The Great Demon System

As Moby listen carefully to Ray's words, he found a big contradiction, and in addition to his shaky smile, he began to doubt his words. He was not at all acting natural, nothing at all like the Ray he remembered. 

He said that he got inspired and began to work hard right after he said that all he did during the break was play video games, those two statements don't add up.

He felt like Ray was trapped, inwardly crying for help trying to give them hints without making it obvious for some reason. He was almost certain something else was going on but he had no solid evidence to confront him with, plus that would be a reckless move in his circumstances. 

If Ray suddenly jumped up in the research rankings, it would be very odd for a gang not to be interested in him. Gangs usually only invite very talented people while the weaker students usually beg them to join for protection. 

He relayed all of his information to Alex using their mind link and they decided that It all depended on what his exam was and what he did in it. For now, due to the awkwardness and obscurity of the situation, Moby decided not to push any further and continue with his questions to see where it would go from there. 

"Wow! I am so happy to hear that! What kind of exam was it?" Alex asked with a smile.

"It was an exam about creating something in a limited amount of time," Ray said, slowly lifting up his head that was previously looking down to reveal a few subtle drops of sweat on his forehead with that same natural smile as before. 

"So, what did you invent to get you so high up in the scores?" Moby asked.

"It's a secret, under the school rules, I am not allowed to disclose that," Ray replied, telling the truth yet lying through his teeth at the same time.

"Oh come on man! We're buddies, you can tell us anything! We won't expose!" Alex added with a smile.

"I just can't risk it, maybe the school is spying on what I say through the watch… I just can't… I'm really sorry guys..." Ray said in a heavier voice, his smile turning slightly more mellow. 

"Oh… Okay… We understand, sorry for pushing you," Moby said with a chuckle, rubbing the back of his head. 

"I was just wondering, did you ever get involved with any gangs during the break? I find it hard to believe that they wouldn't jump at the chance to recruit someone as useful as you," Moby asked with clear worry.

"Oh, don't worry about it, I have not gotten involved with that crowd at all, they seem to still be uninterested in me. Like I told you before, my blandness usually slips under the radar and not many bullies even notice me," Ray said with a natural yet awkward smile and a chuckle, standing out of his bed, heading towards the fridge. 

With 2 questions down, Moby was almost certain that something was happening. It was almost like Ray was being held at gunpoint with every movement that he did as everything felt all too stiff and forced. However, he still did not have any solid evidence to back that with, for all he knew, he was just really nervous to see them again after so long. So, he decided to keep going like he did not notice anything until more information arises, who knows what would happen if he announced his skepticisms right now. 

Ray slowly approached the fridge. He opened it up before looking for a bit, grabbing a plate of what looked like chicken nuggets, closing the fridge before putting it in the microwave that was right beside it. 

"So… How was your guys' exam? I heard that it ended up as a disaster and that they are looking to fire or maybe even jail general Ryker," Ray said, pushing the buttons on the microwave to heat up his food.

*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*

"Yeah… So many students died due to carelessness, I heard that they are still looking for a suitable replacement for the general and in the meantime, he was still here to stay," Alex replied.

*BEEEEEEEEP* 

"I also heard that both of you guys even got really high on the exam and that Moby got a new, extremely strong and fast-growing ability from it! It must really be nice, congrats!" Ray said, hiding his face that was facing towards the microwave as he continued to press the buttons.

*BEEEEEEEEP* 

"Yeah, it was all by sheer luck, I am so fortunate… Yet, at the same time, it's bringing me a lot of trouble. A bunch of gangs are now trying to get me on their side just because of it. I don't want to join any of them for obvious reasons but I feel like they might try to pull something on me to make me join… I am not sure why they would want me to join so badly," Moby explained.

*BEEEEEEEEP* 

"Oh… That's awful… I hope that it all works well for you…" Ray replied, trying to hold back his tears, hoping that his message and hints would get through to his friends and not get noticed by the person spying on him. 

*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*

'What is with all of these beeps? It doesn't take that many presses to use a microwave, does he keep changing his mind or something?' Moby inwardly wondered before just forgetting about it as he thought he was thinking into things too much. 

However, when he turned to see Alex's face, that told an entirely different story with shaky eyes that said he figured everything out. 

'SOS…' Alex mumbled to Moby using his mind link.

'Huh?' Moby replied in confusion, unable to understand why Alex randomly said that.

"SOS!' Alex said once again but more enthusiastically, confusing Moby even more than before. 

'SOS! It's SOS! Those beeps! That's morse code for SOS! 3 short beeps, 3 long beeps, and 3 short beeps! It's a cry for help! Ray, you're truly a genius! Using the microwave sounds to signal SOS!" Alex said, inwardly laughing at his sudden realization. 

As soon as Alex explained it all out to him, he struggled to keep his poker face as his eyes almost popped out of their socket from the sudden realization that hit him like a truck. They had previously learned about morse code and the meaning of SOS back in school. However, he never knew that they could be applied in such a way and that Ray could be resourceful enough to use them in his current situation.

'Alex! You're a genius too! How the fuck did you pick up on that?' Moby asked, still in a shocked state. 

'Well, I knew that the beeps were way too many to use a microwave, so when I thought more deeply and listen more closely, the answer just hit me in the face! This now confirms it! Something happened to Ray!' Alex said, leading to Moby inwardly nodding in reply. 

This realization made many questions and thoughts ravage Moby's mind… 

He first thought that he could turn Ray into a demon in order for him to force him into revealing the truth, or to use his mind-altering skill to peek into his mind and memories before erasing the memory of him doing it. However, the more he thought of that idea the more he came to a realization that it was a very reckless and idiotic thing to do. 

Ray clearly wanted to get the message across that he was in trouble but why did he do that in such a subtle way? He could have just written it down to avoid saying anything or use some sort of sign language. The only possible answers would be that he was being spied on by an outside source. He was not sure how, the only possible explanations would be that there were cameras in the room, there was someone who has the ability to see through walls who is spying on them from the outside, or there was a camera or some sort of sensor on Ray himself. Either possibility would not allow him to turn Ray into a demon or alter his memories as it would expose himself as inhuman. 

He also thought that since Ray was there with them, even if he was being spied on he could have just told them what happened and asked for protection. However, he was clearly not doing that… That must mean that there are circumstances that would not allow him to do it. The gang keeping a hostage to force him to do what he did was the most plausible explanation. 

Moby relayed his thoughts to Alex who said that he was also thinking the same thing. They both agreed that it must have been a gang's doing and Ray was being forced to do what he was doing to force Moby to join them. Their only rationale, least reckless course of action to keep Ray and the possible hostage safe was to go along with the gang's wishes try to find a way to fight back or outsmart them.

Ray was one of Moby's first actual friends and he would be damned if he let him die or get tortured with it all being his fault.

Alex felt the same way but for different reasons of course.

They both decided to act Natural for now and see how things progressed, trying their best to hold their poker face that hid their inner doubts and worries as they stared at Ray who was casually eating his chicken nuggets.