Tasting Darkness

Chapter 78

Chapter 78

It was like watching a timeline of the most significant memories he had, those that shaped him into who h e is today. A glimpse into the depths of who Kalen truly was and the things that haunted him, made him happy, everything that made Kalen, Kalen.

1/ m.techkaushal.com - 500×300 - 1

His youngest memory was horrible. At first, I was an outsider watching until the vision warped, and I was suddenly Kalen, seeing the world through his eyes. Feeling what he felt, enduring what he endured. I found myself running into some room with gray walls with peeling wallpaper, exposing the mold-covered walls beneath. Beds lined the room in rows, large bay windows overlooked the city, and the room was ice cold.

He crawled underneath his bed by the window only to be ripped out by his ankles, his nails clawing at the wooden floorboards, making his fingertips bloody as they tore away his fingernails. His screams were horrendous and hurt my soul. The fear he felt made my heart race, and at first, I had no idea what he was running from until he was rolled over.

It was other children, Kalen crawling on his hands and knees is, blocked by legs and backed into a corner. The kids huddled around him in the corner of the room. He tried to cover his ears with hands over his head as they screamed and taunted. Throwing things and kicking and hurting him. Most of his childhood was spent being bullied relentlessly for being the weakest amongst the Fae. But Kalen wasn’t just the weakest; he was also the smallest amongst his peers.

The bullying was horrendous, the things they did to him. Setting him on fire, urinating on him, beating him bloody, and the teachers or those responsible for looking after him turned a blind eye to it or outright condemned him by telling him he deserved it. Kalen’s childhood was tragic up until one day, and that day changed everything for him. Kalen was worried as he sat in the playground by himself, and a new kid walked out the doors.

He thought it was another person to add to the list of bullies he already had. The boy reminded me of someone, and it didn’t take long before I recognized who he was. It was Lycus. He was younger in this memory. Lycus was just a boy, like Kalen. Only he was frighteningly bigger, and Kalen watched, horrified a s he argued with one of the teachers before stomping off to sit on one of the bench seats. Lycus watched the other children play, his eyes falling on Kalen, and Kalen dropped his gaze, cursing himself for making eye contact with the scary-looking boy.

When the bell went to signal class and he had to return back into the orphanage, he ran for the doors, hoping to go unnoticed. However, Kalen knew his bullies weren’t going to give him a day off when the one he hated most stepped into his path. The boy was a teenager and almost looked too old to be still in the orphanage that Kalen called home. Kalen had to have been at least half the other boys’ age.

As the bully steps out the door into the concrete playground, he takes a step back. Kalen’s eyes scan his surroundings, looking for an escape. He notices Lycus watching curiously from where he still sat, ignoring the sound of the school bell. Kalen goes to make a run for the door across the quadrangle, only for the teenage boy to tackle him.

front of his shirt and repeatedly punches him, making his nose bleed, and his eyes blur as they swell. Pain rippled through me as I experienced what he

it. In some ways, he hoped this was it, the day

down was gone, and a collective gasp was heard from the surrounding crowd of children. Kalen’s eyes flew open to find his tormentor beside him on the ground, and the new kid that had arrived

but also petrified that Lycus would turn his attention to him when he was done. Lycus’ eyes were a demonic black, and he

Lycus stood upright, breathing heavily before his gaze turned to Kalen, who cowered away from him as Lycus stepped over the kid. Yet instead of offering Kalen a fist, he offered him his hand and pulled him to

Kalen just stared at him. No one ever asked if he was okay, and he suddenly found himself mute

asks him. Kalen nods, and Lycus raises an

to tell me, or can’t you speak?” Lycus

“Kalen,” he stuttered out.

and Kalen looked down at

find a first aid kit,” Lycus tells him, grabbing Kalen’s arm, but Kalen

he whispers to Lycus. That seemed to anger Lycus, who chucks his arm over Kalen’s

or I’ll make

They don’t care, ” Kalen

them listen,” Lycus tells him.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255