[Mind Coffin] by BAM & Cord - Scarlet System

Droplets of water fall from the ceiling onto the rough cell floor, like a lone stalagmite in a moist cavern. The cell is dark, filled with a deafening silence that’s broken up by the occasional droplet forming a puddle on the floor. And just like any cavern in a fantastical world like this, there lies a sleeping dragon. Lying there, tossing and turning on the small cell bed, is the Astomi man, Kyson Garret. 

Kyson wakes up, his eyelids heavy from yet another restless sleep. The scent of stagnant air fills his head, causing him to feel lightheaded. It’s a common circumstance for any Astomi considering their keen sense of smell, but never ceases to be unpleasant. Then there’s his lack of a maw, which forbids him from protesting. Though even if he could speak, they would ignore him anyway.

He stares at the puddle, watching as each droplet forms another ripple. Kyson was a bodyguard, he believed he was keeping his client safe; that was his duty after all. But no, it turned out that the only one in danger was him.

The courts sentenced Kyson to death, a fate worthy of the crime he committed. He remembers the look of horror on his client's face as he was choking the man who assaulted her. That man was her husband, but he was also a CEO. When the police questioned her about what happened, she gave them the answer she knew they would believe. To them, the dead could do no wrong, especially when that dead man was a king. 

In the country of Humanity, CEOs are considered untouchable, but he killed one. Even his own family wouldn’t take up for him, he committed regicide after all. He’d done something many considered an impossibility, and like any abnormality, they seek to snuff him out. To them he is a…

The metal door outside his cell creaks open, breaking his train of thought. He sits up from his bed, as the sound of heavy footsteps inch closer to his cell. His last visitor was his sister Sophia, but that was for her to say her final farewells.

A figure wearing a black cloak steps in front of his cell. Unable to see their face behind the shadowy hood, Kyson stands up to walk closer. However, the moment he does the person tosses a manila envelope through the bars of his cell. Kyson reaches down and picks it up, only to look up and realize that the person has disappeared.

Looking outside his cell, he notices that the door is still open. Scratching his head, Kyson decides to open the envelope anyway. Unraveling the small string on the envelope, he then pulls out a sheet of paper. It’s a letter addressed to him. 

After a few moments of looking it over, his eyes widen. He shakes his head and rubs his eyes, unable to believe what he’s seeing. The document in his trembling hands seems to outline his freedom.

Kyson shakes his head wildly again; he just can’t believe it. He’d murdered a CEO, one of the most powerful people in Humanity. Kyson starts to think that this might be a trick, so he starts pacing the floor. Shortly after, he hears another set of footsteps coming towards his cell. 

Seeing the blue uniform and brown boots, he realizes that it’s a prison officer. The officer looks him in the eyes, and starts shuffling with his keys. A feeling of relief washes over Kyson, as his path towards freedom opens up in front of him. He then realizes that there's another piece of paper in the envelope, so he reaches inside.

The second piece of paper is a lot more delicate and brittle than the last, like an ancient piece of parchment. As he carefully slips it out the envelope, he notices strange symbols written on it. Trying to comprehend it, he looks closer to see if he can recognize any of it, and he does. Though not in the way he expected.

Kyson falls to the ground shaking, causing the officer to start shouting in a panic. Kyson begins convulsing on the rough floor, his dark skin rubbing against it. His mind becomes jumbled with a collection of his own memories, along with his true feelings. Feelings he’d been holding back for his own sake, the sort of feelings that hurt.

Kyson was in love with Sophia, his client, but he knew that it would never happen. He was just her bodyguard after all, and romance wasn’t a part of his duties. Though the part that hurt him the most was that being an Astomi man, he could never properly express his love to her. It was like he was trapped in his own head, a coffin filled with unfulfilled desires.

Mind Coffin

The words springs forward in his mind as he hears the officer unlock his cell. He tries to shake Kyson out from staring blankly at the ceiling, but it’s no use. Kyson starts to feel a tingling in his fingers as the moment of the murder surfaces in his mind. 

He can hear Sophia begging, pleading with him to let her husband go, but he couldn’t. No, in fact, he wouldn’t. For how powerful of a CEO he was, he’d taken too much for granted. He’d often flaunted his wealth proudly as if it were a divine providence, but that wasn't what Kyson despised about him. What angered Kyson was how someone who viewed himself as a god would often mistreat his elven goddess.

Unable to understand why a man with such a high status would do this, Kyson was eventually brought to the brink. He knew he was killing him, he was even aware of the consequences, but he didnt care. Looking into her husband's eyes as his life was slipping away, Kyson didn't see a CEO or a king; he saw a weak elven man. And this angered him even more, as those who reveled in his presence saw him as someone praiseworthy, so he did it. He became the…

Kingslayer

Kyson finally looks up at the officer, his mind clear. The look in the officer’s eyes is a mix of worry and fear. To the officer, a prisoner was about to die in front of him. Explaining to his superiors would have been messy. In reality, the true Kyson Garret had been born, commencing a Tale like no other. And his first target would be…

           Mind Coffin

Kyson’s Instinct sparks to the forefront of his mind as he places both his index and middle finger on the nape of the officer's neck. A rusty nail emerges from both his fingers and pierces the officer's neck, causing his head to fall to the ground like a mannequin beheaded. Kyson looks down at the officer's head as he’s screaming, realizing that his new found Instinct can behead his target. He could have killed him, but his curiosity gets the better of him.

After reaching down to pick up the officer's head, he stares him in the eyes. The officer starts shouting for help, and even calls him a freak. Kyson starts to feel indignant, to be looked down upon by a human is something he never expected. It infuriates him.

Suddenly, Kyson starts to hear the officer's inner-thoughts. It turns out he regrets taking the night shift since he would rather be home with his wife and that he wishes he’d worked to become a doctor. To Kyson, these are trivial thoughts, but then he starts to wonder. Maybe he could dig further.

 Staring deeper into the officer's eyes, Kyson starts rummaging around in the officer's mind, dredging up more of his memories. His most cherished ones, the awkward ones and even those filled with sorrow. All of them are at his fingertips but, unfortunately, this method comes at a cost.

The officer's eyes start rolling back, while the rest of his body falls to the ground like a sack of bricks. Not only did the flood of memories stop, but it’s clear that the officer is now dead. Kyson shrugs his shoulders; it was a shame, but at least now he’s a free man. 

Walking out of his cell towards the metal door, Kyson starts to feel a second wind. He’s feeling better than ever, like the world around him is much clearer. Though there’s still one thing on his mind. All of this happened because he read what was in that envelope, but he still doesn't know who that person was. It’s then that he hears the clicking of more footsteps.

Considering the officer made so much noise, it could be another one. The thought of them taking away his freedom once again causes his heart to race. Kyson’s next visitor approaches the metal door, and this time it’s a brown-haired Elven man wearing a black suit and tie. Seeing as both his hands are in his pockets, it’s clear this man is confident. 

Glancing at the ID tag on his left breast pocket, the name on it reads “Jonathan Peak.” Kyson doesn’t recognize his name or face, but it’s apparent from his approach that he knows Kyson. And the more they look at each other, the more he reminds Kyson of that CEO. Kyson wants to get rid of him. 

Breathing heavily, his heart starts racing. Jonathan’s approach is bold, but to Kyson he looks like an ordinary elf. He’ll take him out just like he did that CEO, and it’ll be far simpler with his Instinct. Kyson runs down the hall towards him, while Jonathan raises his right hand. Not seeing this as a sign to stop, Kyson runs to Jonathan’s side and glances at the nape of his neck out of the corner of his eye. 

Raising his fingers towards his neck, the feeling of bloodlust rushes to Kyson’s head. Not only is he now a free man, but his Instinct is so inconspicuous that his targets don't even realize what’s about to happen to them. Then Jonathan places his hand on his shoulder.

Flow…

Hearing that word leave Jonathan's mouth with such serenity as his body melts away, Kyson realizes why Jonathan didn’t look worried. Not only was he aware of his Instinct, but he also had one of his own. And considering his entire body is turning into water, Kyson lost this battle of Instincts with a splash.