“I was just wondering what my father had to question you about. He refuses to tell me anything.” Vaeri responded with a slightly annoyed look on her face.

Ruith sighed and decided to explain what had happened. He really wanted to sleep.

Once he finished, the girl looked shocked.

“I can’t believe he never told me about this. Well thank you Ruith, for telling me.”

He nodded. 

“Now, I’m very tired, so if you would please…” Ruith glanced at the door. He knew it was a bit rude, but Vaeri seemed to understand.

As soon as she left he blew out the lamp, instantly passing out when his head hit the pillow.

A scene formed in his mind.

Ruith sat across from a massive man that looked like a much older and muscular version of him. His father.

They sat on the floor of an abandoned building, one that had surprisingly not been destroyed. The furniture had all been broken however, and it was mostly empty.

The two were eating slightly stale pieces of bread with a bit of cheese.

“Sorry Ruith. This was all I could get today. Those damned bastards lowered our pay again…”

His fathers voice was filled with anger, but softened when he looked back at Ruith.

“Good news though, I’ve almost saved enough to send you to school for at least a few months!” His father quickly became happy. There was only so much he knew and could teach to his son himself.

“Really? Where is it?” Ruith’s voice was excited and sounded a bit younger, being only 14.

“Ah, it’s on the edge of the slums. Should be a lot of kids your age there.”

They continued eating in silence for a bit, the mood considerably better.

But suddenly, distant screams resounded from outside and there was a crashing noise.

Ruith’s father bolted to his feet and stood still, listening.

“Shit. Ruith stay right here.”

His father moved to the door and opened it, looking outside. But he closed it almost as soon as he opened it.

“DAMN IT! Ruith, it’s a breach. The Voidborne may be heading this way.” His voice sounded panicked, and he walked back to Ruith.

“Stay quiet no matter what you hear outside, they may pass us by.”

The crashing noises and screams grew nearer. The sound of hurried footsteps passed by the door. 

The screams continued, no doubt many had already died a terrible death.

Slow steps sounded outside the door. An animalistic growl sounded.

Ruith’s father held him tighter, not daring to even breathe.

And then the Voideborne slammed against the door, instantly shattering it.

A massive black furred wolf. Much larger than a normal wolf should’ve been.

Its eyes were completely black, scanning the room.

And then it noticed the two.

“SHIT RUITH, RUN!” His fathers voice boomed and the wolf snarled, launching itself towards them.

The doorway was too small for the wolf, but that didn’t stop it. The stone shattered like an explosion had occurred.

In a second the creature had reached his father, who stood in front of Ruith. 

It opened its maw filled with sharp teeth to bite, but Ruith’s father dodged, slamming a fist into the side of the monster's head. It stumbled a bit.

Ruith was paralyzed in fear. He wanted to move. Why couldn’t he move?

Seeing the wolf stumbling a glimmer of hope appeared in him. 

But deep down he knew that it was already a lost battle. His father had black core, and his ability simply improved his strength and durability a bit.

The wolf swiped at his father with a paw, and the massive man shot into the wall, groaning. The wolf moved closer to Ruith who was shivering in fear and about to wet his pants.

BOOM!

His father slammed into the side of the wolf, taking its attention away from him.

“RUITH! GET OUT OF HERE RIGHT FUCKING NOW!” 

The roar made his ears hurt, and he was finally able to move. He looked at his father and the wolf. He wanted to help.

But he ran. What could he possibly do? He was a scrawny boy that didn’t even have an ability.

Tears flowed from his eyes and he sobbed, though he tried to stay quiet. He knew his father would die.

He kept running until he was almost a mile away, hiding in a collapsed building where he continued to sob.

“Ugh!” 

Ruith startled awake, covered in sweat. The light of the sunrise bathed his room. He rubbed his face, sighing.

‘That stupid fucking nightmare again…’