Chapter 28

Ethan removed his gauntlet in a hurry, he pushed it gently onto Castiel and didn't bother to look back, his legs lifted and crashed down at an incredible speed. He went out of the entry, flew down the stairs, sliding down the banisters to avoid colliding with the group. It was a race between him and the momentary gust of wind.

Just before his hand could touch the wooden door, it opened. He lost his balance and immediately leaned on the walls for support. Looking up, Ethan saw a familiar white pale face. Dark empty void irises, the white of his eyes could barely be seen. Killan raised his arm and held the door tightly. 

"Where do you think you are going during training time?" Killan questioned in a demanding tone, it seems as if he wouldn't let Ethan off without a proper excuse. His palms were ready to strike down Ethan if the younger were to be foolish and take a bold step forward. 

Ethan gritted his teeth and formed a fist with his right hand, contemplating whether he should execute such a reckless move. He released and formed a small smile on his obviously frustrated face.  "Aren't I allowed to take a slight breather? After all, I do deserve it after all my hardwork becoming a high ranking member." he stated.

Killan eyes did not waver one bit by the excuse, his lips twisted into a smirk as he released a treacherous chuckle. His face turned back to his usual expression as he placed his fingers over his face, tapping. "There's no need to be so eager to meet him. You'll see him soon." he knew. He knew that Zephyr had came by, he knew that Ethan was chasing after him. He was a liar.

"So you knew that he was still here all along?" Ethan asked with a lot of anger in his words. He was slowly getting louder. His loud voice echoed in the building.

"I didn't say he wasn't." Killan replied immediately. He walked into the building and past a trembling Ethan. "Run after him if you wish but he has certainly disappeared by now. Go back to training and get better, Detonator has high expectations for your first mission outside." 

After the loud footsteps of Killan were out of Ethan's hearing range, the boy stomped out of the building. Not to look for Zephyr but to scream. As loud as he could manage. He ran and ran- without a goal in mind this time around. A little escape, enough to release his anger. Why did Zephyr not come back for them? Why did everyone wanted to use him as if he was a puppet on a string? Why were the high expectations needed for him? He didn't want to be born this way, he didn't want to feel this way.

Ethan's vision turned blurry while it slowly got darker. Yelling and whimpering was heard very faintly. He looked down and saw something strange. Something that was supposedly meant to be his hands were smaller than he remembered. It also looked fragile. Before he could fixate on his figure more, he heard a voice that made his heart race. 

His dad screamed at the top of his lungs, spouting a million curses that weren't suitable for a young child to listen to. It was soon followed by a large slap sound. A string of crying sounds echoed outside the wooden cabinet. What was that..? The young boy felt around and realised he was in one of the large cabinets of his parent's room. He couldn't remember a single thing. He was about to push open the door before he heard a loud thud. The door slammed shut even tighter. 

"Don't get out, Ethan dear. Stay a while more. Please." a soft gentle hoarse female voice whispered, her desperation was clear. She sounded like she was out of breath, breathing heavily between each phrase.

The young Ethan sat still as a statue almost immediately. He held his breath. What was father doing? How could he do this to mother? Why is this...happening?

"You bitch. Come back here!" his father roared. Stomping sounds echoed and a yell for help was heard. Then it all went silent.

Ethan slowly pushed open the wooden door, his eyelids were closed but light dominated the opened dark cabinet. He pushed himself up to his knees that were red and bruised. Looking around there was no trace of his parents. Should he have stopped father? What would happen to mother now?

Then footsteps started ringing in his ear. His eyes zoomed to the doorway immediately. He was trembling. A tall man with neatly pushed back rusty white hair stood there with a concerned expression, he gracefully rushed over with a cloth hanging on one arm.

"Young master, what happened?" the old butler asked, placing his hand on his young master's shoulder to offer comfort.

"Don't you dare touch me." Ethan responded, backing off and slapping the butler's hand. "Where's my father?" he demanded.

The butler backed off slightly before looking at the doorway and sighed. "I don't think it'd be wise to tell you." he disobeyed.

Ethan gritted his teeth, his eyes forming a glare. "Just because my mum was kind and allowed you to be at my side like a grandfather doesn't mean you're one." he took one step forward closer and held out his hand. "The keys to the master room. Give it to me."

The butler wanted to deny the request but when he saw Ethan's face, fear took over. He resembled his father far too well. It was as if he was seeing a younger version of Mr Lozano. Their short tempers were exactly the same. He reached into his back pocket and took out a ring of keys, not daring to make eye contact. The keys were snatched off immediately.

Ethan ran upstairs, he was out of breath but he had to keep going. It felt like he was always running. From responsibilities, fears and to his only source of happiness. He knew the extent of father's anger, it was terrifying. He witnessed all that because father told him it was necessary in order to become the heir. Father was not afraid to kill. All because he had power.

He reached the room and immediately flicked his fingers to the right key. It was the biggest one. He jammed it in the keyhole and turned it with brute force. The door opened before he could even reach for the handle. Father had opened it and he was now looking at the child with a bright smile, filled with glee. His large rough hands were stained by a red liquid while scratches of resistance filled his arm all the way round.

"Fath-er" Ethan choked on his words. "Where's mother..?" he hesitantly asked.

Mr. Lozano gently scooped Ethan into the room and covered the boy's eyes with a cloth. He tied it tightly before walking away. The boy stayed silent while he heard the familiar whimpers of his mother; however, it sounded muffled. The blindfold slipped off and a horrific sight unveiled itself.

Father slashed mother's throat with a small pocket knife. Her mouth was stitched by a red thread. Her arms were bound by a rope. Her eyes were opened widely and she hadn't blinked once. Was she..dead?

"Watch child." The cruel man ordered. He raised the knife up and stabbed it into one of her eye sockets. Blood shot out like a water faucet. He laughed wickedly. It continued on and on. How long has it been?

Ethan sat down on the floor, his legs went limp. He did not dare move. Overtaken by fear. His father was a monster. Filthy and brutal. A monster. 

Father walked over and forced Ethan to look up, grabbing him by the chin. Mother laid lifelessly on the chair like a ragged doll. She died. She's dead. She's gone. Just like that.

"Mrs Lozano died on 8 March 2035. A fitting date. Especially on the exact same day you were born 5 years ago, right Ethan?" The monster asked.

Ethan sat there silently while one single tear fell from his eye. The monster caved in even closer and whispered, "You're my dear child. I would never hurt you. Your mother committed an unforgivable sin. Therefore, a fitting punishment. However, any mistakes you make, my child, will be forgiven. How could I hurt my own kind? So act as spoiled as you want, cause you're on top of the pyramid."

"Yes, father." Ethan spoke, sounding like he was losing his mind. He indeed was. All the chaos was too much for a 5 year old to handle.