Vipers confraternity

*nine years ago*

After the arson that killed his family, Skylar was the only surviving soul that was spared from the flames of the fire that spread vastly across the Mansion. He didn't know how it was possible but the smoke from the fire made him unconscious and the next thing he knew, he was in the hospital waiting to be operated on.

Almost all parts of his body were not spared. Every single part hurt. But nothing hurt more than the voices he heard outside of his room.

"That bastard survived. All my plans will go to waste if he comes to inherit what I've laboured so hard for" Skylar heard Mr. Sylvester say to the person he was in cohorts with. He didn't check the other person's identity to not arouse suspicion that he was awake in case he slips.

 "We need to act fast. Maybe we can pay off one of the nurses to inject one of those drugs that freeze one's heart. It will kill him immediately he enters cardiac arrest" the other man said in a deep baritone voice that was set to only him. Skylar made sure to engrave the way it sounded into his memory, he will never forget it and haunt whoever the accomplice was.

 Skylar knew he had to leave the hospital immediately if not, he'll be dead before he even knows it. With much struggle, he stood up on his feet and walked to the window of his room. He was on the fourth floor of the hospital so the outcome of jumping will be the same as waiting here for Mr. Sylvester and his partner to kill him.

He tied any piece of clothing he could find to form a rope. His left hand was burnt badly so he had to use his teeth to draw the other end of the knot. He threw the improvised rope out the window. After doing all this successfully, he finally got to the first floor without any complications.

As he was about to leave the hospital premises a nurse sighted him and rushed towards him. "Where are you going, young man? you have severely burnt" the elderly nurse who seemed to be in her early fifties said to him. Skylar didn't reply and kept moving forward with only one thing in his mind–to escape from here.

 The nurse kept calling out to him but he didn't answer. When he had already gone out of the premises, that was when the nurse realized that the young man was serious.

Worried, she called for an alarm and alerted the other nurses. The news that a teenager who was burnt badly escaped spread around the hospital and a search team began looking for Skylar. The news reached Mr. Sylvester also but he doubted it was Skylar because Skylar was burnt badly and that was enough to prevent him from moving, the kind of pain it'll cause him was unbearable.

"We still need to be sure it's not Skylar. It's better to be safe than sorry" His accomplice said. They quickly opened the door to find the bed empty and a string of clothing tied to one of the bedposts and leading to the first floor.

"Oh shit!" M..r. Sylvester said as soon as he saw the room. "That bastard escaped what are we going to do now," he said to his partner.

The partner took out his cellphone and made a call, "search the whole vicinity for that Skylar, he has escaped. He has burns all over so I'm sure it'll be easier to find him. Once you do kill him on the spot!"

Skylar laid in a bush near the hospital trying to recover his breath. Every little step he took felt like he had run three Laps in a setting. There was no way he was going to the Police, those people can be easily bought off or rather still, stall till he's dead and the case will be closed.

He still couldn't believe how someone you trusted and treated like a brother will be so wicked as to set your whole family ablaze. Coupled with how tired he was and the walk he had just done he fell asleep.

~~~

"Oh my god are you alright?!" a young girl said as she shook Skylar furiously to get him to wake up. She was with a group of her friends in uniforms, seems like they were on their way to school.

"What do we do now, is he dead?" one of her friends said. Another girl went forward to check his pulse "he's still alive" she said. "Let me call my father, I'm sure some of his men are watching me," the young girl said as she took her phone to call her dad. Just as she said, some of his men were watching her and they came immediately and took Skylar to the hospital.

"Phoebe are you alright?" A man worriedly asked when he entered Skylar's ward.

"I'm alright dad" the young girl, Phoebe, who brought Skylar to the hospital, replied. As soon as the man saw Skylar he went blank.

"Do you know him, dad?" Phoebe questioned when she noticed the look on her father's face.

"Why would I?" her father said as he changed his expression. "I'm just shocked about his burns that's all".

"Yeah, he was burnt everywhere, even on the side of his face" Phoebe sadly voiced. "It didn't hide how handsome he is though" she giggled.

 "Oh, he's moving dad!" Phoebe gasped as she noticed Skylar trying to open his eyes.

Skylar was still trying to figure out his surroundings when a young girl's voice sounded. He scanned the surroundings with his eyes and figured he was in a hospital. He was wrapped in bandages from head to toe leaving only the side of his face open. He looked like a mummy.

 "Are you alright? does it hurt anywhere?" The young girl asked. "I'm Phoebe by the way" she continued without letting Skylar reply to any of her previous questions.

 Skylar just kept looking at her like she was speaking a foreign language.

"I and my friends found you in a bush and my dad's men brought you to the hospital" She explained further to get Skylar comfortable. Skylar was still apprehensive towards people, he couldn't trust them easily after what he had been through.

"Phoebe could you give me a minute with the stranger, I would like to have a word with him," Phoebe's dad said. He wanted to confirm if Skylar was who he thought he was. Phoebe gave Skylar one last look before heading out of the room.

"I'm Benedict Fisher" Phoebe's dad started by introducing himself. He waited for some seconds and when Skylar didn't reply, he added "keeping mute is not the solution. I need you to say something so I can know how I can be of help".

"Skylar Kim," Skylar said. "My name is Skylar Kim" He repeated. This confirmed Benedict's suspicion. This was the man the head of their confraternity was looking for. He was torn between telling the head of the confraternity that he has found him and saving Skylar. The boy looked so helpless and pitiful even though he was putting on that farce. After much thought, he decided to report to the head of the confraternity, after all, he owed him so much.

 He went out of the room and met Phoebe hanging around the door of Skylar's room. "You can go in now, I'll just make a phone call," Benedict said.

 "Wait, dad... Did he tell you his name?" Phoebe's eyes glistened in expectation. "Skylar Kim" Benedict replied before going to make his phone call.

He walked to a quiet corner and dialed his boss's number.

"Hello boss, I think I've found the boy you've been looking for," Benedict said as soon as the call went through.

"Are you sure?" An old man's voice echoed.

"Yes sir. I asked for his name and he told me it was Skylar Kim, isn't he the one you've been looking for?" Benedict asked.

 "Yes, he's the one" the old man replied unenthusiastically.

"Do you want him dead?" Benedict had doubts laced in his voice as his boss did not seem interested in the information he had to offer.

"Don't kill him, I have other plans for him. Since he didn't die it can only mean he is still useful" the old man said. "Tell him about our confraternity and that the confraternity will provide for him henceforth. Get him to confide in you and trust you, know what his plans are" the old man continued.

 "Okay boss, I will do just as you've instructed," Benedict said before the old man hung up. He breathed in and out before heading back to the room. 'What is boss planning' he wondered to himself.

He went into Skylar's room and met his daughter staring intently at Skylar while Skylar looked so unfocused. He sat on a chair close to Skylar's bedside and said "I just spoke with the head of the viper's confraternity and he has decided to take you in" Benedict said and this gained Skylar's attention.

 "You can't be serious dad, they agreed to take him in," Phoebe said with utmost shock.

"Yes they did, so I will need you, Skylar, to open up to me so that I will see where to start helping you. Meanwhile you will be living with me once you are discharged from the hospital". This statement made Phoebe's face lit up immediately. She was so happy.

"What is the viper's confraternity?" Skylar asked. This was the first time Phoebe heard his voice and damn, she was in love.

"With time you would get to know but for now, rest" Benedict replied.