Nox
Hours passed since I'd heard my mother's last words, "I love you". Most of the time was spent with the tv on inn the background, mentioning cryptocurrency like "CatCoin", some stuff about gas prices and then I'd drown it out with my videos about historical battles.
It taught me a lot about history, how generals fought, tactics they used and it was something my father would watch too. I heard a light knock on the door and put my satin grey tablet down on the wooden floorboards, holding the sofa to help myself up. Whilst doing so, the news presenter spoke of breaking news. But I wasn't interested. The only one that can come is, uncle Anton!
I ran to it, opening the door without bothering to check who it was, uncle stood there, his white t-shirt and blue jeans looked strange on a man who would usually dress in smart attire. He had bruises and plasters all over his arms, face and I imagine there was more under his clothing.
is he ok..?
He looked down at me, I couldn't see well with the sun right behind him but he instantly knelt down, embracing me in both his arms, my face buried in his shoulder. It was then that I heard him whisper, his voice broke and was soft.
"Nox.. I'm so sorry.."
"Uncle? What are you sorry for?" I bought him inside, my voice laced with confusion and I could feel my chest tighten as a sort of panic took over but I didn't know why I felt it. He held my hand and took me to where I was just a minute ago, sat Infront of the TV, the reporter talking about the 'breaking news' report they got earlier.
They showed the motorway before slowly panning towards the vehicle, "There was an accident on the M6, with the most likely reason being because of the weather. It is believed that everyone in the vehicle is dead and delays are expected to be up to 6 hours according to the local authorities at the scene. The car is a-" and it was then that the voice of the news reporter was drowned out.
I could feel the pressure in my ears heighten, my stomach drop and my chest tighten as I noticed my father's car. I slowly looked back at uncle Anton, tears filling my eyes as my heart hurt, my hands shaking uncontrollably.
"T-they're..? Uncle..?" I looked at him, stuttering and unable to complete my sentence. He only hugged me, apologising as he did so, his hug, tight.
"I'm sorry.." he whispered again.
"They're dead? Uncle? They can't die, THEY CAN'T. they.. just.. they can't leave me. They can't be dead. It's another car, right? It's not them.. I know it's not.. I know.. I - uncle" my mind was littered with thousands of thoughts, denial mostly, unable to accept that they died. Pain, that it might be true.
With such overwhelming thoughts I couldn't control my body. My legs gave out and I felt dizzy with tears streaming down my face, snot down my nose, and my uncle looked down at me, his tears telling me he was as hurt as I was.
I closed my eyes, but was unable to open them, or even think. I passed out. It was calming, it helped with such an overwhelming situation.
Rest now, it is only the beginning. A voice echoed within me, but the voice quickly disappeared to the bank of my mind.
I love you.
___________________
Anton
The soft footsteps on the stairs distracted me from what the officer Infront of me was saying. The bald headed man, his black uniform and green hi vis seemingly tight on his large body, looked at me confused before he followed my gaze at the sitting room door.
"It was deemed reckless driving, speeding in the rain, they must've lost control and die-" he continued talking as he turned his head, the sight of little Nox made him choke on his words.
"I thought they were back.." Nox spoke in something that was barely a whisper, his voice full of disappointment. His eyes were puffy and red, looking tired. It was obvious how much pain this has put him through and I didn't want to put him through any more.
I'll look after him for you, old friend.
The office stood up, apologising to us before dismissing himself, ridding himself of the awkward situation we were in. I read the letters my old friend left behind while the little one slept, some about tax, others about debts. I guess I must've forgot to put them away because Nox picked said letters up, reading it, before looking at me.
His eyes looked into mine and it hurt to look into his eyes, ones that were once so full of life now look so dull.
"Will we have to sell the car? Or father's takeaway? To pay these debts?" He said in a quiet, raspy voice.
" Of course not, we'll keep them, so that when you're of age, you can decide what to do. Be it sell both, or take over the family business. Don't worry about the debts, I'll pay them off." I tried my best to sound confident and reassuring to him, but he only looked down again.
Before he could be left with his thoughts, I looked through the mess of letters, once I found what I was looking for, an adoption letter, I handed it to him.
"You're adopting me..?" He was so small and already going through something so rough. I couldn't help but feel useless, I don't know how to look after kids but that old man left his kid with me.
How do I help him feel better?
"Yes, Nox. I am." I held my hand out, gesturing the I want to pick him up. He slowly stepped forward, scared at first but once he met my eyes he did so.
I picked him up and kissed his crown, rubbing his back gently. "Don't blame yourself alright? It's not your fault."
He buried his face in my shoulder, I could feel him hiding his tears back and in a cold broken voice, he whispered.
"I hate myself. It's because of my birthday they all died. It's because of me, uncle. They died because of me."
My shoulder began to feel damp from his tears so I sat down with him. Letting him cry it all out, constantly reassuring him.
___________________
A couple weeks passed of nothing happening. He would often go to the garden, no doubt something he picked up from his mother. I could've visit often because of work so I made sure to visit on weekends whenever I could. I told him that if he needed anything then to message me with his tablet and that I'd pay any utility bills.
Of course there's the worry about food and so on. I set him a budget of £250 a month, whether he spends it on food or toys is up to him. But I also set up weekly deliveries of necessities like toilet paper, bread, butter, milk and so on. The money was cash that I'd give every month and told him that if he needed more then I could provide it.
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Lastly was that I opened a bank account for him, I set his father's vast wealth in there and kept it closed until Nox asked for the account. Of course hell get the account at 16 automatically but if he wanted it earlier I could give it.
"But now isn't the time, right now you need to grow strong and independent young one. Grow to be the person that will make your parents proud."
Lastly was their funeral. Nox was adamant to go, but with the tears rolling down his eyes I refused. The state their bodies were in was nothing a young man like him should see.
Not yet.
I looked out the car window, watching as we drove towards the airport, all the innocent people driving past. Ignorant of what was really happening. And what was to come.
is this the future you wanted old friend? I'll help it come to fruition but your son.. I hope he's strong enough.
Nox
Time was a blur since those events. I told my uncle is continue with school, despite my strong dislike for it, despite I'd felt empty and broken.
It was the same, isolated in lessons, no one to talk to, no one who would talk to me. Some guy called Adam looking at me in disgust. Uncle Anton, or should I call him father now, would visit on weekends, leaving me alone at home many times.
When he would visit he'd ask how I am, how I'm feeling and I was thankful. Very thankful. He settled father's debts, he let me stay at the house, gave me a budget and food every week. There's so much he'd done for me and it hurt more because he wasn't here either.
I know he's busy and respected it, rather I admired him for staying strong and driving forward while I was here, stuck in a rut. Stuck thinking about them.
I'd go to the garden every day or two, the same steps made out of bricks, all the plants mother took care of and the place where mine were. She wasn't here to care for them anymore and I felt a need to take over what she started. It reminded me of her, made me feel closer to her. Often I'd wonder if she was watching me as I did it.
Is she proud?
Of course there was father's car too. But I couldn't do everything he'd do. I barely understood it. So I'd just clean it every now and then.
The house felt cold, empty, lifeless. I'd wake up alone everyday and sleep alone too. I'd stay on my tablet most of the time was spent watching anime, reading manga and Manwha, learning about history and wars some more, space, fantasy stories (mostly those about with dragons and magic) and then I'd play games on it too.
Kids in school would often talk about their ZBox and Gamestation. Where they'd talk about Buildcraft or Duty Calls, the famous first person shooter. But I found little fun in them, cause it would generally lead to me wishing I could play with big bro. Or father. Or anyone..
For my birthday the year after the accident. I prayed. That's all I could do. Pray and hope that they found peace. Hope that they were watching over me and happy with me, proud of me.
There was no way to prove that they were watching over me though. Nor was there a way for me to know that they were proud of me. Just what uncle would tell me. Still though, atleast I had him. He was a gentle soul and I'm thankful he was here.
He introduced me to different apps where I could connect to others around the world. HowsApp was first. An app where, with a phone number (given through a sim card), I could make calls and message people who had my number. It did require internet but that wasn't too bad since I'd only use the tablet at home for the foreseeable future.
The next thing was snapshot, where you take 'shots' of what you're up to, post it on your 'story' for anyone who follows you to see. A way to show others what you're up to and for you to see what they're up to.
The last 3 were, Diksword. Similar to HowsApp but without the need of a phone number and sim card. Ingstagram, an app where you can post pictures with a bio and also add to your 'story ' similar to snapshot. Difference being that with this app, I could see memes. Something that would distract me and make me laugh more times then I could cry in recent times.
Lastly was Twatter. An app where people would be themselves, talk about whatever they wanted on the 'TL' or 'time line' and toy could reply or comment under what they said. Most people used this and it was where I reconnected with something I'd forgotten about in the past couple years.
Birmingham Lions.
I found their twatter account and followed straight away, then went for others who were as interested in them as I was. I learnt lots about football through this and the premier league, so it was through this that I connected and felt closer to father again.
Of course there was my siblings, rat one and rat two. But everything I did could be associated with them. Me ranting to myself about school reminded me about talking to my brother about the future and cooking for myself, burning my fingers or accidently cutting myself reminded me of my sister.
It was through all of these that I filled the hole they left. Of course it was a temporary fix but a fix non the less and it would help me escape from reality.
I was now finishing year 6 and 10 years old. I left school early because I was academically smart, or as Adam would say.
"A nerd".
I was glad to be away from that bully though and in the comfort of my own home for the next couple months. Nothing to do but my comfort things, eat and watch football on tv.
___________________
"Good morning Britain, it is currently 8am. May 13th, 2013 and here at the top stories of the day. " The news reporter began. I picked up his and the co-hosts name because I'd listen to them so often, he was Joseph and co-host, Cassidy.
Joseph was roughly 5'8, with a square head and a fit/fat build and broad shoulders. With white skin and some spots on his face. He had brown hair that was pointed up and held by gel. Often he'd be wearing a blue suit.
His counterpart, Cassidy would look up to him being roughly 5'5 with a more rounded face then her co-host. She had the same white skin but her cheeks were often pink, probably from make up. She wore a red dress and had short curly orange hair.
As he looked up, I met his brown eyes so full of life and then I looked in the mirror. To see my own eyes, so dull. Lifeless.
I miss you guys. So much..
I got out of bed, the news downstairs was loud enough for me to hear it from where I stood. I checked the tablet, seeing the time was 11am and ran downstairs. It was the first time I'd overslept, since I'd usually be up at 8 or around that time.
"I don't even remember what I dreamt about." I muttered to myself as I entered the room to see him there, news on and on a video call to Arthur and Sam. Both of whom I hadn't seen since that time.
I ran past, my face hot and red from embarrassment and I could hear them laugh in a teasing manner. After freshening up though I rejoined them. Sam looked beautiful and Arthur looked as class as always but I forgot about time zones and realised it must've been late in the day for them.
"Good morning Nox, have a good sleep?" My uncle began, as he pushed a cup of tea my way.
"Yeah, it was decent. Don't remember the dream I had though."
" That's normal, but now that you're up and fresh, say hello to these two. They wanted to check up on you since it's been forever and I thought now would be a good time. " He likes at me with a smile then turned the laptop towards me where I could see Arthur sat in the bean bag in the garden, his face was a orange/red colour.
He turned the camera to show Sam, sat there in an oversized shirt and 3/4 shorts, opposite Arthur looking at the sky with the campfire between them.
"Nice to see you again Nox" Arthur began, " I trust you've been well? "
"Of course, sir. About as well as I can be."
Uncle looked at me, a bemused look on his that filled me with anxiety. Did I say something wrong?
Sam laughed in the background, she was quiet but I could hear her voice, which sounded like she was teasing her uncle.
"He called you sir." she snickered, "I told you, you're an old man".
He rolled his eyes before looking back at the camera, "just call me Arthur, no need for the sir, I'm the same age as your uncle you know."
I felt more embarrassed then earlier and let out an awkward laugh, "yes si-.. I mean alright Arthur." It felt weird to say but it was nice to get human interaction again, one that wasn't just uncle.
The Host:
Darkness, that's all that surrounded me for hundreds of miles, in the distance was some dimly lit stars. Ones that could be created or destroyed in the click of a finger by the ones I was about to meet.
I had returned awhile ago with my friend [Host Eye] and had to change into proper attire before meeting whichever god I was too meet with. I couldn't present myself in bloodied clothes off an assassin and the task they gave was one that was filled with glory so I had to dress up for such an occasion. I donned golden armour, covering everything except the joints and without the helmet, so that I could continue to wear my mask.
I stood here in this vast empty space, waiting for the prompt to pop up. It wasn't for another hour until I felt a suffocating aura, one that made the mana around me move around frantically asif waiting for the beings command.
Instinctively I kneeled down, my eyes looking to the emptiness below me, one hand to my back and the other across my chest with the palm on my chest where my mana core was.
[Odin asks how you are feeling]
A blue holographic message popped up, in the shadow on a rectangle with white writing. This was the system and the way for a being higher then I will ever be to communicate to me.
"I'm very good sir. I've finished the glorious task which you've bestowed upon me too. I've rid the planet known as 'Earth' of the disgusting, peace loving race.
[The Bakharians are dead?] Another prompt came up.
"Yes sir." I tried my best to sound confident before him, trying my best to not show any fear to him.
[Good job. Have the preparations begun?]
"Yes sir, I will personally oversee everything if you'll allow it too. From the asteroid to teaching the lowly mortals how to use mana. So that they could-"
[ I'll allow it] the prompt interrupted but the message filled me with joy and pride.
"Thank you, lord."
[ Odin wishes you luck]