Kai's POV
February
It has been a month where every painful moment I had felt like home. Funny how time quickly passes by when you stop caring, when the numbness becomes a strange sort of comfort. Mom and Dad have been even more ignorant and have completely stopped worrying about my existence. It's like I've become a ghost in their perfectly curated lives, a smudge on the pristine surface of their success. I almost wish they would yell, scream, anything to acknowledge that I'm still here, still breathing, still struggling to stay afloat in the suffocating silence of our home
"Kai, dad is calling you," Kiara said, standing at my door. Her voice was devoid of any emotion, merely a messenger delivering another unwelcome summons. I quickly got up and went to my dad's room, the familiar knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach with each step I took. The polished wood floors reflected the cold, sterile light, mirroring the atmosphere of the house.
I got in and saw him standing, holding an envelope. The expensive paper and crisp edges screamed of importance, probably some business deal that would further solidify his already impressive empire. I couldn't even imagine the mountain of expectations that came with being his son.
"Dad, I heard you called me," I said, trying to keep my voice neutral, devoid of any hint of the fear churning within me.
"Yeah, I did. Please tell me how you can be such a failure. I never thought I gave birth to such a stupid child. You are 17, Kai. Act maturely and responsibly. You are a son of a businessman. You can't be mediocre. A B+ doesn't cut it. You know what is useless talking to you. Get out of my room! Now!" my dad said, his voice rising with each word, the familiar disappointment and disdain etched on his face. The words hit me like a physical blow, even though I've heard them a hundred times before. I walked away like I always do, head down, shoulders slumped, trying to shrink myself into nothingness.
I went to my room and shut the door and locked it. The click of the lock was a small act of defiance, a futile attempt to create a sanctuary, however temporary. Even though it shouldn't have hurt, It did, and it will always do. Deep down, a small part of me still yearned for his approval, for the warmth of a father's love. But that part was slowly dying. I took a blade from the drawer - a small, razor-sharp instrument that had become both a tormentor and a twisted form of comfort - and started cutting myself. The sharp sting was a welcome distraction from the ache in my heart, a physical pain that momentarily overshadowed the emotional one. It was so relieving, it was freeing. Each crimson line on my skin was a testament to my pain, a tangible representation of the anguish I was feeling.
Then I saw a shadow in my room. It was a man in a white robe, his presence radiated warmth and peace. He looked like a figure out of a Renaissance painting, all serene smile and flowing white beard. But his presence disturbed my very being. His presence seemed to challenge my existence, exposing the darkness I was desperately trying to contain.
"Let me help you dear child," the man said, his voice gentle and soothing, like a balm on a raw wound.
"I don't need any help. Who are you even?" I asked, irritated. His presence was a violation, a reminder that I couldn't even be alone in my own misery.
"The devil is rejoicing, dear child. Let me save you. You can't be like them. You'll only get hurt," the man said, his eyes filled with an unnerving blend of pity and concern.
"He is hurting already, old man. Leave him," a boy about my age said, stepping out from the shadows. He was gorgeous. All dark hair and piercing eyes, with an aura of rebellious energy that crackled around him like static electricity. He looked like temptation incarnate.
"Don't challenge me, Lucifer," the old man said, his voice suddenly hardening, the serene facade cracking to reveal a steely core.
"I ain't doing that, Gabe. You are. Your very presence shakes his being. Leave! Or do you want another emergency in heaven as all hell will break loose?" Lucifer said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"I'll leave, but I'll be back for you, dear child. I will save you," Gabe said, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he vanished into thin air, leaving behind an unsettling sense of unease.
Then it all went black. The darkness enveloped me, erasing the pain, the confusion, the strange, unnerving encounter. And maybe, just maybe, I didn't want to be saved