Mildo's and Luca's hearts raced as they stared at the door, tense. The creak filled the room as it slowly opened, and then Henry appeared, walking calmly with an expressionless face.
He stopped at the entrance, his eyes scanning the room intently, then said in a low voice:
"Come on, I've taken care of getting you out."
Mildo stared at Henry in astonishment, doubt creeping in:
"Doesn't he see him? Doesn't he see Luca?"
He turned his head slightly toward Luca and found him raising his hands in denial, as if to say, "I don't know either."
Henry's attention was drawn to the mask in Mildo's hand, but his eyes widened even more when he saw the burn marks on his face. He approached carefully, examining the mark Dante had left, then noticed the other wounds and paused at the ear where dried blood had hardened. Henry felt a pang of discomfort but hid it skillfully. He stepped back slightly and said:
"Is Enzo the one who did this?"
Mildo did not answer, remaining silent, his eyes sunk into a void, showing no reaction.
At that moment, Henry realized that Mildo had changed, as if his soul had left this life, leaving only his body in this world. Henry sighed quietly:
"Alright… let's go."
Henry stood at the door waiting, and Mildo began to move, his leg still limping slightly from the bullet wound. Luca followed with a strange lightness, his face filled with joy as he hurried forward, then turned to Mildo:
"I'm coming with you."
As they walked down the long corridor, a girl ran past and collided with Mildo's shoulder, causing him to fall on his backside. The girl froze, fear and worry etched on her face, which was not surprising.
She approached and reached out to help him. His eyes widened when she looked at his face, but she did not comment because of Henry. She said nervously, her voice trembling:
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry."
Henry stopped walking and calmly turned to them, smiling at her:
"It's alright, Sally. You can go to your work."
Sally tensed at his voice, quickly turned, and ran off, while Mildo remained sitting, watching her flee in panic. What struck him more was her hair, and he muttered quietly:
"Red hair, the color of blood."
He stopped again and approached Henry. Henry turned, and they continued until they reached a room Mildo had never seen before, different from all the previous rooms. It was warm and comfortable.
Henry entered, removed his coat, and threw it on the sofa before sitting down. He said quietly:
"This is my room. Come in. No one here will hurt you."
Mildo hesitated at the threshold, looking inside. The room was completely different; the walls were covered in dark wood, and the lamps cast a soft yellow light that chased away the darkness clinging to the previous room. On the small table beside the bed lay an open book and a half-full cup, as if Henry led a life that had no connection to their brutal world.
Mildo stepped inside slowly, his eyes scanning with cautious curiosity. Henry said:
"Sit here."
Mildo advanced hesitantly and sat in the chair opposite him. Henry then brought a plate and a glass of water and placed them in front of him.
Mildo looked at the food, which seemed appetizing, and swallowed before saying calmly:
"Why should I trust you? It might be poisoned."
Henry sighed with mild annoyance, took a bite in front of him, then raised the glass and drank calmly before setting it back on the table:
"Now, eat."
Mildo stared at the food for a long moment, his fingers trembling as he reached for the fork, then began eating greedily.
Henry watched silently, a faint smile on his face as he observed him devour the food.
After finishing, Mildo wiped his mouth with his trembling hand, then suddenly turned toward Luca, who sat on the arm of the chair with a strange smile, seemingly enjoying the scene.
Mildo raised his hand, pointing at him in confusion:
"Don't you see the person sitting there?"
Henry slowly turned toward the empty chair, eyes scanning carefully, then looked back at Mildo:
"What person?"
Mildo froze, his eyes darting between Henry and Luca. Luca tilted his head, smiling mockingly:
"I guess I'm the only one who sees you."
Mildo held the mask in his hand, staring at it blankly, muttering quietly:
"I've lost my memory."
Henry raised his eyes skeptically:
"What did you say? I didn't hear you clearly."
Mildo repeated calmly:
"I forgot who I am."
Henry's eyes widened in shock, and he leaned back in the chair, trying to process what he had just heard:
"What did you forget, and what do you remember? Tell me."
Mildo shook his head in despair, still staring at the mask:
"All I remember is opening my eyes in this place. I don't know who I am, I don't know my identity. All that remains in my mind is pain."
Luca stepped forward, hitting his head in frustration on the sofa:
"Why did you tell him?"
Mildo ignored him, raising his eyes to Henry and freezing for a moment when he saw the sadness in his eyes and the wide smile vanish. He continued:
"Is there no record of me?"
Henry shook his head, then said calmly and firmly:
"No… there isn't. Anyone who sets foot in this place has their identity erased, as if they never existed."
Mildo pressed the mask with irritation and quiet anger:
"It doesn't matter. I'm Mildo now, and that's all that matters."
Henry was surprised by his words, then his wide smile returned:
"Mildo, then I will remember this."
Luca frowned, recalling everything, while Mildo's eyes gleamed with bloodlust:
"I will take revenge on those who put me in this state."
When Henry heard those words, his expression did not change, as if he had known Mildo's intentions from the start. He smiled more and placed his hand on his cheek:
"I've prepared a room for you. You can go now; you'll find it at the end of the corridor."
Mildo froze for a moment, incredulous, and said coldly:
"A room for me?"
Henry nodded and gestured toward the door, signaling him to leave.
Mildo took a deep breath, still feeling pain, but slowly moved toward the end of the corridor, with Luca following quietly.
Henry remained seated, idly fiddling with his weapon in his hands, his mind on Mildo. He sighed softly, his voice low:
"Mildo, you must take revenge, William's son. You promised him."
Mildo entered his room, simple but warm, with a bed and a small lamp casting a soft glow. He noticed Sally again, cleaning the table.
He whispered coldly, looking at her:
"What are you doing?"
Sally jumped, turning quickly to him and bowing her head:
"I'm just cleaning the room as instructed. Please don't be angry with me."
He stepped forward, tossed his mask onto the bed, and sat beside her. His eyes never left her red hair. He sighed quietly:
"Don't wipe anything, and don't be afraid. I won't hurt you."
Sally threw the cloth into the bucket, then stepped toward him with gentle, curious steps, getting very close and asking:
"What's your name? Is this your first day here?"
Her curiosity was obvious, but it did not bother him. He stared into her bright green eyes filled with excitement, and moved his hand slightly to keep her at a distance:
"Mildo. I don't remember how many days I've been here."
She held his hands with overwhelming joy:
"Mildo! What a beautiful name. I'm Sally. My job is just cleaning. I used to work in an orphanage, but they threw me out onto the street when they found out about my illness. Then I met Mr. Henry, and he brought me here. I think that was two days ago."
Mildo froze at the flood of her words. He lowered his eyes slightly and said:
"That's terrible. May I ask what exactly is your illness?"
Sally tilted her head slightly, placing a finger gently on her temple, and smiled softly:
"I have a little monster in my head. That's what my mother told me before she died."
Mildo did not understand the meaning of her words, but he felt that what she carried in her head was very bad, and he whispered softly:
"A little monster, huh."
Then she ran toward the door, and before leaving, she turned to him and waved happily:
"Let's talk again, Mildo."
The door closed. Mildo stared at it. Luca stood in front of him, interrupting his gaze and pointing to himself:
"I'm here too."
Mildo paid no attention, lay down on the bed, hugging the pillow, eyes fixed on the wall without sense of time, until he fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Mildo woke up to find Luca still present.
"Didn't you sleep?" he asked quietly.
Luca smiled gently:
"I did sleep, and just woke up as well."
Mildo got up and left the room, heading toward the courtyard.
"What are you doing here?" Luca asked, following him.
"I'm going to train," Mildo replied, gripping a wooden stick firmly and moving it through the air.
Dante and Henry were walking in the corridor when they saw Mildo training in the courtyard, his stick moving swiftly and precisely.
Dante stared at him for a moment, then said softly and sharply:
"Look at him. Seems the punishment worked."
Henry smiled quietly and looked at Dante:
"I think it's time to change your perspective of him."
They approached him. Mildo stopped and stared at Dante with cold eyes.
Dante advanced slowly with a mocking smile on his face:
"How was the dark room? Did you like it?"
He grabbed Mildo's face, examining the burn mark on his skin:
"Your face looks beautiful now," Dante said, cruelly.
Mildo stared back, expressionless, standing firm against the cruelty.
After a moment, Dante stepped back, leaving Mildo silent.
Luca leaned forward, whispering softly to Mildo:
"Let him trust you. This is your chance."
Mildo nodded slowly, then raised his eyes to Dante and said firmly:
"I… I am ready to do anything. I won't disappoint you this time."
Dante lit his cigarette slowly, eyes never leaving Mildo, a wicked smile spreading across his face:
"It seems results are showing. I like this."
Behind a column, Sally watched nervously, biting her nails:
"I hope he doesn't hurt him."