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Marrying Roy wasn't the best choice she's made, but it opened up more opportunities for David herself. Roy allowed her to work at his studio. Lead storyboard writer was her official title. Not only did it pay well, but she had access to Roy's own money as well. She wasn't going to lie. He wasn't a great man. Anyone who knew him could tell you that. But he was willing to provide for the two of them. In the end, that was all that mattered to her. It wasn't like this was a one-way deal, however. It wasn't just Roy they now lived with, but his son as well. Part of her believes that he only married her so someone would take care of Doi in his place. He was a horrible husband, but an even worse father. She recalls the first time she met the young boy. Roy had called her over to discuss some of the plots of the story alongside the main scriptwriter, Harry. Roy had gone to get one of the puppet models he had been working on and the young boy had come into the room looking for his dad. He looked extremely malnourished and small for his age. For some reason, Harry had calmed the boy's whining and picked him up to take him back to bed. Roy hadn't even batted an eye when she mentioned what had happened, almost as if it was a common occurrence when the other man was over.
She had always enjoyed being a mother. Bringing David into the world was one of the best moments of her life. She loved him with her whole heart and soul. Doi was a sweetheart from the very beginning. Thankfully nothing like his power-hungry father. He'd often ask to help in the kitchen and would clean up after himself when he made a mess out of his toys. Surprisingly, it was easy to allow herself to feel the same emotions that she felt for David. Speaking of her son, the two got along so well. David was older by a year, so he quickly began calling Doi his little brother. They always included one another and rarely fought. To the outside eye, they appeared to be the perfect family.
Oh how soon that would change.
She hadn't meant to. It was an accident. She had left the boys home alone while she had made a quick trip to the store. David had called frantically using the house phone. Doi had gotten hurt from a broken vase and was bleeding all over the bathroom tile. She wasn't sure why she had gone so quickly. She wasn't sure why she felt the need to turn the corner to the neighborhood so sharply. In a matter of seconds, she saw him. She quickly slammed on the brakes, screaming his name. The thud was loud. The silence that followed was even more deafening. She had scrambled out of the car hurriedly, weeping as she approached his broken form. Her hands ran through his hair as he whimpered softly. Neighbors were rushing outside of their houses. Whether they heard the crash or the sorrowful screams that followed, she'll never know.
The changes came quickly. She couldn't stand to see Doi's face anymore. David had gone to the neighbor for help, too worried about his brother to properly look both ways. It was his fault that her son had been on the road just as she had turned. Roy hadn't come home until after midnight, clearly drunk and too wasted to know what was going on. David was buried 4 days later next to his late father. She made it a point to visit multiple times a week. Roy was home even less than he had been prior to the accident. She even found it easier to leave Doi home alone. For a while, Roy mentioned how he'd like the young boy to play a part in the show. She had been denying him for months, knowing very well the nightmare her husband had been creating behind Harry's back. She had never wanted the little boy she was starting to see as her own to be forced into a nightmare like that, but now, she could understand her husband's views the more she had to deal with the boy that followed her every moment she was home. She restrained herself from directly lashing out at him. Part of her knew he just felt bad and was probably feeling more alone than ever, but she couldn't stand the sight of him so she punished him by being out more often. Picking up more hours at the studio. Planning more and more gruesome events to please her husband's whims.
Roy was never one to initiate physical touch. But as she sat staring at the screens in front of her, she could feel his sweaty hand on her shoulder, fingers curling in and squeezing as they watched the three on the screen. She could feel the guilt in her gut, watching, waiting, for their nightmare to end. The young boy her son looked so afraid as the clock sang. They had done well with the first 'teacher', as Roy had dubbed them. This episode would start the rapid decline into madness that Roy had craved for so long. She stayed silent, watching with weary eyes as the episode continued on, her husband's breathing speeding up as the plot became darker. This wasn't the kid's show that Harry had been promised, no, far from it. Part of her felt bad for the mess he and his boyfriend Robin had unknowingly entered. They never signed up for this virtual reality nightmare. There was nothing she could do now though...oh well.
Harry was being kicked from the show. It had been agreed upon that he was getting way too close to the truth about what was happened. Roy pulled him from the simulation and took him to a motel an hour away. He left him there and quickly returned. Neither Robin nor Doi seemed to realize that he was supposed to be there. The show continued on. Robin's 'character' was torn apart, his organs being used as a substitute for whatever was really supposed to be in the cans. She had to step out of the room when the scene began, needing a moment to dispel the contents of her stomach and collect herself. She barely managed to catch the final minutes of the episode. Roy quickly took care of Robin after that. Due to the shock of the situation he faced in the simulation, it was decided that the hospital was the best place to dump him off at.
They should have known. Why would they be so stupid to think that Harry wouldn't come after them for all that they had done? The police arrived only two days after they got rid of him. Doi was the last one left. The episode wasn't finished when they burst through the door. In moments the two were restrained. She was certain Harry was guiding them to the backroom where they had been keeping them hidden in the off chance visitors ever came. It didn't take long for him to return with her son Doi in his arms, holding the sobbing boy close. She didn't dare to look up, to look at the child she failed to protect. "Mom! Mommy!" Her heart was always stronger than her brain. Her head shot up at the sound of the familiar cries. Doi was reaching for her, wanting her to console him as if he had just woken up from one of his nightmares. Harry glared at her, tightening his grip on the boy in his arms. He quickly left the room, not giving her a second to react to her the child's crying.
Dealing with the trial was a nightmare. Roy had instructed her to stay silent, and who was she to deny his wishes? He certainly could throw her under the bus and blame her for all that went wrong. She never knew exactly what tricks he kept up his sleeves. Seeing the three of them again didn't help. They already looked a lot better than they had when they were pulled from the simulation, no longer as pale and thin. Harry stood tall, providing support for both his boyfriend and the little boy that barely even moved an arm's length away from the duo. Seeing her son Doi as healthy as he had been when she has properly started taking care of him quelled something inside her. Seeing him talk quietly to Robin as he hugged a stuffed animal close to his chest let her feel a peace she hadn't felt in a long time.
She knew the two of them would be found guilty. Roy was successful at hiding the evidence up until the point when they were caught, forced to the ground, and handcuffed. The officers pulled them up from their chairs, a tight hold on them as they began leading them out of the courtroom. "Mommy!" She froze, once again. She hated how he would always have an effect on her like this. His small footsteps seemed to echo in the courtroom. Part of her even found it funny that his cries were only for her and not his actual father who stood by her side. She turned to glance at her son the boy. He grabbed onto her shirt. "Mommy, don't go!" She looked him in the eyes for the first time since the accident. She hopes David will forgive her.
"You're not my real son."
That wasn't what he was expecting. His grip slackened and his mouth hung open in...shock? Harry came forward, putting a hand on her son's Doi's shoulder to try and pull him away. She turned around, allowing the guards to continue to take her away. Away where she wouldn't hurt her family anyone anymore. She doesn't know why, but she glanced back once more before she was out of the room, making eye contact with Harry. She even smiled a bit, hoping he'd get the message.
Please take care of my son.