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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU8eYibi64
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...427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT27xplwFr
At that moment, I wanted to tear them apart.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTjoey7uHG
Why would someone do this to a child?427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnhrpt2G3q
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkhYb0HPsq
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2VBMVkkcN
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?427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3579J92RxP
Food!427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCH5jbEjR9
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9aIn9OzAj
Speaking of the three of us... how was I going to explain this?427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZufylcIhg
I hadn’t exactly planned on bringing the child here.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdXDojXCy0
How would they react?
Zane, despite his frightening appearance, was kind-hearted most of the time. My real concern was Luke.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjQ70HlU1k
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5ciV55mNT
Worse, Luke hated demons. With every fiber of his being.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jpejy4wVv
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeq4I9qqsa
The child hadn’t moved. He looked exactly the same—frozen in place.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kY6jzN3bR
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:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYE3lKmEQb
— “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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1GuSCBGm1
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2dMxVHwyU
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:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzzSaJAniA
“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:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeNspdaBKN
— “Zane—”427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKM0w6N1CTG
— “And, and, and I swear—”427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkph60zVjb3
— “Zane!-”427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbgC7S8g5a
— “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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguTj82ebvT
His expression shifted to curiosity, and he turned to me:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymzHoFPjJb
— “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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncBYUP44dc
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndZCjch5C7
Then he looked at me, his expression softened, and he nodded slightly:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsizG1jVjPY
“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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumwDyIVUeJ
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:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWiqOr6Z9s
— “Do you want anything else?”
He didn’t answer. He just stared at me with those empty, hollow eyes.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qrH84rxAr
For a moment, my heart ached, but I pulled myself together.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotCgiW95gQ
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwTmNHxlM4
He seemed to understand Zane, but for some unknown reason, he still didn’t respond or change his expression.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMhQnCCCxQ
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83EuwhTRW4
My thoughts were broken by the sound of the door opening.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7L0U86G0J
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BVR7KP7rh
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...427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfj7FexpII
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:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqxn2ulOlc
— “Luke, what happened?”427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZ4gknZXR7
— “It’s nothing important. I stumbled while walking. It’s nothing serious.”427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhRwUh9TvS
— “But you’re limping—”427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsR6pHoLBTo
— “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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2Zh0ABJlW
First he looked at Zane, then at me, then back at the child.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIcZDBfnTR
His gaze lingered longer than expected.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr9KUZBGRd
Then he turned to us:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPImqJZa3bA
— “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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvfO88ktWH
It was strange.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxWYcgMeuC
But still, I was grateful; at least he wasn’t stopping us.
and then Add to home screen.