Harman's War arc
Chapter: Weight on My Shoulders
Gorth Hurshane's phone alarm screamed through the room.
He groaned, slapped it silent, and sat up with a tired face.
Beside him, his 8-year-old nephew, Berrald, slept peacefully, hugging the blanket like nothing in the world could touch him.
Gorth stared at him for a moment.
Another day.
Another fight for survival.
He dragged himself to the bathroom, switched on the water, and stepped in. As the warm water ran down his back, the thoughts he hated most came back again—loud and sharp.
All of this wouldn't have happened… if mom and sis hadn't died.
He scrubbed his arms harder.
No… my problems started earlier. When my aunt kicked us out. She owned the rights to the house How does that even make sense?
He shook his head.
That bitch… she threw us out like we were nothing.
Life used to be normal. His mother drove a nice car. She worked hard. His sister worked too, even after divorcing Berry's father. She was saving up for a new car.
They laughed.
They lived.
He even remembered his cousin Unies Hursharn—strict, annoying, but fun. They played soccer every time he visited. Unies always got annoyed when Gorth called Berry his "little brother" instead of nephew.
Then everything shattered.
The car accident.
The funeral.
The cold silence afterward.
His mother left him R100,000, and they kept it secret from their aunt. Best decision. Because the moment the funeral ended, she kicked them out without a drop of pity.
They fled to Banavurlan, a big island far from home. Bought a tiny house for R60,000.
Gorth furnished it piece by piece, built a small garden, and worked any peace jobs he could find just to feed Berry.
Three years… and it still hurts.
But he wasn't fully alone.
He had Sernny Berlsy, Nerthnalos Daventer, and Kenny Drimerl.
Without them, his life would've been darker.
Gorth dried off, dressed in his school uniform, and gently woke Berry. While Berry bathed, Gorth made breakfast and watched some anime to clear his head. Gorth and Berry got ready for school and left together, the morning sunlight cutting across the dusty street.
Lessons began, but Gorth's mind wandered almost immediately. How do I make it in life? Education is supposed to be my ladder, but it's crawling… too slow. I'm broke, and Berry depends on me. If there were a way to earn real money fast, I'd take it without a second thought.
Break time came, and as he packed his books, Kenny Drimerl approached, grinning ear to ear.
"Yo Gorth, what's up?"
"Oh, Kenny. Not much, you?"
"Same. When did you last see Sernny and Nerth?"
"I saw Sernny yesterday. He said Nerth was busy. Why don't we meet them today? I don't have many chores, and Mr. Brown said I could take the day off since it's Friday. Actually, Fridays and weekends are all off now."
Kenny's grin dimmed a little. "You still work there? I thought he only gave you a week."
"Oh, I didn't tell you?" Gorth said with a shrug. "I told Nerth. Mr. Brown hired me for four months. I get 5k a month, and sometimes he lets me take some meat home. But mostly, Berry and I rely on our garden."
They left school together, heading to a nearby shop for drinks and meat pies. On the way, they passed a girl walking hand in hand with another boy.
Kenny leaned in and whispered, "Bro… that girl keeps looking at you. Remind me—what actually happened between you two?"
Gorth shrugged. "We almost dated. I thought she was the one. But she kept seeing other guys. Didn't even bother hiding it."
Kenny exhaled slowly. "I know your pain."
"Thanks… well, thanks and no thanks," Gorth replied with a smirk. "You just wanted to see if my story mirrors yours, right?"
Kenny smirked back, saying nothing.
He had once loved a girl who used him too—his story ran deeper, and deep down, he still cared.
After school, the boys returned home briefly, then later met up with Sernny and Nerth. The four friends lounged, laughed, and dreamed aloud about what they'd do if they ever got rich.
Kenny, Sernny, and Gorth promised they'd help the poor, rebuild their world, and tackle unemployment.
Nerth? He sat back and proudly declared he'd live like a millionaire, enjoying life without worrying about anyone else. His friends mocked him mercilessly, laughter ringing in the afternoon air.
By six, Gorth realized he needed to hurry home to cook for Berry. He sprinted through the streets, adrenaline pushing him forward.
Passing a coffee shop, his eyes caught a man inside, hunched over papers, exhaustion etched into his face. The man glanced at him repeatedly. Gorth waved politely, then a thought struck him:
If I ever get rich… I'll build a coffee shop like this. Free. A place where people like him can sit, relax, and not think about money. Maybe it'll bring people together.
His heart carried the quiet flame of that dream as he ran.
But then he collided with a girl carrying her books.
"Sorry! I wasn't looking," she said, bending to collect her scattered books.
"Don't worry, miss. I wasn't looking either, and besides… I should pay attention when I'm running," Gorth said with a small smile.
When she looked up at him, her eyes widened in shock.
"Who… who are you?" she whispered.
"Oh, I'm Gorth," he replied casually.
The girl shook her head, flustered. "Oh… never mind. Sorry, I've got to go," she said, scooping up her books hurriedly.
As she distanced herself, her mind reeled. Wait… it's him. He's one of them…
Images flashed behind her eyelids: Gorth, Shane Movelent, Johman Luxek—all of them—their names whispered in the dark corners of her thoughts:
"Gorth Hurshane… Shane Movelent… Johman Luxek… criminals… murderers… protect… kill… Sebastian… fear… die…"
Her body froze. Her breathing quickened. Her hands trembled as she clutched her books tightly. She pressed herself against the nearest wall, glancing over her shoulder at Gorth, her mind replaying every rumor, every story, every shadowed warning she'd ever heard.
Panic spread through her chest like wildfire. She tried to steady her legs, to run, but they felt heavy. Her heart thundered, mind racing: What if it's real? What if I'm too late?
She didn't speak. She didn't move fast enough. She just stared, a shiver crawling down her spine, until Gorth had disappeared down the street, unaware of the storm he had left behind.
Gorth kept running home, his thoughts on Berry and the simple life he was trying to build, completely oblivious to the fear he had left in the girl's wake.
The Girls name is Vesha Nickwii.