Kade
I froze in my tracks the moment she threw herself on the ground and grabbed my boot, pleading with me not to reject her.
Bold of her.
So bold of her to think that I was going to change my mind because of her actions. Begging was irritating and it made me more ruthless. I fought the urge to toss her aside as her slender hands brought dirt to my sparkling black boot.
I closed my eyes, as my mind wandered to the past, remembering the torture sessions I passed through because I begged.
“Ahh!” I screamed in anguish as the horsewhip landed on my naked body that dripped sweat and blood. I shook the table in an attempt to escape but I was already trapped in it, as my body was tied firmly to it.
“Please, stop beating me, it hurts,” I pleaded, hoping my father would harken to my voice and withdraw the whip but he proved me wrong by lashing me three more times.
“Stop begging, Arcade!” His mean voice vibrated throughout the room, making me want to run away cowardly into a hole like a rat and curl up in fear.
Arcade.
My family and a few close friends knew me as Arcade, but only my parents refer to me as Arcade, others referred to me as Kade, which I preferred.
“Please,” I whispered weakly, hoping he wouldn’t hear it but his ears were the sharpest as they caught what I said in time and responded to my pleas with four more lashes.
“Begging makes you weak, Arcade!” He angrily lashed me again, making me scream in pain as the whip cut through an injury, making blood ooze from it, but my father didn’t care. All he was concerned about was raising a ruthless son, just like his father raised him.
“I didn’t fucking raise a weakling,” His arid hand found its way to my jaws as his fingers dug into them, shaking them violently, ignoring the unconsciousness that slowly crept into me.
I kept quiet, watching him as tears fell past my eyes, staining his hands. My heart skipped three beats as my eyes widened in fear, knowing I had just angered my father.
Nothing ignites his anger like crying.
He always preached to me that tears were a sign of weakness and I should avoid weakness like a plague.
I tried to blink back the tears in my eyes as fast as I could and clean the tears on my father’s eyes but a deafening slap landed on my face, causing my ears to ring noisily.
“How dare you show how vulnerable you are?!” I cowered in fear as his intimidating figure towered me, “Is that how I trained you?” He asked in anger as I shook my head negatively, biting my lips to avoid a cry escaping from them.
“Be strong, Arcade. Never show people how vulnerable you are even if you are at the point of breaking,” He hit my chest repeatedly, “Learn to confuse your enemies, don’t let your countenance give you away,”
I sniffed, sucking my breath as his words began to make an impact on me.
“Lastly son, never let anyone know your next move,” I watched his lips move swiftly as he made an attempt to hit me with his elbow, but his hand stopped on my head, stroking my hair.
“Never let anyone know my next move,” I repeated to myself slowly with my eyes closed as if meditating, clenching my jaws as hard as I could as I could no longer feel the tears in my eyes. My body was now immune to the pain inflicted on me as my soul began to embrace ruthlessness.
“That is my son, that is my Arcade,” A sinister smile crept upon his lips as he patted my back, pleased with the changes I made.
A whip landed on bruised skin, this time, instead of screaming in pain as I had always done, I laid still, swallowing the pain without making a sound with my face devoid of emotions.
“Arise, Arcade, the true son of Otto,” He embraced me, losing the ropes that held me bound. I rose up, feeling stronger than ever as my father slowly turned me into the monster I was.
“Please,” I heard her lovely voice whisper into the wind, bringing me back to reality.
The voice that strangely brought calmness to my soul.
She was stupid to think that begging will change my mind.
The moment her teary gaze met mine, I shivered.
Those sharp amber coloured eyes that reflected under the bright full moon. The glittering tears added more sparks to her eyes as they shone brightly and I could swear that it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
Her sweet scent wafted my nose again, intoxicating me, making me want to sniff her crazily. The gentle breeze that tousled the long hair that rested on her waist made me want to run my hands through it, feeling its softness.
She wiped her tears with the back of her palm and sniffed with her small nose still looking at me with those beautiful eyes.
The sight took my breath away and I felt guilty for causing her pain and making her cry.
At once, the burning desire to have her in my arms, console her and plant a reassuring kiss on her perfectly shaped crimson lips filled me.
Beyond her pathetic look, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
I shook my head, trying to shake the weird feeling off me. I had never felt this way toward anyone.
I moved away from her, allowing her body to fall on the ground, “What is your name?” I asked as I shamelessly gave in to the urge to hear her melodious voice once again.
“But I just told you,”
“I mean your birth name given to you by your parents,”
“Oh,” Her voice shook as silence filled the air again.
Has she forgotten her real name?
Was she used to Omega that she couldn’t remember what her parents call her?
“Esmeralda, Esmeralda is my name,” Her voice quivered as she bowed her head, expecting the worst.
“Esmeralda,” I repeated slowly as if tasting the name on my tongue.
I like the sound.
Sweet scent with a melodious voice, crowned with a beautiful name.
“Follow me, Esmeralda!” I ordered, turning my back to her immediately without leaving any room for questions.