Chapter Text
Stratos slowly sat up. The ringing in his ears and the heavy, pressing feeling on his head made him groan, pressing a hand against his forehead. Needless to say, the hard bench he was resting on made him realise he wasn't just waking up in the morning from his soft bed like usual.
A sudden nausea washed over him, making him gag, and for a moment he wondered if this was a hangover, until he turned and realised he had an audience. Cyli and Spiral glared at him from… The other side of the metal bars?
His eyes widened when he glanced around the cell he was in, eyes still adjusting to the light,
"W-What am I doing here?"
"You know exactly what you did." Spiral spat, scaring the man with how fierce he was. "Now tell us why you hurt Pacster and where he is, or you're in for it."
Breath hitching, Stratos shakily got to his feet and moved over to the bars, gripping onto them to hold himself stable,
"P-Pac is hurt? I would never do such a thing!" He replied boldly, eyebrows furrowing slightly.
"Liar. Everyone saw you selling us out."
"I just- I just can't believe you would do such a thing, traitor!" Cyli shouted, making him flinch.
Stratos watched them in devastation. He felt utterly sick. Something was very wrong here.
(Two hours ago.)
Constant faint scratching sounds filled Stratos's ears as he sluggishly filled out yet another form with his pen. With the hours carrying on and despite his non-stop work, it felt like the stack of papers wasn't getting any smaller. He desperately wanted to call it a day and go back to bed.
A small flicker in the corner of his eye made him glance up wearily. He slowly blinked and looked back over at the papers with a heavy sigh, closing his eyes gently.
Everything was silent for a moment, until that moment passed and stiff air rapidly shifted and became a lot hotter. It made his eyes crack open slightly, especially when several shivers were sent down his spine, making him tense up. Hot weather shouldn't do that.
His face scrunched up in thought, eyebrows pushed together and his lips forming a thin line. That was odd. The thermostat hadn't been changed at all. And the only thing that made him react like this was…
His chair was abruptly knocked backwards, and through his shock he managed to avoid slamming his head on the ground. Yet the action still shook him enough so that when a certain flaring fire ghost burst through his table, he could only stare with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.
"How- W-What are you doing here?!" The poor president tried to sit up, only to be shoved back down by Betrayus, who grinned.
This wasn't right. Betrayus would never come here by himself, what was he doing?
"I've decided to take matters into my own hand, you fool. No one will like you by the time I'm through with you." He spat.
Stratos crawled backwards, only to have his back hit the wall,
"What- What are you going to do?!" He quivered, chest tightening.
"Telling you would be too kind." Betrayus chuckled, shooting forward towards him.
Not being able to do anything, Stratos gave a muffled shout as his brother suddenly took control of his body. It was an odd feeling to explain, his eyes rolled backwards and he felt his vision slip, as if his soul was being replaced by another and was shoved to the back somewhere. It was dark and suddenly he couldn't feel anything anymore.
The man promptly fell lifelessly to the ground, the room going quiet.
Scattered papers surrounded him on the floor, and he would've been devastated at the mess, if only he had been awake to see it.
And yet in one swift movement without hesitation, his eyes shot open. His glowing blue pupils sharply gleamed against the ground, and he grinned.