The Outcast

The Outcast.

When I turned ten, it was supposed to be the best day of my life. Mom and Dad had promised a big surprise, and I couldn't wait to find out what it was. We were a simple family, living in a cozy cottage on the outskirts of the kingdom, and I couldn't have asked for better parents. They always made me feel loved and safe.

On the morning of my birthday, I woke up to the delicious aroma of freshly baked pancakes. I hurried downstairs, my heart racing with excitement. Mom and Dad were in the kitchen, and they both had mischievous smiles on their faces.

"Happy birthday, Alyssa!" Mom exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug. "We have a special surprise for you."

Dad joined in, ruffling my hair and saying, "That's right, sweetheart. But first, you'll have to close your eyes and follow us."

I closed my eyes and giggled as they led me into the backyard. It was a beautiful sunny day, and I could feel the warmth of the sun on my face. They guided me to the swing they had built for me, and when they told me to open my eyes, I was met with a breathtaking sight. They had decorated the entire backyard with colorful balloons and banners that read, "Happy 10th Birthday, Alyssa!"

I couldn't stop grinning as I rushed to the swing, and Dad pushed me gently, making me go higher and higher. Mom watched us, her laughter filling the air. It was a perfect moment, a moment I wished would never end.

But then, everything changed.

Out of nowhere, a group of men stormed into our yard. They were dressed in dark, intimidating clothing, and their faces were covered. I couldn't understand what was happening. Fear clamped down on my heart as they confronted my parents.

"What do you want?" Dad demanded, his voice shaking but filled with determination.

The leader of the intruders stepped forward, a cruel smirk on his face. "We want what's rightfully ours. This land, this kingdom, and your pathetic lives."

My parents tried to reason with them, to protect me, but it was no use. The men showed no mercy. They pulled out weapons, and in an instant, chaos erupted. I hid behind a tree, tears streaming down my face as I watched my parents, the two people I loved most, fighting for their lives.

"Please, stop this!" Mom pleaded, her voice trembling.

Dad's face was etched with bravery as he stood between Mom and the menacing intruders. "Alyssa, stay hidden, no matter what. We love you."

Tears blurred my vision as I clung to the tree, unable to look away. The world around me became a nightmare, and all I could hear were the sounds of screams, clashing metal, and the unbearable truth that my parents lost the battle and died.

Years passed since the night I witnessed the horrifying murder of my parents. That night, I wasn't just orphaned; I was marked as the bearer of their supposed sins. I was whisked away from my home, my past, and everything I'd ever known, and taken to the grand palace, where I was locked away in a small, dimly lit room.

I had no idea what crimes my parents had committed, and no one was willing to tell me. I was just a child, and the truth of their actions remained a mystery that haunted me. The people who claimed to be my new guardians never let me forget that I was different from them. I was an outcast, the shadow of the past.

The children in the palace didn't waste any time in making sure I felt like an outsider. They called me names, whispered cruel insults behind my back, and sometimes, they pushed me around. It wasn't long before physical abuse became a part of my daily life.

One particularly cold and gloomy morning, as I was making my way to the shared dining area, a group of girls blocked my path. Their leader, a girl with fiery red hair and a twisted smile, stepped forward.

"Alyssa, why don't you just leave this place?" she sneered. "Nobody wants you here."

I clenched my fists, trying to hold back tears. "I didn't do anything wrong. Why do you all hate me?"

The other girls exchanged smirks and laughter before the redhead girl shoved me to the ground. "You're just as guilty as your parents, even if you don't know why. Now, stay out of our way."

I watched them walk away, my heart aching with humiliation and frustration. I didn't understand what my parents had done, but I couldn't help feeling like I was paying for their sins.

As I picked myself up and continued on to the dining area, the other children avoided eye contact, unwilling to stand up for me. The adults, too, turned a blind eye to my suffering. It was as if I had been condemned to a life of isolation and torment.

Every day, the bullying and physical abuse continued. It seemed as if the other children took pleasure in my suffering. I yearned for someone to stand up for me, to offer a kind word or a comforting gesture, but I was always alone in my misery

The pack leader had summoned me that day, and I was both anxious and terrified as I made my way to his den. He'd given me an errand to run in the neighboring village, a rare moment of freedom from the relentless torment I faced from the other pack members. I hoped this errand would give me a brief respite from their relentless cruelty.

As I ventured into the forest, I couldn't shake the gnawing feeling that something was amiss. My instincts screamed danger, but I couldn't quite pinpoint it. I kept my head down, quickening my pace as I approached the village, determined to complete my task and return as swiftly as possible.

But just as I reached the edge of the village, I was ambushed by a group of menacing figures. Among them was the pack leader's daughter, a girl with a reputation for cruelty that rivaled her father's. Her name was Isabella, and she was flanked by a gang of equally ruthless pack members.

Isabella's piercing eyes bore into me, and a sinister smile curled on her lips. "Well, well, if it isn't the pathetic outcast. What brings you here, Alyssa?"

Fear seized my heart, but I summoned my courage and replied, "I have an errand for the pack leader. I mean no harm."

Isabella's laughter cut through the air like a chilling wind. "An errand, you say? Let's see if you can complete it."

They surrounded me, and before I could react, they attacked. They rained blows down on me, and the world became a blur of pain, fists, and laughter. They didn't just beat me; they reveled in it, and I couldn't understand why. What had I done to deserve this?

By the time they were finished, my errand was in ruins, and my body was a battered mess. Bruises covered my skin, and my lip was split. Tears welled in my eyes as I limped back to the pack leader's den.

When I entered the den, I couldn't hide my pain. The pack leader, a towering figure with a menacing presence, looked at me with disdain. "What happened to you, Alyssa?"

I stammered, struggling to find the words. "I was attacked, sir. I tried to complete the errand, but..."

He didn't let me finish. With a swift motion, he reached for a silver whip hanging on the wall. The whip's glint in his hand sent a shiver down my spine.

"You failed, Alyssa," he hissed. "And you will be punished."

The whip cracked through the air, and it seared across my back. The pain was excruciating, and I cried out, collapsing to the ground.

"You are a disgrace to this pack!" the pack leader spat. "You will go without food for the rest of the day. Perhaps that will teach you a lesson."