When I was young, the world seemed so simple. Everything seemed so even and fair. I thought life was going to at least be reasonable. Teachers, the very people who are supposed to help the young learn about the world, told us that life is going to be a fun and easy cakewalk... Those idiots need a reality check.
I had a home, it was a nice place with a pool in the back. My parents helped me to lead a modest life, they were humble and kind, with decent jobs that gave them well-deserved pay. My father worked at an airfield as a mechanic, my mother worked for the state as a human services employee. I went to elementary school like any kid my age normally would. But every time we went out in public, my parents warned me to remain in Human Form.
I did not understand why this safety measure was so important at the time. But I would soon learn why in the worst and most agonizing way I thought would be possible.
One day at school, I was kicking a playground ball around in the field that was part of the schoolyard. But before I tell you more about this incident, I must inform you of how hard it is to remain in Human Form for long periods. After at least two to three hours of holding a human profile, it would feel as if I had a very itchy sweater on.
This phenomenon would intensify as time progresses further, but any old Hybron would be able to suppress the annoying symptoms with a considerable amount of concentration. But the worst-case scenario for a Hybron concentrating or struggling to maintain a Human Form is to be scared, surprised, or to be put into a state of shock.
Anyways, I was kicking the bright red rubber ball around on the field. I was contemplating and trying to wrap my mind around the various kids in my school who were disappearing without a trace. At least until a soccer ball drilled me from behind, I was startled indeed. The group of kids who were responsible for this was staring at me wide-eyed, some of them even scowled at me. I scratched my head, wondering why they'd act like that, and found the reason. I felt the ears poking out of my hair, I was not in Human Form. I still thought they were a bunch of weirdos, acting like that.
Later on, I told my parents during dinner about the incident on the field. They both dropped whatever they were holding in disbelief. This was the first time I had ever seen fear in the eyes of my parents.
They sent me to bed like normal, my Mom hugged me more vigorously than usual for some reason that night.
I soon woke up late at night to what seemed to be the sound of breaking glass, but I just tried to go back to sleep thinking it was nothing. But the voices of several male strangers kept me awake. I soon felt something hard under my pillow, I pulled the pillow away to find my early 10th birthday gift. It was a fully loaded six-shot revolver, its silver metal gleamed in the moonlight that leaked through my bedroom window.
There was a note taped onto the handle, it reads…
Some newer-looking handwriting stated...
The reality of the grim scenario sank in, I was dumbstruck at the dawning realization. I shoved the note into my pocket, changed out of my pajamas, and loaded my revolver. I could already hear the distressed voices of my parents. I went out to the living room, three masked men wearing long cloaks were pointing crossbows at my parents in the darkness. A smooth, calm male voice spoke...
"You Hybrin were never supposed to exist, you are therefore an anomaly. He has tried to be merciful about it, but you insolent creatures have evaded redemption. You have defied God's will."
My father spoke...
"If there is such thing as God, then would he let you people murder? Are your crimes justified?"
The three men perked up, offended, they raised their crossbows and pointed them at my parents. The horror of the situation was suffocating, but if I cried, they would hear me. The man yelled...
"You dare to defame the Holy Spirit!?"
My mother cried out, I didn't know that these were to be her last words...
"Exodus page twenty, verse thirteen!! Thou shalt not murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor!!!"
The man interrupted her, he was not fazed, as if he had heard this before...
"Transgressions such as this, will not go...unnoticed..."
It all happened so fast, the man nodded at his companions, they advanced, and they pulled the triggers...
*CHA-GUNK!*
I could not help it, this was all too much, I screamed...
"NO!!! MOM!!! DAD!!!"
My parents, who provided structure, sustenance, and a roof over my head...were killed instantly by the crossbow bolts that ran their heads through. Because of my screaming, the three intruders spun around to face me. Despite the darkness of the very early morning, I could tell that the leader was looking at me with disgust. He looked me over as if analyzing me. He then beckoned me...
"Come now child, your parents are now in paradise, they didn't suffer any pain. It will be over soon..."
I knew I had to run, but something inside me writhed like an angry snake. It was just then that I remembered the revolver in my pocket.
I pulled it out...
Pointed it at the man's head...
Pulled back the firing hammer...
"Put that down boy, do you even know what that is?"
I replied...
"Yes."
*BANG!*
I was satisfied to see that my bullet had gone where I wanted it, my father had regularly taken me to firing ranges. I also had a morbid sense of pleasure as I watched the man collapse face-first onto the carpet, a crimson stain began to spread. Before they had the chance to reload their crossbows, I opened fire upon one of the attackers...
*BANG!* *POKK!*
Bullseye, the crossbow fell out of his hands as he fell backward. The last one of the attackers ran away, he apparently did not want to get a bullet in his head, despite of the fact that he chose to put a fucking crossbow bolt in my father's head.
I did not chase after him, I stood in silence as the bodies around me bled out. I collapsed and began crying and shivering violently, a boy my age should never go through things like this. I dropped my revolver and approached the bodies of my parents. I cannot bear to describe how bad they look, perhaps I should never have approached them. I collapsed once again, I could feel the edge of my sanity rapidly approaching. I could actually peer over the cliffs of my sanity and see the chaotic, restless, incomprehensible ocean that is madness.
But if only I knew it was gonna get worse, much worse.
*WOOP WOOP!*
Flashing red and blue light filtered through the living room window, the police have just pulled by the house. When one of the cops took a look at the scene behind me, he took a good look at me and the revolver in my hand and said…
“Kid, you did all this?”
I was soon handcuffed, taken to a trial, and without a say, defense attorney, or even a testimony, I was declared guilty of third-degree murder and was given what they called the “Death Penalty”. At the time, I did not know what that meant for it was not taught about in fourth grade.
They brought me to a big building I later found out was a State Prison. They put me in a cell away from the other cells, it was a single lonely aisle of cells that was nearly empty. I later found out that this was most certainly not a place for a 10-year-old to be, I was on Death Row, the final destination for those who are condemned to be at the mercy of the executioner.
A woman wearing a uniform soon approached my cell and asked me questions about stuff like Spiritual Support from a priest, A phone call to loved ones, and the Last Meal. I can remember seeing tears slowly rolling from her eyes.
”No ma’am, I’m not hungry, I feel a little sick.”
She soon speed-walked out of the aisle, she seemed to be in disbelief. I curled up on my bed until they ordered me to take a shower and put on a special outfit to “look nice”. I was handcuffed once again and led through some double doors that led to a very clean room. There was a reclining gurney in the center, it was just like any other gurney except for the fact that it had leather straps to hold people down. Next to the gurney was a table, upon which was a set of syringes and a couple of very tiny bottles. It soon clicked that this may be the last room I’ll ever see. I screamed for help only to be answered with hands that forced me into the chair and strapped me in. Two people entered the room, it was the doctor and his assistant. They prepared the injection site. I soon felt a sharp pain in my left arm…
"AUGH!"
The pain was horrible, it felt like they injected magma into my arm. The world swayed and blurred. But something inside of me was stubborn, it refused to die.
“He’s not dispatched, prepare another dose please.”
Another sharp pain in the same spot, the pain was greater. But I still did not die. The doctor soon began to sound agitated for some reason…
“Urrrgh…Another one!”
It was clear that this doctor had ulterior motives, he was doing this for a lot more than just a mere execution. The nurse soon warned the doctor…
“But sir, we can’t give any more doses. He has to be let go, it’s the law…”
The doctor boomed at the nurse…
“Are there any exceptions for Hybrin? No? Then out of my damned way! I’m giving him the strongest we have, what the governor does not know won’t hurt him.”
One more prick in my other arm, the pain was indescribable. I screamed and screamed, but I did not die.
“Well, aren’t you a lucky kid?”
The doctor leaned in close to my face, his breath smelled of spearmint.
“Nurse, are there any openings for test subjects at The Facility?”
*BAM!*
The doors slammed open and a man wearing a tan uniform walked in. He had a shiny golden badge on his uniform, his uniform was embroidered with the name of this newcomer…
Ronald immediately shot at the doctor with the following question...
”Openings for what?”
” Uhhh…Community service.”
Ronald chuckled softly...
” I call bullshit on that, you’re going to turn him into a lab rat. And in case you’re going to say you need to administer another dose, I have been watching the entire thing unfold. Anyways, I am here to pick up the child, the state pardoned him.”
The doctor hissed...
” Prove it!”
Ronald pulled out an official-looking piece of paper with a fancy John Hancock of a signature at the bottom. The doctor looked at Ronald with seething rage in his eyes
” You’re adopting that thing? YOU’RE ADOPTING THAT MUTT!?”
”SHUT UP!”
The doctor feel silent, he had no leg to stand on.
”Nurse, undo his restraints.”
“Yes sir…”
*CA-CLINK!*
He soon walked me out of the building and into a foggy early morning. I never thought I'd ever feel fresh air again.
”Wanna ride shotgun, Ronan?"
”Sure”
Ronald soon gave me a white box with the state’s seal stamped on it, inside was the revolver. He soon saw that I was crying…
”Let it all out, I know you’ve been to hell and back. I can’t believe they would do this to people your age. Your mommy and daddy left me a letter that said that their house was being broken into. The funny thing was that the Judge did not care to bring it up at your trial. If it were not for the fact that I was friends with your father, then you would not be here. In their last will and testament, they said for me to adopt you and take care of you should anything happen to them. By the way, what were your mother’s last words?”
”A verse from the bible, Exodus 20:13, thou shall not kill, thou shall not murder…”
Ronald sighed...
”Go figure, those words contradict their belief. Those psychopaths hide behind the guise of Christian religions in order to make themselves feel justified in their actions as if the will of God is for your kind to be dead.”
”My name is Ron, but you can now call me Dad, I guess. Me, my wife, and my stepson will help you move on from all that. I look forward to you being with us...Ronan Hawthorne."
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