Chapter: 33 ***** Tonight would be no quiet night, he knew, but the voices refused to silence. They taunted him, pushing him to the edge, driving him to madness. "Stop fighting it!" they sneered. He winced, their venomous words seeping into his veins like a snake's bite, poisoning his last shred of control and unleashing chaos. KaidÃŦn groaned, turning toward the shattered mirror, its broken pieces mocking him on the dirty floor. "You can't even keep him safe!" they jeered. He groaned again, turning away. "Lies!" he retorted, his hand clenched around a knife, the blade digging into his palm. Blood spilled, droplets rolling off the self-inflicted cut, slowly falling into the dirt. "I will keep him safe!" he seethed, his breathing ragged, eyes darkening. "He's mine to protect; I won't let any harm come to him!" The voices erupted into laughter, their mocking tones piercing his ears like a bluster of jingling bells. "If that were true," they echoed, "why do you keep letting F
Chapter: 34*****The salty air of the harbor felt heavy against KaidÃŦn's skin as he approached his private boat, the sleek vessel glinting under the waning sun. Waves lapped gently at the hull, but the atmosphere felt charged, with something sickening. Ross, his bodyguard, the one idiot who was meant to look after Nox, instead dared to call to inform him that he had knocked his Heart out cold. Ross paced back and forth on the deck, his brow furrowed, eyes darting nervously as if expecting an unseen predator to pounce.KaidÃŦn's face was a mask of calm, betraying nothing of the storm brewing within. He climbed aboard, his boots thudding softly against the polished wood. The boat smelled of leather and the faint, salty tang of the ocean. But something foul lingered beneath, a reminder of chaos that had unfolded just hours before.There was a clear sign of struggle. Knowing Nox, he must have put up the fight of a lifetime, still, Ross had no reason to lay hands on Nox.As he stepped furt
Chapter: 35 ******* That night, the clouds gathered as if to mourn with the boy who had just lost his sister, the one reason he had endured this torturous world at the hands of cruel people. Night after night, he sat with sagging shoulders hunched over the little picket fence, tears streaming down his face, blending seamlessly with the rain droplets as he cried with the clouds. It ached KaidÃŦnâs heart to watch him suffer in this way. If he must cry, then it should be him who made Asher cryânot them, and certainly not over Emily. KaidÃŦn knew that Asher loved his sister; after all, she was his family, the only one who didnât hate him, who didnât beat him, the one who didnât starve him. From the very first day KaidÃŦn had set his eyes on Asher, hugging his sister tightly in that little shed, he knew his life had altered forever. Asher had invaded his heart without even knowing it, pushing away all the ache, all the pain, the years of fear and torment, and then Asher had gone and settle
Chapter: 36 ***** Years later, KaidÃŦn saw him again. This time, he was homeless, sleeping on the streets. His father hadnât been locked up in jail for long for the murder of his wife; because her body was never found, and whatever had happened didnât matter much to KaidÃŦn. As soon as he left the camp, he sought Asher out once more, this time as a man on a mission: to find Asher, to keep him, to protect him. KaidÃŦn would do anything for him. KaidÃŦn secured a flyer and laid it out where Asher would stumble upon it the next morning, and he did. KaidÃŦn looked after him, kept him safe, and even went so far as to keep an eye on his sister. During a brief visit to Father, while taking a break from the hellish camp, Nine took him to an auction. There, he spotted the small, frightened girl. The birthmark on her neck was unforgettable, identical to the one on his Heart's. Elis noticed him shift in his chair and tried to stop him, but KaidÃŦn wouldnât give up. He rose from his seat, leap
Chapter: 37 ****** âWelcome back, my heart,â KaidÃŦn smiled when he recognized the familiar eyes staring back at him. The hatred and disgust were evident; clearly, he wasn't the one Asher wanted to see, not by a long shot. âYou've been gone a while,â he attempted to say, pushing himself off the wall and striding smoothly toward Asher, who remained silent and unmoving. Once he was close enough, KaidÃŦn placed a hand on Asherâs cheek and gently caressed his face. Asher's tense muscles relaxed slightly, but then he recoiled from KaidÃŦnâs touch as if fire had erupted from where his fingers grazed. âWhat am I doing here with you?â Asher demanded, a sudden bitterness in his voice. KaidÃŦn observed him, noting how he clenched and unclenched his fists, as if debating whether to beat KaidÃŦn into the ground or push his way out of wherever they were. âI brought you somewhere safe. You were back there in the old shed; I had to bring you home,â KaidÃŦn finally replied, a rip starting to tear with
Chapter: 38*****âYou've lost him, and this time, there is no coming back from this one,â the mirror taunted, and KaidÃŦn groaned, his fingers bleeding as he pressed against the cracked surface.âHe hates you, just like Mom and Dad did,â the voice of his younger self slithered through, urging KaidÃŦn to push against the mirror.Why does he end up replacing these mirrors each time? He kept leaning into this torment like it was his salvation? Did he enjoy this torture? The way they taunted and haunted him? Was this his own version of hell?âThere is nothing left for you, KaidÃŦn. You should walk awayâĶ he will never remember who you are, nor will he ever return the feelings your damned soul holds for him,â they continued.Asher couldn't bear it anymore. The scent of blood had grown stronger, both from the bruises he had inflicted on KaidÃŦn and those he was now inflicting on himself. His head began to ache once more, painfully replaying Emilyâs cries as they dragged her away, the way she ha
THE BROKEN MAN: Asher The smell of smoke and sweat clung to my skin like a blanket. I was ten years old, but at that moment, I felt like I'd been born a thousand years ago. My eyes, once bright and full of wonder, had witnessed the unthinkable. I huddled in the corner of our cramped, dingy apartment, my ears ringing from the sound of my mother's screams. My father's face, twisted in a snarl, loomed over me like a ghost. I trembled, my small body wracked with sobs, as I watched him deliver blow after blow to my mother's fragile form. My sister, Emily, just six years old, clung to me, her eyes wide with terror. I wrapped my arms around her, trying to shield her from the horror unfolding before us. But I couldn't shield her from the truth: our parents were monsters, and we were their prey. In that moment, something inside me shattered. The innocence of childhood, the trust in those who were supposed to protect me â all of it was reduced to rubble. I knew, in that instant, that I w
Chapter: 1 ***** Asher's heart was racing as he scooped Emily into his arms, whispering a hurried "shh" before shoving her into the cupboard. It was a game they played, one that kept her safe and him aliveâĶ somewhat. The door creaked, and he froze, holding his breath. The sound echoed through the dimly lit house like a warning bell. "Mily, stay quiet," he whispered, his voice trembling. "Don't make a sound." His eyes fell into Emily's who clung to him like a second skin, the fear in her eyes mirrored his. âIt'll be alright, Mily, I promise.â She nodded but her body shook in fear as he held her in that tight space. Just a little more and he will have to get out to confront their father. âMake it stop, SashaâĶâ she hiccuped and Asher's heart broke for his sister. The bedroom door creaked, and Asher's heart sank. He had to protect her as the big brother, and he always did his best to shield her from this hell. Suddenly, the room began to spin, and Asher's vision blurred as he
Chapter: 38*****âYou've lost him, and this time, there is no coming back from this one,â the mirror taunted, and KaidÃŦn groaned, his fingers bleeding as he pressed against the cracked surface.âHe hates you, just like Mom and Dad did,â the voice of his younger self slithered through, urging KaidÃŦn to push against the mirror.Why does he end up replacing these mirrors each time? He kept leaning into this torment like it was his salvation? Did he enjoy this torture? The way they taunted and haunted him? Was this his own version of hell?âThere is nothing left for you, KaidÃŦn. You should walk awayâĶ he will never remember who you are, nor will he ever return the feelings your damned soul holds for him,â they continued.Asher couldn't bear it anymore. The scent of blood had grown stronger, both from the bruises he had inflicted on KaidÃŦn and those he was now inflicting on himself. His head began to ache once more, painfully replaying Emilyâs cries as they dragged her away, the way she ha
Chapter: 37 ****** âWelcome back, my heart,â KaidÃŦn smiled when he recognized the familiar eyes staring back at him. The hatred and disgust were evident; clearly, he wasn't the one Asher wanted to see, not by a long shot. âYou've been gone a while,â he attempted to say, pushing himself off the wall and striding smoothly toward Asher, who remained silent and unmoving. Once he was close enough, KaidÃŦn placed a hand on Asherâs cheek and gently caressed his face. Asher's tense muscles relaxed slightly, but then he recoiled from KaidÃŦnâs touch as if fire had erupted from where his fingers grazed. âWhat am I doing here with you?â Asher demanded, a sudden bitterness in his voice. KaidÃŦn observed him, noting how he clenched and unclenched his fists, as if debating whether to beat KaidÃŦn into the ground or push his way out of wherever they were. âI brought you somewhere safe. You were back there in the old shed; I had to bring you home,â KaidÃŦn finally replied, a rip starting to tear with
Chapter: 36 ***** Years later, KaidÃŦn saw him again. This time, he was homeless, sleeping on the streets. His father hadnât been locked up in jail for long for the murder of his wife; because her body was never found, and whatever had happened didnât matter much to KaidÃŦn. As soon as he left the camp, he sought Asher out once more, this time as a man on a mission: to find Asher, to keep him, to protect him. KaidÃŦn would do anything for him. KaidÃŦn secured a flyer and laid it out where Asher would stumble upon it the next morning, and he did. KaidÃŦn looked after him, kept him safe, and even went so far as to keep an eye on his sister. During a brief visit to Father, while taking a break from the hellish camp, Nine took him to an auction. There, he spotted the small, frightened girl. The birthmark on her neck was unforgettable, identical to the one on his Heart's. Elis noticed him shift in his chair and tried to stop him, but KaidÃŦn wouldnât give up. He rose from his seat, leap
Chapter: 35 ******* That night, the clouds gathered as if to mourn with the boy who had just lost his sister, the one reason he had endured this torturous world at the hands of cruel people. Night after night, he sat with sagging shoulders hunched over the little picket fence, tears streaming down his face, blending seamlessly with the rain droplets as he cried with the clouds. It ached KaidÃŦnâs heart to watch him suffer in this way. If he must cry, then it should be him who made Asher cryânot them, and certainly not over Emily. KaidÃŦn knew that Asher loved his sister; after all, she was his family, the only one who didnât hate him, who didnât beat him, the one who didnât starve him. From the very first day KaidÃŦn had set his eyes on Asher, hugging his sister tightly in that little shed, he knew his life had altered forever. Asher had invaded his heart without even knowing it, pushing away all the ache, all the pain, the years of fear and torment, and then Asher had gone and settle
Chapter: 34*****The salty air of the harbor felt heavy against KaidÃŦn's skin as he approached his private boat, the sleek vessel glinting under the waning sun. Waves lapped gently at the hull, but the atmosphere felt charged, with something sickening. Ross, his bodyguard, the one idiot who was meant to look after Nox, instead dared to call to inform him that he had knocked his Heart out cold. Ross paced back and forth on the deck, his brow furrowed, eyes darting nervously as if expecting an unseen predator to pounce.KaidÃŦn's face was a mask of calm, betraying nothing of the storm brewing within. He climbed aboard, his boots thudding softly against the polished wood. The boat smelled of leather and the faint, salty tang of the ocean. But something foul lingered beneath, a reminder of chaos that had unfolded just hours before.There was a clear sign of struggle. Knowing Nox, he must have put up the fight of a lifetime, still, Ross had no reason to lay hands on Nox.As he stepped furt
Chapter: 33 ***** Tonight would be no quiet night, he knew, but the voices refused to silence. They taunted him, pushing him to the edge, driving him to madness. "Stop fighting it!" they sneered. He winced, their venomous words seeping into his veins like a snake's bite, poisoning his last shred of control and unleashing chaos. KaidÃŦn groaned, turning toward the shattered mirror, its broken pieces mocking him on the dirty floor. "You can't even keep him safe!" they jeered. He groaned again, turning away. "Lies!" he retorted, his hand clenched around a knife, the blade digging into his palm. Blood spilled, droplets rolling off the self-inflicted cut, slowly falling into the dirt. "I will keep him safe!" he seethed, his breathing ragged, eyes darkening. "He's mine to protect; I won't let any harm come to him!" The voices erupted into laughter, their mocking tones piercing his ears like a bluster of jingling bells. "If that were true," they echoed, "why do you keep letting F
Chapter: 32*****With renewed fury, the boy charged, wielding the axe like a seasoned fighter. KaidÃŦn met him head-on, ducking and weaving as he danced around the swings that came harder and faster. Each strike resonated with the energy of countless battlesâthey were fighting not just for survival but for dominance.Suddenly, KaidÃŦn found himself on the defensive, barely dodging the lethal swipes of the axe. He felt the icy sting of fear creeping in; sweat dripped down the side of his face, mixing with the cold and the chaos around him. The boy advanced relentlessly, his aggression evident. KaidÃŦn retaliated with a series of swift cuts, each one narrowly missing its mark as the boy twisted and ducked beneath them.Just how many people has this boy killed to be this good? KaidÃŦn wondered. As far as he knew, he might just be the toughest opponent the boy had ever faced.Breathing heavily, anxiety simmering beneath the surface, KaidÃŦn realized that he needed to end this. The boyâs focus
Chapter: 31*****KaidÃŦn jolted awake, an icy cascade of water drenching him in an instant. His heart raced as the cold clung to his skin like a shockwave. Disoriented, he blinked away the remnants of sleep, shivering as he wrestled with lingering dreams that faded into the dark corners of his mind. The clamor of a loudspeaker cut through the morning chill, a mechanical voice barking orders that made his blood run even colder.âGet up! Outside! Now!âWith panic gripping him, he scrambled off the cot, his soaked clothes feeling like a second skin. The air was frigid, biting into his exposed flesh as he stumbled through the narrow, dimly lit corridors of the camp. The sharp crunch of frost underfoot signaled the change in weather; snowflakes swirled lazily as KaidÃŦn burst through the heavy door, propelled by disorientation and unsettled dreams.The vast open field sprawled before him, white and blinding under the low morning sun. Just yesterday, it had been a warm, unforgiving landscape
Chapter: 30******Having decided to drive down to the seaside mansion, KaidÃŦn groaned as he got out of the vehicle and swiftly made his way to the back door. Soon after, he had Nox cradled calmly in his arms as he carried him inside. The mansion was dark, save for the chandelier that hung with a dim glow. Although he hadnât been here in a long time, KaidÃŦn knew his way around. This was a place he often came to escape the chaos of his regular life. Here, listening to the sound of the sea, often served as a balm for his aching heart.It was also the first gift given to him by Father, right after he completed his program at the Belly of the Beast.The thought made him groan again as he kicked open the bedroom door and entered. Gently, he laid Nox down and leaned forward to watch his sleeping features, so peaceful and carefree. KaidÃŦn pressed his lips to Nox's forehead, then tucked him under the covers before turning away and exiting the bedroom. He secured the front door with a passcode