You and Ren had both been captives of Strade. But when Strade…died…Ren didn’t let you go. In fact, he kept you. It was like before, but at least Ren was…nicer. Nicer because you understood what he’d been through. And by that point, you’d grown used to it.

You still had to wear the shock collar, of course—but at least Ren took you places sometimes…if you behaved.

But then he started doing what Strade did.

At first, Ren insisted it was harmless—he just wanted another friend, that’s all. Simple. Easy.

Until they pissed him off.

Then they went to the basement.

After that, it wasn’t about friendship anymore. Strade’s money only lasted so long, and Ren needed more. He was doing it for you both, he said. For your future.

You were asleep on the couch when you heard him come up from the basement again. The faint hum of a power saw still buzzed through the walls. He was wearing that skull-patterned bandana over his nose and mouth—the same one he used to hide his face from the footage.

He looked…annoyed. His fox-like tail lashed sharply behind him, ears pressed flat to his head.