Page 4 of Monster in Disguise

"Yes, sir. It's mine," I answer. He chuckles for a second before his features go blank. He turns his back to me and goes towards the end of the corridor, Amico still in his hold.

I'm not supposed to be on this floor...

"Sir?" I muster the courage to ask, hesitantly taking a step forward.

"Follow me." His voice booms in the empty hall, and I steel myself. I continue to walk after him, trying to control my trembling limbs so he doesn't realize how scared I am. Amico is all that matters now.

Father goes deeper into the wing, and it's an area I've never seen before. He finally stops in front of a door, and opens it carelessly, stepping in. I do the same.

It's a dark room, only lit by the million candles surrounding the walls. There is a wall full of crosses. In front of it is a table housing a case of some sort. Mother is on the floor kneeling, her front bent towards the table, a black scarf covering her face. She's whispering something.

I don't like it when she's whispering.

"Liliana." The moment Mother hears Father's voice, she scurries back, hitting the table.

"Giovanni... What are you doing here?" She valiantly tries to put on a smile, but she's just as afraid as I am.

Father lifts the hand holding Amico and shakes him in her face.

"Want to tell me what this is?"

"I..." She starts but frowns, her eyes moving from Father before settling on me. Her face is set in a deep scowl as she addresses me. "Didn't I tell you no?"

"But..." She said yes... she did.

"So you disobeyed your mother?" Father immediately takes over, looking at me.

"No..." I whisper, keeping my gaze down, not knowing how to reply. What is even the correct answer? If I say Mother let me keep it, I'll get her in trouble. But if I say I disobeyed... What will happen to me?

"Speak!" Father commands.

"I... I wanted a friend," I admit, hoping this answer would be a good one.

It's not.

"You wanted a friend?" Father's voice takes a sinister tone as he laughs at me. I keep my head down. I can still see from the corner of my eye Amico struggling within Father's hold. He must be hurting.

"Amico..." I look up as Father suddenly flings the puppy to my feet.Amico!I immediately scramble, lifting Amico in my arms and trying to comfort him to the best of my ability.

"He wanted a friend... He even named himAmico..." Father shakes his head, looking towards Mother this time. Her face is blank as she stares at the puppy.

"Wrong answer, boy." Father takes a step towards me, his hand going straight to my shirt's neckline. He wrenches me closer so that his face is right in front of mine.

"There are only two answers. Either your mother told you no, and you disobeyed. Or your mother told you yes, and she's lying. Which one is it?" Mother has a look of horror on her face as she hears Father speak, and I think she fears what awaits her if I choose the second option. So I don't. I choose the first.

"I disobeyed," I whisper.

"Good. We are getting somewhere. You disobeyed because you wanted a friend." He doesn't let go of my shirt, and his serious gaze settles on me. "You need to be punished, boy."

I nod, because what else can I do? I knew what I was getting into... I knew and yet, I risked it.

He moves suddenly and I flinch, closing my eyes. I expected him to hit me.

He doesn't.

I slowly open one eye to see Father regard me pensively.

"I have just the punishment for you, boy. One that will remind you to never disobey again."

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