(Luyen 3, 52 / 4:32PM)

Six years later…

A barrage of objects can be heard against the wooden walls of the place they called home.

Inside a small wooden room, many books and papers that were drawn with homemade pencils were scattered across the old creaky ground. The curtains of the room not letting any light bestow upon the dirt-filled papers, made as if the room itself was detached from the rest of the world.

(???) Make it stop…

Snuggled under the blankets and bedsheets that tucked him inside like a small baby, the sounds coming from outside of the door continued to raid against his ears. Both of his palms shut the evil noise from entering in, the boy with dark brown hair and light freckles tightened his hold on his ears.

As he stared down at the bed sheets that restricted light from entering.

(???) Mommy…

Rocking back and forth, he tucked his elbows into the space of his armpits, his body heat creating a little batched oven that drenched his entire body in sweat.

His breathing fastened, his heartbeat pounding. He waited for the touch of a motherly figure, a touch he wasn’t familiar with ever since he was merely a baby.

(???) Gwen…

Clenching his eyes shut, the room that was disconnected from the outside world soon became reality as his vision turned from imminent darkness to imminent nothingness.

His mind filled with thoughts, he clenched the ends of his teeth as his cavity-filled molars soon started to chip from the pressure.

(???) I don’t want to—

The sounds of the hellish fighting soon ceased.

Several seconds later, the door to his room swung.

His body froze up as if he were ice, his arms and legs that helped cradle him like a baby ball stopped. Not letting a breath draw out from his button nose nostrils, the boy puckered his lips into his mouth as he used his teeth to pin them down.

(???) I don’t want to be hit…

Not able to hear the incoming footsteps drawing closer, he did however feel the blankets above him soon gave way. Emerging out of the darkness that he enclosed himself in, he opened his eyes as he still had both of his hands covering his ears.

He then turned his head slowly, as well as letting his palms free from the grip that he contained on his ears. Upon seeing the face in front of him—

His voice couldn’t even let out a few simple words as his vocals rebelled against him.

(???) It’s ok.

A feminine voice rocked against the little eardrums that he was born with.

Arching his body upward, the crevices of his eyes started to build up water that wanted to emerge like a flowing river. Seeing that the tween girl had many freckles on her face, her long hair braided to a ponytail, the only person in the world that could have those features was none other than…

(???) Gwen!

The boy’s eyes traversed through the many botched wounds that were seen all around the girl’s face and body.

Both her eyes and cheeks had a purple glow to them, along with blood trickling down from the right corner of her lips. Cuts and rips riddling through her plain white overalls that were stained with week-old mud and dirt, the boy also noticed that both her hands were reddened with blistering calluses that seemed as if she was hitting something.

(???) D-Did—

(Gwen) Shhh. Dad’s still in a bad mood. Try not to disturb him, okay?

(???) But Gwen—

Gwen then wrapped both of her arms around the boy’s neck, drawing his body toward hers.

Having his head placed right alongside her chest, his ears trickled from the pounding heartbeat that molested his ears. Pushing up his face, the boy gently wrapped his arms across her lower waist, his fingers digging into the fabric of her clothing.

Instead of pushing out words, he soon pushed out tears that rolled down from all angles of his eyes.

(Gwen) Hey, I said quiet down. I’m here, ain’t I, Maverick?

In the room that didn’t let light draw in, she continued to hold his head toward her chest. Placing her chin onto the top of his head, a small sniffle came out.

As she gently wept, tears raced down her cheeks.

(Gwen’s thoughts) Why didn’t Dad believe me…

Wetting her brother’s oily hair with her tears, she stared into the darkening curtains that blocked the light from entering in. Grinding the tops of all her teeth, bits of teeth were soon chipped away as her cavity-filled teeth shrieked with pain.

While sharpening her bloodshot eyes.

(Gwen’s thoughts) I was touched by his best friend and he took his side…

______________________________________________________________________________

(Octavian 12, 52 / 10:30PM)

Outside of the old wooden house where the two freckled kids lived was a vast field filled with sunflowers.

During the day, the meadow of that sunflower field brightened the area around the old wooden house that was smack dabbled into the middle of nowhere. And during the night, the meadow would become a cesspool of darkness that even the moonlight wouldn’t break through.

And inside of the sunflower fields that stretched the many acres that surround the old wooden house, was the rustling of two animals in the dead of night—no, not animals but rather…

(Maverick) Where are we going?

(Gwen) Anywhere but there!

The clouds above darkened the night sky, Gwen looked up toward the melancholic sky with a pleaful face.

Gripping her brother’s wrist, her fingernails latched onto the white overalls of her brother’s fabric, making a slight tear on the old cloth. Not that it mattered, she continued to thrust her old torn shoes off of the fertile dirt, as the many holes on the bottom of her soles let in the abundance of soil getting in.

Meanwhile, Maverick looked behind toward the old wooden house that they could barely see with the naked eye.

(Maverick) B-But Daddy’s going to beat us if we—

(Gwen) I’ll just take your beating too! That’s what I always did!

(Maverick) But I don’t want Daddy to beat you!

Dirt and bugs latching onto their freckled faces, the darkness of the night continued to swallow them up. Her breath both hardened and fastened, Gwen opened her mouth as the dirt and bugs from earlier soon got inside of her cavity-filled mouth.

Unable to let alone swallow the small spiders and muddied dirt that intertwined inside of her mouth, Gwen closed her eyes, the scenario from earlier playing like a film.

(Gwen's Dad’s Friend in Gwen’s thoughts) Your daddy doesn’t give two shits about you, so how about I treat you good…

If the cold night didn’t shiver her, the evilness that she heard from that disgusting beer-filled mouth did.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Swaying her head repeatedly, the coldness of the darkened night soon started to turn her button nose red, along with the joints of her hands slowing down. Tasting the unusually cold summer air, her mouth soon closed up as if her tongue was shivering from the dreaded temperature.

(Gwen’s thoughts) I don’t … I don’t…

Being in front of Maverick, she didn’t let a single flower smack upon Maverick’s smooth and chubby face, with not even a speck of dirt traced on his nose or forehead. As the relentless assault of the sunflowers that she pushed through continued to redden her face from the hard stems, the ever-growing darkness continued to consume her.

(Gwen’s thoughts) I don’t like the dark…

Her right foot fell behind it causing her body to launch forward, leading to her chin slamming into the soft soil that cushioned her skin.

Since she still had her right hand gripping Maverick, she also dragged him down along with herself, leading to him falling right next to her. As both brother and sister were lying motionless on the cold soil that got inside their clothes, they didn’t even budge their feet or legs to stand them back up.

(Gwen) You okay?

(Maverick) I think I’m bleeding.

(Gwen) It’s ok, I’ll give you a bandaid later.

Having her palms grasping the soil that soothed her unclean hands, she lifted her face toward the sky that was darkened from the clouds above.

And in that instant, as if divine intervention appeared right in front of her, the darkened clouds that blocked the night sky…

Started to clear off.

Setting her butt down on the soil, she had both of her palms digging into the soil that she was well familiar with, as the boy right next to her did the same thing. With both of them seeing the clouds part away, the sky was a beacon of hope for both of them soon delivered its divine message.

By giving both a sky filled with millions of stars, far etched across the culmination of the cosmos.

(Gwen) Wow…

The zero-light-polluted sky rained down on the two kids who looked up toward the beacon of hope that they long awaited.

Their eyes twinkled like the stars in the night sky, their irises glued to the pearly whites like gum on a poverty-ridden sidewalk. Unable to even decipher or name a single star in the night sky, both of them opened their mouths agape at the light show that they both yearned for.

Both were always lower than dirt, living in a house that reeked with the smell of beer and mold. But right in front of them, they saw what lay beyond just the dirt and the mud of their white-trash life.

(Gwen’s thoughts) Stars…

She forgot the coldness of the air around her, she forgot about the bruises and scars that she accumulated throughout the past six years.

She forgot what it felt like to see the stars with a loving mother and father.

Her left hand being held, she continued to glue her slanted eyes onto the cosmic constellations and galaxies as Maverick’s right hand gripped hers. As if his whole consciousness was pulled onto the bright sky, he slowly stood up and he remained his head up at the ever-glowing night sky.

While letting go of his right hand.

(Maverick) Gwen…

Being brought back to reality, she turned her head toward her brother’s meek voice. Her body still sitting down on the cold soil that started to freeze up her bottom, and her sparkling eyes continued to hold the image of the night sky.

(Maverick) How about we play a game of tag?

Slowly bringing herself up, she soon towered him with her above-average height. By turning her face and body toward her little brother, both of them were face to face with one another, both of their eyes glittering like the night sky above.

Still starstruck, she let out a warm cheerful smile. Putting her right hand forward, she stuck out her thumb upward, closing her left eye as she tilted her head to the right.

While the chilling wind blew from the north.

(Gwen) Sure. This time I’ll beat you for sure.

(Maverick) Hehe, then catch me if you can!

Sprinting away into the sunflower meadow that was lit up by the glowing night sky, both brother and sister spent the rest of the night running and sleeping in the bristling meadow.

Forgetting the dark humid home that both were obliged to stay in, both for once in their life, spend a night in a place where the wind howled instead of the smell of beer.

______________________________________________________________________________

(Reverence 27, 55 / 3:02PM)

Several years later.

(Random Soldier#1) Hey, porky! Can’t you just slow down on your food for once!?

(Random Soldier #2) And use napkins and utensils once in your life! What are you five!?

(???) Hm?

Talk and noise boomed the building where a freckled woman ate.

Many soldiers sat down in their assigned seats, many of them eating and talking with food in their mouths and a fork or spoon in their right or left hands.

But right in the corner of the cafeteria where the regiment ate, was a woman with freckles eating with nothing but her bare hands.

Lifting her face, her mouth was covered in bits of watery mashed potatoes and crackers, crumbs being misplaced everywhere from her plate, table, lap, floor, and even her hair. Along with her fingers endorsed in her plate, she remained on the lukewarm food as her fingernails had many bits of food inside of them.

(Gwen) I’m just eating normally…

(Random Soldier #1) Normally?! Were you raised in a barn?!

(Gwen) No, I was raised in an old wooden shack.

(Random Soldier #1) That’s not the point!

(Gwen) Oh … I get it now.

Her hand still nestled on the plate filled with mashed potatoes and gravy, she curled up her hand so that mushy pasted food was gripped in her hand.

Standing up straight, she made eye contact with the soldier who raised his voice, an elf with dark spiky hair and a tan complexion. Seeing both of his brown irises, she then extended her right hand forward, opening her palm in front of her as the mushy food in her hand was in full display.

(Gwen) Sorry to break it to you Jerry, but I like these mashed potatoes. I’m not sharing my food you hear?

(Jerry) I wasn’t even interested in the mashed potatoes in the first place!

(Random Soldier #2) Relax Jerry. She was raised deep in the Prairie fields, so she’s a little off in terms of cognitive abilities.

(Gwen) What does that mean?

(Random Soldier #2) It means you’re dumb.

(Gwen) W-What!

Gawking her mouth wide open, Gwen slammed the food that she held with her right hand onto the metal plate on the table. The food splattering onto her uniform as well as onto the clean tables that supported her tray, her moistened hand became sticky as she curled it up into a tightening fist.

Her cheeks flushed with red, she took a step back from the soldier who had dog fur, his nuzzle being the unique part about his face.

(Gwen) I-I’m not dumb! You’re being mean!

(Random Soldier #2) Just an observation. Think about it, you can’t eat right, you charge headfirst into pretty much anything, and you snore loudly.

(Gwen) Snoring is normal!

(Jerry) But not that loud…

The two male soldiers placed their metal trays onto the table in front of them, sitting themselves down as they looked away from the flustered Gwen.

Bringing out their utensils, they soon gently ate their food in peace, not caring to look up at the steaming Gwen who curled up her right fist even more. Gritting the ends of her molars that were recovering from the thickened cavities from her childhood, she continued to glare at them.

While also puffing out her cheeks.

(Gwen) You guys are jerks! Bullies! Say you’re sorry!

(Jerry) We’re not meanies. We’re just being real.

(Random Soldier #2) Yeah, what Jerry said.

(Speaker) Gwen Keegan. Gwen Keegan. Please report to the colonel's office immediately.

All the soldiers that were chatting and eating soon stopped to look up toward the metal speaker in the far corner of the cafeteria.

Giving the speaker their full and undivided attention, Jerry and the dog-human glanced at Gwen who put on a furrowed brow. Noticing that many of the soldiers in the cafeteria were all staring at her, she put both of her hands down to her sides.

With her left hand, she scratched the little bit of dry skin that was latched on her right cheek, her fingernails scabbing away the piece of skin.

(Gwen) Hah! See ya you jerks!

Several minutes later.

A wooden door swung open, leading to a tall woman entering inside of a warm and damp room.

The room was filled with luxurious wine and beer that were hacked on shelves, as well as smoke traversing through every bit of space and air that it saw fit. With smoke jamming itself into her darkened pink lungs, she let out a quiet cough.

But upon noticing a man sitting down on a chair, she straightened her back, her body tightening under the aura that the medals gave way. Her boots glued to the wooden floor beneath her, she put her right hand onto the crest of her right eyebrow, delivering a salute that bestowed the respect that she needed to give.

(Gwen) Sir.

(Colonel) At ease, private. I called you in because someone sent you a letter.

Having a cigar in his mouth, smoke piled out of the little wooden stick that continued to spread its deadly air.

His back slouched on the black chair that he sat upon, he had both of his right fingers softly gripping the cigar as he had his left hand down into a drawer. While making eye contact with the woman, the man clad in decorative medals pulled out a piece of paper from the innards of his desk.

(Colonel) Here you go private.

Throwing the paper in front of him, it landed on the edge of the desk that was riddled with paperwork and military-grade maps. Continuing to slouch in his seat, he tilted his hat as the rays of light didn’t let his face be shown to the soldier in front of him.

Letting her body loose, Gwen snatched the paper and opened it with both of her long-nailed fingers, digging into the paper with each tear. Bits of ripped paper littered the floor and around her feet, the front of the paper opened up as it safely landed on the palm of her slightly forming calloused hands.

(Gwen’s thoughts) I wonder who mailed me? If it’s a love letter, then I hope it’s from James Heefeed from Metallic. If not, then why bother—

“To Gwen Keegan.

Unfortunately, your father was found dead in his home at around early noon. He was reportedly stabbed with a long double-edged kitchen knife that he owned. We could only conclude that your brother might be the one who murdered your father, as his whereabouts are unknown. I hope this message doesn’t inflict any harm upon your well-being physically or mentally.

Yours Truly…

Maverick Keegan.”

Time felt as if itself had stopped.

Upon finishing the last sentence of the note that she read, she without delay slammed her back against the stone wall, causing the wine bottles to shake violently upon impact.

Her hands felt as if sharp needles blocked the entrance to her blood veins, along her feet felt as if they were on top of lukewarm lava.

Her chest heaved up and down to the sound of her rapidly beating heart, as if it wanted to burst open from the ultimatum, her head started to turn light from the air that clogged her brain.

And finally, her eyes soon trickled down cold tears that streamed out from the crevices of her eyes.

(Gwen) No… no, no, no, no, no, no, no—

Pulling the cigar out of his mouth, the colonel pushed his face down as the smoke from inside the room soon ceased to pollute the yellow-tinted windows.

Her knees buckled against the overreaching of emotions that bundled inside of her, her kneecaps soon dented the wood that was beneath her. With the snap of a finger, all of her emotions that made her body turn into a trembling madwoman were all conjoined…

Into a pain-jerking cry.

A cry that was long overdue from the moment that her father changed.

The moment when her father chose friends over family.

And the moment where she experienced true evilness in full display.

Bringing the note close to her chest, she looked up toward the ceiling that was nestled with smoke. Her legs giving out, and her cheeks were stained with the tears that were bottled up from inside her sensitive heart.

Her vocals clashing with the different octaves that swindled a ballad of sorrow, she placed her knees close toward her chest and stomach, curdling them up to make herself look like a ball.

(Gwen’s thoughts) I would've … I could’ve saved you!

Drool stumbled outward from the depths of her mouth, dripping onto her black leather boots that were smeared with dirt and mud. With her freckles being tainted by the salted tears that stung her cheeks, she ignored the pain as she continued to look up to the heavens from the blocked air above.

(Gwen’s thoughts) If I … If I just had more money…