-Chapter 1-
There he is.
Only two chairs down from me.
He's drawing again.
I wonder what it is this time...
I wish he would look over here.
Will he ever notice me?
'Malessa, are you paying attention?'
Oh crap.
'No. I wasn't. Sorry Mrs. Skorvik.'
'Malessa, why do you even take the art class if you have no interest in it?'
Because of him.
'Because I had less interest in all the other classes.'
'Malessa, you are proving to be extremely difficult, I wish you would at least care about your end of term result for this class. At least then I wouldn't have to stop my lesson every few seconds for your sake.'
'I care about by grades, just not this one...'
'Yes, Malessa, I know. Lykaan, would you please stop drawing!'
I wonder which face I will see today?
'You're telling me not to draw?'
'Yes'
'In the middle of an art class? Slight contradiction there, don't you think?'
'No, a theory lesson teaches you about different art styles, or the artists themselves,' Mrs. Skorvik walked over to Lykaan, picking up his sketch book, 'Not how to draw unclothed women, see me after school to retrieve your book. Your parents will be notified about your drawing.'
Looks like we may have Wylder today.
'Now, back to the lesson.'
'My parents don't care if I draw, in fact, they encourage it.'
Mrs. Skorvik slapped her forehead.
'No, what you were drawing, not the fact you were'
Stupid teacher. What's wrong with drawing life.
'Lykaan, would you wait up!'
'I'm not waiting for you if you're that slow KDick.'
'You've been told that you have to catch the same bus as me, not the earlier one just because you can make it there before me.'
Choosing to ignore my insults again, are you?
'KDick, how do you feel about being so small? Are you yet to become erect?'
'That is by far the weirdest insult you've used to date. I don't think I quite understand what you are implying, but it's you who should be changing your shape, more precisely, losing weight.'
Saying I'm fat again? I'm sure my fist will shut you up.
KD fell to the ground, butt first.
'Me saying you are small is different from saying I should be.'
KD sat holding the side of his face, a tear running down his cheek.
'How is me calling you fat worse than you calling me a penis?'
'I'm sure you can work that out for yourself KDick, after all, you are a genius!'
Just on time, here comes the bus. At least I can make it to the stop.
'Lykaan, where are you going? You're supposed to wait for me. Lykaan!'
KD burst into tears.
Cry baby.
'Malessa'
Mrs. Skorvik was running towards her.
'You haven't seen Lykaan have you?'
'Didn't he come for his book? He probably ran off so he didn't have to deal with you'
'Well, I called his mother so he will still get into trouble anyway.'
'Mrs. Skorvik, did you want me to return his book? I catch the same bus as his cousin, Kris. I'm sure he will return it for me.'
'Okay then. At least I don't have to deal with it any more. I suggest you don't look in it'
'Okay, well, seeya!'
'Bye Malessa, do try to pay more attention in class too.'
'Can't promise anything.'
I wonder what Lykaan drew to make Mrs. Skorvik tell me not to open it...
Malessa opened the book. She was shocked to see it filled with pictures of more than just women. There where pictures of naked men too. And from what she could tell, one of the pictures was of KD.
KD sat at the bus stop, the next bus from the one Lykaan caught was due to arrive 40 minutes later. The bus system here was terrible like that.
KD rubbed his cheek.
Half an hour and it still hurts.
'Hey, KD!'
Malessa was running to him.
'Hi Malessa.'
'Lykaan forgot his sketch book today. Would you mind giving it back to him for me?'
Green sketch book with spiral binding.
'...Did he actually forget it, or was it confiscated. That's Lykaan secret sketch book, he's not that careless to leave it at school.'
'...Yeah, it was confiscated. But still, will you return it?'
'I may just hand it straight to Mikale. I'm sure Uncle would love to see what Lykaan's been up to.'
He rubbed his cheek again.
'KD, are you all right? You look like you have been crying. Did someone hurt you?'
'No'
KD turned away from her.
'Lykaan hit you didn't he? That's why you want to give to book to your uncle, so Lykaan would get punished.'
'Malessa, he doesn't like me. He called me KDick, and made a joke about me needing to become... bigger. He hit me because I stupidly retaliated with a fat joke.'
'KD, it's never your fault if someone hurts you, the one at fault is the one would does the hurting.'
'You sound like my father saying that...'
Father... Was this the life you imagined I would lead after you passed away?
KD started to cry.
'KD, what's wrong?'
'I don't want to talk about it.'
'Your choice.'
KD took off his glasses to clear his eyes.
The bus was coming down the road.
The bus was early.
For once...
Lykaan opened the front door. His mother was sitting on the sofa, waiting for him.
'Lykaan, where is KD?'
'On the later bus.”
'You left him again. Lykaan, why did I get a call from your teacher today?'
'Because he stole my book.'
'Confiscated it, and only because of what you drew in it. I don't care what you draw, it's all art to me, but there is a time and a place for that kind of drawing, Lykaan!'
'What, never? You know Mikale would object.'
'Lykaan, I want you to stay in your room until KD gets home. Don't try to play computer games, I have all your cables and consoles.'
'Whatever Mother'
Lykaan headed to his room
I bet she didn't find KD's 2DS.
'And don't slam...'
Lykaan heard the sigh of resignation let out from Alexia.
Father's not the only one with a knack for creating wooden furniture.
Lykaan sat at his desk, attached to his loft bed, and opened the top drawer. Inside the desk where the drawer sits was a small, wooden latch that kept a box suspended inside the dead space. The top draw never got filled to allow for the box to pivot down and become a secret compartment. He kept anything he didn't want anyone to find inside, such as KD's 2DS after he had stolen it, inside this compartment.
You really don't know how stupid you are Mother, you took my 3DS but left the games.
'Hey, KD, would you mind if I ask you a question?'
'If we aren't counting this one, sure.'
'Does Lykaan talk about me at all?'
KD looked a little confused.
'I actually tend not remember much of what Lykaan says. Most of it is just insults... Or lies.'
Well, that wasn't the intended outcome.
'Why do you ask Malessa?'
I love him!
'I heard a rumour that made me quite uncomfortable. It started from Lykaan from what I found out. I would like to know if he did indeed start it, or not.'
Liar!
'I can try and get something out of him about that, but he rarely listens to me...'
'I understand, don't go putting yourself in a situation you could get hurt just for my sake.'
I guess I may have to be a little more direct with Lykaan... If I can control the nerves long enough.
'Malessa.'
'Yeah.'
'I'm assuming you've looked inside Lykaan's sketch book.'
'Yeah.'
'What did you think?'
'Um... Well, Lykaan definitely has realism down.'
'I meant about one particular sketch... the one of me.'
Exactly what do you expect me to say to that?
'Oh... That one... Did you... Pose for it?'
'What, no! Of course not. He drew it from memory. He's seen... Me... More than enough times to replicate every single marking I have. I never liked how much detail he went into when drawing me.'
This is quite the uncomfortable situation.
'KD, even though it's unofficial, and yours is the first I have seen, I quite liked seeing that. I can't say much more than that, but...'
'Thank you.'
'For what?'
'Lykaan used to joke about that sketch being a change from drawing... nice looking people and moving to someone ugly. I never though much about it when I was nine, but age twelve...' KD shifted in his seat. 'That sort of thing digs deep down into your head and can damage your self image quite a lot...'
I think I understand now why KD dislikes Lykaan, maybe he is not the best guy to chase after.
'But then you would catch Lykaan on a good day, and he's the most loving and caring person I have ever met, even topping my Aunt and Uncle who took me in as their own after my father passed away. He would say that that sketch is by far his favourite because it would always remind him of the young boy he had the honour of growing up with...'
But KD still thinks quite highly of him, even after all he has done. Is that what loving someone means? Regardless of what they do, you stay with them, loving every moment you get to share with them.
'The problem is, and I think many people have noticed this recently, we seem to be gettting the bad side much more frequently now. I know that I can't hold on forever. One day it will end, by any means necessary.
Any means necessary? What does he mean by that?
'This is my stop KD'
'Thank you for the talk. I believe I needed it more than anything.'
'You're welcome to it again, Kris.'
Malessa waved to KD through the the window as the bus headed to the next stop.
Don't go doing anything stupid KD.
KD came to a close of his 15 minute walk home as he turned off the main street down a dirt road.
As he walked, a car beeped at him, he turned to see Mikale drive up beside him and stop.
'Hey KD! Want a lift for the next few hundred meters?”
Mikale is home early today.
'Sure.'
He walked round to the passenger side door, jumping in.
Mikale didn't start moving again.
'Seatbelt, KD. It only take a second for something to go wrong in a car.'
Mikale was pointing to his right ear. It had been torn clean off in a car accident when he was twelve.
'click' I know why he does it, but it's only a few hundred meters away.
'So how was your day today?'
'Non eventful.'
'Your cousin leave you in his wake again?'
'Not quite, I managed to catch up to him today.'
'So where did he go?'
The car pulled into the garage and KD undid his seat belt.
Mikale put his hand on KD's shoulder
'Hold up KD, I want to hear what happened today.'
'What do you mean?'
'Alex messaged me to say Lykaan was drawing something inappropriate at school, and another later saying that you were given the book he used to do so. If you caught up to him, why isn't he with you?'
'He teased me and I retaliated, then he knocked me to the ground. I missed the bus because I was still getting up again.'
'And I assume your swollen face is because of the manor he chose to knock you down.'
KD touched his face. It still hurt, and was quite swollen.
'Only Lykaan's fist would hit you that hard to win a disagreement. Does it hurt at all?'
For someone who is home early to punish their son, you seem awfully calm.
'It has since he hit me.'
'Open your mouth for me.'
KD complied.
Mikale carefully took hold of KD jaw and tilted his head back. Having a quick look, he put a finger in his mouth.
'does this hurt'
KD jumped.
'Ahrw!'
Mikale's finger muffled his ow.
'Sorry, Bud. Looks like Lykaan has broken a tooth, and pushed the shard into your gums. That's why your face is swollen.'
A tear run down KD's face.
'Tch, I'm sorry Buddy, I didn't mean to hurt you.'
Mikale brought KD into an embrace, rubbing his back.
'Come on, lets head inside and get you some pain relief.'
Mikale and KD headed straight for the kitchen after walking inside. Mikale grabbed a bottle from the medicine cabinet and measured out KD's dose.
Alex came into the kitchen.
'What's wrong with KD?'
'Lykaan left KD alone at the bus stop, by breaking a tooth.'
He motioned a punch to the face.
'Here you go.'
KD drank the thick, green liquid... When was lime a good idea for a children's medicine flavour.
'You seem quite calm about the situation Darling'
'Only for now. I know for a fact that in about 5 minutes, I won't be.'
'That's a scary thought, you changing you attitude as fast a Lykaan does. Maybe it's hereditary.'
'Imagine that... you married a psycho.'
'Not going to murder me in my sleep are you?'
'No, if I did that, I wouldn't have anyone to entertain me in bed...'
Do I need to be here for this?
'Now, watch KD while I “speak” with Lykaan.'
Mikale took off his work shirt and headed towards Lykaan's room.
'Lykaan!'
'Come on KD, come with me to the other end of the house.'
I get the feeling I may not want to hear what happens this time.
Alex took KD to her room, the opposite direction from Lykaan's and his own rooms.
'Lykaan!'
Lykaan woke from his nap.
The door was flung open.
'Lykaan, stand up.'
He hesitated for a moment, then stood.
Mikale jumped at him, wrapping his left arm around Lykaan's chest, while his right came in with a swing.
Before he had time to react, he had already received three killer blows to the arse. With out making a sound, Lykaan fell to the floor, tears streaming down his face.
'Lykaan, you are fourteen, in only four years, your actions will be considered illegal. You assaulted KD and broke his tooth, and what you feel now would be the equivalent to what KD has felt over the last few hours. I refuse to let you do this any longer. If anything like it happens again, everything nice you own will be thrown away. You will be left with nothing but a bed and clothes. Understand?'
Lykaan mustered the strength to say a few words, trying to keep back a whine.
'Yes Father...'
'Good. I don't want to see you outside of your room unless you are called for.'
Mikale left, closing the door behind him.
Lykaan lay down on the floor. He hurt too much to try and stand.
'How hard did you hit him Mikale?'
'Hard enough to get a message into his head I hope. The problem is, I think the message went to the wrong Lykaan.'
'Mikale, I heard it from here! Did you have to hit him that hard?'
'Sorry Alex, I'm not too happy with him at the moment. I'm not fussed if he's hitting KD, that's generally how kids who live together act, but I can't stand around while he's adding a dentist bill into everything else he's done today.'
'You are keeping your cool very well.'
'Not really. I'm half tempted to go give Lykaan another three whacks to calm down, but that stops being discipline and becomes abuse.'
Mikale sat down next to KD
'How you holding up buddy?'
Tears started to form in KD's eyes.
'I just want to lie down...'
'That's the pain killers kicking in. They will make you feel drowsy.'
'I don't want to sleep alone tonight.'
Mikale glanced upwards.
'Alex?'
'If you like.'
'Okay, KD, I'll use your bed tonight, and you can sleep here. That sound good?'
KD nodded
'You lie down with Alex, and we'll wake you when dinner is ready.'
'Okay'
Mikale left the room.
He looked down at his hand.
It still had a tingle from hitting Lykaan.
Lykaan, I really hope you learn something from this.
KD woke to Alex giving him a little shake.
'Hello. How you feeling?'
'Dizzy.'
'Come on, I'll carry you to the table.'
'I want to walk.'
'Okay then.'
KD stumbled around a little dazed from just waking up until Alex grabbed his shoulders to steady him.
Lykaan and Mikale were already sat at the table.
'Sorry KD...'
Wylder's gone.
Lykaan looked quite upset. Actually, he looked like he was on the verge of tears.
'I didn't make anything that would be too hard to chew for your sake, KD, just remember not to chew on your left side though.'
'Okay'
KD sat in his normal chair, next to Lykaan and Alex.
Mikale had made some kind of savoury mince, spinach puree, and a heap of mashed pumpkin.
By the looks of it, everything Mikale made, Lykaan didn't like eating. He probably looked close to tears because of that.
After dinner Lykaan was asked to wash and dry all the dishes himself. He didn't interject.
'Mikale, don't you think you've punished Lykaan enough today?'
'Not in the slightest, KD's punishment isn't over until you have taken him to the dentist tomorrow, so neither is Lykaan's'
Lykaan was visibly crying now.
I don't want to see Lykaan this distressed.
'I'm going to go lie down again'
'Okay then, I'll be in shortly.'
KD left the table and started crying himself.
Alex came in to see KD crying.
'What's the matter KD?'
'I feel bad about Lykaan's punishment. He's clearly not the one who should be getting punished, but Wylder knows when he's going to get it, so he leaves.'
'I know KD, but Mikale is the unstoppable force when it comes to doing things his way.'
'I feel like I'm to blame.'
'But you're not, and don't go thinking you are. Lykaan's actions whether his or Wylder's have to be dealt with accordingly. Just go to sleep and you'll feel better in the morning.
I hope I feel better... but I doubt I will.
Lykaan sat in his dream world, looking around his tranquil surroundings.
The green grass.
The towering trees.
The creek creeping across the landscape.
And a horde of beautiful flowers flourishing as far as the eye could see.
This was the closest thing he got to peace.
It was all an illusion, of course, but it was his illusion.
Sometimes he thought he could just evanesce into it....
'Hey Lykaan.'
...At least, until that happens...
'Lykaan, why do watch that boring old heap of rubbish. Can't you make something a little more entertaining maybe? At the very least, it could be a little more interesting.'
Only a few feet behind him, stood the omniscient evil that came to be known as, unfortunately, Wylder.
The only thing that stood between him and Lykaan was a wall, kept intact by Lykaan himself. If Wylder were to pass into his dream world, any amount of damage could be caused. He wouldn't risk allowing his peace to be destroyed. It was the last thing keeping him sane in the fight against Wylder.
If Lykaan were to turn his head, not only would he be looking straight at Wylder, he would see a vast space of nothingness. Just an endless darkness.
'You appear to be in your usual “Ignore Wylder” mood again. Why can't you be like you used to be. It's been ten years since you blocked me off from your world.'
Ten years... We were only four.
Lykaan felt a small tug at his shoulders. Someone was trying to wake him up.
'You feel the tugging too huh. I'm not really in the mood to drive, you go ahead.'
Yet again our body is described as nothing more than vehicle to be used.
Lykaan answered the call to wake.
'Have fun out there, Bud.'
This was the worst part.
As he woke up, his dream world faded slowly into nothing.
Wylder chuckled.
'Besides, more than likely, being woken up like this is because your father wants to have a... little chat with you,' Wylder started to rub his rear end with both hands, 'and I believe you enjoy when that happens, don't you, Lykaan.'
Lykaan woke to see his father lying next to him. He stiffened his every muscle.
'Lykaan, how are you feeling?'
Is this meant to be a trick question? If I answer wrong do I get more punishment?
'I... I'm not great.'
Mikale move in closer and put his arm around Lykaan.
'You know, it pains me to punish you in this manor. I would sooner give birth to a child than beat one, and I'm unable to get pregnant without genetic modification first.'
A tear formed in Lykaan's eye.
'Are you here to deal out more punishment?'
'Nope. The way I see it, I said KD's punishment isn't over until he is taken him to the dentist tomorrow, so neither is yours, but KD is asleep right now, and he isn't feeling the pain of his broken tooth. As a little technicality, you wont receive any punishment until he wakes up. Right now all I want is a hug from my son.'
After a little hesitation, Lykaan moved in closer to Mikale.
'Lykaan, I saw your sketch book today'
He felt a sheer cold run through his body.
'I'm not too fond of one of the pages. Mind explaining to me what it's about?'
How am I meant to tell you about a drawing of Wylder's?
'I didn't draw it. At least, not this me...'
'Lykaan, I've known for a while that you enjoy the company of both male and female, if you understand what I mean.'
'I do'
'I'll tell you a little secret, I do too. I had an intimate moment with KD's father when I was your age. Matthew was ten.'
My first Intimate encounter with KD, he was ten. That's an odd coincidence.
'Lykaan, your drawing depicts your cousin almost perfectly. Every little detail, including the mark usually concealed by his underwear. That leads me to think that you have been in a situation with your cousin where he wasn't wearing anything. Am I correct?'
'Yes...'
Lykaan started to cry.
'Lykaan, I can't effectively punish you for that with my conscience telling me I'm no different. I do want to warn you though. I messed up Matthew pretty badly. Your Uncle never sought out a female companion after Genevieve passed away, and I blame myself for that,' Mikale leaned in closer and kissed Lykaan on the forehead, 'I just don't want you to make the same mistakes I had made when I was younger. I love you with all my heart, but occasionally you make it hard to love you.'
I make it hard?
'But, regardless of that, I still do. Because of your mothers genetic infertility, you are the only child we can have. It's bloody a miracle that we even got you.'
'Wait, genetic infertility?Why is this the first I have heard of this? Will I be the same?'
'Not likely, at least from what I know. You take on more of my traits than you mothers.'
'How so?'
'Well, you look more like me, you have green eyes and grey fur I mean. You are close enough to failing in your English class, while you mother writes for a living. You enjoy creating artworks, as do I...'
'You build furniture, Dad.'
'Yes, top quality, everyday use pieces of furniture, it's an art in its own special way.'
Lykaan yawned
'That boring, huh?'
'No, I'm just tired'
'Yes, you're right. We both have to be up in the morning, best let you get to sleep.'
Mikale climbed down from the bed.
'Night Buddy.'
'Night Dad...'
At least I feel better than before...
