8 Reunited

A sudden light shone in front of Karma awaking him. Instinctively, he raised his hand as an attempt to block the light.

"Who's there?" he asked softly.

Unfortunately, he did not receive a response. Instead he heard sound of what seemed to be tools brushing against one another.

Wanting to find out who stood before him, he attempted to open his eyes. However, he was unable to open them whole for the light was blinding. Living in the cell for an entire month had weakened his senses it seemed.

At the very least, he was able to open his eyes half way. Although he couldn't see what was before him, he could see a vague outline of three people. He was quick to understand that the three before him were his "mother," "father," and "Yui."

Upon realization, he had a dying urge to scream but his voice was far too weak. During this past month, he was given basic meals four times and alongside that came only a single glass of water during the distribution periods. Living such a way had hurt him a great deal, both physically and mentally. At the time, he didn't even have the strength to move and so he simply laid on the ground. With no options in sight, he decided to wait quietly.

After hearing the rustling of tools go on for a little longer, he finally heard father's voice.

"Congratulations Karma!! You completed stage one!!!"

Stage one?

"Now, now, I know over this past month you've suffered a lot," Father said mockingly. "But please don't worry! We have a reward for you!!!"

Father gestured someone in the distance to come. Upon receiving the signal, a maid entered the dungeon. She brought a cart alongside her. Once the cart was revealed, Karma was in awe.

The view was mesmerizing. His eyes were fixed onto what laid before him. It was during this time when a sudden feeling of hunger and thirst arose. Over the past month he had been suppressing the need and the thought of eating and drinking for one simple reason.

To survive.

By neglecting the idea of hunger and thirst, he tricked his mind into a state of being where he could live for extended periods without food or water.

But the cart filled with food and drinks made him unable to control himself. Without noticing, he had reached out his hand hoping to receive even a sliver of the food that was displayed in front of him.

"It's all yours!!!" Father exclaimed.

Father then picked out a slice of meat and threw it inside the cell.

"Go on," he said with a crooked smile. "Eat."

This was a blatant act of disrespect towards Karma but, more so, to a "cripple." Nevertheless, Karma did not hesitate to eat the food that had been thrown onto the ground for his starvation triumphed over his pride.

While Karma ate, the three family members spectated in amusement.

"Look mommy!" Yui said delighted. "He's happy now!!!"

"Yes… Yes he is," Mother replied. "It's simple really. No matter what torment we put… people like him through… it won't matter. Because, in the end, he only has us to rely on. Imagine being trapped in this horrid place. Yet, even after going through such an experience, he just obediently eats the scraps we give him: much like an animal. It's quite funny actually

"Hehe…"

Within time, Karma finished eating all the while, he was being looked down upon. Although the scene was rather pitiful, Karma had no choice.

He was a cripple…

And those without power cannot achieve anything in this world.

"Your energy should be restored by now correct?" Father asked. "Then it's time to move onto stage 2."

Father then took out some keys. With it, he opened Karma's cell.

"Exit…" He said sternly.

Quietly, Karma exited his cell.

"Now all you have to do now is follow. A relatively simple task compared to what you've dealt with this far I hope."

"No cuffs…? What if I run?"

"Run? What could someone as pathetic as you possibly do? Try it why don't you. Run and come to understand how pitiful you are?"

"... No need. You're right… When I first came here, at the very least, I wanted to trust you Father. But that was wishful thinking. The words, expressions, and actions you made were all a facade. I'm actually glad. If you kept pretending… I don't know if I could have brought myself to come to terms with reality. The real you is someone I could resent."

"Haha! What a delusional child. Resent!? Even now, you simply can't comprehend the world you live in or the unspoken laws you must abide by. Here child, I'll teach you how properly use that mouth of yours."

Father reached out his hand, grabbing Karma's hair. Pulling Karma aside, he faced the cell and smashed Karma's face onto the wall. The impact instantly made Karma cough up blood.

"Don't ever talk to me with such disrespect again. Trust me, it'll be a lot worse the second time."

No response.

Soon after, the three family members and Karma started walking further into the dungeon. Midway, Karma asked, "The servants… that were outside the day I came here. They were digging the ground. I remember the land being very worn and tainted. Was that… was that a burial for corpses…"

"Who said you could ask questions?" Father replied coldly. "Must I show you what happens when you speak to us as if we are equals again!?!"

"Now, now, dear calm yourself," Mother interrupted. "If you hurt him anymore, we won't get to stage two."

Father sighed. "Yes… you're right."

Mother then turned toward Karma and with a slight smile, she mockingly said, "What a smart child you are. That part of the land was strictly for burying corpses. Specifically, the corpses of all those crippled children who we've adopted. You should already know this but you're the seventeenth addition to our family. It's quite sad though…"

Her smile turned crooked.

"For some strange reason, all the children we've  adopted all died."

"Yea!!" Yui blurted out. "All those toys were so fragile. They all broke so easily. Most of them didn't even pass stage one. Whenever that happens, I get very sad because I have to wait months for my next toy."

Toys huh?

Karma chuckled lightly.

"That's a good term to call them… Because they were all crippled, you got to have your way with them. And to you people, they weren't seen as humans but toys. Toys that could easily be replaced… But I just don't get one thing. Why? Why do you have to treat them in such a way? Why is being treated equally so wrong… no… that's not what I want to say. Why not just respect their existence as human beings who breathe the same air as you! It doesn't matter if you're stronger or if we are the scum that plagues this earth. At the very least, why can't we just live our lives normally. Why won't you let us struggle on our terms? Why go out of your way to just step on us when you already have so much power!?!?!?"

Upon hearing this, the three of them looked at one another. All of them were unfazed. Rather they found Karma's questions humorous.

"You answered your own question didn't you? You're scum. Wasted pieces of life without any value. But at the very least you can give us entertainment."

"I…" Karma mumbled. "I'm not scum… I'm human…"

Just then, Father suddenly exclaimed, "We're here! It's time to finally begin stage 2!"

A large gate stood before Karma. Past the gate there was a large hall with a single chair in the middle. The room was much like a stadium with seats all around. At the moment, there was no one residing in the seats but Karma realized what this room was only after a single glance.

The seats were for spectators and the single chair in the center was for him.