He wasn't sure just how many months he'd been down there. The pain in his back had dulled down to a little numbness. It didn't even bleed anymore, which was good. He didn't like the feeling of it dripping down his spine, plopping gruesomely on the floor, and just settling in a pool. It took days to absorb into the cement floor or evaporate in the damp air.

He had forgotten what it felt like to see too, but he was grateful for the pitch black world beyond his blindfold. It made it a little easier to deal with. After all, what was the point of removing the damned thing if he couldn't see in the dark anyway? It made it easier to face the light when it did come streaming into his little domain too.

He couldn't face the light. It hurt his eyes and frazzled him too much. But he knew it was a good thing, because it brought good things. Whenever he heard the big metal door creak open, the sound of rust and metal sliding over concrete so grating to him in his silent world, he knew who was coming.

So when he heard that noise, and could feel the light on his skin, he didn't withdraw like he used to. He couldn't actually fathom the time when he was terrified of that door or what it brought. That time long ago seemed silly to him. But maybe he was just cranky because the mold growing on the walls had gotten too smelly, or it was way back when his back would drip constantly. Either way, he welcomed that noise now.

He also welcomed those too familiar footsteps walking towards him. He had never seen the person's face, but he knew him by his footsteps. And that was enough. Because he knew what these visits meant. Something was thrown in front of him and he heard it scuttles frantically, like it was trying to escape. But with the lack of sight, he had learned how to pinpoint locations by sounds, and this thing was definitely not caring how much noise it made. So he grabbed it up quickly, instantly popping it in his mouth. It squished, and he had a bit of trouble biting through the little bones, but after a few little squeals, it lie limp in his mouth and he gobbled it up greedily with a content little sigh.

He could feel the person stepping closer, patting him on the head, cooing at him.

"Good boy, Riku. I'l bring you some more tomorrow,"

He reached into the other's touch despite how it hurt his back a little bit. After all, the metal hooks that pierced through his skin that kept him chained to the wall always seemed to want to stretch the skin and make him bleed. He stopped before it could, and scuttled back into the darkness as the provider for his meal walked up the steps again, out into the light.

***

Roxas locked the door to his basement securely before grabbing his brief case and straightening his tie. He made a mental note to pick up more rats at the pet store right after work.