"Every wound was caused by someone else's sin"20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznt8IqyZb0
Chapter 1 – Found Beneath the Rain
Jayden
The rain poured down relentlessly as I took another step. I pulled my cloak’s hood tighter over my head. I was too exhausted from just finishing a demanding task to spare any extra energy on drying my hair. I did my best not to soak my sweater.
As I kept walking, something entered my line of sight besides the wild plants and trees of the forest — a struggling figure: a child.
I quickly approached. In that moment, I noticed a shadowy presence around him, but I chose to ignore it and knelt down beside the child — my mind liked to play tricks on me from time to time; I assumed this was one of those moments.
As I knelt down, the first things I noticed were the severe beating he had endured… and that he wasn’t human. He was either a demon or a hybrid. Since he hadn’t healed himself, he was likely a hybrid — maybe even a weak variant. But I didn’t have the luxury to ponder that. The child was on the verge of losing consciousness. I immediately checked for fatal wounds — there were none — so I undid the ties of my cloak, slipped off my sweater, and carefully dressed him in it. I lifted him gently, doing my best not to cause him any pain, and walked quickly toward home.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxT36MTbJek
I didn’t run — I didn’t want to hurt him more or worsen whatever damage had already been done to his tiny body.
When I arrived, the first thing I did was clean his wounds. The cuts on his body weren’t deep enough to need stitching, but there were so many bruises and contusions. Whoever had done this...20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcYlbGUdEf
In that moment, I wanted to rip them apart.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzRw6SOlLC
Why would anyone do this to a child?20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxxuqbnN1o
What could he possibly have done?
As I examined the bruises around his neck and shoulders, I realized something I hadn’t at first — they weren’t normal bruises. They looked more like... bite marks.
Disgusting creatures. How? Why?
My blood boiled. I realized I’d been holding my breath out of rage and forced myself to take a few deep breaths. I needed to stay calm — for the child’s sake.
I gently bandaged the cuts, trying to be as soft and careful as possible. I didn’t want to scare him more or push him into shock. Lastly, I placed a small bandage on the cut on his forehead. His snow-white hair hid it from view. I dried his hair slightly and brushed it so it wouldn’t fall over his eyes. Then I took a dark navy sweater from my closet and gently pulled it over him.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0reAt9VmX
It was far too big, of course, but I folded it at the waist and sleeves so it wouldn’t restrict his movements.
Then I took a dagger, moved behind him, and carefully cut slits in the back of the sweater at shoulder height. His wings emerged. They, along with his horns and tail, were black.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRgH1tVPLx
His eyes were completely black as well, the irises empty and hollow — not like a child’s, but like a being forced to keep living.
I sat him on the couch and gently wrapped a blanket around him. The house might be cold — I was used to it and didn’t feel it anymore — but the child was already shivering. I couldn’t risk him falling ill; he needed warmth.
Now what?20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOweJjvU4R0
Food!20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOwgQ5JX1t
He had to be hungry. He was clearly exhausted.
I headed to the kitchen and opened the wooden cupboard. As expected, there wasn’t much — despite three of us living here. Just a few pastries and some fruit Luke had gathered, though I had no idea when he found the time.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Acnv9VO9f
Speaking of the three of us... how was I supposed to explain this?20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTjOXj4Ovt
Bringing the child here hadn’t exactly come with a plan.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCf3pYbp7Lc
How would they react?
Zane, despite his intimidating appearance, had a kind heart — most of the time. My real concern was Luke.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1dOE2evcJ
He wasn’t cruel enough to suggest throwing the child out, but he might not want him here either. And understandably so — this child couldn’t even take care of himself. He would be a burden.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlpzsnKB5c
Worse yet, Luke hated demons. Hated them to the bone.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkz59FCPqW
And we still didn’t even know if the boy was a hybrid or a full demon…
For now, I pushed the thoughts aside, grabbed a plate, and returned to the room.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7AE2izWP2
The boy hadn’t moved. He looked exactly the same — frozen in place.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5Z8xCRUoP
Either he was terrified, or he was too exhausted to react. Probably both.
I placed the plate gently on his lap and spoke softly, trying not to sound cold or intimidating:20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1KsgArtgk
— “You must be hungry. I brought these for you. If you need anything, just say the word, okay? There’s no need to be afraid.”
At that moment, I heard the door open.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4ApCucus6
They were back.
I stood up, glanced one last time at the boy, and headed to the entrance. Zane was there, his boots caked in mud. He stepped onto some old papers to avoid dirtying the floor, hung up his cloak, and straightened his clothes.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGFsmEguw6
Though the black streaks in his white hair stuck to his face, his light blue eyes still sparkled. With his usual smile, he turned to me and shrugged:20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR8VGZYikk
— “Don’t even ask about Luke, Jay. He disappeared last minute again — probably off picking fruit or something.”
He was walking inside as he spoke. I needed to stop him and explain, but he kept going:20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0oxpfb8Zt
— “Zane—”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcGEsnv8va
— “And, and, and I swear—”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF357PFMZ4
— “Zane!-”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNddYmvw26
— “And I promise that this week I’ll—”
Right then, he entered the room where the child was. I was still trying to explain when he saw the boy and froze.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L1S0uOgIE
His expression shifted to curiosity, and he turned back to me:20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNPIWYgAsv
— “Uhm... Who’s this little guy?”
I let out a deep sigh, pinched the bridge of my nose, and gently pulled him back out of the room. He tensed — odd for him, since he usually loved physical affection — but that wasn’t my concern right now.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdR3qMGnpWp
I took another deep breath and started explaining.
After I finished, Zane’s face had taken on a more thoughtful look. He rubbed his chin for a few seconds while I stood with arms crossed, waiting.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0rLfYkjRh
Then he looked at me, his expression softening, and gave a small nod:20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrKLHtcEcj
— “He can stay. No way we’re tossing him out. I’ll help you take care of him. And don’t worry about Luke — he’s not heartless. I’ll talk to him.”
That eased me, even if just a little. If anyone could talk to Luke, it was Zane. They were childhood friends — they had a bond I never quite understood.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdYCinFyEU
Noticing my relief, Zane smiled, glanced at the boy, and patted my shoulder. Normally I wouldn’t have allowed it, but this time I let it slide. He grinned in satisfaction and headed to his room to change clothes.
I returned to the child. He had eaten most of the food on the plate — only a few pieces of fruit remained. He’d placed the empty dish beside him. I picked it up and asked:20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8S5p3y7eE9
— “Do you want anything else?”
He didn’t answer. He just looked at me with those empty, hollow eyes.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgK1bNsE8R
My heart sank for a moment, but I composed myself.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSM06y17e3v
I adjusted the blanket that had slipped from his shoulder, then went back to the kitchen and put the plate away.
When I returned, Zane was sitting next to the boy, seemingly trying to talk to him. The child was facing him — not entirely vacant anymore.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeOWuxWKjX
He seemed to understand Zane, but for some unknown reason, he still didn’t respond or change expression.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUjn7Oqp6T
Zane was speaking in a big-brotherly tone, warm and playful. I could tell he had already started to feel for the boy — it was just in his nature.
Standing in the doorway, I watched them for a while, lost in thought. I didn’t even notice how much time had passed.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRYjGs3A7M
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYRMJkqq3i
Luke had arrived.
I could hear him removing his cloak and boots. I took a deep breath. Zane must have heard it too — he stood up and headed to greet him. I followed close behind.
The first thing I noticed was that Luke was limping.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBqTOQmhxe
His expression, as usual, was hard to read — the black cloth mask covering his mouth, the dark navy and teal-streaked hair tied into a low ponytail, the strands falling over his left eye…20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPeRVE0iMC
I knew his right eye was amber. Zane once told me that the way Luke dressed and hid himself was his own choice — and that I shouldn’t pry. I hadn’t.
As Luke entered, Zane asked:20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6QDC8i2PU
— “Luke, what happened?”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjtn4Bc7kj
— “It’s nothing. I just tripped while walking. Nothing serious.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLVKgM4uPA
— “But you’re limping—”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpC4I3CV4p9
— “I said it’s nothing, Zane. Drop it.”
Despite his limp, Luke moved quickly into the room. When he saw the child, he froze for a moment.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHNcbwNHrz
He looked at Zane, then at me, and then back at the child.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcHpbLHigM
His gaze lingered for several seconds longer than expected.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXpYWmPAP7
Then he turned back to us:20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC0jltUKhH
— “The hybrid is your responsibility. Don’t drag me into it.”
As if we’d already told him everything and he was just giving his verdict.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPOrE7EFtW
It was odd.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdEnEjgfVs
But I was grateful nonetheless — at least he wasn’t stopping us.
