Chapter 1
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In a faraway land on a remotely placed village lived a couple who were very much in love with each other. They married and build a small house to spend the rest of their lives together in. The husband was a farmer who spent his days tilling land and growing crops while the wife stayed at home and looked after the children.
Today, the wife was joyous when she found out that she was once again pregnant with their fourth child and the husband a bit reluctant to share her happiness since they were not doing well financially.
When the baby came, the couple was horrified. His skin was purely white all over and his eyes were red like that of a wild beast. It did not take long for them to realise that his hair was not coloured normally as well. They could not deny that the baby was born as an Abnormal.
The couple was careful not to let any of the villagers find out about the baby’s existence, as it could bring about grave consequences to the whole family. The husband warned his children not to tell anyone about the fourth child no matter what happens.
If they do, the mother will be forced to kill the child, as her punishment for giving birth to a tribulation. The father’s genitalia would scissored and burned so that they could no longer procreate. That was how awful the consequences were.
The wife could not even imagine killing her own flesh and blood, not even if he was to bring the world to an end. She would much rather kill herself than lay a hand on the innocent baby she was holding in her arms. Her husband was the same, he could never harm the child he was taught to love.
The child soon turned 1, and started walking on his two little feet. The mother named him after her late father, Cain, that carried the meaning ‘hope’ in their language.
Cain was a happy child, brought in a very happy family. Although he was somewhat quiet, rarely cried for his parents and there were times when the mother found him reading the eldest brother’s school book at the tender age of mere months. It frightened her, knowing full well of his destiny as an Abnormal. She could only hope to educate her son to at least live like the Normals for as long as he was alive, for the sake of his powerless family.
“Can I go outside and play with sister, mother?” Cain, who talked like an adult despite being a toddler, asked his mother who was cooking in the kitchen.
“No, you can’t Cain.” His mother replied calmly. “We already talked about this.”
“...but--,”
“No buts, now go red your books.” His mother interrupted and scurried him away.
As the days go by, Cain kept asking to go outside, wanting to explore the world like the rest of the children in the village--and his mother would always disallow him for reasons Cain has yet to learn about.
This was all until one day, Cain secretly went outside at midnight when his family members were all deeply asleep.
He had turned 3 by the time he learned how to disobey his parents. Cain was dying to venture out to the outdoors and meet new people. After all, the only ones he has talked to so far was his family members and himself.
Cain was very careful not to make any noise on his way out the door. Fortunately, his body was light enough to smoothly walk across the room without creaking the wooden floor and managed to reach the door without waking anyone up.
He had purposely moved a stack of books near the door since his height was not suitable to open the door as easily. His mother had not suspect a thing, since she knew Cain was an unpredictable child in the first place. He can read anywhere he wishes to as long as he remained in the house, she thought.
He opened the door as slowly as he could and took his first steps outside the house he spent three years cooped up in. Cain could feel his heart beating quicker. He was both ecstatic and afraid-- afraid of the dark world that surrounded him and his home. He knew nothing of what laid out there, the books he read never explained it in great detail. His mother would always avoid answering those types of questions when he did ask. He only knew that there were cities and blue seas as well as people that looked like him all over the world.
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He mustered up enough courage to step outside his house gate. Although dark, Cain could make up of his surroundings. he had no trouble walking down the pathway embraced by lush trees and bushes. He saw how his father walked down these paths every morning, that was how Cain reached the farm. Here was where his father spent most of his time and was also the source of his income. He grew all kinds of edible plants. Cain recognised most of the plants as his breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cain also remembered his eldest brother walking to school, that was how Cain reached the only school in the village.
The school provided the children of the village with informal as well as formal education, although the latter was taught with many discretions.
Cain spent the night exploring the school, sitting on the students' chairs and playingwith chalks. His eldest brother would occasionally talk about his day in school and his friends. His stories would always bring laughter into his family. This was the reason Cain yearned to have friends that he could talk about. He became excited imagining himself sitting on one of these desks, listening to the teacher and spend time with all the other children.
Lost in these happy thoughts, Cain began to feel sleepy as a result of missing a good night's rest. A few moments later, he fell asleep as dawn approached.
.
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The husband wakes up at dawn every day, preparing himself to tend the farm until night. He first checks on his wife, still sleeping beside him. He then checks on his four children, whom he expects will still be fast asleep in the next room.
His first son was very reliable, often helped his father in the farm whenever he could. He also acted his age and looked after his younger siblings a lot, which made parenting an easier job in most cases. He had very high hopes for the eldest, and sent him to school with all the coins he could raise from selling his crops. The second child was female, which meant that she was not allowed to attend school along with her brother. The girl spent most of her time at home and helping her mother with chores, which she would often escape from. The youngest sister was very kind, whenever her sister ran away from home, she would always take her place with helping out around the house.
The youngest child loved to read. He was no different from any other child his age, despite being born an Abnormal. Although he could talk better than any other toddler, the parents thought of it simply as a talent gifted by God. He was not allowed to step outside the house, unfortunately, as his head full of white hair and eyes as red as fresh blood would scare all Normals upon sight. Inspite of that, he was as adorable as a white baby rabbit, much to his mother’s and siblings’ admiration.
However, the rest of the world scorn him. Abnormals are beings that were not supposed to walk on this land or anywhere else for that matter. They were believed to be the epitome of misfortune. They are ill omens that have brought calamity into the world, starting wars, bring about the plague, murderers.
At least that was what they were told to believe.
But ever since Cain was born, there have been none of the sort occurring. In fact, the crops have yielded more harvest than it ever has and the family became much happier since Cain was born.
The parents were starting to think that their child was not an Abnormal after all, but just an unlucky child that God and his Angels forgot to colour!
The husband peeked through a gap between the door, careful not to wake any of his children. His eyes naturally gravitated towards the spot where the youngest child always slept, searching for that small body hugging his pillow.
The husband’s heart instantly sank when he could not find Cain on his bed. He quickly looked around the house, calling his name in the process. He checked the bathroom, the kitchen, the store room--no trace of Cain. He ran towards the his farm, the one place he had planned to show Cain to after he and his wife had finished telling him about the world and its nature towards children like him.
By this time, every member of the family had been woken up. His wife looked at him wide-eyed, an ominous feeling creeping up her neck.
The husband, covered in sweat, began speaking.
“It--it’s Cain--he’s gone!”
The mother legs gave away from the shock, her thoughts clouded with scenarios that words cannot describe.
The eldest sister shuddered in cold sweat. “He couldn’t have gone into the village--could he?”
“Le--let’s take look around the village, I doubt anyone’s awake at this time.” The eldest brother suggested, his mind also in turmoil as he fully knew what would happen if any of the villagers saw Cain. The whole family will be massacred.
The mother, still out of it, could only stare at the backs of her husband and children as they disappear into the distance.