For some time, everything appeared quiet, peaceful, almost normal—as if nothing had happened inside the house.
As if his father hadn't beaten his mother, hadn't beaten him.
As if his mother hadn't almost killed his father, only to be stopped by his actions… leading both of their lives to become even more miserable.
But instead of feeling the quietness to be peaceful… that very same silence made Aiden even more frightened.
At first, he refused to leave his room altogether, afraid that the monster was outside, or might even come in to beat him just like he had done to his mother.
Every tiny sound coming from the other side of the door made him instinctively curl up into a corner.
But no matter how terrified he was…
He was still only a child.
Eventually, thirst left his throat unbearably dry, while hunger gnawed relentlessly at his stomach, and his tiny body simply couldn't endure it any longer.
Finally…
The child stepped out of the bedroom.
