A M A Z E D
The boy went into a frenzy when he caught glimpse of a strange man in the far right corner of the room.
The thing was a human overall but had a scorpion tail behind him.
The oblivious boy stared in panic.
After wiping his mouth with the handkerchief he was provided, he looked up to see the strange scorpion-tailed man staring eagerly at him. He froze, the principal's rule chanting into his head.
Do not make eye contact.
"Do not worry he deems you worthy, though, for what, I would rather not question", the principal tried to assure, sensing the boy's distress but failed miserably, as the boy trembled like a leaf.
"Is it him Linda", the red-headed creature mumbled. Aiden did not miss the look of fascination in his eyes.
"Can you please explain to me what is going on here", the mismatched-eyed boy stammered out.
"Of course boy, Vincent here is a guardian"
"Linda you are confusing the boy", Vincent uttered in his hushed voice, "Sit down boy, and then, we will talk".
The older gestured to the living room while shuffling toward a cupboard, his tail swaying with the moment.
"This used to be our world", he began, holding up a grey and white photograph, "the world is destroyed but you can still save it".
Aiden did not like the amount of hope with which he said the last line.
Hope lands you nowhere. He thought.
"Vincent none of that right now", the man did not hear the principal as he urged Aiden to take the photograph.
The boy took the deteriorating picture in his trembling hands.
The scenery was stunning.
A young girl with a deep crimson flower tied in her hair was smiling ear to ear. A soothing aura surrounded her as she stood there shoving a handsome young boy.
At the sight of a black rose, the sudden realization dawned on him like a bucket of cold water.
His hair stood on ends. He started coughing. The young boy cursed himself for naively following the principal. He wanted to go home but he knew the consequences would not be good.
His father had made it clear that Aiden must not return tonight while cursing him to the deepest darkest pits of hell.
"Aiden, please do not panic when we tell you everything, it is your world too", the woman interrupted his thoughts noticing a sudden change of mood in Aiden.
"I will try", he decided to give them a chance for he had nowhere else to be.
The principal was the first to leave the dark and gloomy room.
Together they crowded in the humongous living room by the fire, hot chocolate in their hands while Vincent spoke about the strange world they were so entranced with.
Aiden glanced at the picture in his hand, the girl giggling back at him while the boy stared smugly.
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I had to hold back a sneer of my own at her declaration.
I decided to be patient with her for she was the only one who could help me in a situation like this.
"I need your help"
She did not answer.
"Come on I am not dealing with your silence once again".
My patience was running thin but she only stared at the spot on the counter.
I have had enough.
I wanted her to realize how hard it was for me to provide for two people while constantly in the suspicion something might happen if I acted out of my element.
"You engraved fear into me when you decided to live with him, the least you could do is help me understand this bizarre condition", I pointed to myself.
"Then tell me what your problem is", she finally spoke, her voice hoarse. I poured her a glass of water.
"I do not know how to explain but I think I can show you".
"Very well lead the way".
I took her upstairs to my room, the staircase creaking dangerously all the way.
My whole room was charred, everything had turned the deepest shade of black, and in the middle of my burnt bed sat a black rose.
She gasped. I glanced at her for answers but she slid to the floor, sobbing hysterically.
Suddenly, I felt guilty, she needed medical attention but the lack of finances would never allow us.
"This is enough for today", I told her while leading her whimpering figure to her bedroom.
I looked at her helplessly. I wanted answers, badly.
Her room was the same as the last time.
I laid her on her bed.
She was snoring after a few minutes so I presumed I should leave but a worn-out black box caught my attention. The corners were strained to the point they appeared spherical.
She had that for as long as I can remember. She used to keep it hidden and I was slapped for pointing it out in front of him.
Now as it laid in plain sight my curiosity reached its peak. I decided to unravel the secret but retracted my hand and left the room in a hurry.
The routine once again became boring, none of us brought up the event. But the curiosity was coiling in my stomach making me jittery and nervous.
I wanted to solve the mystery of the worn-out box, the answers I needed momentarily forgotten as I paced my burnt room.
When I arrived home the next day, a strange scent wafted in the air, I mentally made the note to open the windows.
The smell strongest in the living room.
My eyes widened in fear and shock when I saw the destroyed remains of the room.
Everything was thrown haphazardly like there had been a brawl. There was a trail of blood leading to a shattered vase and in the midst of it all lay the infamous black box.
I realized in utter horror that the secret my mother had protected with her life for so long was finally out and yet the thirst of the curious beast inside me only grew.