After hours of fighting off different beasts throughout the night, Kailen had a rare moment to rest as he found a quiet tree branch well off the ground and out of sight. Kailen was exhausted with bloody wounds marring his body all over, bites, scratches, and bruises, you name it he had it. The pain was overcome with adrenaline just his tired aching muscles causing him grief at the moment, he sat and stared into the sky falling into a daze thinking of the last time he felt so tragic.
***
House Avera was a large and wealthy estate ran by the Avera family, a powerful and distinguished family within the country of Cassar. Near to the large and expansive entrance gates stood a line of hopeful and motivated children, the children were around eight years old and all wearing scruffy clothes.
"Hey Hey Kail, I hope I get accepted. We might even get to meet Master Avera!"
A young pretty girl spoke with visible excitement, the child she addressed stood a bit taller than her with black hair and grey eyes. Though he didn't reply the same passion could be seen, after all, Master Avera was an important Duke in the country of Cassar.
"Hey Kail, you think we will be able to eat fancy things?"
The girl continued to ramble on, Kailen smiled at her and replied passionately.
"Only if you work hard and get picked, Sandy."
Most of the children in the line were from the same orphanage so they mostly knew each other well, Sandy and Kailen seemed to be particularly close. Eventually, a giant looking man approached the gate and opened it from the other side before addressing the group. He wore a smart-looking tunic with a red strap across his shoulders, his face gave off a gentle aura.
"Mornin' kids, follow me to the trial area..."
The group followed behind the man nervously as they passed by the exquisite gardens, five minutes into the walk a short fat man approached the man leading. He had white clothes with golden engravings present down his left arm.
"Hey Nathan, Father said I could be in charge of this selection of servants..."
The large man frowned observing the man closely, though he couldn't refuse one of the lords of the house. It was not a secret in the upper classes that Lord Randall Avera was a cruel, sadistic bastard. Being born to a great father was his only merit. Nathan hesitated for a few minutes before replying wistfully.
"As you wish Lord Randall, kids you are to follow Lord Avera here."
The children grew excited hearing his name, he was a lord after all. They followed Lord Randall for a few minutes through the beautiful gardens and into a forested area, they passed through a gated area and continued through the forest.
Lord Randall stopped and turned to face the kids with a smile as he spoke kindly.
"Hey kids, how would you like to all enter into House Avera?"
The group was surprised for a moment before answering enthusiastically.
"We'd love to m'Lord!"
"That would be amazing!"
Lord Randall laughed seeing their replies, the fat on his face jiggling with each chuckle.
"Well, you all can as long as you play a game. That sound fun?"
"Yes, we'd love to!"
The group answered him energetically.
"All you have to do is run and hide, after five minutes any not found will be accepted as servants to the house. That sound good?"
The kids nodded excitedly with a touch of nerves, a servant in a big house was a great job for orphans like them.
"Okay, run and hide after one minute I'll come and find you!"
The kids giggled and ran to find their hiding spots after seeing him close his eyes to count. Kailen pulled Sandy's hand as they ran quietly looking for a good hiding spot, eventually, they found a small ditch at the base of a tree. With their small builds, they crawled underneath roots partly covering their hiding hole. The only thing visible was their feet after they pulled their knees to their chests.
"You think we'll be found, Kail?"
Sandy whispered into his hear, leaning against his shoulder. Kailen could hear his heart pounding both in excitement and nerves. A minute quietly passed as they heard a loud shout from Randall echo through the forest.
"Ready or not here I come!"
Silence resounded for a few moments through the forest, the only sounds heard were that of the pounding hearts of Kailen and Sandy. The silence was broken moments later by the howls of dogs echoing through the forest, Kailen was perplexed though soon turned terrified as the sounds of screams and barks spread to his ears.
Sandy must have come to the same conclusion as her face turned deathly pale and she clutched his arm tightly. They could hear the sounds of the howls slowly approaching them, Kailen hugged Sandy tightly as they stayed as silent as they could.
The sounds of weeping echoed from near them as one child must have seen something horrendous, this consequently brought the dogs scuttling in their direction. The weeping soon transformed into screams and then silence, Kailen nervously watched through the overhanging roots.
His worst fears were soon realized as a brown hunting dog entered his view sniffing the surroundings, Kailen and Sandy remained completely still. The dog's head swiveled to the left before turning and locking eyes with Kailen and Sandy.
"AHHH"
Sandy screamed in terror as she saw the approaching hound, Kailen was frozen in fear as he watched death slowly approach.
***
Kailen felt tears falling down his cheeks as he remembered that particular scene from his childhood, his feelings of powerlessness still resounding as strongly now as they did that day. The pain was gradually returning as his adrenaline wore off, he felt ice-cold as the pain stung across his entire body. Though his eyes gleamed with a determined light, he rose to his feet and leaped from the branch back into the fray.