Bury the Duck

It was around a half an hour walk following Ezra through the forest.

'I should've asked what he was doing out here in the first place…

I guess I still can.'

"Hey, seeing as your camp is kinda far away, why'd you come out so far?"

Ezra stopped walking for a second. He was completely silent.

Both Keon and Kadyn were uncomfortable by his reaction.

'Why's he not answering?'

"...Ezra?"

"You should run." He stated, still stationary.

"…What?"

"RUN!"

Suddenly, out of nowhere five creatures surrounded the three.

Kadyn's legs began to tremble while Keon and Ezra both took their stances—ready to defend the group.

Realizing this, Kadyn attempted to do the same. He couldn't afford to be afraid anymore—Not if he wanted to survive—not if he wanted others to survive.

Kadyn lifted his head to see one of the monsters. Its disgusting flesh-like body and beady eyes that never seemed to blink. It emitted a putrid smell and drool dripped from its large, crooked mouth. It was almost lizard-like, crawling on four legs. Yet, it shared human features.

He almost puked making eye contact with the creature.

Flashbacks invaded his mind again—The day where he was too scared to save his mom. While Kadyn was consumed by fear, there was an anger eating away at him.

He hated this creature more than he feared it, and that was enough to—

"Kadyn!"

Keon reached out to Kadyn, but he was already too far.

"K-Kadyn…?"

The monster's arm impaled Kadyn's body.

He began violently coughing out blood, but he held onto the monster's arm and began pathetically beating at it.

"How… Dare… You!" Kadyn screamed through coughs.

He was so angry… So angry that he became stupid… So angry that he began to cry…

Kadyn missed his mom more than anything.

*"Mama…?"*

He knew that his mom wasn't perfect, but he still loved her.

*A silhouette sat at the table, gripping a bottle of beer and sobbing.

Keon was out selling oranges that had happened to grow from a potted tree that the two boys found when their family first bought the apartment—when their dad was still around.

She never ate the oranges Kadyn and Keon picked, and while drunk, she'd always try and get rid of the tree. That's why Kadyn stayed and watched her while Keon was out.

Their father left them with a mountain of debt, and the worst part was that they couldn't hate him for it.

He developed cancer in his 40's, and everyone—Kadyn, Keon, and their mom did their best to get treatment for him. But no matter how hard they tried, the cancer continued to spread throughout his body.

Multiple times their father asked the rest of his family to focus on themselves instead of working so hard, but they insisted on trying.*

***

*Inside the cave near the campfire, Keon grabbed onto Kadyn's shoulder, pulling him into a hug.

"It'll be okay."

But Kadyn only continued to sob.

Although he was trembling, Keon hugged Kadyn tight, reassuring him that it'd be okay.*

'It's a terrible thing when the person you love dearly tells you to give up on them.'

*"Keon, take your brother and get out of here before the monster targets us."*

'Would all three of us still be alive if I ran over there and helped?

Would I even have been able to help?

What should I have don—'

*"You did your best, Kadyn. And I'm sorry…"*

His response wasn't one of support.

*Kadyn continued to sob, digging his nails into Keon's back.*

Keon just decided to accept the fact that his brother was human. And that someone like his little brother should've never had to experience that situation.

This was just an unfortunate situation.

Nothing would've changed had they went back in time.

Yet Kadyn so desperately wanted to bring his mom back. He so desperately wanted to redo everything on that day. He so desperately wanted to kill the monster he saw before him.

And those desires… Were the death of him.