It was morning. The sun peeked through the cold mist like a pale eye watching silently. Outside, the village gathered like a mob of ghosts, eyes filled with judgment and whispers. In the center of it all, Velian was dragged like a chained beast, blood crusted on his torn clothes. The metal cuffs around his wrists clinked with every step, echoing louder than the murmurs around him.
A cart with a caged back waited. Rusty, foul-smelling, like it had hauled more corpses than living things. They shoved Velian inside, locked it shut, and slapped the horse. It neighed and began walking into the sunlight, dust trailing behind like smoke after a fire.
Among the crowd, Lily stood. Small. Broken. Her eyes red from crying, her dress still soaked in blood. The villagers talked.
"Poor Lily..." "Who knew that orphan would turn out to be a monster." "He lived under their roof. Ungrateful demon."
Someone spat on the ground. The dust devoured it.
---
Blackridge Institute — Later
The cart rolled through fog until it stopped before a looming building. The words "Blackridge Institute" were etched on black stone, worn and cracked.
The place looked like a prison meant to be forgotten. Grey bricks, windows with rusted bars, chains dangling from towers, the whole thing breathing despair. The man jumped off the cart and unlocked the cage.
Two men in dark blue uniforms stepped forward. They shook hands with the cart driver.
"Good work, as always."
"He's a tough one. Watch him."
They chuckled. "We'll handle him."
They yanked Velian's chains and dragged him through the iron gates. The courtyard was full of cracked stones and dead plants. The inside was worse—dark, lifeless corridors, flickering lights, walls that whispered, and a silence that screamed.
They passed cells, padded rooms with dried bloodstains, and doors that looked like mouths of monsters. They stopped at a cage. Number 1.
A man banged it with a baton. "Hey Bruce, you got a roommate."
They opened the gate and threw Velian in.
The stench was unbearable. Rot. Blood. Urine.
Velian sat in a corner, silent. A boy his age stepped out of the shadows. Scar over his eye. He crouched.
"Hi. I'm Bruce. What's yours?"
Velian didn't speak.
"Your name?"
"...Velian."
"Welcome to Cell 1."
Bruce smiled. "I hope we can be friends."
"I'm a killer."
Bruce grinned wider. "We all are. Every kid here is called a monster. You're home."
Home.
Velian shook Bruce's hand.
Weeks passed. Then months. They became friends. Shared stories. Laughed through pain.
One night, Velian whispered, "Do you want to get out of here?"
Bruce blinked. "Where's that coming from?"
"I want freedom."
"Forget it. Freedom doesn't exist here. This place kills hope."
"We can leave together. I swear."
Bruce sighed. "If you want to live, stop dreaming. Just survive. Sleep. You've got a session tomorrow."
Velian lay on the cold floor.
Bruce stared at the ceiling. "Freedom... It's just a dream."
---
Session Room
Screams. The air stank of sweat and iron.
Velian was tied to a metal chair. Shirtless. His back was marked with lashes, his lips split, eyes swollen.
"This one's got fire," one of the torturers said.
The other leaned close, eyes gleaming. "Scream more."
Velian spat in his face.
"You little—!"
He punched Velian again. And again. The blows thundered, mixing with Velian's gasps. Blood splattered the walls.
"Know your place, monster!" the boss shouted.
The second guard flinched. "Boss, you're going overboard."
"Shut up."
Another punch. Velian slumped. Barely conscious.
The boss kicked him. Laughed.
"Thought you could make it fun. You're just trash."
Velian smiled faintly.
"What are you smiling at?"
He passed out.
---
Later
Bruce held Velian close.
"You're alive... why did you provoke him?"
"I got us something."
Velian pulled out a key.
Bruce's eyes widened. "You stole it?"
"While he bent over. Tonight, we leave."
Bruce pulled back.
"No. I'm not going."
"Why not? We have the key. Freedom. Light."
"I... I don't want to die. This place is my home now."
"It's not. That's what they want you to believe."
"Maybe I'm okay being a fool."
Velian lowered his head. "Freedom is peace, Bruce. And peace... peace requires sacrifice. I'm willing to give up everything. What more do I have to lose?"
Bruce said nothing.
---
That Night
Velian stood. Quiet. Keys in hand.
He unlocked the cell.
Creak.
"Going somewhere without me?" Bruce said behind him.
Velian turned, tears in his eyes. "You changed your mind."
"You were right. What more could I lose?"
They ran.
Alarm blared. Red lights swirled.
"They know! Run!"
Bruce guided them. Left. Right. Left again. They ducked into a room.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
A voice echoed. "Well done, Bruce."
Velian froze.
The boss stepped in with guards.
"Bruce... what is he talking about?"
Bruce stepped forward, silent.
The guards laughed.
"Come on, boy. You did great."
Velian's world shattered. "No. No, it can't be. Bruce, this is a joke, right?"
Silence.
"He led you here," the boss said. "Just like the others. Why do you think he never had a roommate before? They all tried to escape."
Velian crumbled.
"Get him."
They rushed him. Velian kicked one in the groin. Another punched him down. They stomped him, laughing.
Inside his head, a voice cackled.
"You fool. I told you. I'm your only friend. I got you out of home. I stayed with you. And you still rejected me. Look at you now!"
"Shut up!" Velian screamed.
Bruce trembled. Watched. Heard the kicks. The screams.
"Stop!" he yelled.
He ran forward, shoved the men off, kicked the boss. Chaos.
He dragged Velian up.
"We have to go!"
They opened the door—
STAB!
Bruce gasped. Blood spilled from his mouth.
"B-Bruce?"
He collapsed.
"I can't believe you betrayed me," the boss snarled.
Velian clutched Bruce. Tears flowed.
"Wake up! We can still escape!"
Bruce smiled weakly.
"You were right, Velian. Peace... requires sacrifice."
His hand dropped.
Dead.
Velian stared blankly. The boss crouched.
"Now it's your turn. Say hi to your friend in hell."
He grabbed Velian's head—
But stopped.
Velian grinned.
A twisted, horrifying grin.
He stabbed the boss's leg with iron.
The boss screamed. Velian grabbed his knife. Slit.
Blood sprayed. The boss's head rolled.
The guards backed away.
Velian walked toward them. Step by step.
A demon.
---
Elsewhere in the Institute
The walls exploded.
Five armored Seekers entered, blades drawn. Flames roared behind them.
"Kill every staff member. Save the children!" their leader shouted.
He moved like a blur, slicing down men, painted in blood.
He reached a door. Kicked it open.
Bodies. Dozens. Dismembered. Mangled.
In the center, Velian stood.
Silent. Still.
The man approached. "Are you alright?"
No answer.
Blood coated Velian's skin. Eyes empty.
Did this boy... kill them all?
"Come with me. We're rescuing everyone."
Velian didn't move.
The man gently picked him up.
---
Outside the Institute
Smoke clouded the night sky. The building crumbled.
Children huddled together. Saved. Free.
The leader, Ban, walked out carrying Velian.
"Are these all the children?" he asked.
"Yes, sir."
Someone asked, "Who's that boy?"
Ban looked at Velian.
"The one who survived. And maybe... the one who avenged them."
"No one will adopt him. Not after what he's seen."
Ban turned. "Then I will."
They gasped. "Sir?!"
"I failed them as a Seeker. I won't fail him."
He crouched before Velian.
"I'll be your dad from now on. You can call me Dad."
The word hit like a punch to the chest.
Velian whispered it. Fragile. Confused.
"...Dad?"
"Hey! If you've enjoyed the story so far, let me know by voting or commenting. Your support helps me keep writing iand improving this world!"