The Rejected Family

Chapter 5

Reject Failure, Part 3

"Berries!"

In the dense forest surrounding the Foot of the Mountain Village, Toki carries on with her unstoppable willpower. Motivated by a ban, she feels the adrenaline rush of going against her mother's commands.

"I've been grounded, so I must hide all of you, berries."

Toki hides the berries in her clothes, collecting as many of those valuable defiance tokens as she possibly can. 

Near the cheerful child, a small wooden hut stands. Entirely dusty, the dwelling seems to be older than the girl is. Completely oblivious to the scenery around her, Toki would only turn her focus away from that bush if something more amusing caught her attention.

"Oh, a little monkey! Do you want to eat?"

A great distraction comes her way. Jumping over the branches of a tree, a monkey moves closer.

"Forget it, there'll be fewer left for me," she regrets her offer.

The agile animal swoops down, snatching one of the precious berries from Toki's hands.

"Hey! Give it back! I'm the one who's grounded; you can eat them whenever you want!"

“Oh my, what a ruckus."

A mysterious voice is echoed by the soft sound of grass against bare feet. Slow footsteps walk over the delicate fabric of nature, getting closer and closer to the girl.

"You chosen ones shouldn't walk alone in places like this."

"H-Hi, I'm about to leave. Don't worry," Toki replied in a shaky voice.

Still unable to see who she was talking to, her hands couldn't pick up any more berries. 

"You belong in bright places. You should make better use of this blessing," the sound that voiced those words now came from another direction.

"D-Do you like berries?" 

"Don't get me wrong. Those who have no options end up having to seize any opportunity."

"M-mister, I don't have any money."

"Money?"

All kinds of noises coming from that place suddenly became louder in Toki's ears. The presence that frightened her was closer than ever.

"It's not that simple."

Every inch of the child's body was finally certain: whoever was talking was behind her.

"A simple and small fabric, but effective. Your clothes can be used as a cloth or a blanket."

The girl winced in distress, clutching her legs as if she were hiding behind a wall.

"A cozy pair of socks would fit perfectly as good winter gloves. Your shoes would alleviate the unpleasant calluses on my feet."

The whipping of the wind reveals a large cloak, which entirely covers the mysterious subject, with the aid of a secretive hood. A small object is held inside his garment.

"For the rejected, everything is useful."

"P-Pleas—"

The little girl's head slowly turns, shaking as she tries to visualize the owner of the voice that frightened her. Jony stands right in front of her.

The sweat on her forehead trickles down to her eyes, and even though her sight is affected, she can clearly see an unmistakable object.

The man was carrying a knife.

"Please..." tears mix with the child's sweat.

Jony notices high-speed footsteps. 

"Tsk, you're making things difficu—."

An overwhelming collision. Two arms clash in a direct impact. The hooded figure's feet sink slightly into the muddy ground.

Reacting quickly, Jony can intercept the attack of an enraged young man. Filled with hatred, Muro tries to hit his opponent with an elbow strike, which is blocked.

"You're the fifth one to get beaten today. You're late," the mockery contrasts with the boy's determination, making everyone wonder if he was joking.

"Don't waste your time."

The impact of the blows pushes the two fighters back. Muro stands before his sister, a shield that scares away the cruelest fears.

"But don't worry, Toki. As long as I'm alive, you can go wherever you want."

"Mu... ro..."

"And every time something like this happens... I'm going to beat the hell out of the person!"

Jony is still wearing his hood, so seeing his face is impossible. Even so, everyone can witness his unexpected composure. 

"Hey, we don't have to go that far," he says to placate the siblings.

“Do you say that with a knife under your clothes?"

"I was putting it away. I wasn't going to hurt the child."

"Then why didn't you do it before?"

"Until I was sure I'd get what I needed, I couldn't let my guard down."

"Are you going to let her go?"

"I am not interested in the little girl's life; I just need her things."

"You won't lay a finger on Toki."

The boy's sister looks uneasy, "watch out, Muro! He's different."

Jony walks towards Muro as he speaks with the ease of a conversation between friends.

"Don't you realize that you're complicating your lives? You could just be enjoying your blessed lives, but instead, you're stepping out of your domain."

"And what does someone Iike you do in this forest?"

"All I do is take what's within my reach. Either the easy way or the hard way in some unfortunate cases."

The hooded man draws his small blade out of his cloak again.

"Is that your only weapon? That's great. I thought you might have something scarier," Muro remains unfazed, staring at his enemy.

Toki grabs the helpless monkey — who was following her — and walks away from her brother.

Still menacing, the mysterious figure continues to get progressively closer. 

"Only the chosen can live in peace, under the sun. On the other hand, there are those who are hunted down and killed by them."

"Run, Muro!"

"And for that reason, boy..." Jony extends his unarmed hand toward the boy.

"You..." Muro takes a step back.

The smile that reassured everyone around him, the upright posture that never gave way, the sparkle in the eyes of someone who had always played the hero, Muro's whole essence is washed away by goosebumps.

Jony adds, "I repel the light."

"A Repeller!"

A dark cloud begins to grow around the hooded man. A mystical aura envelops the surroundings like a mist containing the darkest night. Paralyzed and in a state of shock, Muro cannot move a single muscle. The mysterious supernatural mass surrounds the boy.

"Toki, get back!"

His sister obeys his command, fleeing with the little monkey out of the dark area that has been formed. Resembling the shape of an immense bubble, Muro and Jony are immersed in the pitch black.

Toki shouts desperately, "What are you doing standing there? Get out of there! It's a rejection!"

The two combatants disappear from the child's sight, who can only see the enormous mass of darkness.

"Where are you?" The girl's distant voice barely reaches her brother's ears.

The void.

An undeniable blackout.

The ultimate loneliness.

Muro cannot see a thing; his eyes seem abruptly blinded. Not even the most insignificant beam of light can penetrate where the boy is.

"What is it...?"

"I told you: you should have stayed where you belong." Jony's words echo in the dark room.

"Where are we?"

"This is not your place. You're pathetic here."

"Is that you? Are these your powers?"

"If your sense of direction is destroyed, it doesn't matter how good you are at fighting."

A quick cut rips the skin from Muro's arm.

"Argh! How...?"

"My body is used to this darkness. It's easy to find you."

The knife strikes both of the boy's knees, making him fall to the ground.

"Aargh! Argh!"

Outside the dark area, Toki only hears moans of pain, followed by the sound of continuous stabbings. 

“Muro! Get out of that thing! Muro!"

Jony loses his patience with the girl's screams.

"Quiet, you stupid child!" He throws a knife in the direction of the terrified voice.

Kneeling on the ground, Muro cannot do anything but watch his opponent. Perplexed by the humiliating situation, his muscles involuntarily contract.

The boy's breathing is interrupted by a simple response from his ears.

"AHHHHHHHH!" Toki let out the most resounding scream.

The brother stops moving. Pale, an ice from the depths of his soul. He tries to speak but cannot even complete a syllable, gasping as he witnesses the absolute terror.

"Stop reacting, and everything will be fine," the man — now without his hood — stands before the fallen boy. 

It's no use. No matter what I do, Muro's mind expresses what his mouth cannot say.

I've never lost a fight before. The reason for that is that I've never faced a Repeller before; he realizes the harsh truth.

"Someone who has been chosen would never win such a battle. Go back to your place, along with what's left of the child," the enemy warns.

Cold sweat bathes the boy, who is about to run out of air. His thoughts also begin to slip into madness.

No speech, no reasoning, no mobility. The progressive despair is reaching its peak. Muro is losing control.

"Enough!"

A vivid voice opposes Jony.

"Come on! Come out, you bad boy!"

Outside the darkness bubble, the bloody knife fell to the ground. Slightly stained with blood, one of the monkey's tiny paws was the cause of Toki's irritation, as she now called for a fight.

"Crazy Monkey: deadly mode!"

The child abruptly transformed the primate's body, with her pupils glowing yellow.

Paws capable of lifting a cart. The height of a tree, whose shadow makes everything around it seem tiny, covering meters in length.

The menacing creature's tail takes the shape of a scythe, its tip capable of breaking a stone in half. With its wounds regenerated, the mammal prepares for combat.

The air slowly returns to Muro's lungs, and even in the terrifying darkness, he finally allows his shoulders to touch the ground, relaxed by the agitation dissipation.

Jony scorns the siblings' resistance.

"Enjoy your luck and let things flow. Like me, you need to understand that some places reject you."

"What are you talking about...?" Muro's mouth opens again.

"What the hell, man... just hand over everything and disappear!"

The boy — still on the ground —is kicked brutally, hit from head to toe.

Toki's voice reaches the scene of the confrontation, "Muro! I can't see him! Tell me where he is!"

Amid the direct hits that mark every part of his body, Muro lifts his torso, getting to his knees.

"Come on, Muro! I'll finish this weirdo off!" the child continues.

The boy's once cold skin now boils like a cauldron, his anger bubbling up for all to see from afar.

What the hell are you doing...? He wonders about his sister's actions.

"Why are you quiet? What's going on in there!"

Jony repeatedly punches Muro, who aims for his opponent's face. One blow after another, the attacks make him close his eyes, trying to maintain a relentless concentration.

No, this is wrong; his anger burns through his bones in his desire to damage the person responsible for his growing hatred... himself.

Gathering all his remaining strength, Muro punches the ground.

"Toki! I don't accept being protected!"

Jony realizes something, startled, "That was..."

After being kicked again, the boy grabs his attacker's leg.

He continues, "because as long as I exist... you can go wherever you want!"

Muro increases the strength of his grip even more, holding on to the only thread of hope he has found throughout the fight.

"From the forest to the Summit, I'll take you to all these places!"

"Are you out of your mind?" His enemy doesn't understand his mood boost.

"You bastard... Now I know where you are. And that's why I'm the one who will smash your face in!"

Toki doesn't understand the situation, "What?"

The girl briefly loses consciousness, her head falling onto her body. The same thing happens to Muro simultaneously, an inexplicable effect.

Both wake up seconds after the supernatural event.

Straight from the boy's vocal cords, a cry of pain echoes through the area, "OUUCHHHHHH!”

Meanwhile, Muro's words come out of Toki's mouth, "I'll protect you! I will protect all of you!"

With the awareness of someone inside the darkness bubble, Muro's mind uses Toki's powers, directing an attack in the direction of the scream — the huge ape charges at the enemy with its crushing paws. Muro and Jony's bodies are thrown through the air; the impact is overwhelming. 

The mammal uses its tail to catch the boy in the air, who finally lets go of his opponent's leg, relaxing his exhausted muscles.

Bathed in sunlight, his eyelids open to the blue sky. Vibrant colors like never before paint the scene of the immense mountain of trials.

Through his sister's eyes, Muro stares at his own body at a height he has never been able to witness. 

It is really possible, he finally concluded.

Limited by his beliefs, Jony returns to the forest he claimed to be his place. Blinded by the light he was never allowed to see, Jony falls to the ground, defeated.

"A rejection..." he collapses, without his hood.

Safe and sound, Muro's body lands on the ground, carried by the gentle primate.

"What—"

The siblings relax, losing consciousness as they collapse on the soothing grass.

The girl gets up, regaining consciousness, "What happened? Have I left my body?"

"Sorry, Toki. It seems I can't stand being protected."

"Muro, you—"

The child ran towards the boy. 

"What about that thing with: 'Deadly mode'? Are you giving a name to your transformations?"

Bumping into her brother impulsively, the warmth of a genuine hug restores his mental faculties.

"You did it, Muro..."

The girl's smile, from one corner of her mouth to the other, makes the long-awaited penny drop. 

"You're a Repeller!"