This... this... this blood. It isn't mine.Why me?WHY ONLY ME! It's always me suffering...
"Keirum! Come downstairs, it's time for breakfast!"A black-haired youth with pale skin and a scar above his right eye charged down the flight of stairs. He ran past canvases as he descended. Reaching the dining room, he saw his little sister; today was her birthday.A smile plastered his face—a grin that went from ear to ear. He ran up to her, still beaming.
"Happy 6th birthday, Iris!"
"Thank you, big brother!"
As I locked her in a tight embrace, I caught a whiff of Mom's shampoo. I whispered into her ear,
"Iris, you know you can't use Mama's shampoo. You'll get in trouble just like last time."
"But brother," she whispered back, "it smells so good."
"Keirum and Iris!"
At the sound of that voice, my head snapped around. Standing behind me was a woman with dark brown hair and pale skin, dressed in a mix of black and white. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating her face through her hair; she was beautiful. This was my mother.
"Yes?~" Iris and I said in sync.
"So, you've been using my shampoo, huh?"
"Yes," Iris muttered, staring at the ground as she braced for the scolding.
"Haven't I told you not to use my shampoo?"
"Mama, shouldn't you forgive her? It's her birthday. Please?"
As she locked eyes with me, I noticed her glance at my scar for a second. She took a deep breath and looked at both of us, her eyes showing a hint of amusement.
"Go sit at the table," she said, rolling her eyes.
Iris and I yelled "Yay!" at the same time. We looked at each other and chuckled as we took our seats. A plate of French toast and eggs lay there, waiting to be devoured.
"French toast and eggs! My favorite!"
As I started to dig in, I noticed Mom staring at me with a smirk.
"Yes, Mama?"
"It's nothing," she said with a smile. "It's just... you've grown up to look just like your father. You're only twelve, and yet you're his image.
"A blurry memory erupted in my mind—a distant person I barely remembered. My emotions felt blunt. I didn't know how I should feel; I didn't remember him as well as I should. My mom told me he loved me a lot, but that wasn't what I remembered.I remembered a room filled with smoke and flames causing havoc all around me. A single person stood on the opposite side of the fire. As he grabbed my baby sister, our eyes met. I couldn't see much, but I knew who it was. How couldnt I? How could I not know my own father?As he looked at me, his lips started to move. I couldn't hear anything over the raging flames and the debris falling from the ceiling, but I knew what he said. He mouthed only one word:
"Disappointment."
Then he turned around and left me alone, trapped in a tornado of fire.
Mom grabbed my face, noticing I wasn't smiling anymore.
"Do you miss him, baby?"
As his lips stayed shut. She pulls him in for a hug, then walked away, saying,
"Eat up."
I started to frown, but then I noticed the TV remote. We had a mini TV in the kitchen. As I turned it on, the screen flickered in black and white. Oh my god, why does this happen every time? Just as I finished the thought, it let out a screeching sound. I grabbed the antennas and wiggled them until the picture finally cleared.
"Urgent news: scientists have found something suspicious in our galaxy. They say it looks like a spear..."
Looking down at the remote, I swapped the channel to a cartoon Iris and I loved.
"He-Man!" Iris shouted.
"Yes, yes, I know. I was just going to that."
As i watch them bicker over what show they want to watch i can feel the corners of my lips shoot up, while watching them. not know how to show how proud of them i am. to be there mother
I love looking at my two kids, even if they aren't actually mine. As i watched them click through the channels, i notice Keirum's arm as his sleeve fell slightly. Instantly, a frown plastered my face, as my whole being starts to tremble. The sight of the burn scars covering his wrist was freaky—it even disgusted me.
No! No, don't think that, i told myself. How could you think of your son that way?
Slap!
Keirum and Iris looked toward their mom, concerned. Her face was red, marked by her own handprint.
"Mama, why did you do that?" Iris asked with a frown.
"No, no, baby, it's nothing. Don't worry about it. Eat up," she said, forcing a smile.
Later that night
"Happy birthday to you,
happy birthday to you,
happy birthday dear Iris,
happy birthday to you!"
"Make a wish, Iris!" Keirum said with delight.
Swoosh.
As the six candles that illuminated the room went out one by one, the family of three laughed together. Meanwhile, the TV in the living room flashed red.Warning! Warning! Warning!It flickered over and over, then suddenly turned off. All the lights in the house went with it.
"Mama, the lights won't turn on,"
Keirum said.
"Umm, baby, hold on. I'll go check the power box. Stay with your sister."
As she walked away, I felt a little mischievous. I rubbed my hands together.
"Brother? Where are you? I can't see you!"
I chuckled and began to creep around Iris. As soon as I got behind her, I yelled,
"Roar!"
Iris spun around instantly. In the dim light, I saw her big brown eyes start to water. she dove into my chest, hugging me so tight I couldn't breathe.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry! No need to cry, Iris. You're safe,"I said, embracing her.
"Kids? Where are you two?"
"Over here, Mama!" Iris finally spoke.
"I don't know why, but it seems we have a power outage. Come with me, you two."
"Okay, Mama," we both said,
following her voice.As we reached the front porch, we saw a crowd of people looking around.
"Mama, I think the whole block is out."
"Yeah, I think so too," she said, scowling.
"Look at the sky, big brother!" Iris said, tugging my sleeve.
As I looked up, my eyes reflected the view above. Countless stars engulfed the sky—some shining like the sun, others as dark as obsidian. We could only see the dark ones because of the light reflecting off them.
"Mama, that isn't normal... right?"
"Get inside, babies," she said, pulling us through the door.
I took one last look back and saw our neighbors rushing into their homes.Boom. Mom slammed the door and told us to go to our rooms.
"Mama, is everything okay?" Iris asked, worried.
"Yes, baby, don't worry. Keirum! Take your sister up to your room. Make sure she stays safe. No questions!"
I looked at her questioningly but replied, "Okay, I will, Mama. I promise."
As I entered my room holding my sister's hand, I vowed to protect her.
An hour later"
Iris, get under the covers. It's starting to get cold without the heat on. I don't want you to get sick."
"Okay, brother
...
Brother? I'm scared. What do you think is happening? Are we going to be okay?"
"I don't know, sister, but you will be okay. I promise to protect you," I said, puffing out my chest.
"Hahaha, brother, you're so goofy."
...
"Whatever... get some rest, Iris. Everything should be better tomorrow."
"Okay, big brother. Goodnight."She snuggled closer to me and I smiled.
I will protect you, Iris, no matter what. I brushed her hair until the frown on her face faded and she fell asleep.
Boom!
I snapped my eyes open at the loud noise from downstairs. How long had I been asleep? When did I even drift off? My eyes shot to the end of the bed where my sister lay. I took a breath of relief; she was a restless sleeper and had moved away from me, but she was safe.Where is Mama? I wondered.I carefully moved Iris's hand from my leg, trying not to wake her. I reached the stairs I had charged down that morning.
Crunch.
I heard a crunching noise, like someone eating with their mouth open. I rounded the corner at the bottom of the steps.
"Mama? What are you doing? Why are you eating so loud?"
Crunch.
As my eyes adjusted to the light in the dining room, I saw it. Something that was never supposed to be a possibility. Something that was out of a bad dream. something a twelve-year-old should never think of, or even see. This was the person I've known my whole life—someone who had shown me unconditional love from my earliest memory. My twelve-year-old mind can barely comprehend what my eyes are seeing. Laying there was my own mother... pieces of my own mother. And there was that tall, green monster, satisfying its hunger on her flesh.
"Mama... where are your legs? Why are you covered in red?"
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
As the repeated noise of his mother's bones being gnawed on echoes, something breaks within the twelve-year-old boy.
Crunch!
As he looks at his mother's face, he sees something terrifying. She is looking right at me. Laying there was his mother, whose eyes were staring directly into his being.
Crunch!
That noise knocks me out of my stupor. As I lock eyes with her, my will crumbles.
Crunch!
A blood-curdling scream erupts from the depths of this twelve-year-old soul.
"MAMA!"
As the boy starts to scream, the green, humanoid monster stands up and faces him. Its dark red eyes make the boy shudder with fear, silencing him instantly. It is a grotesque monster with claws as sharp as knives and teeth like daggers, a human foot still hanging from the middle of its maw. It starts to walk toward him.
Thud.
I can't breathe. I can't breathe.
Thud.
I can't breathe. Someone help me.As the monster moves toward him, his mother—on the final thread of her life—screams,
"RUN! KERIUM, RUN!"
Hearing that, he finally breaks out of his trance. He falls and claws at the ground, trying to get up to follow his mother's last command.
Thump.
As the monster gets closer, he screams,
"STAY AWAY FROM ME! SOMEONE HELP ME!"
Finally finding his feet, he starts to run back up the stairs, sobbing.
Thump. Thump.
Grabbing the railing, he rushes up the stairs to the only safe place he knows: his room.
Boom!
As he slams the door, he takes a deep breath.
"Brother... what's the matter?"
Looking at his sister, who is rubbing her eyes, his world finally shatters. In his panic and his attempt to run away, he had forgotten his dear sister sleeping in his bed.
Thump. Thump.
Hearing the steps getting closer, he runs over to his sister, crying.
"IRIS, HIDE!" he yells.
"Brother, what is the matt—"
Cutting her off, he yanks her off the bed and tries to shove her underneath it.
"Brother, stop! You're hurting me!"
Boom!
The door flies off its hinges. The green abomination stands in the doorway, menacing, its red eyes locked on Iris.
"Brother? What is that?" Iris asks.
"GO AWAY!" Kerium says, shoving his sister behind him.
Thump."
Brother, I'm scared."
"LEAVE US ALONE!"
Kerium screams.As the red-eyed monster gets closer and closer, his heart starts to shudder with fear. He looks around for something—anything—that can save him and his sister.
Thump.
"SOMEONE HELP!"
As the monster stops right in front of him, Kerium charges at it. As he does, the monster raises its hand. An intense fear washes over him.
BOOM.
Huh. I couldn't even see his hand move. Crash. As his body hits the wall, he feels utterly helpless.How... someone help me. It hurts... my head hurts. Looking up at the thing that did this to him, his gaze locks onto his sister. No, no, no. Someone please. Someone help my sist—
Everything went black.
A NOTE FROM CRESCENTMADNESS
this novel will be really dark. its thats not for everyone, there will be a lot of horrable stuff if that doesnt fit what your looking for leave.