Interlude: Latifa’s Memory
After I — Endo Suzune — blacked out on the bus, I woke up to find myself in a dark room made of stone, lying across the floor.
There was a chill in the air, making me shiver and rapidly arousing my senses; the room felt like a cool, air-conditioned room in the middle of summer. I was wearing a single, thin layer of clothing that felt stiff and coarse on my skin. On top of that, I only had a thin blanket on me. No wonder I was cold.
My neck felt oddly heavy — there was a metal collar and chain around it.
What... is this?
An icy chill shot down my spine as I drew the blanket tighter around me. I curled up, trying to retain warmth. Then, as my small body shivered, I fearfully looked around the room.
Where... am I?
It was a dreary room with no furniture or windows. There was no room like this in my memories, yet for some reason, something didn’t feel right. It was almost as if I had seen it before, but not... Like an indescribable sense of deja-vu.
At that moment, the door opened with a clack. My shivering body flinched. I hesitantly turned my gaze towards the sturdy door to see a small boy standing there. He seemed to be in a bad mood, as his face was marked by a combative expression.
I unintentionally let out a shriek. “Eek!”
Because I — no, the other me inside myself — knew the boy before me.
His name was Stewart.
We weren’t related by blood, but he made me call him ‘Brother’ and treated me like a pet, under the pretense of discipline.
“Hm? What? What’s this?” Seeing my reaction, Stewart’s expression lit up happily. Then, like a child that had obtained a new toy, he came over to me at a half-run.
“Eek! S-Stay... away!”
On the spur of the moment, I spoke words that weren’t in Japanese; it wasn’t a language that I recognized as an elementary school student from Japan. However, my words came out with a lisp, faltering strangely in pronunciation.
“Hey, what’s up with you today? Why are you acting so lively?” Stewart asked me with a radiant smile, making me curl my body up reflexively into a defensive position.
“D-Don’t... hit me... please!”
To not disobey this person was ingrained into me at an instinctive level.
“Wow, you never talk this much. You should react like this all the time... Then I could treat you a little differently, at least.” Stewart laughed with a grin, then yanked harshly on the chain extended from my collar.
“Kya!” I lost balance and tumbled to the floor.
“Hey, Latifa. Show me your face properly.”
Latifa. That was what Stewart called me as he pulled on the chain, and my face was brought before his eyes. He seemed to be excited, as his breath came out in rough pants that made my whole body break out in disgusted goosebumps.
“Eek... N-No...” I cried tearfully and shook my head. Stewart’s face dropped with displeasure.
“Why are you speaking so disrespectfully? What am I to you?”
“M-My B-Brother.”
“That’s right. So what was that just now?”
“I-I’m... sorry! Forgive... me... please!”
“You really are quite talkative today. I normally have to order you to do so before you open your mouth. What’s wrong with you?” Stewart asked me, but that was what I wanted to ask.
“I-I don’t... know!”
My name was definitely Latifa... But at the same time, I was also Endo Suzune.
“...Hmm. Well, whatever.” Stewart examined my face for a reaction, but soon lost interest. Relief washed over me, but his next words pushed me to the bottom of the pit of despair once more.
“I came because I was feeling irritated, but now I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to play with you today.”
Understanding the ill intent behind his words, my face instinctively twisted in misery. Stewart carved a threatening smile onto his face with a grin. The more my reactions showed on the surface, the more happiness he would gain from tormenting me. The other me inside of myself — Latifa — was already aware of that. That was why Latifa had completely suppressed her own mind.
But Endo Suzune was different.
Yes... the Endo Suzune part of me strongly resisted and detested the fact I was a slave.
From that day onward, my nightmare of a reality began.
