Departure

I woke up in my mother's bed, covered in a thin blanket that acted as a layer of protection against the cold night air. Despite the chill permeating throughout our house, I was profusely sweating. She was kneeling on the floor next to me, resting her head on the mattress.

I slid off the bed, and laid the blanket over her. Her hair was covering most of her face, and she was drooling a little. I couldn't help but smile. The kind of innocent, joyous smile a child would have while exploring a candy shop.

My mother deserved more than this. My smile faded, and I resolved myself. Whatever this world had in store for me, whatever happens from now, I wanted to protect her.

I stumbled towards the window and pulled back the curtains. A gust of freezing wind blew into the room, causing my body to tremble as shivers travelled down my spine.

Black clouds covered the night sky. A shallow layer of fog seeped into the village, further obscuring visibility. I could barely make out the dirt road in front of our house, but nothing beyond that. I closed the window and crept over to the doorway. Creeeak.

Tabitha stirred a bit in her sleep, but didn't wake up. I sighed in relief, and tiptoed into the hallway.

"Lance Greyworth, just in time... is your mother sleeping?"

A monstrous silhouette was glaring at me from the end of the hallway, standing in front of the main entrance. The sound of a dull thud consumed the corridor as the man dropped a large backpack onto the floor. The sky flashed white as lightning struck overhead, revealing his identity.

Ervin Greyworth, my father.

"Boy. You are to answer, when asked." His voice echoed in my head.

The air was filled with malice. The grotesque smell of blood seeped into my nose - a bitter scent, with a hint of rusted metal. He had just returned from the battlefield.

He took one step forward.

"I... I-- She's... Yes. She's- she's asleep." I stammered.

Ervin continued forward, his heavy footsteps ringing in my ears. He snatched a small coat off the rack and hurled it towards me. It slammed into my face and fell onto the floor.

I didn't know what this phenomenon was, but being around this man wiped out my adult consciousness and left me as nothing but a frightened child. His black, lifeless hair had grown down to his shoulders. His cold, empty eyes peered into my very soul, enveloping my being in perpetual darkness.

I felt this way each time he came home, but this time... was different... his cruel gaze was now solely fixated on me.

One glance was all it took. I quickly grabbed the coat off the ground and wrapped it around myself.

"Good... come. We're leaving." He turned around, and exited the house, leaving the door partly open on his way out.

I gulped, slipping on my torn leather shoes. I didn't want to go with him. My legs pushed me upright, as if another force was controlling my movements. I wanted to stay here. My feet took two steps. Anything but this...

I looked to the right, through the gap in the doorway. She was still fast asleep. That was the last thing I remembered about her... how peaceful she looked in that final moment.