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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe5rPbc03B
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...428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS93tTMvIft
At that moment, I wanted to tear them apart.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYxlCUyBVD
Why would someone do this to a child?428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrPT2hVjuN
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HIZPn3fi9
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhESLbCHB8E
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?428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu5w04HHf8
Food!428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZhRxlpwgH
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fOVODBTVy
Speaking of the three of us... how was I going to explain this?428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhpsg5JjsC
I hadn’t exactly planned on bringing the child here.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAaQd4MCFy
How would they react?
Zane, despite his frightening appearance, was kind-hearted most of the time. My real concern was Luke.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm3GV8qcSj
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCEZHB3lOB
Worse, Luke hated demons. With every fiber of his being.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKRLwdMnOT
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtf6TVJoLX6
The child hadn’t moved. He looked exactly the same—frozen in place.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslJqm1wSCZ
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:428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1o1H6wYkbB
— “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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIatp2awOQf
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJD08Pwt5C
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:428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ182dVG9i
“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:428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxuTRg99by
— “Zane—”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnTZFDujTq
— “And, and, and I swear—”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NULnPryzc
— “Zane!-”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XGuG4YOlS
— “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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLpJPP5WAN
His expression shifted to curiosity, and he turned to me:428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo9fh5K2yZ
— “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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvOnhnxVEb
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbu8KQnMbZ
Then he looked at me, his expression softened, and he nodded slightly:428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgfjK2iRhB
“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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvmawHaWwa
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:428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZgSFWtehw
— “Do you want anything else?”
He didn’t answer. He just stared at me with those empty, hollow eyes.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhlqaXmn6s
For a moment, my heart ached, but I pulled myself together.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vzctI7LKn
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWi6IRK4Ac
He seemed to understand Zane, but for some unknown reason, he still didn’t respond or change his expression.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGtLHFVH3M
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjqBwP3faQ
My thoughts were broken by the sound of the door opening.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMMOY5xtW8
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp73pEm4WT
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...428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhIGbLrT30
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:428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkW0x7yoRaY
— “Luke, what happened?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskxruhwjUz
— “It’s nothing important. I stumbled while walking. It’s nothing serious.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkdrgAqMA7
— “But you’re limping—”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGOwjcRklE
— “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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2FNhT0dum
First he looked at Zane, then at me, then back at the child.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9XqfSMGDS
His gaze lingered longer than expected.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4Nubm5zQZ
Then he turned to us:428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf5TFbTDEJ
— “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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqG84QU4R5
It was strange.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuV3XzTfoR
But still, I was grateful; at least he wasn’t stopping us.
and then Add to home screen.