Vague memories. A family gathering.
Smiles exchanged, laughter bouncing through the house.
That was the sound the young teenager in our point of view could hear.
Alone in his room, he dreamed of being part of that gathering.
He descended the stairs, hesitant. When he reached the family gathered below, everything went silent.
All eyes were on him.
…Just as I thought. There's no way they want me here. I don't belong in their world… and they don't belong in mine. Except you…
His gaze fell on a little girl.
The only one still looking at him. She smiled warmly and mimed a kiss with her fingertips.
…Except you, Marta. You're the only one who sees me as human in this family. You're my only family.
He let out a sigh.
Alright, I'll get dressed and head out, let them get back to their good mood… and not ruin Marta's afternoon.
⸻
Conor watched the cousin.
"Silas… even his name is… kinda scary."
Marta smiled.
"Not a bad name, right?"
Conor stared.
"It's definitely not ordinary."
Silas finished his training session as the sun set.
"Marta, get home before it gets too dark."
Then, turning to Conor:
"You, sleep early. Wake-up at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow."
Marta grabbed her bag and walked away.
"5:30?! For what?!" Conor exclaimed, dumbfounded.
She smiled as she left the room.
"Bye, boys. See you soon!"
"See you, Marta."
Silas was putting his gear away.
"Conor, I get up at 5:30 every day. I run ten kilometers, then come back, and start a strength training"
Conor froze.
"What??!!!"
Silas continued calmly:
"And in the afternoon, nap time? No nap. Combat training during the hottest part of the day. Nothing better to destroy your lungs and boost muscular endurance."
Conor was speechless.
Silas lay down casually and concluded:
"That's what we'll be doing together starting tomorrow. Good night."
Conor rushed to his room.
Shit! I need to sleep fast, or I'm not surviving his training!
⸻
The next morning.
Conor was deep asleep when a voice screamed:
"WAKE UP, I SAID!!!"
A bucket of ice-cold water hit his face.
He shot up from the bed.
"WHAT?! WHAT??!! WHAT'S GOING ON?!"
"It's 5:32!!! Move!!!" Silas yelled.
Half-asleep, Conor mumbled:
"Y-Yeah! Coming!"
Minutes later, they were running side by side through the streets.
But very quickly, Silas surged ahead, his breathing perfectly steady.
This isn't normal… how is he doing this?! I can't keep up… I'm gonna die.
When they finally returned home, Conor was a wreck.
"Hurry, we're moving on to strength training," Silas said calmly, as if nothing had happened.
Silas went through the exercises without a hint of fatigue.
Conor struggled, body trembling.
"Straighten your back, lift your hips, what are these push-ups?!"
"Chin above the bar, otherwise it's not a pull-up!"
"Go lower on the dips, push your chest forward, engage your triceps and shoulders!"
"Look at the floor during the plank!"
"Squat deeper, that doesn't count!"
"Legs higher, your abs will never burn like that!"
The session lasted until total exhaustion.
Conor collapsed, unable to move.
Silas calmly ate his breakfast.
Conor managed to get up.
"I'll take a shower…"
"Quick. We're heading out soon," Silas replied without looking up.
"To go where?"
"Your school. I want to see their faces."
Conor froze.
"But! Almost all the students are either Osiris members or trying to join them !"
Silas fixed him with a cold stare.
"Is that supposed to stop me? Hurry up and take a shower."
Conor swallowed hard and ran into the bathroom.
Minutes later, they left the apartment.
Conor, holding a piece of bread in his mouth, grumbled:
Damn, didn't have time to eat. Just made a tuna sandwich.
Silas didn't respond.
Arriving near the school, all eyes immediately fell on Conor.
Silas noticed.
"I don't have a student card. You go in the front, I'll go behind. I'm climbing the wall."
"But it's huge!" Conor exclaimed.
"Doesn't matter," Silas replied before disappearing down the alley.
Their paths split.
Conor entered through the front doors.
The stares were heavy, threatening.
"Why is he coming back!"
"He's gonna get hurt…"
"I'm out, don't wanna see this!"
He walked nervously, trying to reach the other side of the building, when a voice called out:
"Hey! You're Conor, right?!"
Three students approached, looking provocative.
"Why are you back at school, Conor? Wanna end up underwear??!!"
Conor clenched his fists.
Damn, I need to find Silas… But these assholes… how dare they talk to me like this?!
He stepped forward.
"Yeah, it's me, Conor. Problem?!"
One of them moved in front of him.
"Yeah. Big problem… You're coming with us. No trouble, no fight"
Then another one Said
"You try Something and we bit the shit out of you !"
He grabbed Conor by the collar.
Conor felt the tension rise, while other students started to watch.