“Ughh… Uhmm…” Aryn's light voice echoes in the room. My body… It hurts everywhere… Aryn thinks as his eyes squint, tears squeezing out. The sharpness of the lingering pain had woken him up, but he didn't want to be awake. He wanted to sleep… Sleep until all the pain was gone…

“Shh, shh, sweet child. Everything will be okay.” A voice says to Aryn.

Aryn's eyes slowly open. He realized that there was a warmth against his face. Someone was cradling his small body against theirs. Against the weak light entering the room, Aryn saw that it was his father. His dark skin, gaunt face, and skinny arms, holding him close.

Aryn looks and sees that his father was crying, his face pressed together in pain. “Papa, where are we?” Aryn asks. The air was cold there and there was barely any light.

Aryn’s father struggles to smile. “We’re in a prison cell child. But don’t worry, your father will pay for your mistakes. Your father will take care of you always.” He says as he bows his head to hide the tears.

Weight once more finds Aryn’s eyes. “Prison… What’s prison…” He asks, as his body finds comfort in his father’s arms. For some reason he felt safe again, and his body allowed him to rest once more…

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…

…

Aryn awakes to the clattering of metal.

“Get up!!” Someone yells.

Suddenly Aryn’s body was thrown to the ground. Someone had grabbed Aryn’s father and pulled him up.

Aryn’s eyes widen. “What’s going on? What’s happening?” He asks. Aryn didn’t understand the situation, and deep inside, he still expected an explanation. But in the eyes of those judging him. He deserved none.

Aryn’s father was pulled out of the cell before being shoved forward.

“Papa!!” Aryn yells as he runs after him.

A guard gave Aryn a back handed slap, quickly forcing Aryn to the ground, his face bloody. Ignoring the blood streaming out of his face he continues to look up defiantly. “Where are you taking my papa!?” He yells, demaning an answer.

The guard smirks. “He’s going to be executed for your crimes, demonspawn. After that, you’ll be sent to work in the mines.” He says with a chuckle. The guard closes the cell as Aryn could only watch on his hands and knees. “Enjoy life, kid. Hell is waiting for you.” He says before laughing out loud and exiting the dungeon.

Aryn watches on, his eyes wild, as tears escaped. But he didn’t want to cry… He wanted to destroy…

…

…

Aryn looks down at the wagon floor his arms and legs wrapped in chains, and his eyes dead with no light of life. They told him his father died, but Aryn didn’t believe them. He waited one night, then another, then another, but his father didn’t come back. In a similar way, Aryn had also died, his body continuing on without direction or desire, his soul having escaped him.

The wagon slows to a stop and before long, the doors were opened.

“Come down, child.” A voice says.

Aryn didn’t look up. His mind had barely registered the voice.

“I said come down!” The voice exclaims. The guard reaches for Aryn’s leg and pulls ruthlessly. Aryn’s body, like a lifeless doll, fell to the wagon floor before being pulled further and falling to the ground. Aryn’s head began to bleed from the impact, but he didn’t notice.

“Get the fuck up, child. What use are you if you can’t move?” The guard asks as he pulls Aryn up by his arms. After he was standing, the guard pushed him forward… Towards the life that was waiting for him…