Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-5400198-20160722183409

''Author's Note: This was deleted because the storyline was went like Beginning, Event, End - and the admin reviewing found it hard to follow. I decided to upload it here to see what other people think and if people agree with the admin, I will change accordingly. ''

I personally did not have any issue with the way I wrote it, but I am open for second opinions.

Thank you.

(Also, ignore the indents. The final story will not have them.)



 The Kind Man and the Boy 



The Beginning I 

The Kind Man was sitting on his porch, watching the cars pass by. A knock from his kitchen window made the man shoot out of his rocking chair.

The Event I 

The Kind Man smiled at the Boy. The Boy weakly smiled back. The sunlight poked through the dead trees, spilling light on both of them.

The End I 

The Kind Man laid in bed, his eyes fixed to the area by his feet. His face contorted with fear, his throat burning with each rapid breath. The Boy stared back.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Beginning II 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man burst through his front door and went to the right to search the kitchen. The place was empty of all life, the only sound caused by the dripping coming from the sink. A batch of chips made by him earlier sat alone on the table, ready to be cooked. The Kind Man sighed, his chest buzzing with relief. His attention drawn to the dripping, his eyes fell on the leaning tower of plates and bowls that stuck out from his sink. After an hour of procrastinating, the Kind Man decided it best to clean them now before flies began occupying the layers of porcelain.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Event II 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Boy glanced around at the forest around them. He was slightly worried as he did not like the forest since that day. When his eyes met the eyes of the Kind Man, he asked, “Is it okay to be here?” The Kind Man just stuck his thumb up, winking at the Boy. The Boy also stuck his thumb up awkwardly, making the Kind Man burst out chuckling. The wind whispered through the trees, leaves picking up and circling around both of them. They acted like little brown moths circling a light bulb.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The End II 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“What the Hell are you doing here?” the Kind Man shouted, kicking away from the foot of the bed. The Boy just stood there, cocking his head to the side. Everything was the same with him on that day, except of one striking detail: The Boy’s eyes were two white glowing pearls. The Kind Man sucked a huge pool of air before running to his window and pushing it open, cracking the glass. He slid through the gap and stumbled onto the porch roof. He glanced back and saw the Boy staring at him through the window, which prompted him to leap onto a heap of leaves that broke his fall.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Beginning III 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">After finishing the final, dirty dish, the Kind Man was about to go back outside when he noticed the rapid beating of rain hitting the roof above him. He grimaced at the sudden change of weather, but shrugged to himself and went into his living room. He fell onto his couch, cotton reaching out from various holes, and turned on the television. As he sat on the broken couch, three consecutive knocks came from the room upstairs.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">His Son’s room.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man leapt from his broken couch and peered at his blank white ceiling. He then ran to the foot of the stairs, and contemplated the first step. He glanced up at the top of his stairs before standing there for a few seconds, his mind kicking him to move. The Kind Man gripped his banister, began tapping away at it, before pushing himself up the stairs.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Event III 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“Why are we out here?” the Boy asked, his eyes still shooting from left to right at the nearby trees. “I thought you would not let me out here again after what happened.” The bandage around the Boy’s entire torso made him look like a little Egyptian Mummy, which made the Kind Man chuckle a bit.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">But only a little.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">He cleared his throat and said to the Boy, “I want to tell you a story. And you get to participate in it. All you need to do is use that brain of yours and imagine it as I tell it, okay?” The Boy nodded. “Just look off to the forest right over there and image a rabbit sitting there, biting away at a fleshy orange carrot.” The Boy followed the Kind Man’s finger and sat cross-legged, facing away from the Kind Man.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The End III 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man ran from his house and into the forest, trees passing by him in a warped blur. This caused him to experience a strange form of tunnel vision. The crunching and cracking of leaves and twigs beneath his feet were amplified and echoed in his mind. He glanced back to see the Boy standing just a few feet behind him, his head still cocked.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">Every time he saw the Boy, he was closer than before, still standing. It was like he was teleporting every time he saw him, inching closer and closer than before. It didn’t matter what the Kind Man did, from climbing up hills and running zigzags, the Boy was always behind him, the blank looks still plastered on his face. He also noticed that certain landmarks were repeating, and soon realized he wasn’t getting away further from his house.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Beginning IV 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man grasped the round brass door handle to his Son’s bedroom. He was at first scared, but second confused by the three knocks. First his kitchen window and now from this room? A tinge of anger began deep inside the Kind Man’s heart and he rushed into the room, shouting, “Who’s in here?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">A small, young boy sat in the middle of the empty room, cross-legged and looking outside at the trees. He had scruffy brown hair and when he glanced back to look at the man, he saw that he had dark gray eyes. The Boy had no expression on his face, just a blank canvas.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man froze on the spot before changing his previously pissed-off voice to one of silk-like softness. He asked the Boy, “Who are you?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Boy answered almost immediately. “My name is… my name is… I don’t know.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“How did you get into my house?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“I don’t remember. It was complete darkness before you barged through the door shouting. That’s all.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“Where are your parents?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“I… don’t have those.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“You must do. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t have parents. Do you know where you live?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“I don’t remember anything.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man stared at the Boy. After a minute or so of exchanging looks, a grumble echoed the room. The Boy looked down at his stomach in shock, poking at it with his index finger. The Kind Man laughed.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“You must be hungry. Here, let me get you something to eat.” And with that, the Kind Man slipped downstairs and into the kitchen. He grabbed the chips and took out a tub of gravy, pouring it into a pot and turning on the hob. He stirred away at the gravy and popped the chips into the oven. As he stirred the thick dark gravy, a few questions popped into his head.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">Was he lying about everything? ''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">How did he get in? ''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">Where the Hell did he come from? ''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">And then, the most important question of all came last:

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">Why do I feel responsible for him? ''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">As he pondered the last question, a creak came from the floorboards behind him. The Kind Man glanced behind him and saw the Boy peeping from the side of the doorway leading to the stairway. His eyes were cover by his long fringe which clearly irritated the child. The Kind Man knelt down to the Boy and brushed away the hair, allowing him to see his emotionless eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“You need a haircut. I’ll feed you and take you to the Barber. You okay with that?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Boy just nodded.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man smiled at him before going back to attend the pot of gravy. Brown bubbles began forming and popping at the surface. The Boy watched as steam rose from the pot and disappear when it hit the ceiling. He found it somehow… entertaining to watch.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Event IV 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The way the Boy was sitting made the Kind Man reminisced about when they first met. It had been over a year prior to that point. That year was the happiest year the Kind Man ever had since his family left him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Boy groaned, grabbing onto his stomach and crumpling over. This broke the Kind Man out of his daydream and he rubbed the Boy on the back, giving him his most comforting smile. The Boy weakly smiled back, before forcing himself to look forward with determination. This caused a singing pain to begin in the Kind Man’s heart, almost causing him to tear up.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">Then, resting his hands on the Boy’s shoulders, the Kind Man began narrating the story:

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“A Bunny Rabbit was biting away at a carrot. It was a very happy Bunny Rabbit, a huge smile painted on its face as the carrot disappeared into its mouth. As it was about to go get another one for his family, he saw a Big Bad Bear licking its lips, giving him a threatening stare.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Boy booed at the Bear.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“The Bunny Rabbit backed away from the Bear, letting out a small squeak. The Big Bad Bear approached the Rabbit with an air of slyness about it. Then, it leaped on the Rabbit, striking the Rabbit on its side. The Rabbit got away, but it was badly injured. It limped into the rabbit hole where his family was waiting for his return.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“The Mother cried after seeing the injury. The Brothers and the Sisters all cowered in the corner, trying to comfort each other with tears visible in their eyes…”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“What did the Father do?” the Boy asked. “What did he do?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man swallowed the building saliva in his mouth. “The Father, he…”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The End IV 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">A fallen branch tripped the Kind Man over. His arm fell down a rabbit hole and it snapped on impact with the ground. He let out a cry and pulled the arm out of the hole to see bone sticking out of the skin, blood dripping down from the wound and painting small red dots on the leaves. He shot his glance up and saw the Boy standing over him, his face as blank as it was on the day they first met.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“Why… are you here?” the Kind Man asked through gritted teeth.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“Why did you do it, Father? Why did you do it?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man held onto his destroyed arm, grimacing in pain. “You know why I fucking did it. You know I had to.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“You should have let it happen, Father. You should have let it happen. I was distraught when you took the chance from me.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“You were in pain. And… and I saw what happens to people when it gets you. I just don’t want to see you go through that…”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Boy stood there for a while, staring at the Kind Man with his white eyes. “I really liked living,” he said.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Beginning V 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Boy wrapped his newly cut fringe around his finger. It had been the second visit to the Barber, but it was what happened after getting his hair cut that would plague his mind for the rest of his life.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">He liked the haircut, and the Barber who cut it. She was very pretty, so much so that the Boy stumbled over his words when they first met. This, of course, caused the Kind Man to break out laughing.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Barber and him talked about a lot of things, mainly about the Barber’s life as the Boy’s life was quite uneventful. On that particular day, the Barber was saying how her son had no one to play with over the Winter holidays. The Boy was getting homeschooled by the Kind Man, so he never had set holidays. He never got lonely either because the Kind Man worked from home, so he always had someone to talk to.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">So the Boy did not know how to respond to this. The Kind Man butted in with, “How about you two become friends? I’m sure you’ll get along.” The Barber agreed and called upstairs for her son. The Boy was anxious to meet this kid so he began to fidget with his fingers.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">Followed by some heavy-hitting footsteps running down the stairs, the door swung open and out came a blond haired boy. His bright blue eyes locked onto the Boy and he ran at him, giving him a huge hug. “Oh my God,” the Young Son said, practically choking his new friend, “I haven’t seen another kid for like a week now. All my other friends are busy studying and won’t go out with me, especially in this weather.” The Young Son grimaced how dull it looked outside. He then noticed that the Boy’s face was going red and tore his grip from him. “So sorry, I just get really excited sometimes. What’s your name?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Boy replied with the name the Kind Man gave him. “That’s so awesome,” the Young Son said. He told the Boy his name and shook his hand, adding a, “Nice to meet ya’” at the end.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“So,” the Barber said, going over to the kitchen and flicking on the kettle, “us adults are going to have a cup of tea and chat, so how about you both go somewhere and play?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“Yeah, sure,” the Young Son said, grabbing the Boy and taking him outside to the rain drenched garden. It was a relatively small garden with a red painted fence surrounding two sides of it. A small wire fence and gate led into the same forest that surrounded the Kind Man’s house. It had stopped raining a while ago, so the Young Son must have wanted to relish each passing point of meek dryness as he could.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“What game do you want to play?” he asked the Boy.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“Um… I don’t know…”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“Uh, how about…. a game of Hide N’ Seek?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“How do you play that game?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“Y-you don’t know?” The Young Son chuckled. “Well, it’s really easy actually. One person is the Seeker while the other one hides. When the Seeker finds the other person, they tap them on the back and shout, “I found you!” Does that make sense?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Boy nodded.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“I’ll hide first. You go over to the house, lean against the wall and cover your eyes. Count to thirty and then shout, “Ready or not, here I come!” Go. Don’t you dare peep.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">And with that, the Boy followed the instructions meticulously, keeping his back to the garden. He shouted what he was told and turned around to see the Young Son had evaporated from view. It was obvious where he went as the garden was so small.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Boy ran into the forest.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“Ugh, where are you? Come on, it feels like I’ve been in this forest forever now and I’m getting hungry.” The Boy checked down another large hole: Empty. He was starting to get irritated, even though his expression was still blank. He had no way of telling where he was in the forest and darkness was beginning to fall. The Kind Man said to him that he should stay away from the forest at nighttime as it was haunted.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">He obeyed him, going in only during the afternoon, but now the sky was blackening by the minute. Owls began hooting from the trees, giving the Boy another reason to get the hell out of there. He didn’t want to leave the Young Son by himself, but fear was injecting itself into the Boy’s heart, urging him to turn around.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">However, respite came in a form of a thought. He could find his way home, the Boy thought to himself. ''He probably walks these woods all the time. In fact, I bet he is at home right now, waiting for me''. So the Boy turned around and saw…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none">''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">…another child. ''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">This child sent shivers down the Boy’s spine. He stood at around his height, however his body was entirely black with two glowing white eyes without any pupils. The Boy fell back from what he could only describe in his head as a creature, his heart now rushing blood to each fiber of his being. He let out a scream and began running away from the creature…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">…to no avail.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">He felt a burning pain erupt in his side. The Boy stared down at his side to see a long black branch-looking arm piercing him. He groaned as another one pierced his stomach. They both slipped out like slugs and the Boy fell to his side.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Shadow Kid was standing over him now. He said to the Boy, “You are my new vessel. Prepare for use on…” He began rapidly muttering numbers that the Boy could not make sense of.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">He passed out.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">As the Boy let go of his fringe, the pain in his stomach boiled once more. He bent over in the hospital bed, sweat beading on his forehead as he gasped desperately for air. Reaching over, he pressed the button that pumped painkiller into his system, relieving him for a while.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The doctors said to him that the Young Son found him laying in a bed of leaves. He carried him back to his house where his Mother called for an ambulance. He was then taken to the hospitals where the surgeons stitched him up good. The occasional burst of pain was unexplained, but one of the doctors said it could be just his body getting use to the stitches.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man was not allowed to visit him until the stitches were properly in place. When he did visit, all he did was place his head on the bed and start crying.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">It made the Boy feel… guilty. Even though he obeyed the Kind Man and went into the forest during the day, the boiling pain in his belly had no way to compete with the stinging feeling that drowsed the Boy’s conscience.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">Was it… his fault that he got hurt?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Event V 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man knew all that happened that time the Boy walked into the forest. The Boy told him everything… and he believed every word of it. The Kind Man thought back to his Son and Wife, two of the most important people in his life. He knew what happened to them after finding his Wife’s body pierced in multiple areas. There had been a recent influx of murders that correlated with the Boy’s injuries.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Shadow Kid that attacked him must’ve been…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“Is the ending going to be a good one?” the Boy asked, turning his small head to look at the Kind Man. The pain was still visible in his scrunched up face, but he was fighting back with all his might.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“You’ll see,” he mumbled, pointing ahead of the Boy. The Boy looked forward again, falling back into his trance-like state. He continued with the story. He had to end it soon, before the voice in the back of his head prevented him from doing so. “The Father looked down at his Son with a miserable look. He gave the Son a kiss that sank the Son into an everlasting sleep. There, the Son dreamed about eating all the carrots in the world. He was happy. The End.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Boy’s face was putting on a weak smile. He always smiled around the Kind Man as he loved him like a Father. “That was a nice ending. I hope the Bunny Rabbit is happy forever.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man took out a knife and stabbed him in the nape, blood spewing forth from the wound and slapping the Kind Man’s face.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Boy’s head slumped over before he crumpled over into a prepared hole in front of him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">He had done it. He had given the Boy the kindest gift of all: Relief from a life of pain.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The End V 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“Now I can’t be the next carrier of the white light. I’m just something in-between, a failed carrier. I was meant to die by the hands of the previous carrier, but you murdered me. You stole me away from him. Why? Why didn’t you just let it happen?” Even with the words carrying some sort of spite, the Boy’s monotone voice mixed with the dull air.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man just grunted.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">“Well, I don’t matter anymore. I now have the pleasure to introduce the white light into you, Mister. Look behind you.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man whipped his around to see his Dead Son staring at him, his figure black even in the light of day and his eyes pure white. His Dead Son said to him, “Stealing, stealing, stealing kills.” The Kind Man broke down crying before his sobs were cut short by the Shadow Kid chopping into his throat and crawling inside of him like a black mist.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:"CourierNew"">The Kind Man’s body convulsed for a long time before finally sitting still. The Boy watched as his eyes slowly opened, his once blue eyes now as white as the Moon. <ac_metadata title="The Kind Man and The Boy"> </ac_metadata>