Gaia, a blue planet full of life and exotic creatures. I protected this planet since the day I was born. And even after my departure, I continue to look after the planet and its inhabitant. Because I will always consider this place my home.

“The ever watchful Athena. Don’t you ever get bored of watching them?” A loud voice boom through, the vastness of space. Realizing who it was, I reluctantly turn around to greet him.

A giant with four arms, walk towards me. Each step he took the ground would shake. He wore a white toga with a gold flower pattern going across it.

“Atlas, what are you doing here?”

“I just came to see what my sister was doing. No surprise, you’re still looking after this planet. You know it’s not our job anymore right?”

I never protected this planet because it was my job. I did it because I love it.

“That’s something I agree on. I visit a lot of beautiful planets, but none of them can replace this one.”  Walking past me, Atlas look up at Gaia. “It seems to be doing much better now that the pest is dead. To be honest I’m surprise a human killed him. I guess he was all talk.”

“Atlas.” I said his name and a slightly threating tone.

“C’mon Athena, did you really consider him to be our brother?” Did you forget all times he threaten us? He was a madman, a sociopath. The only thing he care about was destroying people lives.

“That’s enough Atlas!” I quickly cover my mouth with my hand. I didn’t mean to shout at him. I look up to see him chuckling.

“You’re way too kind Athena. You can’t even hate someone who is truly evil.” Turning around, Atlas begin to walk away.

“I’ll be back to check on you again, so take care of yourself till then.”

I stood quietly watching Atlas leave. To lose my temper like that, how immature of me. All these recent events must have me on edge.” I turn back to look at Gaia. Ever since your death, the world have been changing at an unsettling rate. Whether this good or bad, even I don’t know…. And that’s what worries me.

Chapter 8

Torn Apart

Arriving back home, I was greeted by silence. There wasn’t a soul in the house. Well actually there is, but at this point you might as well call her soulless. This house that use to be full of life, has become empty.

It happen a week ago, when we receive word that James died. Upon hearing the news, the mother simply lost all of her strength. She haven’t left her room ever since that day. And because of the depressing atmosphere she was emitting. I started taking long walks because it felt like I could choke on the atmosphere. And it seems like Aaron felt the same way, since he wasn’t here.

“I guess I’m cooking again.” Heading into the kitchen, I put whatever I could find into a pot, then I activated the crystal that was embed in the stove. I…seriously have no idea what I just created. The weird thing is, I swear didn’t put any form of liquid in the pot, yet somehow I created some kind of green soup. Well it smells good, so I guess it’s edible.

While I was waiting for whatever-I-just-fix to finish cooking, I heard a soft whimper. I turn around to see Aaron, the little brother enter the house. The kid had light brown hair and greens eyes. Watching him walk, it seem like he was in a lot of pain.

“What happen to you?”

“I-I fell.” Tears were streaming down his face. Getting a closer look, he had bruises all over his body. Not to mention his clothes were torn and cover in dirt.

“That was one hell of fall. Stay right there.” I headed to our room and grab the healing tonic, that for some reason I kept.

“Stop crying and drink this.” He hesitantly drank the tonic, after finish the bottle off, his injury quickly heal up.

“Better?”

“Y-yea. Thank you!” Aaron begin to energetically move his body around.

“Yea, yea whatever.” Sheesh, this kid has a lot energy. Just a moment ago he was limping around. Now he’s hopping all over the place. If he’s that energetic I guess he’ll be alright. Well except for his clothes. They were still torn and cover in mud. Now that I think about, he always took baths with mom. And since she’s currently in her own little world right now, I wonder…

“Aaron, have you took a bath at all this week?”

Aaron stop hopping around in look at me. “No, why?”

“You’re coming with me.” I grab Aaron by the hand, and drag him through the house.

“Wait sis, where are we going?”

“To give you a bath.” Wait a minute, why do I care about his hygiene? Oh right, it’s because we share the same room. And I rather not have his odor stink up the room. Yea, that’s exactly the reason why.

Arriving in the bathroom, I quickly fill the tub with water. I turn around to see that he hasn’t taken off any of his clothes.

“Do you plan of taking a bath with your clothes on?”

“Sis, I really don’t what to take a bath.”

“If you don’t take a bath than you won’t be eating tonight, also I’ll kick you out the room too.”

Aaron, slowly begin to removes his clothes. The look on his face made it seem like he would cry any moment. Man, how did mother put up with him?

Just as Aaron was about to get in the tub, I quickly grab his hand. Yea, I knew I wasn’t seeing things. His arm had a bite mark on it. I didn’t see it earlier because his clothes was covering it. Whatever it was it really dug into him, since it didn’t fully heal after he drank the tonic.

“I’ll just go ahead in assume that the ground also bit you when you fell right?”

“….” Aaron quietly look at the ground.

“You don’t want to talk about it? That’s fine by me.” I let go of his hand and let him get into the tub.

Poor kid, if you think about it, he has really fuck up life. His father is dead. His mother had a breakdown. And his sister… no longer exist. And to top that off, he seems to getting bully by someone. If that isn’t tragedy then I don’t know what is.

“Scoot over.”

Aaron gave me a confuse look. “Why?”

“Because I’m going to take a bath too.” I started to take my clothes off. Aaron quickly turn his head away from me. After I finish stripping, I jump straight into the tub.

“Water kind of cold huh?”

“…” Aaron kept looking at the ground.”

I don’t see why he’s so embarrassed about this. He took plenty of baths with a fully develop woman. Now that I think…I’ll eventually develop boobs won’t I? I guess that’s something to look forward to in this body. When I get them, I’ll be able fondle them as much as I want.

…I should stop this train of thought before it gets weirder. I look around the bathroom trying to find something else to

think about. My eyes eventually landed back on the bite mark on Aaron arm.

“Tomorrow, I’ll play with you.

“…” Aaron look at me with a blank expression.

Huh, I thought he be more enthusiastic about this. “What, you don’t want to play with me?”

“No, it’s not that. It just you never play with me before. I was just, Surprise.”

Well that’s true, I been ignoring him his entire life. The only reason why I what to play with him now, is because I want to know who did this to him. I know he won’t outright tell me. So I’m just going to have to trick him into telling me.

“I didn’t have anything plan tomorrow. So I thought I spend it with you. And hey, I’ll even let you pick the game.”

“Really? There was hint of happiness in his voice.

“Yes really, But I get pick the location ok?”

“Ok!” Aaron happily shook his head.

Sorry kid, you probably not going to be happy tomorrow.

.

.

“You fell over here right?”

“Yea, but sis, can’t we play somewhere else?”

I firmly held his hand, if I didn’t he probably would’ve run away. “Don’t worry, the ground won’t hurt you as long I’m around.”

“I-I didn’t fall!” Aaron shout.

Seems like he’s ready to talk I let go if his hand and face him. He kept his head to ground.  “So what happen then?”

“I-I-I” Aaron stammer.

“C’mon just tell me.”

“I was playing by myself like always. But then these two kids came up to me and told me that this was their playground. And then… they chase me away.” Tears was starting to form in his eyes.

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I place both of my hands on his shoulder. “Do you hate those kids?”

“….yes.”

“Good answer!” I roughly pat his back. Now pay very close attention me. I’m going to teach you a very important lesson

today.

We continue to heading over to where Aaron fell, till we reach an open space in the woods. Two kids and a white dog was already occupying the spot. The kids were definitely nobles, since they both had blonde hair and blue eyes.

“Is these the kids?”

“Y-yea” Aaron weakly nodded his head.

Finally noticing us, the kids walk over to us.

“Hey, didn’t we tell you that this was our playground?” The oldest one walk towards Aaron. I step in front of him, cutting him off.

“What do you want one eye?”

One eye? Ah, it because of the eye patch I’m wearing. That’s a cute insult. “Nothing, my brother and I just came to play. Is there any problem with that?

“Yea, this our playground, so run on home now.”

“What if I don’t want to go home, what are you going to do about it?”

The older boy got closer “Then we’re going have to fight.”

“I see.” I throw a quick jab in the kids face. I frown a little. I was trying to break his nose, but all I did was bruise him a little.

“Y-you hit me.” The kid was in complete shock.

“Of course I did. Isn’t that what you supposed to do in a fight?’

“Get here Angel!” The kid shouted

Angel, I guess that’s the dog name.

“Angel, what are you doing?” The dog was shiver behind the youngest kid. It seems like it's afraid of me.

“Angel hurry up and get her!” The oldest kid shouted.

“Well the dog seems to understand its place.”

“I’ll get you back for this!” Both the kids and the dog ran away.

“Huh, it’s over already?” Honestly, why did I expect a couple of kids to give me a good fight? Well whatever. I turn to see that Aaron was looking at me with a speechless look.

“Well did you learn anything today?”

“That I should always go for help.”

“No, the lesson was that nothing taste better than revenge.”

.

.

“Ever since that day, the kid became attach to me. He basically became my shadow. No matter where I go he’ll follow me. I even caught him sneaking into bed a few times. It’s pretty annoying, I have no idea how put up it with him.”

“…” The mother laid in bed motionless. Her once beautifully green eyes, were now lifeless.

“Still not in a talking mood huh?” Getting up, I place a bowl on the shelf. “I realize you haven’t eaten anything in a while, so I made you… to be honest, I’m not sure what it is, but if I was you I would eat it.” Or not, I really don’t care. Just as I was about to leave, I turn around to see she didn’t move at all. If she don’t eat anything soon, she might really die.

“I wonder what James would think seeing you like.” Upon hearing his name, her finger twitches a little.

Ooh a response, I should keep going. “I mean, even if you do die and join him. I don’t think he would be happy seeing you there. He’ll probably be like, ‘Why did you leave our kids by themselves’ or something like that.

“…” The mother remain motionless.

Well I tired. Heading for the door I took one last look at her. I couldn’t exactly tell because of how dark it is, but it seem like tears were rolling down her face.

The house was pitch black. I took off my eye-patch so I could see better. My right eye gave off a dim red glow. The funny thing is, I can actually see better out of it, but I deiced to keep wearing it because I didn’t want people to keep questioning my different color eyes.

Thanks to my right eye, I easily navigated through the dark house. Eventually I ended up in the kitchen. I toss the knife I had in my pocket into the kitchen sink.

*Sigh I gotten soft haven’t I? Not only did I fail to kill them. But I even gave the mother a speech. Well I guess it’s for the best. Killing them now won’t be beneficial to me. If they die, they’ll place me in a orphanage or something. And I won’t be able to move as freely. So for now, I’ll tolerate their existence.

.

.

“Well how does it taste?”

“It’s…its good.” Aaron said with a force smile.

Yeah right, even I know my cooking is shit. And for some reason everything I make turn into soup. I look at my own bowl decided whether or not to eat it, when suddenly the mother walk into the kitchen.

“…” We were both shock at the mother sudden appearance.

“I have to apologize to you two.” The mother bow her head. “During our darkest moment as a family I abandon you two. I was lost in my sorrow, unable to hear anyone voice. But seeing Anna taking care of us made me realize that we as a family need to stick together. So I ask you two, would you give me a second chance as your mother?”

“Yea, I mean aren’t you my mom.” Aaron said scratching his head.

“Sure less chores for me to do.”

“Thank you.” She bows her head again. “Ah, did you already fix breakfast Anna?”

“If you want to call it that then yea.”

Grabbing a ladle, she take a sip of the soup I created. She immediately froze upon tasting it.

“It’s…its good” She said with a force smile.

Like hell it is, you nearly spit it up.

*Knock * Knock* “You guys heard that?” I look around the room trying to figure out what that sound was.

*Knock* *Knock* “Ah someone knocking on the door. I’ll get it.” The mom said.

Whoever was knocking must not want to be heard because I barley heard it.

“!!!” With a loud gasp, the mother drop to her knees.

An attacker?! I quickly rush to the door to see it who was. I stop moving altogether after seeing who it was. It was the dad somehow he wasn’t dead. He looked slightly different, his left arm was missing and he looked paler, but it definitely was the dad.

“Hey… um, hi” He stammer. His eyes kept darting around like he was hoping for someone to come help him.

“Listen Deborah, I’m….I’m sorry for leaving. I know you won’t forgive me, but can you please give me a second chance, I promise I won’t leave again.

Without saying a word, she hug him. “You promise?” Her voice crack

“I promise.” His voice was also cracking up.

After hugging each other for a while the two finally broke apart.

“What happen to your arm?”

James look at the place where his left arm should be and frown. “…Nothing, if anything it’s my punishment for leaving you.” Before the mother could said anything else, he headed over to us. Aaron quickly dash behind me. What the hell, I’m not your meat shield.

“Anna. Your mother giving me a second chance, but I’m going to ask you two. Would you give me a second chance as your father?”

“Jeez, I just had this same conversation with her a moment ago. Yea, sure, welcome back.”

“What about you Aaron? Will give me a second chance.”

“…” Aaron duck his head behind me.

“Why are scared? The mother ask. “Don’t you know that’s your dad?”

“No, he probably doesn’t remember me, I did leave when he was two.” Regret was clearly visible on the dad face.

“Sis, is that really my dad?” Aaron whispers to me.”

“Yea, now give him a hug or something.”

Mustering up his courage Aaron runs from behind me and give his dad a hug. “Dad, don’t leave. If you do, mom will be sad again.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere, not anymore.”

Well isn’t this a touching scene. To be honest I’m surprise. This family was dangerously close to being torn apart. Yet somehow they got miraculous back together. I guess this is what they called a happy end. Too bad it won’t last though. No, as long as I’m around there won’t be a happily ever after.

A/N: My chapters seem to be getting longer and longer. My next one is probably going to be my longest. I haven't started on it yet, but my brain telling me its going to be 4000 to 5000 words long. So i just want to know, or you guys cool with long chapters? If not, i'll break down into two parts. Well that's about it. I hope you guys enjoy the chapter. if not, then i'm sorry i couldn't entertain you and I hope my chapter will. Well, bye.