Disclaimer; the use of an em dash (—) doesn't indicate AI. This book is entirely written and edited by the Author.
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"You reek of my failure, kid." A gruff voice echoed in the dark corridor.
A little boy sat in one corner, arms folded around his legs as he gazed in one direction. There, a man watched with scornful eyes
"Such a poor thing.," he said.
The little boy shivered seeing the man walk closer to him. Long golden hair that fluttered in the absence of the wind. Golden iris, glistening silver skin, and an intimidating height.
The footsteps sounded soothing in the boys' ears, almost hypnotic, making him doze, but his eyes soon flashed open as the man's cold fingers grazed his cheeks.
"Such a pity, tsk. " The man snarled, digging his fingers down the little boy's cheeks. He watched as warm blood bled down his chin. His face impassive.
The boy was too petrified to even say a thing, the pain felt cold and venomous, sending biting chills across his body. Still, he remained captivated by the enchanting eyes of the man who rendered him mute.
"More like it." The man's tongue snaked, licking his upper lip.
"Follow me. "He rose, heading back to his previous position.
However, after taking a few steps, he turned back to the boy who still sat, hugging his legs.
"Huh, are you making me repeat myself, boy?" The man arched his brows. Yet, the boy remained transfixed, not daring to look at the man.
"Interesting. " He took slow steps back to the boy and then knelt to meet his innocent gaze.
"Urgh. " The little boy groaned. Tears streamed down his face as the stranger dug his fingers into his chest, making a few twists that made his thorax crack.
Furrowing, he removed his fingers and streaked them on his tongue. An uncanny smile writhled on his face.
"Fine," he said, his voice ominous as he pushed his hand all the way to his wrist into the boy's chest.
"Arghh" the boy screamed, his vision warping instantly.
The surrounding changed as he jumped off the bed, grabbing his chest, huffing. Cold sweats crept on Czar's little face as he found himself still on bed.
"That creepy geezer. " He panted, his voice hollow.
He inspected his chest once more before he relaxed. He felt the same way as he did before sleeping. Except for his racing heartbeats and ruby skin.
"What a weirdo, follow you? Mama said not to follow strangers, so go away." He left the bed with no struggle and lit the candle by his bedside. Leaving his room, he headed straight to the mud basin kept at the parlour.
The midnight silence wisped through the torrent of darkness as his dwarfing sillhoute tiptoed, afraid he would alert his mum and sister.
Getting to the basin, he pushed the cover, his ears perked up. His candle reflection wobbled as he dipped a cup inside. Gulping a few times, he exhaled, feeling invigorated.
With the candle still in his hand, he walked towards the adjacent wall, sighting an old portrait. It was a young man with ink-black moustache and short raven hair. His dark eyes gleamed with softness and warmth as he carried a tiny baby in his arm.
"Papa. " Czar murmured alone in the darkness.
"If only you were here. " He sighed.
From his mum's takes, Judas, his father died three years after his birth. He lived an ordinary life walking in the military. Even after years of service, he never advanced, strapped to the lowest rank like its prisoner. People said his father was a coward who on a few times had run away from a mission and if there wasn't a dire need for man's labour he would've been executed by the military itself. He never believed the cowardice part, though. His mum never mentioned it, and she would reprimand him whenever he mentioned it.
Even if it were true, it mattered not to Czar. So what if his father was a coward, afraid of death? Wasn't everyone like that? It would've been better if he had a father figure growing up, but now, he only played with the other kids who flaunted what their fathers got them. He still had his mum and sister, though. Thus, he couldn't complain.
"Papa, don't worry, mum and Elira are fine."
"Something happened some months ago and Elira and mum seem to be hiding it from me, they said it was adults stuff and a ten-year-old nosy brat like me shouldn't be involved. "
"Is that true, papa?"
"Am I nosy?"
"Well, I don't know, but since the time they started hiding something, Elira's belly seems to be growing bigger. "
"Jeez, just how much is she eating. " Czar twisted his nose.
"Okay papa, bye. " Czar waved at the picture as he headed back to his room, praying he didn't see the enigmatic fellow in his dreams.