"Every wound was caused by someone else's sin"12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MEZ2EhPcP
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdRebW8VkN
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...12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaPI6sUHCw
In that moment, I wanted to rip them apart.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMONMCYmQi
Why would anyone do this to a child?12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rAle4JBVW
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM62FoUrLXk
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUy3d2T3TX9
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?12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4YesKNFGB
Food!12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqildfUDLzZ
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt42KTZJivi
Speaking of the three of us... how was I supposed to explain this?12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8VSNsw7LS
Bringing the child here hadn’t exactly come with a plan.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNcm8g1s4n
How would they react?
Zane, despite his intimidating appearance, had a kind heart — most of the time. My real concern was Luke.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLPy98o0Ke
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk33Nw8zgWB
Worse yet, Luke hated demons. Hated them to the bone.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSReDKvQM55
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8g5YXoIXm
The boy hadn’t moved. He looked exactly the same — frozen in place.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3UaM9w33A
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:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LO6j13E6S
— “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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh2vewVTwp
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRQ9EMmNdm
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:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDb2Erk10K
— “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:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zdYAJJwiW
— “Zane—”12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKV1lKEobj2
— “And, and, and I swear—”12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAs1hFJI84z
— “Zane!-”12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZRVGXUSn3
— “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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo38OGcAIPU
His expression shifted to curiosity, and he turned back to me:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRao3O8WNMv
— “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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BtTg7Tubj
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRThqf4plLv
Then he looked at me, his expression softening, and gave a small nod:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFPQ15CE6t
— “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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVE1nW3xEyR
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:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VPPV97b1X
— “Do you want anything else?”
He didn’t answer. He just looked at me with those empty, hollow eyes.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaW7vI7hDcc
My heart sank for a moment, but I composed myself.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzvStfxPhf
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ412okGl6Jn
He seemed to understand Zane, but for some unknown reason, he still didn’t respond or change expression.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDDMjY7Xdm
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJamtyFzJy5
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemGkjOVJcB
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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXPNb9l08a
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…12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiW4Nih9t7
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:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC7dY842OU
— “Luke, what happened?”12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeXz4NRFc9
— “It’s nothing. I just tripped while walking. Nothing serious.”12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPbkLMR2aH
— “But you’re limping—”12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k4bphBuNc
— “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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqkUTUJDoX
He looked at Zane, then at me, and then back at the child.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs13H4O2SBI
His gaze lingered for several seconds longer than expected.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLvM6hKGwb
Then he turned back to us:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JRMJ9hq52
— “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.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6Ke3wKYa9
It was odd.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGIZ1M4PEY
But I was grateful nonetheless — at least he wasn’t stopping us.
