The house groaned with age.
Rot clung to the walls, and mildew stained the corners. Rainwater had seeped in through the cracks, giving everything a perpetual stink of dampness and rot. In the heart of that ruin, a young boy stood in the kitchen—barefoot, thin, clothed in filthy rags. His black hair clung to his face with grime and sweat as he scrubbed a plate, water barely trickling from the tap.
Then—crash.
The plate slipped from his hands, shattering into jagged pieces on the dirty floor.
Velian froze.
His breathing hitched. "No… no, no, no…"
The floorboards creaked behind him.
"You useless brat!"
Velian didn't turn. He didn't need to.
The man's voice sliced through him like a dagger.
A belt lashed across his back. Then again. And again. Each strike ripping open skin and nerves like paper. Velian screamed as he curled into himself, trying to shield his head with his arms.
"You know how much that plate cost?! Do you think anything in this house is yours to break?" the man bellowed, veins bulging from his red, drunk face.
Velian sobbed. He didn't speak. He didn't dare. Not even when the man kicked him once—twice—then spat and turned away.
"No food tonight either," the man sneered. "Maybe next time, you'll learn your place."
Velian remained on the floor long after the door slammed.
Blood soaked through his shirt. His hands trembled. Every breath hurt.
Then—a whisper.
"You can't keep doing this forever," a voice said.
Velian's eyes widened.
A mirror image of himself stood across the room, chained at the wrists and ankles. But this version's eyes… they weren't soft or scared. They were sharp. Cold. Cruel.
"Let me out," the chained Velian whispered. "I'll make it all stop. We can be free."
Velian clutched his ears. "No. Shut up."
The other grinned wide, baring bloodstained teeth. "You'll beg me eventually."
"Shut up!"
Footsteps. A voice.
"Velian! Velian!"
The door creaked open and a small girl, maybe eight years old, peeked in.
"Lily…"
She rushed to his side, concern creasing her young face. "I heard shouting. Are you okay?"
Velian sniffed, wiping tears from his face. "I'm fine. Just… soap got in my eye."
"Let me see."
Before he could protest, she gently lifted his chin, blew softly into his eye.
He smiled weakly.
She smiled back. "Better?"
"Yeah." He ruffled her hair. The only light in this damn house is her, he thought. She's not even my blood. I was adopted. Maybe that's why Dad… no, he's not a dad. He's a monster.
"Go to your room," Velian said. "Dinner will be ready soon."
She skipped off cheerfully.
Velian crouched again, gathering shards of the broken plate. A piece sliced his palm open. Blood dripped, warm and vivid. He stared at it a moment longer than he should have—almost mesmerized. Then he shook his head, washed it off, and finished the dishes.
---
Dinner came.
Lily and their "father" sat at the table. Velian served them quietly.
When he neared the man, a growl escaped the drunkard's throat.
"Big brother, come eat with me!" Lily chirped.
Velian forced a smile. "I'm not hungry."
The man grunted. "He's got chores. He'll eat later."
Velian bowed slightly and turned to leave.
---
Later that night…
Velian's stomach growled, curling in on itself. He lay on the bed, arms crossed tightly.
I'm starving…
The door creaked.
He sat up quickly, tense—until he saw Lily, clutching a plate.
"Shhh," she whispered, closing the door.
"You… why did you bring that?"
"Because I know you didn't eat. I'm not a child anymore. I know Dad's lying when he says you're busy."
Velian hesitated. "But where did you get this from? There was nothing left in the kitchen."
She only smiled and nudged the plate closer.
Tears welled up in his eyes. "Lily…"
He devoured the food, trying not to cry, trying not to feel shame.
Then—
Bang!
The door burst open.
Their father stormed in, half-drunk, enraged.
"Velian! Did you take the food I—" He stopped. His eyes locked on the scene. Velian eating. Lily beside him.
"You…" the man seethed.
Velian's face paled. "Lily, did you—?"
Before he could finish, Lily ran to the man's side, crying. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! Big brother told me to! He said he'd hurt me if I didn't!"
The words hit like a hammer.
"Lily… no. No, I didn't…"
"You rotten little…" The man slapped Velian so hard, the boy's head snapped sideways.
He was dragged off the bed, thrown down.
"How dare you! Turning my daughter into a thief?! You'll pay for this!"
A stick. Thick. Splintered.
The beatings returned, worse than ever. Every inch of his skin flared with agony. One hit struck his head—crack!—and Velian's vision went dark.
Am I… going to die here…?
He lay still.
The man turned with a scowl, stepping toward the door as he dragged Lily along.
Lily whispered, "Dad… is he… is he dead?"
"Let's go, my princess. He's just pretending."
Then it happened.
Schkkk—!
The wooden stick plunged deep into his back.
He froze. Eyes wide.
Then—cough! Blood erupted from his mouth like a fountain—thick, dark, and hot. The pressure sent a spray flying—
Right into Lily's face.
She screamed.
A raw, high-pitched, soul-twisting sound. Her tiny hands clawed at her cheeks as warm red drenched her eyes, nose, mouth. She stumbled back, fell, scrambling away like an insect, gasping through sobs as she screamed again and again.
"DAD!! VELIAN!! STOP!!"
The man staggered, choking on his own blood, eyes rolling.
"Y-You brat…"
He reached for Velian.
But another stab—this time through his outstretched hand.
"GAAAAAH!"
Velian didn't speak.
He just grinned.
He pounced, tackling the man to the floor, straddling his chest. His arms raised high. The stick shaking in his grip, soaked in red.
Then—
STAB.
STAB.
STAB.
Over and over.
The man screamed, gargled, then gasped as blood bubbled from his lips. He whispered with his last breath:
"I can't believe… I let a… monster… in my house…"
Then nothing.
But Velian didn't stop.
He was humming now. Quiet. Almost peacefully. His face—glassy-eyed, blood-smeared, completely detached.
STAB.
He gouged out one eye.
STAB.
The tongue.
STAB. STAB. STAB.
The cheeks. The temple. The chest. The ribs.
Lily sat there, paralyzed, her screams ripping through the air like broken glass. Her tiny hands clutched her face, stained with her father's blood. She staggered to her feet, trembling, her knees buckling beneath her as she turned and bolted out of the room, shrieking in terror.
This wasn't her brother.
This wasn't human.
This was…
A monster.
But Velian didn't follow.
He didn't even flinch.
His wide, blood-soaked grin stretched unnaturally as he turned back to the lifeless body beneath him. His father's chest barely rose now—only shallow, dying gasps.
He stabbed his father again —this time into the open mouth, shattering teeth and again, into the skull. Over and over. The face became nothing but pulped bone and blood. He didn't stop. Not when the body twitched. Not when it went limp.
He just kept stabbing.
Until the man wasn't a man anymore. Just a broken, ruined shape soaked in crimson.
Villagers soon arrived with torches and weapons, led by Lily, still crying and shaking.
The smell hit them first—iron and rot.
Then they saw the body.
Most recoiled. Some vomited.
What remained of the man was unrecognizable. His body was caved in. Tongue missing. Eyes gouged. Limbs twisted. Head smashed.
And in the corner…
Velian sat—cross-legged, silent.
A wide grin on his face.
His entire body drenched in blood and torn flesh.
Someone dropped their torch.
Another whispered, "He's not human…"
Lily, pale and trembling, could only whisper through her sobs:
"He's a monster…"
---
By morning, the sun peeked through the cold mist like a pale eye watching silently. Outside, the village gathered like a mob of ghosts, eyes filled with judgment and whispers. In the center of it all, Velian was dragged like a chained beast, blood crusted on his torn clothes. The metal cuffs around his wrists clinked with every step, echoing louder than the murmurs around him.
A cart with a caged back waited. Rusty, foul-smelling, like it had hauled more corpses than living things. They shoved Velian inside, locked it shut, and slapped the horse. It neighed and began walking into the sunlight, dust trailing behind like smoke after a fire.
Among the crowd, Lily stood. Small. Broken. Her eyes red from crying, her dress still soaked in blood. The villagers talked.
"Poor Lily..." "Who knew that orphan would turn out to be a monster." "He lived under their roof. Ungrateful demon."
Someone spat on the ground. The dust devoured it.
---
Blackridge Institute
The cart rolled through fog until it stopped before a looming building. The words "Blackridge Institute" were etched on black stone, worn and cracked.
The place looked like a prison meant to be forgotten. Grey bricks, windows with rusted bars, chains dangling from towers, the whole thing breathing despair. The man jumped off the cart and unlocked the cage.
Two men in dark blue uniforms stepped forward. They shook hands with the cart driver.
"Good work, as always."
"He's a tough one. Watch him."
They chuckled. "We'll handle him."
They yanked Velian's chains and dragged him through the iron gates. The courtyard was full of cracked stones and dead plants. The inside was worse—dark, lifeless corridors, flickering lights, walls that whispered, and a silence that screamed.
They passed cells, padded rooms with dried bloodstains, and doors that looked like mouths of monsters. They stopped at a cage. Number 1.
A man banged it with a baton. "Hey Bruce, you got a roommate."
They opened the gate and threw Velian in.
The stench was unbearable. Rot. Blood. Urine.
Velian sat in a corner, silent. A boy his age stepped out of the shadows. Scar over his eye. He crouched.
"Hi. I'm Bruce. What's yours?"
Velian didn't speak.
"Your name?"
"...Velian."
"Welcome to Cell 1."
Bruce smiled. "I hope we can be friends."
"I'm a killer."
Bruce grinned wider. "We all are. Every kid here is called a monster. You're home."
Home.
Velian shook Bruce's hand.
Weeks passed. Then months. They became friends. Shared stories. Laughed through pain.
One night, Velian whispered, "Do you want to get out of here?"
Bruce blinked. "Where's that coming from?"
"I want freedom."
"Forget it. Freedom doesn't exist here. This place kills hope."
"We can leave together. I swear."
Bruce sighed. "If you want to live, stop dreaming. Just survive. Sleep. You've got a session tomorrow."
Velian lay on the cold floor.
Bruce stared at the ceiling. "Freedom... It's just a dream."
---
Session Room
Screams. The air stank of sweat and iron.
Velian was tied to a metal chair. Shirtless. His back was marked with lashes, his lips split, eyes swollen.
"This one's got fire," one of the torturers said.
The other leaned close, eyes gleaming. "Scream more."
Velian spat in his face.
"You little—!"
He punched Velian again. And again. The blows thundered, mixing with Velian's gasps. Blood splattered the walls.
"Know your place, monster!" the boss shouted.
The second guard flinched. "Boss, you're going overboard."
"Shut up."
Another punch. Velian slumped. Barely conscious.
The boss kicked him. Laughed.
"Thought you could make it fun. You're just trash."
Velian smiled faintly.
"What are you smiling at?"
He passed out.
Later, Bruce held Velian close.
"You're alive... why did you provoke him?"
"I got us something."
Velian pulled out a key.
Bruce's eyes widened. "You stole it?"
"While he bent over. Tonight, we leave."
Bruce pulled back.
"No. I'm not going."
"Why not? We have the key. Freedom. Light."
"I... I don't want to die. This place is my home now."
"It's not. That's what they want you to believe."
"Maybe I'm okay being a fool."
Velian lowered his head. "Freedom is peace, Bruce. And peace... peace requires sacrifice. I'm willing to give up everything. What more do I have to lose?"
Bruce said nothing.
---
That Night
Velian stood. Quiet. Keys in hand.
He unlocked the cell.
Creak.
"Going somewhere without me?" Bruce said behind him.
Velian turned, tears in his eyes. "You changed your mind."
"You were right. What more could I lose?"
They ran.
Alarm blared. Red lights swirled.
"They know! Run!"
Bruce guided them. Left. Right. Left again. They ducked into a room.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
A voice echoed. "Well done, Bruce."
Velian froze.
The boss stepped in with guards.
"Bruce... what is he talking about?"
Bruce stepped forward, silent.
The guards laughed.
"Come on, boy. You did great."
Velian's world shattered. "No. No, it can't be. Bruce, this is a joke, right?"
Silence.
"He led you here," the boss said. "Just like the others. Why do you think he never had a roommate before? They all tried to escape."
Velian crumbled.
"Get him."
They rushed him. Velian kicked one in the groin. Another punched him down. They stomped him, laughing.
Inside his head, a voice cackled.
"You fool. I told you. I'm your only friend. I got you out of home. I stayed with you. And you still rejected me. Look at you now!"
"Shut up!" Velian screamed.
Bruce trembled. Watched. Heard the kicks. The screams.
"Stop!" he yelled.
He ran forward, shoved the men off, kicked the boss. Chaos.
He dragged Velian up.
"We have to go!"
They opened the door—
STAB!
Bruce gasped. Blood spilled from his mouth.
"B-Bruce?"
He collapsed.
"I can't believe you betrayed me," the boss snarled.
Velian clutched Bruce. Tears flowed.
"Wake up! We can still escape!"
Bruce smiled weakly.
"You were right, Velian. Peace... requires sacrifice."
His hand dropped.
Dead.
Velian stared blankly. The boss crouched.
"Now it's your turn. Say hi to your friend in hell."
He grabbed Velian's head—
But stopped.
Velian grinned.
A twisted, horrifying grin.
He stabbed the boss's leg with iron.
The boss screamed. Velian grabbed his knife. Slit.
Blood sprayed. The boss's head rolled.
The guards backed away.
Velian walked toward them. Step by step.
A demon.
---
Elsewhere in the Institute
The walls exploded.
Five armored Seekers entered, blades drawn. Flames roared behind them.
"Kill every staff member. Save the children!" their leader shouted.
He moved like a blur, slicing down men, painted in blood.
He reached a door. Kicked it open.
Bodies. Dozens. Dismembered. Mangled.
In the center, Velian stood.
Silent. Still.
The man approached. "Are you alright?"
No answer.
Blood coated Velian's skin. Eyes empty.
Did this boy... kill them all?
"Come with me. We're rescuing everyone."
Velian didn't move.
The man gently picked him up.
---
Outside the Institute
Smoke clouded the night sky. The building crumbled.
Children huddled together. Saved. Free.
The leader, Ban, walked out carrying Velian.
"Are these all the children?" he asked.
"Yes, sir."
Someone asked, "Who's that boy?"
Ban looked at Velian.
"The one who survived. And maybe... the one who avenged them."
"No one will adopt him. Not after what he's seen."
Ban turned. "Then I will."
They gasped. "Sir?!"
"I failed them as a Seeker. I won't fail him."
He crouched before Velian.
"I'll be your dad from now on. You can call me Dad."
The word hit like a punch to the chest.
Velian whispered it. Fragile. Confused.
"...Dad?"
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