." I could hardly hear her over her sobs. I rubbed her back to reassure her. I then let her go and lay on the bed in her place. "Let's get this over with then, shall we?" I say. The lady and dad both gasped.
"Kouki, get up. I'm not going to hurt you," dad said more calmly. "Well I certainly can't let you hurt that young lady," I say, not moving. I didn't know why of all nights I chose this night to snap. Maybe I just couldn't handle the sleepless nights or maybe it was the guilt clawing away at me. I don't know but for some reason I didn't care. I needed to start atoning for my actions.
Dad sighed in annoyance. He grabbed the lady's arm and sat her in a chair across the bed. He tied her up and forced her to look at me. Then dad started walking over to me. He started strapping me in, making sure I wouldn't be able to move. I kept my calm demeanor but I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared. I was terrified. I was about to be tortured. How could someone not be scared?
"Now listen my dear," dad said, talking to the woman. "You're gonna watch me torture this man. The man who saved your life. Now you can jump in and take his place any time you want. You just say the word and you'll be the one getting tortured. Warning, if you take his place then you end up dying yourself. If you manage to suffer through watching your hero get tortured then I'll let you leave this place. Alright doll?" Dad said. He let out a sinister laugh but I could tell it was forced. He didn't want to hurt me. And at that, the torture began.