Jayden
When I took another step, the rain began to pour without stopping. I pulled the hood of my cloak tighter over my head. I was so exhausted from finishing a difficult task that I didn’t have any extra energy to dry my hair. I did my best not to let my sweater get wet.
As I kept walking, something entered my view besides the wild plants and trees of the forest: a struggling figure—a child.
I rushed closer. At that moment, I noticed a shadowy entity around him, but I ignored it and knelt beside the child; my mind liked to play tricks on me from time to time, and I thought this was one of those moments.
When I knelt, the first thing I noticed was the severe beating he had endured... and that he wasn’t human. Either a demon or a hybrid. Since he wasn’t healing himself, most likely a hybrid—or maybe even a weak variant. But I didn’t have the luxury of thinking about that. The child was on the verge of losing consciousness. I immediately checked for fatal wounds—there weren’t any—so I untied my cloak, took off my sweater, and carefully dressed him in it. Doing my best not to cause him pain, I gently lifted him and walked quickly toward home.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscnTe7NKL8
I didn’t run—I didn’t want to hurt him more or worsen the damage already done to his small body.
The first thing I did when I arrived was clean his wounds. The cuts on his body weren’t deep enough to need stitches, but there were far too many bruises and contusions. Whoever had done this...420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1niT7zxYI
At that moment, I wanted to tear them apart.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93zgdP0RPF
Why would someone do this to a child?420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsW0futOrf
What could he possibly have done?
As I examined the bruises on his neck and shoulders, I noticed something I hadn’t at first: these weren’t normal bruises. They looked more like... bite marks.
Disgusting creatures. How? Why?
My blood boiled. I realized I was holding my breath from anger and forced myself to take several deep breaths. I had to stay calm—for the child’s sake.
I gently bandaged the cuts, trying to be as soft and careful as possible. I didn’t want to frighten him further or push him into shock. Lastly, I placed a small bandage on the cut on his forehead. His snow-white hair hid the wound. I lightly dried his hair and brushed it so it wouldn’t fall over his eyes. Then I pulled a dark navy sweater from the closet and carefully put it on him.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhqaQcyuhH
Of course, it was much too big, but I folded it at his waist and arms so it wouldn’t restrict his movements.
Then I took a dagger, moved behind him, and carefully cut slits into the back of the sweater at shoulder level. His wings came out. Along with his horns and tail, they were black.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOCI0t79hX
His eyes were also pitch black, irises hollow and void; not like those of a child, but like those of a being forced to live.
I sat him down on the couch and gently draped a blanket over him. The house could be cold—I was used to it and no longer felt it—but the child was already shivering. I couldn’t risk him falling ill; he needed warmth.
What would happen now?420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6KcZRHMAP
Food!420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGn6w3zgHy
He must have been hungry. He was clearly exhausted.
I went to the kitchen and opened the wooden cupboard. As I expected, there wasn’t much, even though there were three of us living here. Only a few pastries and some fruit Luke had gathered, though I didn’t know when he had found the time.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWCltyMbH5
Speaking of the three of us... how was I going to explain this?420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7GOHDlbKW
I hadn’t exactly planned on bringing the child here.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡif4MwLCI9C
How would they react?
Zane, despite his frightening appearance, was kind-hearted most of the time. My real concern was Luke.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF02Jv88Cmv
He wasn’t cruel enough to suggest throwing the child out, but he might not want him here either. And that would be understandable; this child couldn’t even take care of himself. He would be a burden.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvj3MOTdku
Worse, Luke hated demons. With every fiber of his being.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIFsx2G7i6
And we didn’t even know if this child was a hybrid or a full demon...
For now, I pushed the thoughts aside, took a plate, and returned to the room.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStuLymz1Ru
The child hadn’t moved. He looked exactly the same—frozen in place.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWl3wXzBsot
Either he was very afraid, or too exhausted to react. Most likely both.
I slowly placed the plate on his lap and spoke in a soft voice, trying not to appear cold or frightening:420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LE9jKP589
— “You must be hungry. I brought these for you. If you need anything, all you have to do is say so, alright? There’s no need to be afraid.”
Just then, I heard the door open.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4hobBFCsU
They were back.
I stood up, gave the child one last glance, and headed for the entrance. Zane was there, his boots covered in mud. To avoid dirtying the floor, he stepped on old papers, hung up his cloak, and straightened his clothes.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLczbvEKRE2
Even though the black streaks in his white hair clung to his face, his light blue eyes still shone. With his usual smile, he turned to me and shrugged:420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTKVlJQpSb
“Don’t even ask about Luke, Jay. He disappeared at the last moment again—probably went off to pick fruit or something.”
He was talking as he came inside. I had to stop him and explain, but he went on:420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3gv6cfq2d
— “Zane—”420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PJ5fVmatA
— “And, and, and I swear—”420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAclImu01uO
— “Zane!-”420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFWsErXA3d
— “And I promise that this week—”
Just then, he entered the room where the child was. I was still trying to explain when he froze upon seeing the child.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm01QCwAu7
His expression shifted to curiosity, and he turned to me:420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxQD0abBol
— “Uh... Who’s this little guy?”
I let out a deep sigh, pinched the bridge of my nose, and slowly pulled him out of the room. He tensed—odd, since he usually liked physical closeness—but that wasn’t my concern right now.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZqAuBbTl1
I took another deep breath and began explaining.
When I finished, Zane’s face had taken on a more thoughtful expression. As I crossed my arms and waited, he rubbed his chin for a few seconds.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzq96K17Zz
Then he looked at me, his expression softened, and he nodded slightly:420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTaKG9sGWQ
“He can’t stay outside. We’d never throw him out. I’ll help you take care of him. And don’t worry about Luke—he’s not heartless. I’ll talk to him.”
That relieved me a little. If anyone could talk to Luke, it was Zane. They were childhood friends; there was a bond between them I never fully understood.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7TGnU9Ar4
Noticing my relief, Zane smiled, glanced at the child, and patted my shoulder. Normally I wouldn’t allow it, but this time I ignored it. He grinned with satisfaction and went to his room to change clothes.
I turned back to the child. Most of the food on the plate was gone; only a few pieces of fruit remained. He had placed the empty plate beside him. I picked it up and asked:420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrqDG05MYd
— “Do you want anything else?”
He didn’t answer. He just stared at me with those empty, hollow eyes.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIvrgKqaGe
For a moment, my heart ached, but I pulled myself together.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgdVs5n5b3
I adjusted the blanket that had slipped from his shoulder, then returned to the kitchen to put the plate away.
When I came back, Zane was sitting next to the child, seemingly trying to talk to him. The child was looking at him; his expression was no longer completely empty.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKj9ae4BiT
He seemed to understand Zane, but for some unknown reason, he still didn’t respond or change his expression.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnL9NsvrfPa
Zane, like an older brother, spoke in a warm and playful tone. I could already tell he was beginning to feel something for the child; it was in his nature.
I stood in the doorway for a while, watching them, lost in thought. I didn’t even realize how much time had passed.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFlqRX7692
My thoughts were broken by the sound of the door opening.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTxtITD3fi
Luke had arrived.
I could hear him taking off his cloak and boots. I took a deep breath. Zane must have heard too, because he stood up and went to greet him. I followed right behind.
The first thing I noticed was Luke limping.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhHocKo1tp
As always, his face was unreadable—the black cloth mask covering his mouth, his dark navy hair with turquoise streaks tied back low, curls falling over his left eye...420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecHqSFBOU8
I knew his right eye was amber. Zane once told me Luke’s way of dressing and hiding was his own choice, and that I shouldn’t meddle. I hadn’t.
As Luke came in, Zane asked:420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbur3hqtME
— “Luke, what happened?”420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ6YTscRk2
— “It’s nothing important. I stumbled while walking. It’s nothing serious.”420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDjVrlMANc
— “But you’re limping—”420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8ucVWlfoX
— “I said it’s nothing important, Zane. Drop it.”
Despite his limp, Luke walked quickly into the room. When he saw the child, he froze for a moment.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsuBZKH5S2
First he looked at Zane, then at me, then back at the child.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WMpgXQjZs
His gaze lingered longer than expected.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhNuFaQkLn
Then he turned to us:420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE0cTFybcU
— “The hybrid is your responsibility. Don’t involve me in this.”
As if we had already explained everything to him and he had simply made his decision.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd7SPMzrM6
It was strange.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupfWEh7vKX
But still, I was grateful; at least he wasn’t stopping us.
and then Add to home screen.